GROWING IN WISDOM

PSALM 90:12 (ABP)
Show us how to increase in wisdom as our time here rapidly decreases.

ROMANS 14:8 (MSG)
It’s God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other.

SUMMARY SENTENCE

Use your short time here on earth to grow in wisdom, so that you're prepared to serve God forever.

DAILY FODDER
To what extent is growing in wisdom a working goal in your life? How are you doing with that?

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for yet another day to serve you and grow in your wisdom. Forgive me for taking my time here for granted. Teach me how to grow in wisdom so that that I might be better prepared to serve you here and beyond. I want to spend my remaining days accumulating divine wisdom. 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.

RECONCILIATION WITH GOD

NUMBERS 21:7 (CEV)
Some of the people went to Moses and admitted, “It was wrong of us to insult you and the Lord. Now please ask him to make these snakes go away.”

2 CORINTHIANS 5:20 (CEB)
We beg you as Christ’s representatives, “Be reconciled to God!”

SUMMARY SENTENCE

Take reconciliation with God seriously.

DAILY FODDER
God has made peace with the world through the sacrifice and resurrection of his Son Christ Jesus. What keeps you from fully receiving that peace?

PRAYER
Gracious God, you've extended a hand of peace. Forgive me for being so casual about the whole reconciliation thing. Show me what it looks like to go all the way into the water with you. Energize me to be both a recipient and an ambassador of your reconciliation. I want to shake your hand. 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.

GENEROSITY

Ash Wednesday
(the first day of Lent)

1 CHRONICLES 29:14 (NLT)
But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!

MATTHEW 10:8 (NLT)
Give as freely as you have received!

SUMMARY SENTENCE

In God's economy, generosity breeds generosity.

DAILY FODDER
How has God set you up to become a generous person?

PRAYER
Gracious God, I have nothing that can't be traced back to your generous hand. And while I like the idea of generosity I've yet to really figure out how to implement your approach to it. I need to be freed from the false notion of scarcity and tap into your abundance. I want to give as freely as I've been given to. 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.

HONORING GOD THROUGH OBEDIENCE

LEVITICUS 22:32 (CEV)
The Lord said, "Don't disgrace my holy name."

LUKE 6:46 (MSG)
Why are you so polite with me, always saying ‘Yes, sir,’ and ‘That’s right, sir,’ but never doing a thing I tell you?

SUMMARY SENTENCE

The action that most honors God is doing what he says to do.

DAILY FODDER
There are no shortcuts to honoring God. It doesn't happen through the slogan on your t-shirt or car. It doesn't just happen by really getting into the music at church. It doesn't happen by using the latest Christian phone app. As good as those things might be the thing which actually honors God is doing what he says to do.

PRAYER
Holy God, thank you for your guidance. You've made it clear that we're to love you and our neighbors. But even those simple instructions get ignored in my life. I'm so wrapped up with my own agenda for life and I'm not keen on reading instructions, anyway. Help me to prioritize your directions. I want to honor you through my obedience to you. 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.