Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.

These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul. Remember my chains. May God’s grace be with you.

Lord God my Father,

Purify me by stripping my sinful nature from me and free your peace that lives in me to have it’s way. Give me patience in the different ways of others.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit.

Lord God my Father,

Keep my heart focused on you and grateful for your unconditional Love. Shape my thoughts so they completely honor your name. May the fruits I produce please you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

 We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ,

And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Lord God my Father,

You are my strength and guide thru this day. Allow your Love and Truth to saturate me and shape me into your servant. Protect me from deception and control from the world.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.

They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here. 22But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”

‘Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.27For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’

Lord God my Father,

You are my hope and strength. Allow you Truth to lead me and inspire others. Clear the thoughts of those who don’t understand so they may experience your Peace.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Men,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” 11But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul.

Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. 34“Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.”

Lord God my Father,

Give me discernment over good and trouble, help your wisdom to flow thru me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak.

 Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.

Lord God my Father,

Choose me to know your will, use me to bring your Truth to the lost. Open the eyes of the deceived and bring them back to your plan for salvation. Allow your peace to guide me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools! 20You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face.

I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault,20:26 Greek I am innocent of the blood of all.

And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

As Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him. 36And the crowd followed behind, shouting, “Kill him, kill him!”

Lord God my Father,

Keep my heart close and reveal to me when I take my focus off of you, keep me in your Truth. I only want to represent you well and bring your message to the lost even if it creates hardship to me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 410:4 English translations divide verses 4 and 5 in various ways.We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 

Lord God my Father,

Guide me in how you wish me to influence others, keep my heart in your care, protect me from becoming proud because of my service.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. 6Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. 7Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. 8So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.

And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, 11so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.

If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God!

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14Either way, Christ’s love controls us.

Lord God my Father,

Allow my heart to only carry your peace and forgiveness so I may love well. Thank you for being so personal in my life, directing my steps. Even when life gets hard your Joy carries me. May my faith be seen powerfully by others and draw them to you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.”

 Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. 

But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong. 20The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. 

Lord God my Father,

I am grateful for the persecution my faith brings and broken hearted for the lost who attack me. Keep me on your path of peace and truth and obedient to your desire.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen