Called

The Lord says: So now, if you faithfully obey me and stay true to my covenant, you will be my most precious possession out of all the peoples, since the whole earth belongs to me. ~ Exodus 19:5 (CEB)

We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. ~ 2 Timothy 1:9 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

Live like you belong to God as a part of his most prized possession. For that is who you are.

PRAYER:

Generous God, you have formed a special bond with us through Christ. Help me to live into the special person you have called me to be. I am way too relaxed about my calling. But I trust that together we will live into the covenant relationship that you have established. Amen.

Peace agenda

The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. ~ Isaiah 2:4 (NLT)

“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” ~ Luke 2:14 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Universal peace is a major part of God's agenda. Start with me.

PRAYER:

Lord of my life, you bless me day by day with your favor and peace. Yet I confess that my heart is filled with the fragments of anger, fear, and resentment. I want perfection and to get my own way, but you simply desire my heart. Take it and turn it into a plowshare for your work on earth. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)

Filled

The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the Lord as one. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments, they began to sing, praising the Lord: "Yes, God is good! Yes, God’s faithful love lasts forever!"

... the Lord’s glory filled God’s temple. ~ 2 Chronicles 5: 13-14 (CEB)

I pray that you and all of God’s people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep. I want you to know all about Christ’s love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is. ~ Ephesians 3:18-19 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Our goal is to be filled with all that God is.

PRAYER:

Glorious God, your love is beyond measure. And through Christ, you draw us into it at a level never before experienced. How can we be so numb to the wonder of it all? Could it be that I've given fake wonders a place in my life. Refresh your love in me so that I might be filled with your loving presence. Amen.

Light

God’s Message to the family of Israel: "Seek me and live." ~ Amos 5:4 (MSG)

As long as you have the light, believe in the light so that you might become people whose lives are determined by the light. ~ John 12:36 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

Let the light of Christ define your life.

PRAYER:

Jesus, you are the light of the world. You starred down the darkness and won an eternal victory. We can now live lives determined by your light. Yet, I'm still drawn to darkness and dark things. Even though I believe in you, what you have done, and that my future rests with you, I have not completely broken from the darkness. Grant me the courage to move forward with you -- to believe that your light is redefining life at every level. Help me to fully embrace what you have done and what you are doing so that I can live as a child of light. Amen.