Pray the Word with David Platt is a resource from radical.net.

First Chronicles, chapter 19, verse 13.

Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God.

And may the Lord do what seems good to him.

There's so much to learn in this little verse, specifically about how to pray, motives

and are praying.

So in this passage in First Chronicles 19, Joab is working hard to arrange the armies

for war, and he's doing so wisely, but he's also doing

so knowing that everything is ultimately in God's hands. And he's encouraging the people to be

strong, but listen to the purpose for being strong.

Be strong and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God.

Oftentimes we ask for strength, really just focused on ourselves.

We feel weak and we need strength simply for us. And yes, there's a sins in which it's good to go before God, our Father, to ask for strength simply for our own good. But what

I love about First Chronicles chapter 19, verse 13, is the exhortation to be strong here is attached to using that strength

for the sake of others.

God help me to be strong so that I can be a blessing to others, so that I can be an encouragement

to others, so that I can use the strength you provide for others good,

and ultimately for your glory, trusting that you will do ultimately what seems good to you.

So let's pray accordingly. First Chronicles 1913, what a good exhortation to us to pray for strength, not

just for our own sake, but for the sake of others. God, we confess today our weakness before

you. John 15, verse 5, is in so many ways the foundation for our praying.

Apart from you, we can do nothing.

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