Week 32 Day 5
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
Acts 3:1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer — at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
Reflect
This man wanted money, he had lost all expectations for healing. He was now living day to day…he was surviving. He wanted Peter and John to help him make it to one more meal. Then he would enter again into his begging for someone to help him survive the day. We must not take this desperate situation lightly, for a person who is trying to survive day by day it is hard to contemplate the larger picture. Thinking long term is easier on a full stomach than an empty one. Peter and John really didn’t have any money on them, however they could have gone to the Christian community and gotten some. Maybe later on they did help this man with money for food and shelter. But on this day money for one more day was not his greatest need. He was healed of his physical infirmity but this was a sign pointing to something, or someone greater. The healing of his body pointed him towards the healing of his soul.
Respond
Do you wish you had more to give to a needy world? More money, more time, more peace? You have been made an ambassador of Christ. You have been commissioned by Jesus to go and tell others of the good news of the gospel. Give money, give time, give whatever God calls you to give. But above all give the gospel to people. Pray now for those you know who are far from God. Pray that they would believe the gospel.
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 2:3-7
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.