PAY ATTENTION

The 20th Sunday after Pentecost

PSALM 50:16-17 (MSG)
Next, God calls up the wicked:
   “What are you up to, quoting my laws,
   talking like we are good friends?
   You never answer the door when I call;
   you treat my words like garbage.

JAMES 1:25 (MSG)
But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Don't let your focus drift from doing what God has said to do.

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for so clearly spelling out your expectations of us. Forgive us for playing with your words so that they no longer mean what you said. Help me to pay closer attention to you and your message. I'm going to stay focused on living the way that you want me to live. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

LOOKING IN THE RIGHT PLACE

2 CHRONICLES 20:12 (CEB)
We don’t know what to do, and so we are looking to you for help.

HEBREWS 12:2 (ABP)
We are looking to you, Jesus, the expert trailblazer who brings our faith to the place of complete perfection.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Look to Jesus to get you to where you need to be.

PRAYER
Jesus, we are so grateful for your sacrifice as you cut the perfect path for us to escape the grasp of sin and death. Forgive me for panicking when lesser challenges overwhelm me. Help me to stay the course you've cut. I'm going to allow your perfect resurrected life to lead me to my perfect resurrection destination. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

DEALING WITH DIFFICULTIES

ISAIAH 61:1,3 (NLT)

The Lord has chosen and sent me

to tell the oppressed

the good news,

to heal the brokenhearted... 

He will give a crown of beauty for ashes,

a joyous blessing instead of mourning,

festive praise instead of despair.

LUKE 15:21-22 (CEV)
The son said, “Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son.”

But his father said to the servants, “Hurry and bring the best clothes and put them on him.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
In his mercy God flips despair into joy.

PRAYER
God, you turn deperate moments into joyous hours. Forgive me for all the times I fail to trust you and get stuck in despair. Refresh my faith so that I can confidently tackle the difficulties I'm facing. I'm going to have faith in you and your mercy. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

COMFORTING

ISAIAH 12:1 (MSG)
I thank you, God.
You were angry
but your anger wasn’t forever.
You withdrew your anger
and moved in and comforted me.

MATTHEW 9:13 (MSG)
Jesus said, "‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders."

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Jesus afflicts the comfortable and comforts the afflicted.

PRAYER
Jesus, you show up to wrap your arms around me when I need you the most. Forgive me for assuming that your genuine attention means I'm more privileged than everyone else. Help me to embrace the vastness of your mercy. I'm going to partner with you in comforting those who need it. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.