Today's Passage - 2 Timothy 4 12-15

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english 2 Timothy 4:12-15    I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.    When Paul was in prison, he did not forget to ask Timothy to bring the parchments, which is to bring God's word. God's word is Paul's life and strength. When you are in the midst of difficulties, you need even more to depend on God's word, because it has authority and power. It is a lamp for your feet, and even more it is a light on your path. Paul firmly believed in God's word and God's word brought him strength. We need to also live everyday depending on God's word.     How can our strength be renewed through God's word? The simplest way is through scripture prayer. This is to pray while reading God's word, turning God's word into a prayer. Choose a short verse and through prayer repeatedly recite God's word, because God's word itself has power. Isaiah 55:10-11 say, "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." God's word is like the rain coming down from heaven. It will not return to him empty. When we receive God's word through scripture prayer and proclaiming it to God, then our hearts will be like the earth being watered.     When we use the scripture prayer to recite the Scriptures, we will discover this is the easiest way to read the Bible. We only need to read aloud God's word repeatedly and we will surely get the light from the reading. Once I read in Psalm 89, "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you." The more I read it the more I am amazed because I have never seen such a clear picture of the Lord sitting on righteousness and justice and his love and faithfulness going before him. A person who comes in contact with God starts to know God through his love, yet God's faithfulness is all around him. Only when we draw often near to God can we experience his faithfulness. Do you read God's word? When you read God's word through scripture prayer, then God's word can become your help and strength.                                                       Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, I pray especially for every brother and sister who have experienced failure, weakness, and stumbling. In the victorious name of Jesus, I rebuke the spirit of depression and discouragement inside them. I ask the Lord to help them stand up once again and be instruments used by you. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!