II Corinthians 4
NLT
1 And so, since God in His mercy has given us this wonderful ministry, we never give up. (As Tom Ford said, “I won’t back up, let up, or shut up until I am taken up”).
2 We reject all shameful and underhanded methods. We do not try to trick anyone, and we do not distort the Word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know that.
3 If the Good News we preach is veiled from anyone, it is a sign that they are perishing.
4 Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them. They don’t understand the message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
John 12:40 says: “He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them”.
5 We don’t go around preaching about ourselves; we preach Christ Jesus, the Lord. All we say about ourselves is that we are your servants because of what Jesus has done for us.
I Corinthians 9:19 says: Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made us understand that this light is the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. [Jesus said to the people, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12]
7 But this precious treasure—this light and power that now shine within us—is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.
8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit.
9 We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.
10 Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
Romans 8:17 says: Since we are his children, we will share his [God’s] treasures—for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be obvious in our dying bodies.
12 So we live in the face of death, but it has resulted in eternal life for you.
13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, and so I speak.”
14 We know that same God who raised our Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself along with you.
15 All of these things are for your benefit. And as God’s grace brings more and more people to Christ, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.
16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.
17 For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!
1 Peter 1:6-7 Be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you [God’s chosen people] to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold–and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.
And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us. Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you don’t need to hope for it. Romans 8:23-24
I PRAISE HIS NAME that we can see that day approaching.
On Thursday of this week the enemy of our lives paid me a visit….it wasn’t the first one. But as mother told me today, I was the one that gave him access. More armor is necessary than ever before. A simple morning prayer and quick “bread box” devotion just won’t cut it. This is a battle….one being waged for your life and mine. I knew when we stepped out in faith, that fiery darts would quickly head this way….but I was dealing with “hormones” and was not fully prepared for that battle. I was thinking more of “me” and not enough of “HIM”.
Jeff and I have been seeking the Lord for His will in our lives, as to where He would have us labor for His harvest. We are praying for the Bible Study that will begin on November 6 in our home. With all my heart, I want to see lives changed. Souls saved. Hearts touched. Not by us, but by the Spirit of the Most High God! I believe that the Lord is already working in our church–but not only ours! As I share with other believers they simply bubble over with the joy of what God is doing in their church. He is preparing His army! He inhabits the praises of His people. He will dwell where He is welcomed! In our homes, our churches, our businesses and most of all —our hearts.
I lift my voice and my hands toward heaven and glorify my Father….the giver of life! The lifter of heads, the soon coming King! My heart’s desire is MORE of Christ….less of me.
Jeff and Angie Knight 
October 14th, 2007 at 7:08 am
“More armor is necessary than ever before. A simple morning prayer and quick “bread box” devotion just won’t cut it.” That is so very, very true, and I needed to read it this morning. Thank you! Thanks also for your sweet comment on my “Thankful Thursday from the kitchen sink” post. 🙂 I’m hoping to post some updates on my booklist this afternoon. I’m looking forward to seeing what else you’re reading right now, too!
October 14th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
“a quick bread box devotion…” wow…THAT is so true..a daily conversation that won’t let that enemy in…He is ever trying to find that opening…the slightest ‘chink in the armor.’ I am going forward this week with that thought…no simple prayer and NO breadbox devotion..but a ‘constant conversation,’ letting HIM guide me…protecting me from all that would invade my Spirit!Loved it, you spoke to me!thank you…dance this week, dance!!peace in every way!lori
October 14th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
#4 must be remembered during intercession.#7 Amen (so be it) to that! So true.#9 remembering it is not about us but that He would be glorified through and within us.#16 Oh ya!Step back and watch . Do what is necessary and hospitable. We have journey here many times. Christ came for the sick, watch for boundaries in the group. I recommend Boundries by Townsen and Cloud. A must read so as to preserve unity. The sick have many social weakness in training and in wounds this is a helpful insight as to deal with kindness and to avoid the divisiveness of the broken in the behaviors that can so tangle things up