Wisdom and faith

Jacob said, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.” ~ Genesis 32:26 (CEB)

Then a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came behind Jesus and touched the edge of his coat. She was thinking, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”

Jesus turned and saw the woman and said, “Be encouraged, dear woman. You are made well because you believed.” And the woman was healed from that moment on. ~ Matthew 9:20-22 (NCV)

KEY IDEA:

In faith we ask for bold things from God.

PRAYER:

God, I really admire people who ask for big things from you. I tend to be way more guarded, worrying over what it will look like if you say "no" to me -- as sometimes you need to do. Give to me a combination of faith and wisdom -- wisdom to know what I should be asking of you, and faith to ask for it. I am going to wrestle with you and seek your blessing. Amen.

Death to life

Then God said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Listen to what they’re saying: ‘Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, there’s nothing left of us.’

“Therefore, prophesy. Tell them, ‘God, the Master, says: I’ll dig up your graves and bring you out alive—O my people! ~ Ezekiel 37:11-12 (MSG)

And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. ~ John 5:25 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

God is giving life to our dead selves.

PRAYER:

Lord, it appears that you have no respect for death. You want to rob the grave to restore life in us all. Forgive me when I doubt. I am so used to living in the realm of the dead that it seems normal. Grant me a fresh sense of hope along with a fresh sense of life. Because of you I am going to live. Amen.

All honor

Who compares with you among gods, O God? Who compares with you in power, in holy majesty, In awesome praises, wonder-working God? ~ Exodus 15:11 (MSG)

And we know that the Son of God came so we could recognize and understand the truth of God—what a gift!—and we are living in the Truth itself, in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. This Jesus is both True God and Real Life. Dear children, be on guard against all clever facsimiles. ~ 1 John 5:20-21  (MSG) 

KEY IDEA:

Put your trust in the one true God, who is known through Jesus Christ, and him alone.

PRAYER:

Thank you, God, for revealing your glorious self through Jesus. No one compares! I confess, though, that I push the limits and way too often rely on lesser powers to solve problems. And I tend to admire people and organizations which want my allegiance. Lord, help me to limit my allegiances to you and the forces which are aligned with you. I am going to save all honor for you. Amen.

Jesus saves

But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord raised up a rescuer to save them. ~ Judges 3: 9 (NLT)

Jesus Christ... is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. ~ Revelation 1:5-6 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Jesus saves.

PRAYER:

Almighty God, thank you for sending Jesus into the world to save us from all that is evil and deadly. I embrace him as my Savior. That, however, does not stop me from trying to fix all my problems on my own. It is such an ingrained response. Help me to set all that aside so that I can live consistently in the community of the delivered. I am going to be free from the self-help burden and more fully trust in my Savior. Amen.