Week 28 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
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)
Reflect
Yesterday, we focused on how this passage is loaded with identity. Here, God is clearly telling His people who they are in His sight. But in the midst of the identity – and flowing out from it – is a way of life. It’s natural for it to work that way; we all live out of who we believe ourselves to be.
Here, God tells us who we are, “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own possession,” and then tells us how that should shape our way of life, “that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
As was the case with Israel, God has made us into a holy nation so that He might be glorified in the earth through us. We are His set apart people. We are the new priesthood, mediators between God and mankind. The point is this: our identity in Christ, as citizens of His Kingdom, should compel us out into God’s mission in the world
Respond
Meditate on the idea of being God’s holy nation, set apart for His purposes. Meditate on the imagery of the priesthood as mediators between God and mankind. What is a simple way you can engage with your God-given role as a priest, set apart for God’s purposes, today at your job or in your home?
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:
Philippians 4:4-8
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.