Week 6 Day 5
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:
Isaiah 46:10-11 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.
Ruth 1:16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
Reflect:
God’s sovereign purposes will always prevail. There is no human choice that can thwart them. Humans choices are the way God chooses to tie his purposes together. There is a tension here but there is no contradiction. The Bible is not confused on this but we often are. We believe it must be either God is sovereign or we are responsible to choose. The fact is God is sovereign and we are responsible to choose. Those who joyfully embrace these twin facts move farther into the reality and goodness of God over time. Those who do sit and watch as God moves on without them.
Respond:
Confess (say out loud or in your mind) the truth of Isaiah 46 “God you make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. You say: My purpose will stand, and you will do all that you please. 11 From the east you summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What you have said, that will you bring about; what you have planned, that will you do.” Now move into the day with a commitment to be faithful to all God has for you to do today. Practice living the reality that God is sovereign and your choices matter.
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.