Week 18 Day 4
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
Gen 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it
Reflect
This verse is part of what is called the “Creation Mandate” or “Great Mandate.” It along with the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19,20 and the Great Commandment of Matthew 22:37-40 form the three “greats” of the Christian’s life. We are to know and love God and make God’s love known to others. We do this through evangelism and discipleship and also through the normal affairs of our lives. As we do good work in our day to day lives we are acting as God’s representative image bearers in the world.
Respond
Consider the creative work you will do today. Teaching, leading, caring for the needs of others, designing, building, repairing, writing. Your job, whatever it is, is creative. You will act as an image bearer of God today. Pay attention to this. Rejoice in this.
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.