PRAYING

AMOS 7:2-3 (MSG)
I called out, “GOD, my Master! Excuse me, but what’s going to come of Jacob? He’s so small.”

GOD gave in.

“It won’t happen,” he said.

1 TIMOTHY 2:1 (CEV)
First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Prioritize prayer, for God is eager to bless.

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for being available to us. I confess that I've created a world for myself that is so small that I only rarely think about praying for others. Expand my vision. Reformat my heart. I'm going to prioritize prayer for everyone. Amen.

ACTIONS

The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

PSALM 82:3 (NLT)
Give justice to the poor and the orphan;
uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.

1 JOHN 3:18 (NLT)
Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Talk less about how much you care and do more to prove it.

PRAYER
Loving God, you showed us what you're about by sending your Son to live among us and die for us. I confess that I've gotten into the habit of trying to make things right through my Facebook posts and am not so quick to back those words up with actions. Help me to reprioritize actions over words. I'm going to follow Christ, who is the living Word, in backing up my words with genuine actions. Amen.

YOUR WORDS

GENESIS 50:21 (ABP)
Joseph spoke kindly to his worried brothers, "Relax, I'll look out for you and your families."

EPHESIANS 4:29 (ABP)
Watch your words. Don't let anything foul or hurtful come out of your mouth. Instead, use your words to extend grace and build others up.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Ask yourself, "Am I using words to cut others down or build them up?"

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for the gift of speech. I admit that I'm not always kind with my words. Sometimes they just slip out before I can control them. Slow me down so that I'm thinking before speaking. I'm going to allow your Spirit to work in me so that my words convey only your grace. Amen.

PONDER

PSALM 119:148 (CEV)
I lie awake at night,
thinking of your promises.

LUKE 2:19 (CEV)
Mary kept thinking about all this and wondering what it meant.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The model believer ponders the words and activity of God.

PRAYER
God, one of the great privileges in my life has been to see you at work. There are things I can't explain otherwise. Yet, I still allow unhealthy thoughts to live in my head. Nudge them out so that I'm musing on you 24/7. Even when I'm unable to sleep I'm going to go back over in my mind your words and how I've seen them worked out. Amen.