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Key Bible Verse: God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Bonus Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8

A nicely dressed young couple, whom I'll call Michelle and Steve, came forward for prayer after a Sunday service. I could tell by the moisture in her eyes that something had touched her. But he seemed to hold back a bit, not looking me in the eye.

"Would you please pray for us?" she asked.

"Certainly," I said. "What would you like me to pray about?"

"That God would bless our relationship," she replied. That line can mean anything. "Uh, before I pray," I countered, "help me with a little background. How long have you known each other?"

"A couple of years."

Without altering my inflection, I asked, "Are you living together?"

Instantly her eyelashes blinked; his head snapped up. For a second we stared at each other. Finally she answered, "Well, uh … yes, we are."

I nodded. "Okay, that puts me in sort of a bind. You want me to ask God to bless something that He's already expressed His opinion about. He's made clear in the Bible that living together outside of marriage is wrong. So I'd be wasting everybody's time to ask His help in this situation, wouldn't I?" [continued 10/12]

—Jim Cymbala in Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire

My Response: What am I asking God to bless that He's already ruled out?

Adapted from Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire (Zondervan, 1997) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Creator God, publicly uniting a man and woman for life was Your plan. Please keep me from short-changing that relationship.

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