God is near

Some of you set sail in big ships; you put to sea to do business in faraway ports. Out at sea you saw God in action, saw his breathtaking ways with the ocean... So thank God for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves. ~ Psalm 107:23-24, 31 (MSG)

God made the nations so they would seek him, perhaps even reach out to him and find him. In fact, God isn’t far away from any of us. ~ Acts 17:27 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

God's activities are not confined to any single place or nation.

PRAYER:

God, your vision is so big and wide but mine is so small and narrow. Help me to look beyond my island -- my people -- my family -- my little world. Inspire me with the wonder of your love expressed throughout your big world. I want to help everyone out there discover the love of Jesus and the nearness of God. Amen.

Obeying God rather than human authorities

I praise and honor God Most High. He lives forever, and his kingdom will never end. ~ Daniel 4:34 (CEV)

We must obey God rather than any human authority. ~ Acts 5:29 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Our allegiance is first and foremost to God.

PRAYER:

Almighty God, thank you for being in charge. I acknowledge, though, that I'm under a lot of pressure to view other authorities as supreme -- family, friends, government, popular figures... Forgive me for giving in to follow them rather than you. Help me to stand up to the kings of our day as Daniel and the apostles stood up to the authorities of their day. It's all about obeying you. That's my motto for life. Amen.

God's timing

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)

As the two men were about to leave Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it’s good that we’re here. We should construct three shrines: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—but he didn’t know what he was saying. ~ Luke 9:33 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

It's easy to miss God's timing.

PRAYER:

Lord, you have your time for everything. Thankfully, you have a plan! But I'm cluelessly lost in my own world. Help me to see and sense your timing so that I'm moving with you. Amen.

Choose good

The 18th Sunday after Pentecost

Choose good instead of evil! See that justice is done. Maybe I, the Lord All-Powerful, will be kind to what’s left of your people. ~ Amos 5:15 (CEV)

But now set aside these things, such as anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene language. Don’t lie to each other. Take off the old human nature with its practices. ~ Colossians 3:8-9 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

Quit doing all the things associated with the old way of life and choose good.

PRAYER:

Lord All-Powerful, thank you for your outrageous undeserved kindness. I need help living the new way. The old way still tugs at me and I give into it at times. You tell me to set aside the old way of life. But I find that hard. It's a challenge. I need a powerful helper if I'm going to follow through on what I need to do. And I can't think of anyone or anything more powerful than you. So I am looking to you. Amen.