PROMISE KEEPER GOD

JEREMIAH 31:33 (MSG)
This is the brand-new covenant that I will make with Israel when the time comes. I will put my law within them—write it on their hearts!—and be their God. And they will be my people.

ROMANS 9:4 (NLT)
They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God doesn't backtrack on his wonderful promises.

DAILY FODDER
What to you is the most important promise in the Bible?

PRAYER
Promise keeper God, you have been faithful throughout the ages—even giving more than promised. Yet, I so quickly forget and start assuming that everything has to revolve around what I say and think. Write your new covenant promises on my heart so that they guide all my decisions and affections. I want to be a promise keeper, too. 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 wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

TUNED IN TO GOD

ISAIAH 40:27 (MSG)
Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
“God has lost track of me.
He doesn’t care what happens to me”?
Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?

LUKE 24:25-26 (MSG)
Then he said to them, “So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
When it comes to tuning into what God is up to, we can be ridiculously dense.

DAILY FODDER
If you were to rate yourself on a scale between 1 and 10, how tuned in are you to what God is up to? (10 being very tuned in and 1 being not at all tuned in)

PRAYER
Comforter of the foolish, thank you for reminding me when my heart is slow to believe all that you have taught. You have shown me the way. You have promised me that I will share your glory. Help me to suffer over others as you have suffered over many things, including me. 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 wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

PROTECTIVE AND GUIDING PRESENCE

PSALM 46:7 (NLT)
The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.

MARK 6:34 (CEB)
When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God's compassion is evident in his protective and guiding presence. 

DAILY FODDER
How is your life changed by realizing God is present with us? 

PRAYER
Compassionate God, I'm grateful that you are here and standing watch over my life. Forgive me for my attempts to distance myself from you. It's not that I don't appreciate you but I have an independent streak that hasn't stopped. Teach me what I need to know so that my default mode of operation is to stay close to your protective and guiding presence. I know that's what I need. 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 wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.

Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen. 

BELONGING

The 8th Sunday after Pentecost

PSALM 24:1 (CEV)
The earth and everything on it,
including its people,
belong to the LORD.
The world and its people
belong to him.

EPHESIANS 2:19 (MSG)
You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
It's great to belong, especially when God is the one including us. 

DAILY FODDER
How does it make you feel knowing you are a full citizen of God's regime?

PRAYER
God, you are sovereign over everything, and hospitable, too. Thank you for the privileged place you've given to me in your world. Forgive me for neglecting that privilege or for considering it to be something it isn't. Help me to understand what it means to belong and to welcome others. Through my relationship with Christ Jesus, I'm going to live as a responsible citizen of YOUR world! 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 wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.