A Prayer For Comfort And Strength

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

As Paul was writing to the young church at Thessalonica, he was concerned about the persecution and false teachers that inevitably would come their way. Paul never sugarcoated true Christian discipleship. He wanted more than anything for Christians to be prepared to face trials for Christ’s sake. This prayer reveals a fatherly concern—expressed urgently because he was unable to be at their side. Paul prayed that God himself would comfort and strengthen them whenever they stood up for right living and against false teaching.

God’s grace is for all believers. We, too, can approach God with confidence, asking for God’s comfort and strength. He is faithful.

• Dear Lord Jesus Christ, comfort and strengthen us to do and say what is right . . .