Author: Lori Casto

Therefore comfort each other and edify (instruct, teach, inform, educate) one another, just as you also are doing. And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:11-19  * Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (V. 11 NIV)

• Be encouragement & comfort to anyone who needs it.
• If you have the ability to instruct, do so
• Live peacefully/ in unity
• Pursue what is good for you and everyone in your influence
• Rejoice, pray, & give thanks always
• Stay away from evil
• Lift up those serving God in authority & think highly of them & respectfully

Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.  Acts 4:29-31

Peter and John had been put in jail overnight because a lame man was healed in Jesus’ name and they were preaching about Jesus. They were released from jail but warned not to continue preaching. Five-thousand people had already been converted, and miracles were happening.  Obviously, Peter and John didn’t head the warning. Instead, they prayed that everyone would have boldness in speaking about Jesus, and that signs and wonders would occur in Jesus’ name. They were all filled with The Holy Spirit and were able to speak God’s word with boldness.

God’s great church was growing. Peter and John wanted those they preached to not only to proclaim Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but once converted, continue spreading the gospel. They didn’t just want those converted to spread the gospel with boldness, Peter and John wanted them to be so bold that through the name Jesus, signs and wonders would occur and be seen. Through Holy boldness, the name of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit, the church would continue to grow.

The prayer in Acts 4:29 is powerful. This prayer can be prayed over Christians daily.  Signs and wonders weren’t meant only for the church in its infancy. Through the name of Jesus with the power of The Holy Spirit at work as we submit to His leading and guiding, miracles can and do still happen.

I want to fully grasp the power of Jesus Name and His Holy Spirit at work in my life. I never want to shorten God’s hand.

Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.  Acts 4:29-31

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

I’ve been walking while carrying one 3-pound weight in each hand. They aren’t heavy.  They do, however, become heavier the steeper the hill, or the longer I carry them. Often, I go on a 3 mile walk and put the weight down at the halfway point. It’s truly amazing how much easier my walk becomes when I put down weights. Suddenly I have a bounce in my step. I can walk faster, and the hills seem so much easier.

When I carry my weight, I can’t help but think of the life weights I tend to pick up. Often, I think I can handle a situation on my own, so I carry the weight by myself because it doesn’t seem very heavy. Since it’s not very heavy, I see another situation that needs my attention, so I pick up more weight. Before long, I find myself carrying the weight of the world.

Before I realize it, the situations I keep carrying become more difficult. Life’s rain comes. Then, I find myself walking around in the mud from the rain of life. I’m carrying so much weight I begin to sink. It’s a vicious cycle.

It never has to be this way. The writer in Hebrews tells us to lay down the weight. Laying weight down is just as important as laying sin down. We don’t have to walk around with the weight of the world on our shoulders. We are clearly instructed to lay the weight down. Better yet, Jesus is walking right beside us. We can simply hand the weights to Him. Who better to trust with our weights than the one who took on the sins of the world to save us from ours?

It’s so much easier to run our race with endurance if we put the weight down. What weight are you carrying? Isn’t it time you put it down? How will you Devote2day?

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:7-12

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:13-14

 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive that your joy may be full. John 16:24

“Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:31-34

Telling someone not to worry when they are going through a difficult time can come across a little uncaring, it can even seem hypocritical. He who hasn’t worried please step forward.

Yet, during the “sermon on the mount”, Jesus addresses the subject of worry, and He instructs us not to. His Father knows exactly what we need when we need it. Jesus tells us to seek first the kingdom of God instead. I suppose if we are busy seeking God and His righteousness first, we won’t have time to worry.

If we seek God and His righteousness first, we have a greater opportunity to become more like the one we are seeking. The one we are endeavoring to seek first doesn’t worry.

Earlier in the same scripture passage, Jesus asked this question:

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (V. 27)

I think we all know the answer to the above question. In fact, concern or care escalates to worry, worry to anxiety and anxiety to fear. Sometimes people even get ulcers over chronic worries.  1 Peter 5:7 says … cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

What burden, worry, care, or anxiety are you carrying around? Isn’t it time you cast your care on Him? Maybe you’ve given it to God already, but you’ve picked it back up? Today let’s seek Him first and cast our cares on Him.

How will you devote2day?