2 Corinthians 5 ~ Praying Scripture

Please read 2 Corinthians 5.

Meditate on these phrases from verses 14 and 20.

The love of Christ controls us.

We are ambassadors for Christ.

2 Corinthians 5 is a chapter rich with truth and treasure verses to pray over yourself and others.  God wrote this letter to give you an eternal perspective.

You are burdened by present circumstances. God encourages you, “what is mortal will be swallowed up by life (v. 4).” 

You are scared.  God commands you, “always be of good courage (v. 6).” 

You do not know where to go.  God reminds you, “walk by faith, not by sight (v. 7).”

You lack ambition.  God exhorts you, “have as your ambition to be pleasing to Me (v. 9).” 

You are selfish.  God tells you “Christ died for you, so you will no longer live for yourself.  Christ died for you; let His love control you (v. 14-15).”

You lack purpose.  God gives you your job description:  “You are an ambassador for Christ (v. 20).”

Let these truths sink in as you pray them over yourself and those for whom you are standing guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Christ, let us not forget that in You, we are being swallowed up by Life.

Help us to be of good courage as we walk by faith and not by sight.

May we have as our ambition to be pleasing to You.

Thank You for dying for us, so we can stop living for ourselves

and let Your love control us. 

Make us pleasing ambassadors for You.

For the sake of Your Name, Jesus~”

2 Corinthians 4 ~ Praying Scripture

Please read 2 Corinthians 4.

Meditate on verse 7.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,

so that the surpassing greatness of the power

will be of God and not from ourselves.

Chapter 4 starts, “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart.”

The ministry Paul is referring to is the ministry of the Spirit, the ministry of righteousness (2 Corinthians 3:8-9).  God has given you the ministry of righteousness, and it can only be done in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

You may be tired and discouraged today.  You may feel overwhelmed.  Say this phrase from verses 1 and 16 over and over.

We do not lose heart.

God has put you in an earthly body, so you will rely on His strength and not become prideful thinking that anything good comes from yourself.  You can serve the LORD today because of His great power in you.

Pray 2 Corinthians 4:5,7, and 16 over yourself and those for whom you are standing guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“As your bond-servants, Jesus,

may we preach that You are LORD. 

We do not want to preach ourselves. 

Let us not lose heart as we serve

by the surpassing greatness of Your power.

For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

  

2 Corinthians 3 ~ Praying Scripture

Please read 2 Corinthians 3.

Meditate on verse 5.

Not that we are adequate in ourselves

 to consider anything as coming from ourselves,

but our adequacy is from God.

You live in a world that is focused on “self.”  I looked up “self­-_____” in the dictionary and started counting.  When I got to 100, I was only in “self-e…” 

Paul made the point in this chapter he was not going to commend himself.  His confidence was through Christ.  His adequacy was from God.  His image was of the glory of the Lord.

Do not be deceived.  Worldly ideology focuses on self-confidence, self-adequacy, and self-image.  You will waste the lifetime God has given you on earth if you focus on self.  When you focus on Jesus and live for Him, the issues you have with yourself will “grow strangely dim in the light of HIS glory and grace (Helen H. Lemmel).”

Pray 2 Corinthians 3:4, 5, and 18 over yourself and those for whom you are standing guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Jesus, help us know  

our confidence is through You

and toward God.

We are not adequate in ourselves

to consider anything as coming from ourselves.

God, You make us adequate.

May our image be transformed

to reflect the glory of You, Lord.

For the sake of Your Name, Jesus~”

2 Corinthians 2 ~ Praying Scripture

Please read 2 Corinthians 2.

Meditate on verse 14.

But thanks be to God,

Who always leads us in triumph in Christ,

and manifests through us the sweet aroma

of the knowledge of Him in every place.

In his second letter to the church at Corinth, Paul continued to mentor these immature believers.  Paul instructed them in an earlier letter to deal with sin within their church (1 Corinthians 5:1).  The church took Paul’s admonition to heart and so punished the offending sinner that after he repented of his sin, the church was not forgiving and comforting him.  Paul urged the believers to reaffirm their love for him and not let unforgiveness cause Satan to take advantage of them. 

This is an important principle for your personal discipleship. Sin must be stopped.  After the sinner repents and asks forgiveness, you are to forgive, comfort, and reaffirm your love for them.  By forgiving, comforting, and loving the repentant one, Satan will not get an advantage in your life. Such Christian maturity on your part causes the sweet aroma of Jesus to be evident in your life.

Pray 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 over yourself and those for whom you are standing guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“God, thank You for leading us in triumph in Christ.

Manifest through us the sweet aroma

of the knowledge of Jesus in every place we go. 

May we be the fragrance of Christ to God

among those who are being saved

 and among those who are perishing.

For the sake of Your Name, Jesus~”

2 Corinthians 1 ~ Praying Scripture

Please read 2 Corinthians 1.

Meditate on verse 3.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.

Are you in need of comfort today?  Soak in the Words of your Lord.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

Who comforts us in all our affliction

 so that we will be able to comfort those

who are in any affliction with the comfort

with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

­­­­—2 Corinthians 1:2-4

Jesus, the God of all comfort, comforts you, so you can comfort others.  Emotionally and spiritually where are you today?  Are you in a tough place?  Are you allowing the Father of mercies to comfort you right now?  As you experience His comfort are you going to keep it to yourself, or will you deliberately comfort another today?

Often the comfort and healing will truly begin when you stop being self-focused and focus on others and their needs.  Paul had a good conscience because he was conducting himself in the world in holiness and Godly sincerity in the grace of God (2 Corinthians 1:12).

Pray 2 Corinthians 1:12, 21, 22, and 24 over yourself and those for whom you are standing guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Lord, help us to have a good conscience by conducting ourselves

in holiness, Godly sincerity, and Your grace. 

Establish us in You, Christ.

Thank You that You anoint us, seal us,

and give us Your Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

Help us to stand firm in our faith.

In Your Name, Jesus~”