Advance Every Good Purpose

March 1

Lifting our brothers and sisters in the faith in prayer is a privilege and a responsibility. Certainly the precedent for doing so is well established in the scriptures. In his letter to the Hebrews (Chapter six, verses 17, 18) Paul says, “Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of His promise, He confirmed it with an oath so…

…We who have taken hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.” Our encouragement comes most fully when we are in prayer before Him, when we are lifting His holy name in praise, for “He inhabits…” our praise (Psalm 22:3).

The closer we keep ourselves to the Source of our help, the more completely His help can be manifested in our circumstances and in the circumstances of those for whom we pray. In II Thessalonians 1:11, Paul affirms, “We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.”

This brief verse acknowledges the propensity of believers to slip away from the fervency of our initial commitment and our need for His help to maintain it. His intention for people of faith is also addressed here—that every good purpose our hearts strive to faithfully fulfill may be advanced by His power at work within us. May our prayers toward His end be ever lifted to His throne.