START AND STAY THE COURSE

GENESIS 12:1 (ABP)
GOD said to Abram, "Leave behind your native land, your extended family, and the protection of your father’s clan. Go to the land to which I am directing you."

HEBREWS 6:12 (MSG)
Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
When God calls you to go somewhere, start and stay the course, to receive the promised rewards.

PRAYER
God, you have had your people on the go throughout history. Are you calling me to make a move? Do you want me to serve you in a different place among different people? That sounds hard. But I am going to trust you to direct me -- whether I stay here or go. 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.

BE AT PEACE

PSALM 116:7 (CEB)
I tell myself,
     You can be at peace again,
     because the Lord has been good to you.

2 THESSALONIANS 3:16 (NLT)
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God desires that we live peaceful lives.

PRAYER
God, your passion for peace is such good news for us. The world is so full of unhealthy drama and turmoil that I easily get discouraged by what's happening. And sometimes I feel like a lone powerless voice in my peacemaking efforts. Help me to recognize how you're at work making peace. Show me how to best partner with you. And please start with me. Show me how to be a peaceful person. I'm going to allow your peacemaking to become the priority 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.

TWISTED

JOB 28:28 (MSG)

Then he addressed the human race:

"Here it is!

Fear-of-the-Lord—that’s Wisdom,

and Insight means shunning evil.”

LUKE 11:35 (ABP)

Don't fool yourself into thinking that the darkness which characterizes your life is somehow light.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Don't allow your perception of reality to become so twisted that you see your evil as good and darkness as light.

PRAYER

Thank you, God, for sending your light into the world through Jesus, whom we acknowledge as Savior and Lord. We confess, though, that we are still masters of self-deception. When it advances us we embrace as necessary and good some of the things which Jesus said are contrary to him and his kingdom. Forgive us and help us to repent of this kind of self-deception. We can't make such a turn on our own.  But we know that you can turn us around and moving back toward you. 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.

HEARING FROM GOD

1 SAMUEL 9:27 (ABP)
Samuel said to Saul, “Stay here with me for a few minutes. God has given me a message that he wants me to give to you.”

MATTHEW 13:16 (ABP)
Your eyes are blessed because they see. And your ears are blessed because they hear.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
It is a blessing, privilege, and responsibility to hear from God.

PRAYER
God, you are here and you are not silent. Thank you for telling us what we need to hear and showing us what we need to see to live as your true partners. Forgive me for allowing the cacophony of the world to drown out your voice. Take me to quiet places so that I can be available to listen. I'm eager to hear and pass along your message. 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.