JOY THROUGH OBEDIENCE

PSALM 119:14 (CEV)
   Obeying your instructions
      brings as much happiness
      as being rich.

JOHN 15:10-11 (MSG)
   If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.
   “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.

 

SUMMARY SENTENCE

We stay connected to Christ and experience his joy by doing what he asks.

DAILY FODDER
The psalmist says, "Obeying your instructions brings as much happiness as being rich." How can this be? Have you found it true in your life?

PRAYER
True Vine, day after day you bless me with the gift of eternal life by inviting me to abide in your love that my joy may be made complete. I confess it is so difficult for me to submit to your pruning. Cleanse me, purify me, and put my priorities in right order. Bring joy in this process. 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

MINISTERS

ISAIAH 61:6 (ABP)
You will be called priests of GOD,
    ministers who serve our God.

1 CORINTHIANS 4:1 (CEV)
Think of us as servants of Christ who have been given the work of explaining God's mysterious ways.

SUMMARY SENTENCE

Whether clergy or laypeople, our collective calling is to serve the Lord by representing him to the world. 

DAILY FODDER
What is one thing you do each day as an act of service to the Lord?

PRAYER
Jesus, our high priest, you represent us to God, keeping that relationship alive. And you've called us to serve you by representing you to the world. But I'm easily distracted from my calling. Forgive me and give me a heart for those who need help as they struggle with your mysterious ways. I'm going to find my joy in serving you in this way. 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

PEACE

ISAIAH 26:12 (MSG)
God, order a peaceful and whole life for us
because everything we’ve done, you’ve done for us.

2 CORINTHIANS13:11 (NLT)
Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Prioritize peace and harmony if you want to live in the presence of the loving God who values peace. 

DAILY FODDER
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me,
Let this be the moment now.
With ev'ry step I take
Let this be my solemn vow;
To take each moment and live
Each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.

("Let There Be Peace on Earth" by Jill Jackson-Miller and Sy Miller, © 1955, 1983 Jan-Lee Music)

PRAYER
Prince of Peace, you came into the world to restore our relationship with God and to establish a new kind of peace—a peace that doesn't depend on power and violence. But we've ignored this side of your mission and have at times attempted to bring about your reign through coercion and force. Forgive us for that. Restore us to one another and the world which feels abused by our ungodly approach. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

SURPRISE!

ISAIAH 45:15 (NLT)
Truly, O God of Israel, our Savior,
you work in mysterious ways.

EPHESIANS 3:8-9 (NLT)
Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. I was chosen to explain to everyone is mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

SUMMARY SENTENCE

God's ways are always going to be somewhat myterious to us—and thus surprising. 

DAILY FODDER
Does it bother you that God has a mysterious side that we can never fully know? 

PRAYER
Great God, you are full of secrets that are always going to be beyond me. Forgive me for pretending that I know more about you than I do. Help me to accept your myterious ways as normal. I'm going to revel in the surprises. 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.