Stay hopeful

But me, I’m not giving up. I’m sticking around to see what God will do. I’m waiting for God to make things right. I’m counting on God to listen to me. ~ Micah 7:7 (MSG)

Hope does not disappoint us. ~ Romans 5:5

KEY IDEA:

You will not be disappointed if you continue to put your hope in God and what he is doing.

PRAYER:

Kind God, thank you for listening to me and being concerned about the things which trouble me. I admit that I give up too quickly when you don't give me the response I want when I want it. Remind me to stay hopeful. Fill me with confidence about the outcomes you're working. You have been patient with me. I need to follow your example and learn how to be patient with you. I am confident that you will not disappoint me. Amen.

Be encouraged

Help, God—the bottom has fallen out of my life! Master, hear my cry for help! Listen hard! Open your ears! Listen to my cries for mercy. ~ Psalm 130:1-2 (MSG)

Just then Jesus spoke to them, “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” ~ Matthew 14:27 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

Be encouraged; Jesus has your back.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank you for hearing my cries for help. So often I feel alone in my pain and I give up dealing with it. Speak to me again. Encourage me so that I can move forward as one of your healthy followers. You hear my cries. Amen.

Don't give up

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! ~ Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. ~ Hebrews 6:11 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Don't give up.

PRAYER:

Lord, I am grateful for the peace that you have sent into my life. I admit that when times get tough I overlook all that you have given to me. It is tempting to find "peace" in other ways. Help me to stay the course with you. Encourage me. Show me what I need to see so that I can move forward with you. I am not going to give up. Amen.

The love priority

The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

The Lord said: I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. ~ Hosea 6:6 (NLT)

Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:13 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

God's first priority is love.

PRAYER:

God, you are love and love is the action you stress above everything else. Yet I am like most people and I prioritize the things which make me look like a good Christian. And sometimes all that religious activity drains my energy so that I have little left to spend on loving people. Show me how to navigate this problem. Help me to become your person, driven by your kind of love. I am going to make love my top priority. Amen.