Resolved

GETTING STARTED

High school cheerleading tryouts. The gym was packed with 2,500 people: classmates, friends, parents, and my college boyfriend. For two years, I had prepared for this moment: dance lessons, flexibility exercises, tumbling, over and over again. It was my last chance to achieve a childhood dream. As the crowd went silent, I froze and completely forgot the routine. Running into the locker room after the cheer ended, I was devastated. The hardest thing to do was to go back out there and finish the tryout. My friends surrounded me, prayed for me, and encouraged me. I went out with new resolve and knew God had it. I was determined to do my best to honor God, regardless of the outcome.

  • When have the prayers of others helped your resolve to live a life of faith that glorifies Jesus?

READ THE WORD: II Thessalonians 1:11-12 (ESV)

11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. What three things was Paul praying for the Christians in Thessalonica?
  2. Why did Paul say, “To this end” in verse 11? To what end did Paul hope his prayers would lead (vs. 12)?
  3. How did Paul say that the Thessalonians were made worthy? Whose power was at work and what was it in accordance with?
  4. In Paul’s prayer, he was asking for the Thessalonians to “fulfill every resolve.” To be resolved is to be firmly determined. What are you firmly determined to do or be? Does this align with Paul’s prayer? How does this change your resolutions, if at all?
  5. Ultimately, Paul’s prayer was for Christ followers to realize their purpose. What is the purpose? In what ways have you lost focus of this purpose?

RESPOND TO GOD

Paul’s love for and commitment to the Thessalonians was so strong that he consistently prayed for them. He wanted them to focus on the end goal: to glorify the Lord. He also knew it was only by God’s power, and according to the grace of God and Jesus, that they could achieve this. We cannot glorify God through our works. It is only the power of God’s grace through faith that gives us the resolve to accomplish “every good work.” Knowing others are with us, praying for us, and spurring us to keep our eyes on the ultimate goal should encourage us to continue to pursue God’s glory today.

  • Ask God to give you a resolve and passion for glorifying him in your daily life and activities.