STORY OF YOUR LIFE

PSALM 139:16 (ABP)

Way before the sperm and egg hooked up,

you, GOD, could see the layout of my life

and how it would unfold.

Even before I was born, 

you, GOD, had written out in moment-by-moment detail 

the entire story of my life.

MATTHEW 6:25 (ABP)
Stop worrying over whether you'll have enough or what will become of you.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God has written the story so you don't need to worry over the little or the big stuff of life.

PRAYER
God, it is good to know that everything will be okay. I confess, though, that sometimes I enjoy worrying. It makes me feel significant or somehow in charge of the situation. But I know that worry is outside your plan and isn't the healthiest thing for me. Help me to find faith in the midst of the story of my life. I'm going to trust you for the outcome. You write the best stories! 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.

REPRESENTATIVES OF CHRIST

ISAIAH 44:8 (MSG)
Don’t be afraid, and don’t worry:
     Haven’t I always kept you informed, told you what was going on?
You’re my eyewitnesses:
     Have you ever come across a God, a real God, other than me?

2 CORINTHIANS 5:20 (MSG)
God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
We're called to be official representatives of Christ -- sharing his life-changing message.

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for the call to represent you. It is a privilege to participate with you in what you are doing through Christ to transform the world. Forgive me for trying to make so much of what I do as your representative about myself. When I lose focus I become afraid that I'll mess things up or I start to take myself too seriously. Help me to maintain my identity as your ambassador. I'm eager to see what you are going to do in the lives around me and the world as a whole. 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.

ON TRACK

DEUTERONOMY 10:12 (MSG)
So now Israel, what do you think GOD expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve GOD, your God, with everything you have in you...

1 JOHN 2:5 (CEB)
But the love of God is truly perfected in whoever keeps his word. This is how we know we are in him.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
We can know that we're spiritually on track if we're serving God and living in the way that he sets out for us.

PRAYER
Thank you, loving God, for showing us how to live and mature in our relationship with you. I confess that I'm pretty good at tricking myself into believing I'm in good shape spiritually. I can give all the right answers and advise others on what the Bible says, all while I'm woefully off course in my own life. Don't just show me what I need to do but please take my hand and lead me forward. That's the only way that I'm going to grow into a mature, convinced, and convincing follower of 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.

PRAYER

PSALM 6:9 (CEB)
The LORD has listened to my request.
The LORD accepts my prayer.

MATTHEW 6:6 (NLT)
But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Don't let the naysaying voices (either in your head or in the community) keep you from taking prayer seriously; for God takes your prayers seriously.

PRAYER
God, at least YOU listen to me. I'm not just talking to air or a brick wall when I pray. I admit that I have moments of doubt but that's because I have some messed up expectations. I look for fireworks-type responses or flashing billboard messages. Help me to quiet myself and my expectations so that I can truly hear what you're saying. I'm going to take these conversations seriously because I know that you 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.