BUILDING OUT YOUR FAITH

JEREMIAH 50:5 (TCEB)
They’ll face Jerusalem as they pray,

Asking God to show them how to get there.

Then they’ll make an agreement with the Lord

That will never end—

A covenant no one will ever forget.

2 PETER 1:5-7 (MSG)
So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others.

THE ESSENCE
Build out your faith. 

DAILY FODDER
When you read the list of essential qualities of a spiritual house in 2 Peter 1:5-7, which one is your primary focus these days? Which ones have you more or less mastered? 

PRAYER
Loving God, thank you for turning my face toward you. You are the source of all good gifts — faith, resilience, friendship, and love that moves mountains. I gladly receive your everlasting promise. Thank you for intervening when I've wandered. You set me on a sunlit path, your way of blessing a broken world that needs your enduring care. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

FORGIVENESS

Ascension Day

Proverbs 23:17 (GNT)
Don't be envious of sinful people; let reverence for the Lord be the concern of your life.

Luke 24:46-48 (TCEB)
Jesus said, “So you can see now that it was written a long time ago that the Messiah had to suffer like this and rise from the dead on the third day.

“It was written, too, that there’s a message to deliver to people all over the world, starting in Jerusalem. The message comes with the Messiah’s authority: Stop sinning, express regret for sins committed, and accept forgiveness. You are the witnesses of what has happened here."

THE ESSENCE
Reject sinfulness and live into the resurrection life. 

DAILY FODDER
We embrace Jesus and his message by rejecting sin, and in doing so we become a part of his new world order based on forgiveness. 

PRAYER
Merciful God, I am grateful that you have established a new world order based on the forgiveness Jesus obtained. I admit that I'm not always quick to live into that forgivenss, let alone act as a witness to it. It's hard to acknowledge the sinfulness of some aspects of my life. Help me to get real so that I can fully and consistently embrace your forgiveness. I am thankful that your Holy Spirit is active in my life bringing all this to fruition. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

IN HIS HANDS

JOB 12:10 (TCEB)
He sustains the life of every living thing.
He holds the next breath
Of every creature that breathes.

LUKE 23:46 (MSG)
Jesus called loudly, "Father, I place my life in your hands!" Then he breathed his last.

THE ESSENCE
All life comes from and ends up in the hands of God. 

DAILY FODDER
A song to sing throughout today:

He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got the whole world in his hands.

PRAYER
Creator God, thank you for sustaining our lives until that moment when it is time for them to end. I confess that I think and live as though I have more control of my fututre than I do. Help me to become comfortable with the idea that the length of my life doesn't matter so much when I realize that it's all in your loving hands anyway. Just as Jesus placed his life in your hands help me to do the same — starting now. Amen. 

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

POWERFUL PRAYER

PSALM 102:17 (ABP)
God listens to the prayers of impoverished people; he attends to them without prejudice.

JAMES 5:16 (TCEB)
There is incredible power in the persistent prayer of a person devoted to God.

THE ESSENCE
Whoever you are and whatever your life situation, there is tremendous benefit to persistent prayer. 

DAILY FODDER
Why would God pay attention to both those who are devoted to him and those who seem to be naturally less-blessed (even those who are poor because of their own irresponsible actions)?

PRAYER
Merciful God, I'm grateful that you are listening to the prayers of everyone — regardless of circumstances. Forgive me for thinking that I somehow deserve a premium place in the front of the line, just because your grace has already given me your ear. Help me to see the needs of others around me. Show me how I might find the answer to my prayers by responding with you to the cries of the needy. It is an honor to be your prayer partner. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.