Week 30 Day 3
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 the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Genesis 39:21
Reflect
Joseph experienced many injustices: betrayal, sold into slavery, recipient of racist false accusations, wrongly condemned in prison. Yet, this verse tells us God was with him and showed him steadfast love. This tells us something very unique about God’s character. God is willing to stand in solidarity with us in our suffering. He is willing to enter into our injustices. He is willing to enter into that place of suffering with us. There is no other religion in the world where God would do this. When we suffer, we don’t want a philosophical answer, we want to know that God is “with us.”
Respond
Sometimes we don’t know why God allows certain trials in our lives but we do know that he is with us. All of us have pain in our lives; for some of us it’s right in front of our faces and for others, it might be more distant, but it’s still there. Remember that God is with you. Imagine him sitting with you right now. Trust and know that he is good and faithful.
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.