Together in Christ: 'A Simple Blessing Prayer' — 2 Peter 1:2

Thursday, July 25, 2024

May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
— 2 Peter 1:2 NLT

Key Thought

Throughout the New Testament, the Holy Spirit embedded little nuggets of blessing in short prayers just as we find in our verse for today. [1] As we reread it, let's invite the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with the divine richness of this blessing. We want that richness to flow out of our lives and bless others with God's grace. One way we can do that is to use these blessing prayers in our communication with other believers.

Most of us live in a harsh world of discouraging comments, mean-spirited criticism, and abusive insults. Most of us could use touches of grace in our lives. Our hearts need words of blessing to help us push out the lies, insults, and put-downs from others. Of course, these hurtful put-downs originate with the evil one who wants to deceive and discourage us. Learning to share and receive prayer blessings are essential spiritual vaccines that aid us in our hope and perseverance.

Let's read our verse one more time, and as we do, let's also ask the Holy Spirit to show us people who need a similar blessing prayer! Then, let's make it a regular spiritual practice to share blessing prayers with those around us who need a touch of grace!

[1] Romans 1:7; Ephesians 1:15-16, 6:23-24; Philippians 1:3-6, 4:23; Colossians 1:3-5.

Today's Prayer

Father, thank you for the example of Paul and Peter and their use of prayer blessings to build up new, discouraged, and faltering believers. Open my eyes to notice the people you have brought near to me and prompt me to know when to bless them. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3, 3:11-14, 5:23-24; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, 2:16-17
  • 1 Peter 1:3-9

Comments

Archived Facebook Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, July 25, 2024

God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Revealed by the Spirit' (He. 9:8-9)
"By these [Old Covenant] regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Hosea 5:15
"Losses and adversities are frequently the means which the great Shepherd uses to fetch home his wandering sheep; like fierce dogs they worry the..."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Acts 7:25
"Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not."
What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'Fearful Following' (Mk. 10:32)
"[Jesus and the disciples] were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people..."

Illustration

Illustration of 2 Peter 1:2 NLT — May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More Together in Christ