Week 6 Day 2
I. Prayer to enter the Lord’s presence:
Be still for a moment. “Lord, I give the day that is now past to you. It is yours. I give the day that is to come to you; help me to see where you are working and to join you there. Speak to me during these moments. I commit them and myself to you.”
II. Prayer of Confession:
“Lord, you are faithful to forgive me and cleanse me of my sin when I confess it to you. I confess my sin(s) of ______________. Thank you for forgiveness.” (1 John 1:9)
III. Prayer of Thanksgiving:
Choose to be thankful, speak out loud of what God has done.
“Thank you, Father, for _________________. Fill my heart and my mouth with gratitude throughout this day.”
IV. Scripture Reflection
Read:
Judges 21:25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.
Ruth 1:1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab.
Reflect:
Think about how the book of Judges ends and the book of Ruth begins. The book of Ruth is set in the very same time and place as the Judges. It begins with a difficult time for a family and if you read on you will see that things become much worse for them. But their difficult circumstances are not because of their own sin, they are worse because of circumstances they cannot control. The time and place of Ruth is the same as that of the Judges, but the outcomes will be very different. Unlike the people of Judges, the characters in Ruth will not do as they see fit. They don’t suffer because of their sin but even in their difficulties they trust God. They will sacrifice, they will love God and others…they will be faithful.
Respond:
It is likely you have some circumstances in your life that are difficult. Most people do. Set your attention and energy on what you can control not on what you can’t. You can control whether you will be faithful to trust God and love others in the midst of your circumstances. Confess your faith in God right now and confess your commitment to be found faithful regardless of circumstances.
V. Prayer for others:
Pray specifically for the concerns of your life and the lives of others.
VI. Prayer of commitment:
“Lord God, I commit to love you with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength and with all my mind and to love my neighbor as myself. Empower me today to love you and others with everything that I am.” (Luke 10:27)
This Month’s Scripture Memory:
Psalm 23:1-6
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.