SHINING

The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

PSALM 80:19 (ABP)

O GOD, commander-in-chief of heaven's army, renew our strength. 

Brighten our day with your smile and we will again be safe.

LUKE 1:78-79 (CEV)
God's love and kindness
   will shine upon us
like the sun that rises
   in the sky.
On us who live
   in the dark shadow
      of death
   this light will shine
      to guide us
   into a life of peace.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God's lovingkindness radiates the blessing that propels us forward.

PRAYER
Gracious God, you blast your people with blessings that keep us moving forward in peace. Pull my head from the sand so that I can see the radiant light you're sending our way. I want to move ahead even during turbulent times. 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.

ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF FIGHTING

1 SAMUEL 17:45 (CEV)
David answered:
You've come out to fight me with a sword and a spear and a dagger. But I've come out to fight you in the name of the Lord All-Powerful.

ROMANS 12:2 (ABP)
Don’t get suckered into doing things the way that the rest of the world operates.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
As Christians, we're called to fight our battles in an alternative way that makes no sense to the unbelieving world around us.

PRAYER
You, O God, are the dominant all-powerful being of the universe -- a force to be reckoned with. Yet, because your way of doing things is so different it is incomprehensible to the world around us. Even I fool myself into thinking that I can best do your work using the world's ways. Rearm me with a fresh perspective on reality and how you are transforming it through Christ. I want my ways to reflect his way of taking on the opposition. 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.

FRUITFULNESS

PSALM 1:3 (ABP)
Right-living people are like the ever-green trees which grow along the riverbank. Over the years they are consistently fruitful, thriving through all they do.

PHILIPPIANS 1:9, 11 (NLT)
I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding... May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation -- the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ -- for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Aim for fruitfulness.

PRAYER
God, you are the ultimate arborist. Your trees are consistently fruitful. I confess that I spend a lot of time and energy trying to make things happen but that there is little fruit. I need your pruning and an infusion of your vitamins so that I'm growing according to your purposes. Beyond everything else I want to add to your reputation through the fruit in my life. 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.

TRUE HAPPINESS

PSALM 4:7 (CEV)
You brought me more happiness
than a rich harvest of grain and grapes.

ROMANS 14:17 (CEV)
God's kingdom isn't about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Being well-fed is wonderful but true happiness is a more developed gift from God.

PRAYER
God, I'm grateful for all the good things you provide. I'm well-fed and I have a lot of meaningful interaction in my life. Yet, I confess that I still get stuck pursuing shallow forms of happiness in lieu of mature joy. Redirect my energy and fill my life with your shalom so that in my contentment I'm truly happy. I want to become a person of great depth. 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.