God empowers us

With God’s help, I can do amazing things -- like leap tall buildings in a single bound. ~ Psalm 18:29 (ABP)

Every God-begotten person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. ~ 1 John 5:4 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

God's power is greater than we realize. We tap into it through faith.

PRAYER:

Thank you, God, for the victory of Christ Jesus who conquered sin and death at the cross and resurrection. Thank you for making his power available to us as we put our trust in him. Sometimes I'm afraid of the evil in this world. I get anxious that the power of evil is too great. Relieve me of my fears and help me to trust you so that I can face evil without fear. I'm expecting to win out over the world’s ways by using my faith to join Jesus' victory. He's the one! Amen.

Breaking sin

And in one day I will take away the sin of this land. ~ Zechariah 3:9 (NCV)

Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so we would stop living for sin and start living for what is right. ~ 1 Peter 2:24 (NCV)

KEY IDEA:

Through Christ, God wipes away sin so that we can start to live clean lives.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dealing with our sin problem. You have rendered sin powerless -- except I somehow still manage to allow it to have power over me. Go figure. I need to have you align my life with the reality of the cross and the resurrection so that sin loses its grip on me and I can live a Christ-right life. Amen.

Actions speak louder than words.

The 8th Sunday after Pentecost

Don’t trust the lies of people who say, “This is the Temple of the Lord. This is the Temple of the Lord. This is the Temple of the Lord!” You must change your lives and do what is right. Be fair to each other. ~ Jeremiah 7:4-5 (NCV)

For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. ~ 1 Corinthians 4:20 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Actions speak louder than words.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for your consistency. Your actions and your words line up perfectly. That's not true for me. I talk in such a way to make things sound like I'm better than I am. Lot's of us come to believe our own deceptions. We've come to think that because we say something it must be true. Clear our heads and help us to get back on track. We need to have more godly action and fewer God words. Amen.

Weak and vulnerable

You’ve made my days so short; my lifetime is like nothing in your eyes. Yes, a human life is nothing but a puff of air! ~ Psalm 39:5 (CEB)

Father, I don’t ask you to take my followers out of the world, but keep them safe from the evil one. ~ John 17:15 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

We need to trust God because we are by nature weak and vulnerable.

PRAYER:

Strong God, it is embarrassing to admit it but I am weak and vulnerable. Fortunately, you take our weaknesses and vulnerabilities and use them to build us up -- if we are willing to acknowledge our need. Help me to accept my need for a Savior. I mean, I've said that I need Jesus to save me but to actually admit that moment by moment is a challenge for me. Rescue me from the kind of thinking which refuses to admit weakness. That kind of thinking is from the devil himself. And I renounce the devil, all his works, and all his empty show. Amen.

God responds

Who is it that feeds the ravens when they wander about hungry, when their young cry to me for food? ~ Job 38:41 (GNT)

Everyone who calls, "Help, God!" gets help. ~ Romans 10:12 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

You should expect a response from God when you call out to him for help.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for being so responsive to our needs. I don't call quickly enough to you when I need help. That is because I'm embarrassed that I can't always fix things on my own. I need you to fix me so that I'm more willing to trust you with my problems. I do know that you are eager to use my difficult times to strengthen me and to help me trust you for even greater things. I'm going to call you first. Amen.

Obeying

Listen to this: obeying is better than sacrificing... ~ 1 Samuel 15:22 (CEB)

Jesus said, “...blessed are those who hear the teaching of God and obey it.” ~ Luke 11:28 (NCV)

KEY IDEA:

God blesses those who obey his instructions.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for blessing us so much. I know that you are eager to bless obedient people. I want to be more obedient. In my mind that is my intention. But there are so many distractions and I too easily give in to the other voices which want my attention. Help me to focus on your voice and actually doing what you want me to do -- not just intending to do it. I know that I am totally needing your grace to do what you want and what is the best for me. Amen.

Together we praise

The whole choir blesses God. Like a fountain of praise, Israel blesses God. ~ Psalm 68:26 (MSG)

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ Romans 15:5-6 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Our goal as believers is to join together to praise God as a harmonious choir.

PRAYER:

Lord, you are worthy of all praise and honor. It's easy for me to say that. But sometimes it's not so easy to be praising you with all those other people around. I don't like the way that do music. Some of it is too old and boring. Some of it is too loud and annoying. They wave their hands and dance around. To my way of thinking this isn't the right way to honor you! But maybe the most important thing is that we work together to worship you. Maybe that's what brings you the most honor. Help me to adjust my worship goals and expectations. WE'RE going to give praise and glory to God. Amen.

The Lord defeats sorrow.

Lord, you saved me from death. You stopped my eyes from crying; you kept me from being defeated. ~ Psalm 116:8 (NCV)

In fact, he was so sick that he nearly died. But God had mercy on him—and not just on him but also on me, because his death would have caused me great sorrow. ~ Philippians 2:27 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

The Lord defeats sorrow.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for being present with me when things make me really sad. You have had mercy on me, too. Since you are here I need you to help me focus less on the sorrow in my life. I don't want to deny those sad things happen. But sometimes I let those things define my life -- consume all my energy. Hold my hand. Make me strong. Fill me with your divine energy and confidence so that I can stand up and move forward. All glory to Christ Jesus who defeats death and all its allies. Amen.

Pray for leaders

I’ll give you good shepherd-rulers who rule my way, who rule you with intelligence and wisdom. ~ Jeremiah 3:15 (MSG)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

Ask God for wise leaders.

PRAYER:

Lord, you are the good shepherd -- the greatest leader ever. Thank you for appointing wise people to lead us -- if we'll ask. I confess, though, that it is far easier to complain -- to whine and moan -- about the leaders we have. Help me to change that -- to more often keep my mouth shut -- and to pray that the leaders would receive a miraculous dose of your wisdom. I am starting that right now -- asking you to fill those who lead with extreme wisdom and solid faith in you. Amen.

Love talk

The 7th Sunday after Pentecost

Don’t go on and on, talking so proudly, spouting arrogance from your mouth, because the Lord is the God who knows, and he weighs every act. ~ 1 Samuel 2:3 (CEB)

Our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action. ~ 1 John 3:18 (GNT)

KEY IDEA:

The kind of love that the Lord recognizes is the kind which has more action than words.

PRAYER:

Lord, you created the universe through your Word. So you know the true power of words. We, however, and I'm thinking of me, are too casual with our words. We like to think that if we say a lot or write a lot on Facebook that we're pretty good people. But you know what is inside us and how it needs to come out to be real. Help me to focus more on loving actions and less on words that draw attention to me. I'm going to act with love -- the same as Jesus my sacrificing Savior. Amen.

Unfit?

We are unfit to worship you; each of our good deeds is merely a filthy rag. ~ Isaiah 64:6 (CEV)

The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered that the Lord had said, “Before a rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter went out and cried hard. ~ Luke 22:61-62 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Apart from the grace of God we can't be consistently good enough to make ourselves fit to follow Christ.

PRAYER:

Lord, it is amazing that you would have anything to do with us. No matter how hard we try we always fall short in righteousness. I usually end up looking silly when I try to impress you (and others) with how good I am. Douse me with your grace -- wash the filth away from my body, mind, heart, and soul. I want to be able to serve you and follow Christ Jesus. He is the one who turns self-focused losers into Jesus-honoring winners. Amen.

Living the life

God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! ~ Psalm 118:26 (CEV)

God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. ~ 1 John 4:9 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Jesus is the blessed one sent from God to bring us life.

PRAYER:

Blessed Jesus, thank you for leaving your safe and secure heavenly throne to come here and be with us. You are such a great friend. Even more, you are a great Savior -- sacrificing your life to bring us the kind of life that we don't really deserve. You are merciful and generous. But I am slow to respond and still seek after things which have nothing to do with the life you offer. Steer me in a healthy direction so that I can start living the life. Amen.

God responds

O Lord, you show mercy to those who have no one else to turn to. ~ Hosea 14:3 (GNT)

The Beginning and Ending, the First and Final One, the Once Dead and Then Come Alive, speaks: “I can see your pain and poverty—constant pain, dire poverty—but I also see your wealth. ~ Revelation 2:8-9 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

No matter how hopeless you are God will respond to you and your need.

PRAYER:

Gracious and responsive God, thank you for seeing and understanding all the pain in my life. There is so much hurt that I don't understand it all. All I can really do is turn to you. You have experienced the pain through your Son Christ Jesus. So you know what I'm going through. But because Christ broke through the pain and death barrier you know how to lead me through it and past it. Help me to trust you to take care of it. Amen.

Jesus is our healer.

I am God your healer. ~ Exodus 15:26 (MSG)

By his wounds you are healed. ~ 1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Jesus is our healer.

PRAYER:

Merciful God, thank you for sending Jesus into the world to heal us of the disease we call sin. It's good to be well. Although, I'm not as healthy as I make myself out to be. I still hold onto some of the aspects of the disease with which you have already dealt. I need your help in making a total break from everything that is unhealthy. I'm looking forward to living as someone who has been healed by the best doctor of all. Amen.

Small to big

From now on every road you travel
Will take you to God.
Follow the Covenant signs;
Read the charted directions.
~ Psalm 25:10 (MSG)

Anyone who can be trusted in little matters can also be trusted in important matters. But anyone who is dishonest in little matters will be dishonest in important matters. ~ Luke 16:10 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Faithfulness in small matters is a great predictor of faithfulness in larger matters. So begin by paying attention to the small seemingly insignificant things.

PRAYER:

Lord, I get discouraged when I'm not given more responsibility or power. I know that I can do better than most people at handling the big things. I know that while I haven't done so well with a lot of the small things, if you give me a chance with the big stuff I'll really rise to the occasion. You have to give me the chance to prove myself. Lord, show me if there is something wrong with how I'm seeing all this. And set me on the right road. Amen.

To the nations

He will speak peace to the nations. ~ Zechariah 9:10 (CEB)

In every country God accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right. You know the message that God has sent to the people of Israel is the Good News that peace has come through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lord of all people! ~ Acts 10:35-36 (NCV)

KEY IDEA:

Jesus' message of peace is for the people of all nations.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, you are over all creation. Your message is for people from everywhere and you want to bring peace to all these people. I've heard this so much over the years that the awesomeness of this message doesn't grab me as much as it should. Shake me from my indifference and send me out to tell people the good news. I'm going to be a messenger of your peace. Amen.

God sustains his people.

The 6th Sunday after Pentecost

My honor and salvation come from God. ~ Psalm 62:7 (NCV)

I have prayed for you that your faith won’t fail. ~ Luke 22:32 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

God sustains his people.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, it seems that my faith is always on the brink of failure. There are just so many challenges. I get discouraged. Pray for me as you prayed for Peter so that my faith can remain strong. I know that the only way it will happen is if it all comes through you. I am depending on you alone. And I am grateful for your dependability. Amen.

God leads his people

Moses said to the Lord: "And remember that this nation is your very own people." ~ Exodus 33:13 (NLT)

He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Whenever he has gathered all of his sheep, he goes before them and they follow him, because they know his voice. ~ John 10:3-4 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

God leads people.

PRAYER:

All competent God, thank you for being personally involved with people. You are a hands-on leader. I confess that I'm not easy to lead. But that doesn't stop you from calling me to follow you. Give me, please, the extra help I need to stick close behind you. With your enabling power, I will do my best to follow. Amen.

Righteous future

God’s salvation is very close to those who honor him so that his glory can live in our land. Faithful love and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed. ~ Psalm 85:9-10 (CEB)

But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. ~ 2 Peter 3:13 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

The lives we live now are formed by the anticipation we have for a new heaven and a new earth -- which will be full of God's righteousness.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for your promise. I confess that I'm a bit jaded about the future. It's hard to believe that things will change. Please give me eyes of faith so that I can see your presence and your progress. I'm looking forward to living here with you in your renewed-by-Christ creation. Amen.

Seeing God through Jesus

But how could God possibly live on earth? ~ 1 Kings 8:27 (CEB)

No one has ever seen God. But God the only Son is very close to the Father, and he has shown us what God is like. ~ John 1:18 (NCV)

KEY IDEA:

We see God through Jesus, who is God living among us.

PRAYER:

Thank you, God, for sending Jesus to live among us. You reveal yourself most fully through him. Keep me focused on him so that I can more completely know you. It's 100% all about Jesus. Amen.

The Spirit and salvation

When I pour my Spirit upon the house of Israel, I won’t hide my face from them again. This is what the Lord God says. ~ Ezekiel 39:29 (CEB)

Christ also brought you the truth, which is the good news about how you can be saved. You put your faith in Christ and were given the promised Holy Spirit to show that you belong to God. ~ Ephesians 1:13 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives shows that we are his people.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for saving me. And thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to live in me. You did this even though my faith is still weak and needs to grow stronger. So I am asking that your Spirit would continue to grow my faith. I want my life to more closely resemble who I am in Christ Jesus the Savior -- a saved person. Amen.

Mighty Rock

Be my mighty rock, the place where I can always run for protection. Save me by your command! You are my mighty rock and my fortress. ~ Psalm 71:3 (CEV)

After Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. Everyone cried and hugged and kissed him. They were especially sad because Paul had told them, “You will never see me again.”

Then they went with him to the ship. ~ Acts 20:36-38 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Jesus is the high rock of safety to which we should turn when life feels overwhelming.

PRAYER:

Lord, there is so much transition in life. And there is so much opposition. Sometimes it all feels very disorienting. I put on a good face to hide my fear. Help me to turn to you for help rather than trying to weather the storms by myself. You want to protect us -- to save us -- so that we can sail forward -- sailing under the wind provided by your Holy Spirit. You are my solid and mighty rock. Amen.

The unseen word

First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don’t see. ~ Genesis 1:1 (MSG)

By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see. ~ Hebrews 11:3 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

God spoke everything into existence so we should put our trust in him above all else.

PRAYER:

Creator God, you are awesome. I confess that at times I live as though I'm the center of the universe and that everything should be according to my word. Please strengthen my connection with Christ Jesus so that I can start to keep the roles straight. I'm going to pay attention to your word -- your voice -- above all others. Amen.

God's mercy

The 5th Sunday after Pentecost

Sing and shout for joy, people of Israel! Rejoice with all your heart, Jerusalem! The Lord has stopped your punishment... ~ Zephaniah 3:14-15 (GNT)

It was Jesus, a descendant of David, whom God made the Savior of the people of Israel, as he had promised. ~ Acts 13:23 (GNT)

KEY IDEA:

Jesus saves us from judgment because God is merciful. Rejoice!

PRAYER:

Lord, you have found a way to save us from the punishment we deserve. I'm grateful for your mercy. Help me to share that mercy with others who are unaware and are living in fear of God. I'm going to live as a joyful witness of Jesus -- who is the ultimate carrier of God's mercy. Amen.

Celebrate

This is the day the Lord acted; we will rejoice and celebrate in it! ~ Psalm 118:24 (CEB)

But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. ~ Luke 15:22-24 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

We celebrate God's kindness.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for acting on our behalf and then throwing a party to celebrate. You are generous. I'm a bit stingy -- slow to get excited about your grace. I hold back. Free me to join the party. I don't want to be like the older brother in the prodigal son story. Amen.

Lost and Found

Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind, and the powerful are not what they appear to be. If you weigh them on the scales, together they are lighter than a breath of air. ~ Psalm 62:9 (NLT)

The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost. ~ Luke 19:10 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Jesus is seeking lost and "worthless" people to give them lives of significance in his kingdom.

PRAYER:

Lord, I'm amazed that you'd build your kingdom using the lost and "worthless." Thank you for including me. I am such a person. I know that I'm important to you but I feel insignificant and worth no more that a breath of air. Forgive me for thinking that way. And help me to accept your attention as an affirmation of your desire and willingness to improve my life. I'm going to live as a person found by Jesus. Amen.

Stand firm

The Lord has stopped your punishment; he has removed all your enemies. The Lord, the king of Israel, is with you; there is no reason now to be afraid. ~ Zephaniah 3:15 (GNT)

Keep alert. Be firm in your faith. Stay brave and strong. ~ 1 Corinthians 16:13 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Stay on task because God is with you.

PRAYER:

Lord, I'm thankful that you are with me. I'm not exactly where I want to be but I know that you are here with me anyway. My mind and sense of being tend to drift. I lose focus, grow weak, and get involved in things that have nothing to do with my faith. I'm not afraid of anyone right now -- apart from myself and my own weaknesses. Help me to stand firm with Jesus. I'm going to stay on task. Amen.

Commands

You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands. ~ Psalm 119:73 (NLT)

Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:4-5 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

God has given us his incredible life-changing commandments.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for giving me directions for my life. But I'm not good at following directions. Please give me the sense to follow your commands. I'm going to grow into living a life of free and open access to you -- that which has come through Jesus. Amen.

Singing to the Lord

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I’m still alive. ~ Psalm 104:33 (CEB)

When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart. ~ Ephesians 5:19 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Healthy Christians love to sing and praise the Lord.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for giving me a song worth singing. I may not be the best of singers -- and I might not sing as much as I should -- but I think you deserve a song from me and all the other believers. Help me to choose my songs wisely. I want to offer you the best music I can. Amen.

Day of the Lord

The 7th Sunday after Pentecost

The Lord thunders commands to his army. The troops that obey him are many and mighty. How terrible is the day of the Lord! Who will survive it?

"But even now," says the Lord, "repent sincerely and return to me with fasting and weeping and mourning." ~ Joel 2:11-12 (GNT)

The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. ~ Romans 13:12 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

It's time to make some changes because the judgment day of the Lord is coming soon.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for promising to return. I'm not sure that I'm ready, though. There are things that need to change -- lots of small things -- perhaps a few big things. I'm not ready to face you. I need help changing. Start wherever you want with me. You know me better than I know myself. I just want to be among "the troops that obey him." Amen.

Rescued for a purpose

God, you pulled me out of the grave, gave me another chance at life when I was down-and-out. ~ Psalm 30:3 (MSG)

He rescued us from the control of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. ~ Colossians 1:13 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

God has saved us from the dark powers associated with death in order to give us a chance to live now according to the kingdom of Jesus.

PRAYER:

Thank you, God, for the rescue. I confess that I'm inclined to leave it all at that -- me rescued -- to pretend that that is the whole story. But you rescue people for a purpose -- your purpose. Help me to make Jesus' purpose my only purpose. I'm going to live according to the kingdom of Jesus. Amen.