Empowered

I will always look to you, as you stand beside me and protect me from fear. ~ Psalm 16:8 (CEV)

Because of his faith, Moses left Egypt. Moses had seen the invisible God and wasn’t afraid of the king’s anger. ~ Hebrews 11:28 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Watching God at work gives us boldness to trust him in challenging situations.

PRAYER:

Lord, you are awesome. Thank you for standing by your people even during the most difficult times. I give up way too quickly and lower my expectations of what you can accomplish. I think I do this because I have not totally immersed myself in your story. Draw me back into the story told in the Bible. Help me to see it not so much as a bunch of rules but as your empowering message. I'm going to stand with you because I am seeing that you are already there standing with me. So I have no reason to fear. Amen.

Peace keeping

Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. ~ 1 Samuel 23:16 (NLT)

Make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together. ~ Ephesians 4:3 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

Use encouraging words to keep the peace.

PRAYER:

Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace. Jonathan did it right but you are the master of peace who is redefining what peacemaking looks like. I'm stuck in the whole might is right mode. Help me to transition into becoming a person of encouraging words rather than a person of force. I want to keep the peace using the Jesus method. Amen.

God doesn't give up

The 20th Sunday after Pentecost

I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care of him. ~ Hosea 11:3 (NLT)

Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: salvation. ~ 2 Peter 3:15 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

God does not give up on us, even when we are indifferent to his saving grace.

PRAYER:

Gracious Master, thank you for not giving up on us -- especially me. I make so many mistakes and am oblivious to your guiding hand. That really needs to change. I do understand enough to know that I can't make that kind of a change on my own. I need your patient care to move me forward toward greater awareness of the salvation that has been established by Jesus. Unpack that salvation in my life so that I can celebrate your generosity. Amen.

Thank God!

Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with everything I’ve got— Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation. ~ Psalm 111:1 (MSG)

And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! ~ Colossians 3:16 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

Thank God!

PRAYER:

Lord, I'm really grateful for all that you do for me -- except when I am not. That is, I tend to forget about your kindness and generosity as I'm pursuing my own agenda. Help me to cultivate thankfulness. Refresh the song in my heart so that I'm wisely pursuing your agenda rather than my own. I'm going to sing out to you -- for you are so very generous. Amen.