Pray:
Ask God to orient or reorient you to himself. Confess any known sin. Thank him for his forgiveness. Be still and reflect on Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to God’s word. Pray for others in your life that they too would know and love God today.
Read:
Psa. 96:1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above 3 all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Understand:
“Ascribe” means to give credit for, attribute. To ascribe to the Lord glory and strength means that we recognize he alone is glorious and he alone is powerful. The families of the nations have various gods and belief systems but the LORD (Yahweh…the Covenant God) alone has actual glory and strength.
Reflect:
Why is it sometimes so difficult to perceive of God as “glorious and powerful” in real and personal ways? Why are we so easily disoriented? Why do we so quickly “leak perspective” in the face of “glorious and powerful” people?
Apply:
From what you have just read and considered what is a real implication/application for your life today?
Live:
(Personalize this prayer for today, make it specific to the circumstances that face you.) Ask God to lead you through his Spirit as you go through your day. Ask him to bring to mind the truth of the gospel and its implications for what you will encounter today. Tell him “Yes” to his will today and ask him for his power and protection to live this “yes.” Ask him to create and reveal opportunities to proclaim the good news today.