September 17-23, 2023
Our focus chapter this month is found in 2 Corinthians 4. Personally, I have been struggling to be my best self lately. This chapter came to me as a reminder that God is at work even when I'm feeling pushed in on, hard-pressed, and frustrated with myself. I hope you can read along and follow the prayer prompts to be encouraged in your own walk with Christ. He is faithful to show us mercy and grace when we are not at our best!
This Week’s Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 4
Focus Reading
You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:5-9).
Prayer Prompts
Day 1: Verse 5 brings something important into focus. In what ways have you been preaching yourself? This is where my struggle lies. I keep stepping in, trying to play savior. But my role is the servant. How do I keep getting it mixed up? Share with a friend if you are struggling in this area.
Day 2: Verse 6 talks about the Light of Christ. Find a spot in your house where the light is shining in. Study it for a moment. What do you observe? What can you understand better about God by focusing on His Light! His glory is on display!
Day 3: Verse 7 is a beautiful verse about us having His treasure in jars of clay. Clay can represent ideas of renewal. Clay is recycled over and over again in its raw state by changing its water level. The Potter has infinite possibilities of shaping and forming the clay of our lives in His story. Journal a bit to solidify your thoughts on this topic.
Day 4: Verses 8-9 are the pinnacle verses to combat our woes. Read verses 8-9 over three times as a meditation moment. What trades do you need to make today? Hope for despair. Trust for confusion. Comfort for loneliness. Write down some of those feelings and ask the Lord for the trade!
Day 5: Verse 8-9 - Thank God that we are not destroyed. Take a moment to thank Him for the work of the cross, His rescue, and His work as our Savior. Jesus is all we need. Jesus is all we need. Jesus is all we need.
Prayer Prompts and Bible Readings are provided by Michele Bowden and Lisa Brass, Coaches and Digital Missioners with Visual Faith™ Ministry.
Find them on our Visual Faith Ministries page, on Instagram @victoryinart and @aworthylif, and on the web at victoryinart.com.