“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.

“But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men” (2 Timothy 3:9).

For a while, it seems that some can fight against God and seem to go toe to toe.  For all time.  God is God of all and it is He who made us and not we who made ourselves.  Do not be deceived.  The One who mocks the Lord will be revealed.  All authority belongs to Him, so do not be led by your own desires, but by the Word of the Lord who endures forever.  Let Him guide you always.

Lord, I sometimes do think I know better.  Guide me, Lord, so that I would be led only by You and by no one else.  Help me to not fall into the trap thinking that the doing of good for You is enough, rather than seeing that in all I do I should keep my eye upon You to be led by You.  You must lead and I should not live my life crying, “Look at me.”  Lead me, Lord, as the child of God You are making me to become through Christ my Savior.

Dear Lord and Savior, You know where I have gone astray.  You know where I am in folly.  You died to pave the way so that I would not live in bondage to sin, but in the freedom of life that You give. Guide me, O Lord, that I would follow after You.  Guide me in the way of living so that I always look to You as the One to sustain me in and through all things.  Lead me as I need to be led, lest I go astray.  Amen.

“Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith” (2 Timothy 3:8).

The story is of two who opposed the miracles of God that Moses displayed before Pharaoh.  Close, but not the same.  The wicked one copies, for he can do nothing truly new on his own.  He copies and perverts.  There are those who practice something close to Christian orthodoxy; close, but perverted.  Practice your righteousness and do not allow any leaven into the lump.  Do not oppose what God has given.

Lord, we all have a tendency to go our own way.  Let me not be led by my own way, nor by the wiles of the wicked one, but by the truth You have revealed once for all.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go and help me now and always to follow.  I would rather be unknown by the world while following You so that where I am known, it is seen that I am following only You.  Lead me in truth.

Lord Jesus, You have paved the way for as many as believe.  Guide me this day so that I would forever hold fast to truth.  Teach me well that I may know the little things that get sneaked in.  Let me not fake anything, but be honest, humble, and truthful in all things.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, so that I would never oppose You and always oppose the wicked ones mimicking partial truth in their schemes.  Amen.   

“For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:6-7).

Bible studies are good things, but unless they are accompanied by maturity, they do not serve their purpose.  We are to grow in faith and just doing the same thing over and over is not growing.  Do not be led astray, nor be led nowhere at all, but into the truth which is found in Christ.  Know that He who saves you has called you to come fully into the truth that makes you free now and forever.

Lord, there is that part which is my responsibility.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go and keep me on that path.  Help me to see that in You alone is all hope and an eternal future.  You have given me these things and I have need to be diligent in applying them in my daily life with the help of the Holy Spirit.  Guide me now and always Lord to follow You and apply what You give me to my life.

Thank You Lord Jesus for the goodness and mercy You give.  You make possible maturity in faith.  Lead me this day to see through those things that will hinder me.  Guide me according to Your grace to live fully today and learn the lesson that is before me.  In You alone do I have all the hope I need.  Lead me in the hope You give to be mature, caring, kind, and loving.  Amen.

“[H]aving the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people” (2 Timothy 3:5).

No matter the activity or society, there are those who seem to be pretending.  It is true amongst Christians as well.  Do not hang out with faithless people who are just going through the motions lest you be led astray.  Be guided by the goodness of the Lord and live into the life  of fellowship which You are given through faith.  Know that in the Lord there is more than enough to enliven you with everlasting life.

Lord, I do have my days which are up and down but let me never be so unengaged that I am lifeless.  Lead me, Lord, to have a faith that is alive and real.  Teach me to have a passionate faith and be compassionate.  Help me to live in the power You have given me.  You have given to each one of us all that we need to live lives of faith.  In what has already been given, awaken in me Your goodness.

Lord Jesus, the one thing even Your enemies knew was that You were passionate and had compassion.  You dealt with all others as they came along and did not exclude those whom the world would have excluded.  Lead me Lord by Your example to do the same.  Help me to become more like You each and every day.  Guide me in Your goodness to learn how to be good for others.  Amen.

“[H]eartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:3-4)

To have these attributes is to have the leisure and opportunity to have them.  Only in the last century has such a thing been possible.  We live in an age where so much is expected by so many who do so little.  What this means we will find out, but that the Lord knows all things and shares them is evident in these verses.  Look to the Lord and be faithful as He is faithful.  Be guided by His goodness and mercy.

Lord, You know all things and You know what is needed.  Guide me, Lord of life, in the way of truth so that I would forever be led by You and  do those things which are right and fitting.  Where I reflect the sinful world, slay my sins by rebuking them.  Where I think only of myself, bring me consider others.  Help me see where I am not living into the image of Christ in order that I may become a witness in a world filled with unrepentant sinners.

Lord Jesus, for sinners such as me, amidst all my selfishness, You have come so that we may have life in You.  Lead me away from my hard-hearted selfishness.  Guide me to speak only what is true.  Teach me self-control and gentleness.  Help me learn how to love my neighbor and to be content with my situation.  Teach me to be like You in all things, my Savior.  Amen.

“For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy” (2 Timothy 3:2)

This list has been around a long time.  These traits are all part of the human rebellion.  Ultimately, they speak of our rebellion against our heavenly Father.  Begin with yourself and see where the Holy Spirit would have you go to work.  Begin there and then see the signs of the age.  Yes, in the end times it will not be a good place to be.  But until then, live the gift of faith you have been given.

Lord, I easily become caught up in looking out and lamenting the younger generation.  Yet has this not been the case since fall of man?  I know on the one hand it will come to pass as Your word says, but then, I am also instructed to work out my salvation with fear and trembling knowing that You are at work in me.  Lead me to have the right attitude, O Lord, in order that I would walk with You.

Lord Jesus, You did not come into the world to judge it, but that through You all who believe would have everlasting life.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I may be guided by You and with the grace I need.  Help me to work with Your Holy Spirit so that these rebellious attitudes are not in me.  Help me to guide younger ones such that they learn respect and reverence for You.  In all things, lead me, Lord.  Amen.

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty” (2 Timothy 3:1).

Each generation has asked whether we are in the last days.  We are closer than ever, but do not worry excessively.  Live knowing that with each generation it will become more difficult.  Even amongst those who say they are Christian; we often act more like the world than like Christ.  In spite of the difficulties, live into the life which has been given you by and through faith.  Endure through the difficulties, keeping your eyes upon the prize.

Lord, You know that all things will come to an end in their time.  Grant that I would not get caught up in the speculation of times and events, but instead would do what You give me to do.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life and guide me according to Your goodness to see through the nonsense of this world.  Help me to hold fast to each day and the tasks You give for that day.

Lead me now and always, Lord, according to Your goodness and mercy.  Help me to know that in You is all goodness.  Guide me in that goodness to become like You such that I may witness to a world that does not know You.  Help me through difficult times not to chase after those who profit from proclaiming what they do not know.  Lord, You are Lord, and You alone know the end.  Keep me close to You until we meet face to face.  Amen.