LISTEN, DO, BLESSING

1 SAMUEL 12:14-15 (MSG)
If both you and your king follow GOD, no problem. GOD will be sure to save you. But if you don’t obey him and rebel against what he tells you, king or no king, you will fare no better than your fathers.

JAMES 1:25 (CEV)
But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free. God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don't just hear and forget.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Listening to God + acting on what he says = great blessing
 
DAILY FODDER
What is God's word saying to you these days?

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for all the instruction that you've  given to us. Forgive us when we treat your message as a lifeless set of rules which we use to condemn ourselves and others. Indeed, we're all inconsistent and your instructions whistle through our heads without lodging into our hearts. Slow me down so that your message sticks and becomes a part of my life. I know how things go sideways when I don't listen, so, empowered by your Spirit I'm going to listen and do. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

THE SPIRIT

EZEKIEL 37:14 (CEV)
My Spirit will give you breath, and you will live again. I will bring you home, and you will know that I have kept my promise. I, the LORD, have spoken.

2 CORINTHIANS 3:17 (CEV)
The Lord and the Spirit are one and the same, and the Lord's Spirit sets us free.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God's Spirit sets us free from everything that sucks life from us, restoring life in his people.  
 
DAILY FODDER
What is sucking life out of you? Have you asked God to set you free from such things?

PRAYER
Holy Lord, thank you for placing your life-giving Spirit within me. I often mistake real freedom as living according to my own spirit. But then I am captive to myself. Come, Holy Spirit. Resettle my heart in the promised land of your forgiving presence. My true freedom comes only from being known by you. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

GOD'S GOOD DEEDS

PSALM 103:2,3 (NLT)
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.

1 JOHN 4:10 (CEV)
Real love isn't our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Continue to remember all that God lovingly does for us.  
 
DAILY FODDER
What is the most significant thing, to date, that God has done for you? How do you celebrate that?  

PRAYER
Loving God, we can't possibly know all that you've done for us. Everything from creation, to partnering with us to oversee the creation, to the forgiveness that Christ secured through the cross—it's all a gift to be remembered and celebrated. I confess, though, that I'm easily distracted by lesser matters, and forget what's truly important. Grant me, please, an active memory and a heart eager to rejoice in your good deeds. May I never forget the good things you do for me. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

HOPE

PSALM 34:15 (MSG)
GOD keeps an eye on his friends,
his ears pick up every moan and groan.

ROMANS 12:12 (NLT)
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Let the hope you have in Christ overshadow any trouble you're experiencing. 
 
DAILY FODDER
How does it make you feel when you're in a challenging moment but you know that someone important is paying attention to your situation?

PRAYER
Lord, I'm so gratful that you notice me—especially when I'm having a hard time. Forgive me for wallowing in my pain. Recharge my batteries with the hope of Christ. I know that you not only pay attention to me when no one else does but that Christ is in the process of making all things new and righting all wrong. Your justice prevails. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.