Seek

In times of trouble I pray to the Lord; all night long I lift my hands in prayer, but I cannot find comfort. ~ Psalm 77:2 (GNT)

May the Lord lead your hearts to express God’s love and Christ’s endurance. ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:5 (CEB) 

KEY IDEA:

Seek the Lord and he will lead you.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for your direction. It shows how much you love us. I need to be more consistent in turning to you. I need to be expressing your love without giving up when the hard times come. I'm going to trust you to develop those qualities within me. Amen.

Repent

David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, please take away the guilt of your servant because I have done something very foolish.” ~ 2 Samuel 24:10 (CEB)

I tell you, joy breaks out in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who changes both heart and life. ~ Luke 15:10 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

The Lord gets excited when we turn from the things which are wrong and move toward him instead.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for forgiving our sins. I'm grateful for the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf to secure forgiveness and new life. I admit, though, that it is hard to turn away from sin. I'm so desperate to appear good that until someone finds out about the bad, I'm slow to allow you to change my heart and life. Please give me a new, more open, and honest attitude. I want to give the angels cause to celebrate. Amen.

Focus

If I keep my eyes on God, I won’t trip over my own feet. ~ Psalm 25:15 (MSG)

Be patient like those farmers and don’t give up. The Lord will soon be here! ~ James 5:8 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Stay focused on the Lord.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for giving me steady feet. I know that I just need to keep my eyes on you while I move along and everything will be alright. But I am so easily distracted. I want things. I want acceptance. I want recognition. And instead of focusing on you, I focus on what I want. Help me to keep my eyes on you. Shout out to me when you notice my focus drifting. I want to stay the course with you. Amen.

Solidarity

I, the Lord, have called you... You will open the eyes of the blind and set free those who sit in dark prisons. ~ Isaiah 42:6a,7 (GNT)

Remember prisoners as if you were in prison with them, and people who are mistreated as if you were in their place. ~ Hebrews 13:3 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

God has called us to have empathy with those who are suffering -- to care for them as best we can.

PRAYER:

Lord, I'm grateful that you care so much about hurting people. Because Christ was one of us you totally understand the pain of rejection and the agony of incarceration. Too many people are suffering in literal and figurative prison cells. But I'm often too busy to really care. Maybe the whole concept is too overwhelming for me. So I ask that you would give me appropriate empathy that is about the needs of others -- and not just my need to be helpful. Give me the heart of Jesus. I want to act in solidarity with those who are hurting. Amen.