It is so much easier to hear a phrase like “making the best use of your time” from someone like Paul. Someone, who, in jail – could be bemoaning and belly aching and complaining and figuratively walking away from Jesus, and is instead, making the best use of HIS time by speaking plainly the mysteries of Christ + His body to us.
Paul knew that while his hands were in chains, his heart was free to minister for Jesus. Are you believing that you’re chained up today by WHERE you are? By your season? Your circumstances? Look down at those hands and see the chains fall off. Make the best use of your time.
Continue steadfastly in prayer.
Be straight up watchful in your thanksgiving. Don’t let a day pass without practicing your thanks.
Pray for your leaders.
Walk in wisdom.
Be gracious in your speech.
Remember Paul’s chains.
Grace be with you, sister.
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I appreciate the thoughts and prayers of fellow sisters.
My heart is troubled and breaking as i read this. My chains are my disappointment. I love God and He is my place of comfort and strength. I’m struggling because He could have stepped in and healed my dear friend but instead he ignored or pleas for a miracle and she suffered till the end of her 30 year old life. I feel hypocritical to talk about Jesus when i am struggling so much to understand why he was so quiet during one of the most crucial times. I still feel like He is quiet. This is where my faith and words are a choice. And i must be intentionally thankful. My heart will choose to say blessed be the name of the Lord!
I took three things away from Chapter 4 –
1) Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful
2) Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders. Make the most of every opportunity with conversation full of grace.
3) See to it htat you complete the work you have received in the Lord.
Yes Lord!
Beckey ~ http://reallyreallyrealhousewives.blogspot.com/
I think the challenges from this for me are to not allow my circumstances to dictate my mood, my speech, my witness and also to encourage me to be bolder on my witness, something I’m not great at. This was a good study.
I pray for all of you
Grateful for the direction of verse two… "Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving" (Amplified Bible). I tend to make prayer much more complicated then it really is – and the direction here is very simple, almost peaceful, and so encouraging in its simplicity.
I like what paul said. Although I may be in chains my heart is free!
Halleluigh despite my circumstances if I look up I find something to glory about.
As I get ready for church today. I marvel at the platform that u have given me u trust me with your work and with your people. God always does more!
I am struggling with knowing what I need to do in my season. I am praying that God shows me what he wants me to do. My circumstances seem to outweigh my time to pray. Please pray for me. I need some wisdom.
Need to work on my prayer life. It lacking. Needed this
This is exactly what I need today. Love it!
Thank you! This is just the word I needed to hear today.
This just about knocked me down…literally! I have been feeling chained and bound by my circumstances and season in life. I knew God wants to use me in a new way of ministry but was so resistant because I wanted to serve my way. Thank you for blessing my spirit and refreshing me with His truth.
I have only been reading along with She Reads Truth for a few weeks, but I have found it to be a blessing! At the same time, I usually read it, nod along, and get back to whatever I was doing before. I hardly ever read the comments. I'm so glad I did today!
Thankful for this community.
When I read this, I read my about my "circumstances" right now. I'm physcially in a place that is uncomfortable to me and I can't seem to focus on the word of God. I am allowing my "circumstances" to dictate my emotions and I am not growing in the word of God as I should because I am so wrapped up in my "season/circumstance" and not realizing that God has put me here to grow and learn from this and teach me a lesson. I finally "get it". We have to come to terms with the fact that just because we are where we don't want to be, it's for our best interest at the time so when we get out we know how to move forward. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
This is so true, and I feel the same way. I am thankful for the fact that God's timing is perfect and that his plans are so much better than mine. This is just a season, and by God's grace it will be a season of growth.
Amen Amy!! We will grow from thisSent from my IPhone
"Time" – I was convicted that it is a precious gift – not to be taken for granted. I need to remember and appreciate that by REALLY making the best use of it. Not just during my SRT time, church time or bible study time.
This convicted me today because I am always hung up on oh Ieed to check facebook and twitter because I feel obligated to do these things, not because I enjoy them all the time. I need to spend more time with the Lord, and when I do reply on facebook or twitter, it should mean something, be seasoned with salt.
Oh you were reading my mind!!!!
Sad to say, I make time to read FB and other websites that have no bearing or guidance to my spiritual and eternal life. Going forward in my life I MUST put SRT and GODS word first. I can say, that since I've started making this website a part of my life I am on the right road in getting closer to God.
This morning's section and devotional really fits into a larger lesson I feel the Lord has been teach me this season. In the past few years, I've struggled with my season of singleness, praying with anticipation for a husband I could partner with and be better for the Kingdom with. I still pray those things, and I know that's an important prayer of my heart, however, I also know that God has plans for me RIGHT NOW. He wants to use me even in this season of singleness, and He wants me to make the most of my time right now. He's blessed me with a heart that loves to create and encourage, and He's been bringing me many opportunities to use those gifts to serve Him. One small example of that is my blog (and another example is the eBook I'm writing). Another verse that stood out to me was "to stand firm in the will of God" (NIV) and the NLT translation of it: "fully confident of the whole will of God." This encouraged me to fully trust where God has me right now and be confident in His will for me and my life — no matter what the season! I hope you all have a wonderful, blessed day. I've been blessed by your responses this morning, and I'm thankful to be a part of this community! :)
Just to say Katie, myself and several of my friends met our husbands when we had finally accepted and were enjoying single life. I had just bought a house and was so excited about what God was doing through me being single…the next month life changed. Sometimes we have to learn to be truly content…
Thanks so much for sharing that, Claire! What an encouragement! I truly do feel like this is the first season of singleness that I feel like I've fully surrendered to His plan and am just delighting in being used by Him and growing in my faith and relationship with Him. Doesn't mean those desires for marriage are gone, but they feel so much differently than they did in other seasons. Thanks again for this encouragement. :)
Katie and Claire both of you blessed me with such confirmation. Not that the desire is gone, but I've found that in this season of yielding my desire, ministry has really accelerated for me. I just finished my first book and realized that it was something I HAD to do and that had I been cultivating courtship in preparation for marriage, my focus would likely have been different, when it needed to be on getting very CLEAR about revelations regarding writing the book. I know God has a plan, and my job is to OCCUPY until the rest of His plan is established in my life. When I read the part of the devotion that asked what chains we see that we need to see broken, I saw the chains of discontentment in singleness. Sometimes I'm great and sometimes I'm concerned. I must MAINTAIN in my heart and mind that the Father has it under control!!! My contentment has to be MORE consistent.
There's so much here!
Devote yourself to prayer with an alert mind and thankful heart. vs 7 That's a wonderful way to look at prayer.
As StephanieR said…vs 17: "Say to Archippus, be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you." We all have that responsibility… But doesn't that make you want to know Archippus's story?
And lastly.."Remember my chains."
That was sobering..so many time I read through the benedictions and it's an uplifting and encouraging reminder to walk with the Lord together. This verse represents the severity of Paul's reality.
Leah there are so many people mentioned in the Bible only by name–yes! I would love to know their stories! And are people going to remember me only by name or, like Paul, for the life I gave away for others!
It is so amazing to me that God can take a passage like this–a good-bye and speak to each of us so differently!
Three verse were pointed out to me: 8). " I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts." Maybe because I just watch a movie about Paul on Youtube the thought came to me-how far did Tychicus have to go just to encourage? I dug out my Bible map and What a shock to see this was probably a long journey–perhaps weeks, by boat and walking days. This was no "I will just text and let them know all about it!" How willing am I to do this–go out of my way just to encourage someone?
Verse 13 really convicted me: "He is always wrestling in prayer for you…" Reminds me of Jacob who wrestled with the "angel" until he was blessed (Gen. 32:24). I don't know about you but I don't "wrestle" when I am praying. Usually it is a prayer shot up heavenward with hopes that it is heard. I should be praying until I am "blessed". If I feel strongly about what I am praying I should be willing to not let it go until God answers!
Verse 17 "Tell Archippus 'See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord'. It is really hard in our day and age to tell anyone what they should be doing but I should be able to tell fellow believers, "Hey! God gave you work and you need to finish it!" I wonder how much more work for the kingdom would get done if we were bold enough to give our fellow Christians a gentle push!
Hi, Stephanie! Love what you pulled out about "wrestling" in prayer. Such a great point. I know I'm often guilty of quick prayers, instead of "wrestling" through it with God. He desires we pour our hearts out to Him, and that should be evident in our prayer life, I think! :)
This was right on time! I have been and still am guilty of saying generic prayers about 3 times a day. I need to be persistent with my prayers and hold fast.
In my study Bible notes it talks abut our speech being seasoned with salt by saying:
"Just as salt not only flavors, but prevents corruption, The Christian's speech should act not only as a blessing to others, but as a purifying influence within the decaying society of the world."
Good stuff!
Both me and my husband have been so convicted about how we are spending our time! i do my daily devos right when i get to work…but i want more, i NEED more. we go to church every Sunday, Bible study, prayer meetings…but I NEED TO GET INTO MY WORD more, i wanna thirst for this. I need to MAKE time, personal time to spend with the Lord. I need a SPIRITUAL breakthrough!
"making the best use of time" is a convicting thought to me… I tend to be frequently looking forward to opportunities down the road, leading me to unfortunately overlook or directly neglect the opportunities I have now for ministry. Paul didn't wait to correspond with these churches until he was out of prison and in a more conducive situation. The Lord has given us plenty by way of our calling to serve Him, and those principles ought to be applied regardless of our current season of life. Encouragement for me today!
as i read this morning, I felt God showing me new things from these verses, specifically:
vs. 3 "Pray for us", Paul's plead to pray for him. 2 things here for me,
*praying (regularly)for pastors, evangelists, missionaries , those who regularly "speak the mystery of the messiah"
*taking paul's example and seeking prayers from others. knowing and understanding the importance of prayers and the strength those prayers will give you to do the job before you.
often i don't make my requests for prayer, whatever the reason (not big enough, not important enough, so i really need people praying for this. . .) however, I know what comes from prayer, what strength is given. it doesn't mean i have to "go public" with my requests, but to give to fellow believers who I know will pray for me.
and then vs. 6, "speech seasoned with salt". that my message, whether spoken or written on a blog, will not be worthless or idle, but PROFITABLE and allure it's hearers to the "mystery of the messiah"
forgot to subscribe to replies :)
I agree with you so much about not presenting my requests to others. In situations like Sunday School and community group, I never want to seem like I am full of drama or complaining and I know that is a lie from the devil.
I love how practical Paul is in these verses like rattling off a "to do" list….pray for this person….welcome this person…and I know he treated prayer and welcoming others like that because he knew how important it was…those were all tasks that NEEDED to be accomplished.
Thanks for sharing what's on your heart. Making it my personal goal to be more open with others about my requests. Have a great weekend!
Sometimes I just read and reflect on the passage for quite a while before I read the study and wow what a passage it is this morning. Interestingly their were 3 verses that really spoke to me this morning and as I was dwelling on them. I read the study and it made me stop because none of them seemed to be mentioned at all! I had to go back to the passage to see where Paul talked about making the most of our time. But as I began to reflect more I realised that God was speaking to me about how to use my time in 3 specific ways (the 3 verses from the beginning!)
God wants us to make the most of our time in all 3 areas I have looked at
* our conversations with others (christians and non Christians) verse
6
* our prayer time verse 12
* our mission living out Gods purpose in our lives to completion verse 17
We serve an amazing God.
I love the three areas you pulled out, Claire! So good! I'm going to write those in my journal and reflect on them today. :) I think those three areas are such a great way to look at this passage. I definitely want to reflect on each one and honestly ask myself how I'm doing making the most of each of those.
As i read through this part of scripture, the one thing that sticks in my mind is "the whole will of God." I am reminded that God wants me to look beyond the surface, and to set my sights on him and the life that he has called me to lead. A life that is 1. fully alert and thankful, and 2. making the most of every opportunity to spread his gospel. Like Paul , and the many others mentioned who were praying, I pray that God makes us strong, and perfect, and fully confident of his will. God wants us to use our time wisely and most importantly make use of his word. Blessings on all of you!
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