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
And Jesus said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Luke 12:15
How much will be enough for you? How much health? Possessions? Pleasure? Fun? Money? Time?
How much?
For many, maybe for all of us the answer is “A little more, just a little more.” For some the answer is “A lot more.” But unless we are learning to be content with what we have right now we will never learn to be content with what get next.
“Take care”, Jesus said, “be on your guard.” Set up a constant watch over your heart, watching for all kinds of covetousness.
Do that now, take a look at your heart. (Please actually do this…take a minute and look at your own heart)
What do you see there? Do you see wide spread contentment? Then give thanks to God. Do you see wide spread discontentment? Then cry out to God for his help and mercy.
It is very important to realize that…If you are not learning to be content today you will not wake up content tomorrow. Today, right now, move in your mind and heart toward contentment. Give thanks for all that comes to your mind.
“Jesus my life does not consist of what I have, what I do, or who I know. It certainly does not consist of what I do not yet have but desire to obtain. The essence of who I am is that I am made by you for your purpose. I am your workmanship created to do what you have prepared for me to do. My life, like all things, exists for your glory. I seldom (never) feel completely content with all that you have provided for me, but I want to be. Make it so, make it more so over time…for your glory and for my own joy. Amen.”
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 Week’s Scripture Memory:
Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.