OLD WITNESSES

PSALM 71:17-18 (MSG)

You got me when I was an unformed youth,

God, and taught me everything I know.

Now I’m telling the world your wonders;

I’ll keep at it until I’m old and gray.

LUKE 2:29-31 (CEV)

Simeon said,

"Lord, I am your servant,

and now I can die in peace,

because you have kept

your promise to me.

With my own eyes I have seen

what you have done

to save your people,

and foreign nations

will also see this."

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Even the old folk are witnesses to God's faithfulness.

PRAYER
Lord, thank you for the faithful witness of old people -- people who have been acknowledging you year after year. Forgive me for my ageist thinking which assigns significance only to youthfulness. I aspire to be a faithful witness of your faithfulness until I'm old and gray. Help me to be that. 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.

A JOURNEY

1 KINGS 19:7 (MSG)
The angel of GOD came back, shook him awake again, and said, “Get up and eat some more—you’ve got a long journey ahead of you.”

HEBREWS 12:12-13 (CEV)
Now stand up straight! Stop your knees from shaking and walk a straight path.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Prepare for a journey.

PRAYER
Merciful God, you have intervened in history and in my life to set me on the course for new life. Thank you for providing all that I need to move forward. Forgive me for my impatient "Are we there, yet?" way of thinking. Help me to embrace faith as a long journey full of wonderful adventures and challenges. I'm on the road to new life in Christ Jesus. 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.

GOD ON YOUR SIDE

PSALM 119:154 (CEB)
Argue my case and redeem me.
     Make me live again by your word.

2 THESSALONIANS 3:3 (CEB)
The Lord is faithful and will give you strength and protect you from the evil one.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
You're not alone because the Lord is on your side.

PRAYER
Faithful and trustworthy God, you stand by your people, protecting them from spiritual assault, and saving them from the influence of evil. Yet, I confess that I don't make your job easy. I act without thinking of the consequences and implications. I wander from the safe areas that you designate. Then I feel like I have to fix all the damage I've done. Keep me focused on you and your faithfulness so that I genuinely live again away from the shadow of darkness. 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.

GOD'S LOVE AND MERCY

JEREMIAH 31:20 (CEB)
Isn’t Ephraim my much-loved child?
   Don’t I utterly adore him?
Even when I scold him,
   I still hold him dear.
I yearn for him and love him deeply,
   declares the Lord.

EPHESIANS 2:4-5 (MSG)
Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us!

SUMMARY SENTENCE
We need to understand that all of God's activities are expressions of his great love and mercy for us.

PRAYER
Warmhearted God, it fills me with gratitude knowing that you welcome me into aliveness with Christ. This assures me that I am your child. I am especially grateful that you love me when I am least loveable and even when I don't love myself. Continually teach me with your warmhearted love the way to love you, others, and myself. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

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.