The water

All of you who are thirsty, come to the water! ~ Isaiah 55:1 (CEB)

Jesus: Whoever drinks from the water that I will give will never be thirsty again. ~ John 4:14 (CEB)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

God is in the business of quenching our thirst -- physical and spiritual.

PRAYER

Generous God, thank you for the provisions which sustain me as a person. Forgive me for trying to quench my thirst in inappropriate soda pop ways -- ways which are pleasurable but only marginally effective for my long term health. Lead me to the water. Fill me with more of Jesus so that as a forgiven person I can share water with the thirsty. Amen.

The wrap up

We may make a lot of plans,
     but the Lord will do
          what he has decided.
~ Proverbs 19:21 (CEB)

Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. ~ 1 Peter 4:7-8 (MSG)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

In the end God gets his way, so go with it now.

PRAYER

God over the entire universe, I'm glad that you have a plan. How we're doing things -- and I include myself in that we -- isn't working out so well. Give us the humility to accept that yours is the plan that will prevail. Grant me a loving heart so that I'm in total harmony with what you're doing. I'm going to dedicate my life to serving as an operative of your coming kingdom. Amen.

Celebrate!

But the time is coming when you’re going to hear laughter and celebration, marriage festivities, people exclaiming, “Thank God-of-the-Angel-Armies. He’s so good! His love never quits...” ~ Jeremiah 33:10-11 (MSG)

Jesus said, “When you’re celebrating a wedding, you don’t skimp on the cake and wine. You feast. Later you may need to pull in your belt, but not now. As long as the bride and groom are with you, you have a good time..." ~ Mark 2:19 (MSG)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

Being with Jesus is cause enough for celebration.

PRAYER

Thank you, God, for breaking into our dark and frustrating world. I confess that I wallow in the negativity. Yes, I know the negative things are real but I tend to get stuck there. I let them suck the joy out of my life. Please refresh my perspective on what's really happening in me and around me. I want to be able to celebrate without hesitation the intervention and agenda of Christ Jesus. Amen.

New life

Plow your fields,
     scatter seeds of justice,
     and harvest faithfulness.
Worship me, the Lord,
     and I will send my saving power
     down like rain.
~ Hosea 10:12 (CEV)

Take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you. ~ Ephesians 4:24 (MSG)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

Through Christ we are able to take on a new way of living -- a way defined by God's justice and faithfulness.

PRAYER

Thank you, God, for the empowering work of Christ and the new life that is ours as we put our trust in him. I look back too much toward the old life -- savoring self-indulgent moments -- then gloating over the accomplishments that have gotten me past them. I'm stuck in the past. Help be to become forward thinking and moving so that I can fully mature into the new life of Christ. I'm going to let your character define me. Amen.