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Praying 1 Thessalonians 2:4 – Approved by Being Proved
TEXT: 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (CSB) Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel…who examines our hearts.
DEVOTIONAL: Ever try to hide in your prayers from God? Have you shamefully uncovered your motives while praying, as your heart became laid bare before God? Did you hide from yourself in an foolish attempt to hide from God even while talking to Him?
Paul said, “I have been approved (dokimázō) by God”. “Approved” carries the notion of proving whether a thing or person is worthy or not, genuine. The proving is done by trial and testing. Approval does not mean, “I like that, I approve.” How are we tested? One way is seen in the verse itself – “God who examines (dokimázō) our hearts. Approved and examine are the same Greek word. Paul is saying God proved his heart and therefore approved Paul. And that leads to our prayer.
PRAYER: To the God from whom I cannot hide, thank you! Knowing that to you I am an open book; knowing you can read me, challenges me to be open to myself. If I want you to approve of me, I need to know you can prove to me if my heart is pure. Prove me oh God, to me so I can be approved by You. How can I seek clean hearts with the gospel unless you purify me! Amen.
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