Praying through 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,
Heavenly Father, you are over-the-top good to us—immeasurably kind, incessantly faithful, and irrepressibly sovereign. Thank you for the “eternal encouragement and good hope” you’ve already given us in the gospel.
Our past is claimed by your tender mercies and redeeming love. Our present is inundated with your grace, for you love us right now as much as you’ll love us forever. And our future is crammed full of goodness; for no eye has seen, ear heard, or mind imagined the things you have prepared for us through the finished work of Jesus. Thank you!
17 encourage your hearts
Father, it’s precisely because we have eternal encouragement that we unabashedly look to you for fresh encouragement. Some of us are feeling the weight, (and wait), of old hurts, aching hearts, and no new news.
Some of us just received difficult medical news about those we love. Some of us are still waiting for prodigals to return, addicts to break, or a job to come through. By your Holy Spirit, assure us that you are aware, engaged, and in control. Forgive us when we think otherwise.
and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Indeed, strengthen us to move forward, Father. It’s not like life’s other responsibilities stop when we are in crisis or semi-crisis mode. Give us power to do the next right gospel thing; and fill our hearts and mouths with your grace.
Help us worship more than we worry, bless more than we curse, and rest more than we resent. Forgive us under-believing the gospel and over-believing our fears. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ wonderful and merciful name.
