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.