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Praying 1 Thessalonians 4:18 – A Verbal Hug
A Verbal Hug (A Prayer Commentary)
TEXT: “Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (CSB’17 1 Thessalonians 4:18)
DEVOTIONAL: When tragedy strikes, it can leave us speechless. Ironically we use words to say, “I have no words”. Advice give to me in such troubled times has been, “Sometimes the best thing you can do is say nothing and just give a hug”. Our power word gives us that word picture, “encourage/parakaleō” (or, “comfort”) means, “to call to one’s side”. I can visualize that as a hurg, with Paul saying, “Come here”. Except here, we know Paul is calling them to his side, giving them a verbal hug (4:13-18). We too, when left speechless can hug someone with God’s words.
PRAYER: Dear God of all comfort, may I rely upon your words more than my own. May I see Jesus’s outstretched arms on the cross as more than His crucifixion. He is welcoming all to Himself which ultimately leads beyond death to His and our resurrection. Through the one called, The Word, amen.
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