TWISTED

JOB 28:28 (MSG)

Then he addressed the human race:

"Here it is!

Fear-of-the-Lord—that’s Wisdom,

and Insight means shunning evil.”

LUKE 11:35 (ABP)

Don't fool yourself into thinking that the darkness which characterizes your life is somehow light.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Don't allow your perception of reality to become so twisted that you see your evil as good and darkness as light.

PRAYER

Thank you, God, for sending your light into the world through Jesus, whom we acknowledge as Savior and Lord. We confess, though, that we are still masters of self-deception. When it advances us we embrace as necessary and good some of the things which Jesus said are contrary to him and his kingdom. Forgive us and help us to repent of this kind of self-deception. We can't make such a turn on our own.  But we know that you can turn us around and moving back toward you. 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.

HEARING FROM GOD

1 SAMUEL 9:27 (ABP)
Samuel said to Saul, “Stay here with me for a few minutes. God has given me a message that he wants me to give to you.”

MATTHEW 13:16 (ABP)
Your eyes are blessed because they see. And your ears are blessed because they hear.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
It is a blessing, privilege, and responsibility to hear from God.

PRAYER
God, you are here and you are not silent. Thank you for telling us what we need to hear and showing us what we need to see to live as your true partners. Forgive me for allowing the cacophony of the world to drown out your voice. Take me to quiet places so that I can be available to listen. I'm eager to hear and pass along your message. 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.

RENEWAL

EZEKIEL 14:6 (CEV)
Now, Ezekiel, tell everyone in Israel:
   I am the LORD God. Stop worshiping those idols I hate so much and come back to me.

ROMANS 12:2 (NLT)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The only way that you'll mature into the new person God intends you to become is if you stop doing things the way everyone else does them and do things God's way.

PRAYER
Creator God, thank you for sending your Son into the world to renew it after we messed things up. Forgive us for holding onto the old messed-up ways of doing things -- ways that undercut your renewal. Renew my mind and heart so that I act and think differently about everything. Help me accept the idea that I'm not going to fit in to what everyone else is doing. I'm going to let you change me. 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.

CONFIDENCE

The 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

JUDGES 6:17 (ABP)
Then Gideon said to GOD, who had just commissioned him to this far-out task, “If you're really wanting me for this assignment, give me a sign that this whole thing isn't just a figment of my warped imagination and that it's really you telling me this."

1 JOHN 5:14 (CEB)
This is the confidence that we have in our relationship with God: If we ask for anything in agreement with his will, he listens to us.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God gives confidence to those who need it to carry out his assignments.

PRAYER
Dear God, it amazes me that you want to partner with us as you do your work of restoring the world. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed and baffled by the magnitude of the call. I have a hard time imagining that I can be useful. Please be extra clear as you direct me. Fill me with confidence so that I can act faithfully. I want to get this right so that Christ is honored through all I say and do. 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.