Week 17 Day 1
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
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Reflect
The great cloud of witnesses were the people who had gone before who had lived for more than their own time. The lived in the present with the “long view.” The long view is what empowers life in the short run. How do we live with this long view? By “throwing off things that hinder and the sin that trips us up.” There are some things that are not sin but they are not helpful. If you want to run a race well you there are some things you could do, it would be allowed, but you shouldn’t do because it wouldn’t be wise. You could run carrying a large stone, but if your goal is speed you shouldn’t do that. So there are things in your life that may not be wrong but might not be best. Then in this race there are the things that are wrong, this is the sin that “trips us up” as we try to run. This is a verse about focused living. What do you want from your life? Do you want to be comfortable? Do you want to take the easiest path? Do you want to experience God in your life? Do you want the good and powerful path?
Respond
If you want to be left alone and comfortable, tell God that. But are you willing to ask him to help you become a person who doesn’t want to be left alone? Do you want to experience God more fully in your life? Tell him that. But be aware that will mean you have to move into areas that are not going to be comfortable. You will be pushed.
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:
Ephesians 6:14-18
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.