We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 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.

 I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message,

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.

Lord God my Father,

Remove my sinful way and keep me in your power. Grant my desire to turn from my sinful way and be completely under your authority. May my actions reflect your Love only.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! 

Lord God my Father,

I pray for your peace to overwhelm my desire to think. There is so much darkness around me, keep me in your light, confident in your way and truth. Keep me in your path, not my own.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. 

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

Lord God my Father,

Keep me under your Truth, keep me confident in your Peace. Protect me from the lies of this world and keep my heart in check. Keep me in your Good promise to protect me from evil’s desire. You are the only authority for me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,8:38 Greek nor rulers. neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.

Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. 31But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. 32Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law9:32 Greek by works. instead of by trusting in him. 

Lord God my Father,

Your love is always with me, I need to choose to accept it wholly. Thank you for your steadfast Love that never leaves me. Quiet my heart to follow you only, allow your truth to soften my desire to follow only you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. 

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

Lord God my Father,

You are my deliverer, my freedom is in you. Protect me from the influence of the dark one and keep my understanding in your Love. Help me to live your hope alone. My life only comes from you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.

The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.

Lord God my Father,

Thank you for your devine plan. Allow me to come closer to your nature and deliver me from my sinful nature. Allow your spirit in me to defeat my sinful way.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

And a person with a changed heart seeks praise2:29 Or receives praise. from God, not from people.

For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.

Lord God my Father,

Thank you for your Truth, may I live under it and trust in the value you set for me. Thank you Lord for your unfailing Love.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.1:18 Or who, by their wickedness, prevent the truth from being known. 19They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.

Lord God my Father,

Restore me to the nature you designed for me and away from my sinful way.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. 4My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?

I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to see where I place my faith, remove it from my own wisdom and restore it to yours. You created me and all I am so keep me in your care and inspire me to live as you see fit.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer5:11 Greek a brother. yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.

Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.

I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

Lord God my Father,

Keep me in relationships that bring your kingdom closer. Keep my heart in check with my desires being pleasing to you. Help me to see how to serve you better each day.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen