The Power of the Gospel

  
² We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, ³ remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, ⁴ knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. ⁵ For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
⁶ And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷ so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. ⁸ For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. ⁹ For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-10, New King James Version)

I am continually reminded that Jesus Christ is in the business of radically changing lives as I watch my husband of nearly 15 years be continually transformed before my very eyes. He has been saved now for a little over a year and in the last 30 days I have seen the most growth in him as he has committed to 40 days of prayer and fasting.

I, many times over the years, felt as though my unbelieving friends could not be convinced that Jesus Christ is the one true God but after having a conversation with one of them recently the Holy Spirit reminded me that He is the only God who is in the business of radically changing lives.  I am very blessed to have a direct view of His transformation power as I have been living with a new believer.  What an amazing God we serve.  I love Him more and more everyday!

My husband has been humbly coming to me and asking me to forgive him of many past offenses and all though I know that my part in the process is minimal at this point I know that God heard years and years of heart cries and I can say that He has answered more than I could have ever hoped for and He continues to baffle my mind.

So be encouraged this day if you are praying for someone and take heart that God is hearing and is faithful to answer your prayers on your behalf.

¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. (James 5:15-17, New King James Version)