God Speaks: A 5-Day Devotional to Hear From GodУзор

Day 5: Trained to Be Equipped for the Mission

Last but not least! Scripture doesn’t just teach, rebuke, or correct. It also trains you for godly living. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV).

Training takes commitment. The Christian life isn’t just a float-on-your-back thing. Tt’s active, sometimes even blood, sweat, and tears! Just as athletes strengthen their muscles through repetition, followers of Jesus grow stronger by practicing what they’ve learned in God’s Word.

One of the most powerful ways to practice is through prayer. “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18, NIV). Prayer keeps you connected to the source of strength. Without it, you run spiritually dry. With it, you are equipped for service, boldness, and love.

Before World War II, a Dutch man named Willem ten Boom began praying daily for the Jewish people. A generation later, his granddaughter Corrie ten Boom would hide Jews from the Nazis, survive a concentration camp, and become a global voice of forgiveness. She credited those early, faithful prayers for shaping her heart and preparing her for what was to come.

Training in righteousness begins with God’s Word and continues through a life of prayer. Even simple prayers, spoken in faith, prepare you for powerful works that God can use to transform lives.

Reflect:
Are you spiritually training today? What might change if prayer became your daily starting point?