Show Notes
READ: 2 THESSALONIANS 1:1-3, 11-12
Do you share your friends with God? You’re probably wondering what that means. You might even think it’s a typo and should read, “Do you share God with your friends?”
While it is important to share Jesus with our friends by telling them about Him, it’s just as important to share our friends with Jesus by praying for them. When they come to us with problems we can’t fix—like parents divorcing, major illnesses, or the death of a loved one—we can feel helpless. But we are not without help: if we know Jesus, we can share our friends with the all-powerful God of the universe, bringing their concerns to Him in prayer.
And we don’t even have to wait for hard times to share our friends with God: we can pray for them “at all times” (Ephesians 6:18). And when we’re not sure what to pray, there are lots of prayers in the Bible we can use as a starting point. For example, today’s Scripture passage is Paul’s prayer for his friends in Thessalonica. He thanked God for them and prayed for their growth in Christ. In the same way, we can bring our friends and all their needs before Jesus, our Savior and Friend, who always loves us and always wants to help us. • Melissa Yeagle
• According to Hebrews 4:14-16, why can we talk to God about anything and everything?
• What are some of the problems your friends are facing right now? Consider taking a moment to tell Jesus about what’s going on and what you want Him to do about it. Remember, He cares about your friends even more than you do, and He knows just how to help.
• What are some problems you’re facing right now? Who are trusted Christian friends in your life you can ask to pray for you? (If you’re having a hard time thinking of anyone, remember that friends don’t necessarily have to be the same age as you.)
• If you want to dig deeper, read 2 Corinthians 1:8-11; Ephesians 3:14-21; 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:1-7.
So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NLT)
More from Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens
READ: MATTHEW 6:19-21; JOHN 3:16-17; 14:1-4; REVELATION 19:6-9; 21:1-5
READ: PSALM 139:1-4; ROMANS 5:6-8; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 We curate the caption and crop the distraction, Chasing the applause of a virtual reaction. We polish the exterior to hide the interior, Afraid that our true selves are somehow inferior. But in the quiet, when the screen goes black, We feel the heavy weight of the perfection we lack. See, Jesus didn’t come for your highlight reel, He came for the brokenness you try to conceal. No filter could cover the crimson cost of sin, So He opened His arms to let the rebels in. On the cross, He was exposed, stripped, and bruised, So the real you would never have to be refused. He was buried in the dark so you could walk in the light, Tearing the veil to make your future bright. The grave couldn’t hold Him, the stone rolled away, Giving you mercy that is new every day. You are not a brand, a post, or a trend, You are chosen, beloved, and called His friend. So drop the performance, let the pretense cease, And rest in the rhythm of His perfect peace. • Ty Scott King • Why do you think it’s sometimes easier to show people a curated version of ourselves rather than who we really are? What parts of yourself do you try to curate, edit, and hide away? • Jesus sees the unedited version of you, and He loves you so much that He died and rose again for you. How could this truth affect the way yo view your mistakes, flaws, or things you just don’t like about yourself? • Are there any areas of your life where you feel like you’re putting on a performance instead of trusting God’s grace? Consider spending some time in prayer, laying these things down at Jesus’s feet and asking Him to help you see yourself the way He sees you. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)