Hear and obey

Joshua fell to his knees and bowed down to the ground. “I am your servant,” he said. “Tell me what to do.” ~ Joshua 5:14b (CEV)

The people who are really blessed are the ones who hear and obey God’s message! ~ Luke 11:28 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

The people who are really blessed are those who humble themselves enough to listen to and act on what the Lord says to do.

PRAYER:

Divine Commander, I stand ready to hear and act on your orders. I'm grateful that you are trusting me to be on your side -- especially since in spite of my good intentions, I don't always do things the way YOU want me to do them. I am inclined to take short-cuts. But I know that if you will continue to work with me that you are capable of keeping me on task. Thank you for your kindness and gracious understanding. Amen.

Unending love, kindness, and mercy

The Lord’s love never ends; his mercies never stop. ~ Lamentations 3:22a (CEV)

Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus. ~ 1 Timothy 1:14 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

Because he has an unimaginable amount of love, the Lord never stops pouring his faith, grace, and mercy into people.

PRAYER:

Lord, your kindness is without end. I'm such a mess that I definitely need your mercy and grace. Keep it coming and I'll be alright. It's all about your love. And I'm never going to forget that. Amen.

One way or the other

Elijah said: "How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!" ~ 1 Kings 18:21 (NLT)

Jesus said: Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before. ~ Mark 2:21 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

It doesn't work to try and live in both the old way and the new way. You have to make a choice.

PRAYER:

Lord,

THANKS: Thank you for giving us a choice -- a way out of the dysfunctional old life.

REGRETS: I'm one of those people who wavers back and forth between the old and the new. I cause a lot of damage to myself and others because of that.

INTERCESSION: I want to change and I need to have some help sticking with the new way.

PURPOSE: I'm no longer going to be flaky. I going to be all about following Jesus.

Amen.

Rejoice in God's gift

Rejoice in the Lord your God! ~ Joel 2:23a (NLT)

Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to help his people and has given them freedom. He has given us a powerful Savior from the family of God’s servant David. ~ Luke 1:68-69 (NCV)

KEY IDEA:

Rejoice in God's gift of a powerful Savior.

PRAYER:

Lord, I want to honor you for all your gifts -- above all that of Jesus, your only Son, whom you sent to be our Savior. I don't deserve a Savior -- especially since I am such a screw-up. But perhaps that's the point. You are so generous that you give broken and self-centered people what they don't deserve. You give us a powerful Savior who frees us from captivity to sin and brokenness. That is worth a joyous shout -- and perhaps even a Christmas carol. Amen.