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Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13)

Paul more often does this: pauses to pray in the middle of a letter marking a pivot between what came before and what comes after\u2014like he does with that famous prayer in the middle of Ephesians. He does so here too\u2014after this prayer, Paul will turn to questions of living out the faith that has been found and kept by the Thessalonians, and now prayed for too.

Yesterday, Pastor Michael wrote: \u201cDespite Satan\u2019s efforts to derail the work of the gospel, the church continues to grow. Persecution cannot ruin the movement of the Spirit.\u201d \xa0This is indeed Paul\u2019s conviction. \xa0Timothy\u2019s report provided evidence of God at work, and now Paul prays for even more.

While Satan\u2019s blocking, tempting schemes loomed large at the beginning of this section, it seems the rising dawn of God\u2019s presence and providence has chased these shadows away. \xa0Not that there aren\u2019t still shadows when the sun is shining\u2014there are. \xa0Satan remains at work in the dark and shadowy places, but God\u2019s work is stronger. \xa0Far stronger. \xa0Paul is confident of this and his prayer says so.

Paul prays in a strong sort of wish. \xa0The grammar says: I pray for this and expect it to happen. \xa0Throughout the rest of the letter, you certainly get that idea. \xa0Paul will, in just a few short verses start encouraging and filling up in the Thessalonian\u2019s faith the exact things he prays for here. \xa0For their love, their holiness, and their hope in Christ\u2019s second coming. \xa0

But God\u2019s work is first. \xa0So Paul prays. \xa0He prays, though Satan has blocked the way, that God himself and Lord the Lord Jesus will clear the way. \xa0He prays that the love that he has for the Thessalonians and they for one another will not just increase, but will overflow\u2014and not just within the community, but out to everyone else around them including their enemies and persecutors. \xa0Finally, he prays that God will strengthen their hearts so that they will continue to be able to stand firm against the temptations and the persecutions, so that they will be blameless and holy\u2014totally set apart for God\u2014with a hope anchored firmly in the knowledge of Jesus coming again.\xa0

May that be our prayer as well, and May God accomplish this in each of us today. \xa0May your love increase. \xa0May your way be cleared. \xa0May you stand firm and steady in faith, being blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when the Lord Jesus comes with all his Saints.

As you journey on, go with the blessing of God:

May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together\u2014spirit, soul, and body\u2014and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he\u2019ll do it! The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you! (1 Thessalonians 5:23,24,28 The Message).