Week 49 Day 4
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
Matthew 1:18-23
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel” – which means God with us.
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
Some people would say the virgin birth is a myth. It is a cleverly invented story spread throughout church history to convince people that Jesus is God. The reality is that all people live by faith. They have faith in the God of the bible revealed most clearly in the person of Jesus or they have faith in someone or something else. Your faith is not weakness. You faith is not a crutch. Your faith is not wishful thinking to get you through hard times. Your faith is grounded in the reality of the Bible. The bible proves itself over and over. It is accurate in prediction. Jesus was prophesied throughout the Old Testament and he came just as the prophets said. The bible is accurate in description. The history described throughout the bible lines up with what archaeologist find in the world. Many people have claimed that Luke, the writer in the New Testament was not a good historian. Discoveries have been found to back up what Luke claims.
The bible is accurate in prescription. When it gives us instructions those instructions give us information to experience a good life. Culture at large might have you think that your faith is a crutch. Your faith is not weakness. Your faith is reasonable.
Respond
Think through the basic foundations of your faith. Jesus lived a sinless life. Jesus died because of our sin. Jesus rose again. Jesus will return and we will live with him forever in glorified bodies.
Praise God that he did not leave us without hope in this world. Your faith is a sure hope.
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.