You’ve given me the shield of your salvation;
your strong hand has supported me;
your help has made me great. ~ Psalm 18:35 (CEB)
Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and his powerful strength. ~ Ephesians 6:10 (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
The Lord supports his people.
PRAYER:
Lord God, so much is topsy-turvy but you are the source of stability in my life. I don't lean on you enough because I am easily distracted and so I trip up over and over again. Hold me up even when I am clueless. I want my life to become a testimony to your faithful support. Amen.
You are merciful, and you treat people better than they deserve. So please forgive these people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt. ~ Numbers 14:19 (CEV)
Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us. ~ Matthew 6:12 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
God's way of doing things involves a heavy dose of forgiveness.
PRAYER:
Thank you, God, for forgiving me. Excuse me for living as though I can do your will and pursue your agenda without forgiving those who oppose it. Help me to so thoroughly embrace your forgiveness that it splatters onto everyone around me. I'm not going to simply receive forgiveness for myself, I am going to offer it to everyone else, too. It's the only way to do your will. Amen.
(The righteous) are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do. ~ Psalm 1:3 (NLT)
When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. ~ John 15:8 (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
True disciples are fruitful people.
PRAYER:
God, thank you for entrusting us with your work. Personally, I don't feel that my life is very fruitful. Maybe that is true or perhaps I'm blind to what you are producing. Either way I need help so that I can tune into the life of fruitfulness to which I am called as a follower of Jesus. I am going to honor you through the fruit produced in my life. Amen.
O earth, earth, earth!
Listen to this message from the Lord! ~ Jeremiah 22:29 (NLT)
Others may sleep, but we should stay awake and be alert. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Stay alert to what God has to say.
PRAYER:
Lord, I'm grateful that you talk with us. You have a a message for us. I confess that I don't listen as attentively as I could and should. Supercharge my hearing and attention span. I want to be giving to you my full and undivided attention. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
