Pity

Heavens and earth, be happy. Mountains, shout with joy, because the Lord comforts his people and will have pity on those who suffer. ~ Isaiah 49:13 (NCV)

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God... he freed us from sin. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:30 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Christ is evidence that God has pity on us.

PRAYER:

Thank you, God for caring about me even though I am a weak and broken person. Much of what I suffer is due to lack of wisdom and poor choices. In your pity grant me wisdom so I can make good choices. I trust that you are already in the process of doing this through the relational connection that Christ has established. Amen.

Pray

You can count on me to recognize and honor you for the rest of my life. I'm committed to maintaining a lifelong conversation with you by constantly turning to you. ~ Psalm 63:4 (ABP)

First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them. ~ 1 Timothy 2:1 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Keep in conversation with God.

PRAYER:

Lord, I'm thankful that you talk with me - -  and that you want to talk with me. I'm not always so good at keeping up a conversation. My mind drifts and I'm easily distracted -- even during good conversations. I worry over how to say things and what others think of how I am talking. I am constantly looking for affirmation and recognition. Coach me in the best ways to stay engaged in the conversation. I'm looking forward to participating in all the good you're doing in this way. Amen.

Fakes!

The Second Sunday in Advent

I am the Lord ... I expose the false prophets as liars and make fools of fortune-tellers. ~ Isaiah 44:24 (part), 25a (NLT)

My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world. ~ 1 John 4:1a (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

There is no shortage of fake God-talkers.

PRAYER:

Lord God, you are so true and so reliable. But there are so many people who talk about you who are total fakes. How can that be? I have a hard time trusting anyone who talks non-stop about you-or about themselves and their special relationship with you. I mean, having a relationship with you is important but so many of us use you to promote ourselves. Save me from becoming such a person and give me wisdom to discern between those sent with your message and those who are mostly interested in self-promotion. I am going to stick close to you and trust that you'll make everything clear. Amen.

Sorrow

Job said to God: I had only heard of you, but now I see you with my own eyes. This is why I hate myself. This is why I'm sitting in this pile of dust and ashes. I want to show you that I am a changed person with a whole new approach to you and life. ~ Job 42:5-6 (ABP)

Peter remembered Jesus’ words, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.” And Peter went out and cried uncontrollably. ~ Matthew 26:75 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

Self-awareness can be a difficult experience.

PRAYER:

Lord God, you put up with a lot to be around us. I am so unreliable. Just when I think I have life figured out I make the same old mistakes. And I feel like I am nothing. But you graciously welcome me back. Help me to realize the depths of your grace so that I can skip the drama and simply enjoy your kindness without making everything about me and my shortcomings. I'm going to live a grace-filled life. Amen.