31 Days of Prayer: DAY 28

FOCUS Verse: "We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." — 2 Corinthians 4:10 (NIV)

PRAYER OF PRESENCE: 

Gracious God,
As we pause in this moment, still our minds and quiet our hearts.
Let Your Spirit fill us with courage and compassion.
Open our eyes to see Your work around us,
And guide our steps to walk in Your love and truth.
In Christ’s name, Amen.

SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

HYMN FOR REFLECTION:
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejEs7xPrKeI 

Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim
Charles Wesley, 1707–1788

1. Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim,
   and publish abroad his wonderful name;
   the name all-victorious of Jesus extol,
   his kingdom is glorious and rules over all.
2. God ruleth on high, almighty to save,
   and still he is nigh, his presence we have;
   the great congregation his triumph shall sing,
   ascribing salvation to Jesus, our King.
3. "Salvation to God, who sits on the throne!"
   Let all cry aloud and honor the Son;
   the praises of Jesus the angels proclaim,
   fall down on their faces and worship the Lamb.
4. Then let us adore and give him his right,
   all glory and power, all wisdom and might;
   all honor and blessing with angels above,
   and thanks never ceasing and infinite love.

REFLECTION

The Bible is a fascinating book, not only because it reveals to us the Word of God but also because it teaches us about the challenges and joys of being human. In the Old Testament, we see successive stories of faithfulness and failure—of individuals and communities navigating their covenant relationship with God. These narratives often focus on the collective experience of Israel, occasionally zooming in on the lives of key individuals like Abraham, Moses, Ruth, or David to highlight personal faith within a communal context.

In the New Testament, this dynamic shifts. While the community remains important, particularly in the formation of the early Church, the focus often narrows to the personal faith journeys of individuals, such as Peter, Paul, Mary Magdalene, or the Samaritan woman at the well. Through these stories, we see how faithfulness to God becomes deeply personal, rooted in individual transformation through encounters with Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The New Testament invites us to consider what it means to live faithfully as individuals within a larger body, where personal faith and communal responsibility intersect to reflect the kingdom of God.

I find great comfort and inspiration in these stories because they remind me that the problems we face in our present age are not new. This doesn’t make them any less challenging, but it reassures me that the same God who sustained the early disciples through trials and tribulations continues to journey with us today. Life often feels like a series of fragile moments, much like the “treasure in jars of clay” that Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 4:7. We carry this treasure—the light and life of Jesus—within our frail, human bodies. Yet it is precisely because of our fragility that God’s power and glory shine through.

The early disciples faced rejection, persecution, and uncertainty, but they did so with the assurance that their suffering was not in vain. Their trials became a means through which the life of Jesus was revealed to the world. Similarly, we, too, face moments when the weight of our struggles feels unbearable. Whether it’s personal loss, conflict, illness, or societal pressures, it can be easy to feel crushed and defeated. But Paul’s words remind us that while we may be “hard-pressed on every side,” we are “not crushed”; while we may feel “perplexed,” we are “not in despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8). This resilience does not come from our own strength but from the surpassing power of God at work within us.

This is a beautiful paradox: we carry the death of Jesus in our bodies so that his life may also be revealed in us. This is the mystery of the Christian journey—that our suffering and even our dying can reveal the life of Jesus to the world. Our pain is not the end of the story. Instead, it becomes the canvas on which God paints a picture of hope, renewal, and resurrection.

The story of Perpetua and Felicity, two martyrs of the Early Church, powerfully illustrates this truth. These two courageous women, one a young mother and the other her servant, faced brutal persecution for their unwavering faith in Christ. Despite threats of violence and death, they stood firm in their commitment to Jesus, even as they were separated from their families and endured unimaginable suffering. In their final moments, they carried the death of Jesus in their bodies, but their steadfast faith revealed the life of Jesus to all who witnessed their martyrdom. Their story continues to inspire believers today as a testament to the transformative power of God’s Spirit, even in the face of overwhelming trials.

Like Perpetua and Felicity, we are called to embrace the tension between our vulnerability and God’s strength. Their witness reminds us that God can use even our most painful experiences to display Christ’s light and love to the world. When we face our own struggles—whether they involve rejection, loss, or uncertainty—we, too, can look to their example of faith, courage, and trust in God’s promises.

So today, let us reflect on what it means to carry both the death and the life of Jesus within us. What are the “jars of clay” moments in your life where God’s power has been most evident? How can you, like Perpetua and Felicity, allow your experiences of pain and struggle to point others to the hope and glory of Christ? May we, like the servants of God in Wesley’s hymn, proclaim the greatness of our King, trusting that even in our frailty, God’s kingdom is revealed.

 CLOSING PRAYER:

Fortify me with the grace of your Holy Spirit and give your peace to my soul
that I may be free from all needless anxiety, solicitude, and worry.

Help me to desire always that which is pleasing and acceptable to you so that your Will may be my will.

Grant that I may rid myself of all unholy desires and that, for your love,

I may remain obscure and unknown in this world, to be known only to you.

Do not permit me to attribute to myself the good that you perform in me and through me, but rather, referring all honor to your Majesty, may I glory only in my infirmities,

so that renouncing sincerely all vainglory which comes from the world, I may aspire to that true and lasting glory which comes from you. Amen.

—Mother Cabrini (1850-1917)

WEEKLY PRACTICE: Jan 26 - 31 (Sun - Fri) 

Intercession: Considering Others in Prayer

These final days of the 31 days of prayer is a chance to build a bridge that connects the habit of prayer in many ways with the evangelistic work of all of us as people of faith. Each day, take time to pray for someone else. Do this by name. Speak or journal with a heart for wholistic health and well being in body, mind, and spirit. Consider a need or desire they have and if prompted within, intercede for them by asking for God’s divine provision in their lives. Whether you trust that prayer is all you are called to do in the moment or you feel prompted to be present in other ways such as an invitation to connect, walk with them through a difficult moment, or otherwise be the hands and feet of Christ in their lives, do so without hesitation. Have faith that God is at work in you and your prayers and that by faith your intercessions will open up the windows of heaven in the others’ lives. 

All honor and glory to God and may God bless you and keep you as you listen and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit in your prayers. Amen.