Day 8 - Monday, October 19th
LIFE Journal
This Week's Memory Verse
Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in His commands. Psalm 112:1
Devotional
We all have a reputation, whether we like it or not. There is the person who is your first call when you find yourself in a bind. There is the person you steer clear from telling big news to until you’re ready to have that news public knowledge.
There is the person you know you can rely on to do what they say or the one who you don’t hold your breath for when they promise to deliver on something. People are known for certain things in our job, school, friend and family circles. And our reputations, good or bad, often precede us.
One man in scripture that had a reputation was named Epaphras. In the two small instances in which we see his name, we only gather a few known facts about him. He was a colleague of the apostle Paul, working diligently to take the most incredible news ever known, the gospel, out to the ends of the earth. But, there is something else about Epaphras that we know too, something about his reputation, and if you’ve ever read the book of Colossians, you’ve probably breezed right by it.
In his letter to the church at Colossae, Paul wrote this about his friend: Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. (Colossians 4:12)
Epaphras gets just a few shout outs in Scripture, less than one hundred words mentioned about him, and yet, we can see that his reputation precedes him in a big way. Epaphras is known as a prayer wrestler. Has anyone ever called you something like that? Are you known as someone ready to roll around in the mud and mire and rumble in prayer on another’s behalf? What an incredible credit to your name to be known as one who tussles in petition for a co-worker or neighbor! We all have the chance to get this sort of reputation, which can often begin just by asking the simple question, how can I pray for you? It may be uncomfortable at first, but you never know who needs you to contend for them before the throne of grace and you never know how that kind of reputation can change your corner of the world.
Think On This Verse:
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16 NIV
Ask and Answer:
Do you have a reputation as a prayer wrestler? If not, how can you go about being known for that? Who can you ask how you can pray for them? Who can you be wrestling in prayer for? Who can you ask to wrestle in prayer for you? Who is someone you can confess your sins to so they can pray for you and you for them?
There is the person you know you can rely on to do what they say or the one who you don’t hold your breath for when they promise to deliver on something. People are known for certain things in our job, school, friend and family circles. And our reputations, good or bad, often precede us.
One man in scripture that had a reputation was named Epaphras. In the two small instances in which we see his name, we only gather a few known facts about him. He was a colleague of the apostle Paul, working diligently to take the most incredible news ever known, the gospel, out to the ends of the earth. But, there is something else about Epaphras that we know too, something about his reputation, and if you’ve ever read the book of Colossians, you’ve probably breezed right by it.
In his letter to the church at Colossae, Paul wrote this about his friend: Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. (Colossians 4:12)
Epaphras gets just a few shout outs in Scripture, less than one hundred words mentioned about him, and yet, we can see that his reputation precedes him in a big way. Epaphras is known as a prayer wrestler. Has anyone ever called you something like that? Are you known as someone ready to roll around in the mud and mire and rumble in prayer on another’s behalf? What an incredible credit to your name to be known as one who tussles in petition for a co-worker or neighbor! We all have the chance to get this sort of reputation, which can often begin just by asking the simple question, how can I pray for you? It may be uncomfortable at first, but you never know who needs you to contend for them before the throne of grace and you never know how that kind of reputation can change your corner of the world.
Think On This Verse:
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16 NIV
Ask and Answer:
Do you have a reputation as a prayer wrestler? If not, how can you go about being known for that? Who can you ask how you can pray for them? Who can you be wrestling in prayer for? Who can you ask to wrestle in prayer for you? Who is someone you can confess your sins to so they can pray for you and you for them?
Prayer
Lord, let me have the reputation of being someone who wrestles in prayer for others. Show me who I need to be in prayer for right now. Help me to move past my potential discomfort and be bold in asking how I can pray for my co-workers, my peers, my friends, and my family and then help me to actually PRAY for them. Amen.