Angels

The Lord will send his angel before you... ~ Genesis 24:7b

The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross... Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you.” ~ Matthew 28:5,7 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

The Lord sends messengers to prepare the way.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for messengers who share the good news of the resurrection -- angels, women, boys, girls, men... Sometimes, like the early male disciples, I fail to pay attention to them. My failure doesn't invalidate their message. Help me to take your messengers seriously. I am going to live in light of the resurrection message. Amen.

Hold your tongue back

I told myself, “I’ll be careful not to sin by what I say, and I’ll muzzle my mouth when evil people are near.” ~ Psalm 39:1 (CEV)

My dear friends, you should be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry. ~ James 1:19 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Filter what comes from your mouth or you'll get sucked into a trap.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for giving me a good mind which I use to formulate opinions. But I need some wisdom from you because I too frequently get sucked into sharing my opinion when it would be better to stay quiet. I'm going to keep my mouth shut and let the fools trip over their words. Amen.

Trust in the love of God

And you know that the Lord has taken care of us the whole time we’ve been in the desert, just as you might carry one of your children. ~ Deuteronomy 1:31 (CEV)

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. ~ 1 John 4:16 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Trust in the love of God.

PRAYER:

Lord, we know how much you love us. We've read the Bible stories and have experienced it all ourselves. Yet we remain suspicious about you always having our best interests in mind. Save me from the fear that blocks the flow your love from filling my life with faith. I need that blockage cleared so that I can simply rest in your love. Amen.

Recognize Christ

David found strength in the Lord his God. ~ 1 Samuel 30:6

Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, “Oh, thank you, God!”... And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it. ~ Philemon 1:4,6 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

We hope that people will recognize that Christ is behind all we do and are.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for supporting me through hard times. Forgive me for taking credit for what you have done. Save me from the tendency to find strength in lesser sources. I am going to live so that my life points to Christ, the supreme being. Amen.