Week 36 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
Rom. 14:19-23 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
Reflect
Verse 22 says “So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.” “These things” is specifically referring to your own personal conviction regarding debatable matters. Paul doesn’t mean we shouldn’t talk about our differences or try to understand one another. His intention is that we should not attempt to “press” others to see things as we do if they have a personal conviction for their lives. Ironically, the weaker brother or sister who has “more” convictions about disputable matters will see themselves as being more mature because they live with more rules. The more mature believer, who experiences more freedom, must not look down on others and certainly must not try to compel others to violate their own convictions.
Respond
Do you see yourself as being more “spiritual” because you have set more boundaries in your life? The mature believer will learn to love boundaries but will not take pride in their ability to keep God’s law. The mature believer will not add more limitations to God’s boundaries than God himself has intended. Do a quick check-up. Where are you in regards to making sure you live within God’s boundaries but do not draw the circle larger or smaller than God intends?
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:
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.