“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

A crown is that which is given you.  No king ever deserved to be king, they were crowned king.  We are given the righteousness of Christ by His merit.  Live under the yolk of gentle Christ, for He gives His righteousness to those who believe.  Know that in Him is all hope and an eternal future.  Be guided in the goodness of Christ our Savior to walk humbly and joyfully in His salvation.

Lord teach me to love You and to look forward to Your glorious appearing.  Guide me in all goodness so that I would forever be in Your arms of love.  You have granted these things by Your merit and called us all into the righteousness that You give by grace.  Help me never to lose sight of the goodness You have given me by faith.  Keep my eyes looking to You always.

Lord Jesus, You have come into this world with the invitation that as many as believe would not perish but have everlasting life.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth in order that I would look forward in love to the crown of righteousness which You will give to all who love the Father.  Guide me in this upward way today and every day so that I might live into this life You are giving me.  Be with me now and always beloved Lord.  Amen.   

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Can you say what Paul said?  The goal of your faith should be to be able to say the same thing.  We must fight against the forces of wickedness in this world.  We must continue running to win the prize.  We must keep the faith.  These are not poetic words only, but the truth of how we are to life this life of faith that we have been given.  Come then and live into the promised life which is yours in Christ.

Lord, You know where I struggle and stop fighting, stop walking, and stop living by faith.  Grant that I would have the fortitude to hold fast and strengthen what faith remains.  Grant that I would look to You and see that my faith is in You and that You will lift it up in me so that I may hold fast and continue the fight and run the race.  Keep my eyes upon You, O Lord, in order that I would remain faithful.

Lord Jesus, You know what it is to press forward in this crazy rebellious world.  Hold me fast to You so that I would not seek what I think is right, but follow You always, the One who is Right.  You are the Truth.  In You alone is the good way of life.  Guide me now and always, Lord Jesus, to seek You and be strengthened for the battle of the day.  Your Word is a light to my path and a lamp to my feet.  Let them ever keep on the path and press on in running the race.  Amen.

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come” (2 Timothy 4:6).

There are times when you feel the world pressing in.  But your feelings are just that, feelings.  The Lord is still Lord of all and His promise to you is forever.  Come then and live in the promise of the Lord.  Be guided by His mercy and grace.  Yes, you will feel the pressure of this world, but be led by the truth of the One who fulfills His word and not by your feelings.  The Lord knows your times and will be with you.

Lord, You know there are times when I feel like Paul.  The world presses in and I feel like I am being poured out.  In those times, let me look to You and see that You too have been willingly poured out for our sake.  Guide me, O Lord, in order that I may know the fulness of the hope You give through grace.  Guide me in Your goodness to see past these times and live into the eternal life You promise.

Lord Jesus, You went to the cross to free us from sin and death.  The suffering You endured is beyond anyone’s ability to know.  We each suffer in our own way – as You said we would – so help all who suffer to look to You and see the hope that You give.  In You is all hope and nothing is able to separate us from that hope.  Guide me, Lord, in the hope which is mine in and through You.  Amen.

“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5).

Each person has a call and a ministry.  Ministry is not just for the ordained.  Walk in the ministry the Lord has given You.  Walk in your baptism, which was the Lord’s first call to you.  Know that you have been called and placed in a ministry by the One who is the author and finisher of your faith.  Be guided by Him and not tossed about by the winds of this world or its lies.

Lord, Help me clearly see those things You have given me to do.  Let me know that You are a God of purpose and that You have given me calling in this life as I prepare for the life to come.  Guide me now and always, Lord, so that I may walk humbly with You, my Savior, doing what You give me to do.  Keep my mind clear in order that I may walk in truth, understanding and wisdom as You lead me.

Lord Jesus, how can I compare the cost to myself when I look at You.  You bore the brunt of the suffering for our sake.  Lead me, Lord, the way You know I need to go.  Guide me according to Your principles.  In and through all things, help me to see that You, Lord, are the One who makes all ministry possible.  In the call You have given me and in the ministry which is mine, lead me always!  Amen.

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

The tug-of-war has been around from the beginning.  The truth of the Gospel is objective truth.  There are parts we like, sure, but those other parts about dying to self and suffering we do not like.  We would rather be told lies that make us feel good rather than hear the truth which will set us free and make us good.  This is the state of the rebellious mind.  Be led by the Lord and the truth and not by this world and its lies.

Lord, You know where I am conflicted and need to fight against this world’s temptations.  Lead me in the way of truth and, no matter the cost, help me stay on the path of truth.  You have given me Your Word.  Help me keep Your Word in my heart.  Do not let me seek just what I want but help me hold fast to what I need.  I need You Lord and only in You is there hope for a good life now and  eternity later.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the truth, for You are truth.  You have called me into You that I may know truth.  Let me not chase after the fables of this age, but walk, no matter the cost, in the way of Your goodness.  Guide me this day, Lord, and keep me from those temptations that are all around me.  Let my ears not itch but humbly hear the Good News of You.  Amen.

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:1-2).

Listen to these words.  Somehow, if we say something that another does not want to hear, we are claimed to be hating them.  One who speaks lies, hates.  Speak truth and whether another likes what you are saying is not your problem.  Speak truth, for there is only One who is our judge.  So speak as to please Him above all others in this world.  Be ready to always speak the truth of the salvation which is in Christ alone.

Lord, You alone are the Savior of the world.  There are those who do not want to hear the message of truth.  Guide me, Lord, to live in the truth You have revealed.  Help me to always be ready to speak the truth You have given me.  Grant that I would be bold, patient, gentle and true to You when I share Your Word.  You know what needs to happen in every circumstance.  Guide me to be ready to act for and by Your Word.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that all who believe would not perish but have everlasting life.  Guide me, O Lord, into the everlasting life You give me through grace.  Make me always ready to share the life You have given me in order that others may join in this life.  You who are my savior and judge, correct me daily so that I may be ready, willing, and joyfully, in blessed assurance, look forward to the day when You will judge me.  Amen.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

We know that all Scripture speaks of Christ (John 5:39).  Here we hear that all Scripture is profitable.  Those who tell you Scripture is useless defy God.  Is this not what Scripture is about?  Does it not teach us truth?  Do not listen to those who hate the Lord, but to the Word which is from the Lord.  By being a diligent student of the word, you will learn and be prepared for the good work the Lord intends in your life.

Lord, help me to profit by applying these principles to my life.  You have guided me in truth, now lead me in action.  You know where I need to implement these things in my life.  You even know where things are not as they should be.  In all things, complete me for Your purpose so that I would do Your will on earth as it is done in heaven.  Put my heart and mind where it needs to be for these things to happen.

Lord Jesus, send Your Spirit into my heart and search me.  Where I am deficient in Your Word, fill me.  Where I need a lesson applied, remind me of what You have said.  Where I need to act, send me so that I may do what is pleasing in the Father’s sight.  You are the author of my faith.  Write Your word upon my heart in order that I would profit by Your Word, a profit which is Yours, in my doing what is pleasing to You.  Amen.

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:14-15).

In our age, so many grow up learning the faith only to later deny it.  This is the way of the world, but it does not need to be the way you live.  You have been called with a holy calling and you have learned what the truth is.  Will you live into that truth, or be pulled away by the insanity of this world which denies objective truth?   Become wise for your sake and for the sake of others.

Lord, what great mystery You present here.  There are those who learn and then abandon what they have learned.  There are those who hear a few words and believe.  Jesus prayed in the Garden and gave thanks for not losing one.  In the mystery of the faith unfolding before me, keep my eye on the prize.  You have told me that if I believe in You I would not perish, but have everlasting life.  Guide me into that life, Lord.

Lord Jesus, help my unbelief.  You know the things I have learned.  You know the things I need to unlearn.  You know where I need to be more like You.  You know where I am far from You.  You know what needs to happen so that my faith would be made complete.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life in order that I may now and always be in the grip of Your grace and mercy.  Amen. 

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:12-13).

It is not easy living the faith.  Not just those on the outside, but the ones who do not believe and roam on the inside make it difficult.  They live by just enough (or off of the backs of the faithful).  Live as one who believes and believe the truth you have been given.  Jesus is Lord and He has come so that all who believe would not perish, but have everlasting life.  Live the good who is the Lord.

Lord, keep me from the deceptions of this age.  So many pretend, play, and do not care about truth.  Guide me Lord in order that I would now and always live according to Your Word and not according to those who do not follow You.  Let me not be an imposter, but instead, mimic You in all things and learn from You how to live this life that You have given me.  Guide me Jesus into all truth.

Lord Jesus, You died so that I might live freely.  Guide me Lord in the way of truth.  Lead me according to Your Word so that I would see where those who are deceivers are deceiving.  In all things, grant me the grace and mercy You give to know that in You alone is all true hope.  In that hope, and regardless of the persecution I face, help me to be faithful.  Teach me Your righteousness, O Lord.  Amen.

“You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra – which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me” (2 Timothy 3:10-11).

Whom do you follow?  Who has been an example to you of how to live?  Are you just doing what you do because the world is directing you, or are you intentional about the direction you are moving?  Do not be led by the world, but by the Lord.  He will show you the way of everlasting life.  He will guide you into goodness through His mercy and grace.  Come to Him and let Him be your leader.

Lord, I do find that I am often prone to wandering.  Keep me from being aimless in life.  Guide me in Your goodness to see that in You is all hope and an eternal future.  Lead me according to the precepts You have given once, for all.  Send my way those who will encourage me in the proper way of life.  Rescue me from all harm and danger.  Guide me, Lord, in the goodness of Your grace.

Thank You Lord Jesus for being my mentor. Thank You for suffering for all of our sakes.  Guide me now and always so that I would hold fast to the truth You have revealed once for all.  Help me stand firm through those times of temptation that will come.  Keep me steadfast in You, O Lord.  Increase my faith, strengthen my walk, grant me patience, and help me through all sufferings in order that I may look to You and walk by faith through all things that come my way.  Amen.