Week 49 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
Hebrews 4:14-16
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Reflect
Jesus is our High Priest. He came from heaven and returned to heaven and will return someday. In advent we remember his first coming and look forward to his second coming. The first time Christ came he experienced all of life as a human. He was tempted just as we are. You can read about Jesus temptation in Luke 4. He resisted temptation as a human man. He took on our weakness but did not sin. He is not put off by weakness but entered into it.
No one likes to be thought of as weak. Weakness is not something we value. The bible does not tell us to value weakness but the reality is, as humans, we are all weak. When we experience weakness in ourselves we run or hide. When we experience weakness in others we get annoyed or avoid them. They are weak, we don’t want to be around them. Jesus came in weakness and lived through weakness. Could weakness be the place in our lives and in the lives of others where we will experience the power of God at work? Weakness is not a curse. It is a blessing. It is an invitation for us to experience God.
Respond
Reflect on weakness in your own life. Even your physical weakness can be a way for you to experience God. Your physical weakness is a reminder that one day you will have a renewed and glorified body. Death is not the end. Choose to look for opportunities to move towards people in their weakness. Jesus associated with people of lowly position. Would you be willing to do the same if he asks you to?
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:
Isaiah 53:4-6
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid him the iniquity of us all.