Week 30 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
By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh. Romans 8:3
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. Ephesians 2:14
Reflect
The cross is where God’s retributive and restorative justice meet. Retribution has to do with punishment of sin. Restoration has to do with relationships. God’s justice carries both meanings: it’s Romans 8 and Ephesians 2. In order for God to truly be holy and righteous, sin must not go unpunished. Jesus sacrificed himself for us through his substitutionary death on the cross (Romans 8:3). At the same time, he makes us “one” and restores us to relationship with himself (Ephesians 2:14). That’s the nature of atonement. God punishes sin and makes us one (at-one-ment) with him. A cruciform view of justice includes punishment but goes beyond punishment to include the restoration and healing of relationships.
Respond
Thank God for the cross. Thank him for not only forgiving your sin but for including you in relationship with him. Is there strife in your different relationships right now? Confess sin, acknowledge where you might be in the wrong, and strive for reconciliation.
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.