Provision

The 10th Sunday after Pentecost

When they asked for food,

    he sent more birds

    than they could eat.

God even split open a rock,

    and streams of water

    gushed into the desert.

God never forgot

his sacred promise

    to his servant Abraham.

~ Psalm 105:40-42 (CEV)

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. ~ Ephesians 1:3 (NLT)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

God provides exactly what we need.

PRAYER

Thank you, God, for all the blessings that have been poured into our lives -- food, water, protection, renewed lives through Christ Jesus. I confess that I can get gripey when you send chicken rather than steak and lobster. Help me to put my needs and your generosity in perspective. I'm going to enjoy your provision in all its unique simplicity. Amen.

Protector

I'm keeping my eyes fixed on you, GOD, confident that as I move forward you'll guide my feet around the landmines. ~ Psalm 25:15 (ABP)

Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us so that the Lord’s message will spread quickly and be honored, just like it happened with you. Pray too that we will be rescued from inappropriate and evil people since everyone that we meet won’t respond with faith. But the Lord is faithful and will give you strength and protect you from the evil one. ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 (CEB)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

God is the protector.

PRAYER

Thank you, God, for guiding me forward during this challenging time. I confess that I don't always keep my eyes fixed on you. Help me to look past the troubles and to keep my eyes locked with yours. I'm going to trust that you will protect me so that I can move forward with the confidence that comes through our Savior Christ Jesus. Amen.

Again and again

God will comfort Zion again... ~ Zechariah 1:17 (MSG)

God saved us from the threat of death, and we are sure that he will do it again and again. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:10 (CEV)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

God comes through again and again.

PRAYER

God, I get excited when I read about the ways that you have rescued people in the past. And I feel thankful when I start listing all the ways that you have come through in my own life. How is it, then, that I struggle to trust you each time I encounter a new problem -- each time sickness or injustice raise their ugly heads? Rekindle my faith so that I can apply what I've learned from the past to the current situation. And help me to share that hope with fellow strugglers. I'm going to trust that you will come through again and again. I pray in the name of Christ Jesus, who is still the hope of the world, Amen.

Grace

He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. ~ Psalm 103:10 (NLT)

We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus. ~ Acts 15:11 (NLT)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

God's way of forgiving is mind blowing.

PRAYER

Retribution. Revenge. Paybacks. Sometimes I even weave these longings into my understanding of justice. Jesus, thank you for revealing a way of forgiving that is beyond my imagination and the imagination of this old world. Surprise me with grace again and again. Give me the courage to recount to others your generosity of spirit in my life. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)