ADORATION – Reflect on God’s Greatness
GOD IS OMNIPRESENT
God is everywhere, in and around everything, close to everyone. “‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord.”
Psalm 139:7-12
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
PRAISE THE OMNIPRESENT GOD
He is always everywhere fully present. Think of the most distant and remote place that you have travelled. God was there before you arrived. He is still there. He will always be there. He is also fully present with you now and will be fully present everywhere you go today. Acknowledge His presence right now.
CONFESSION: Confess your sins to God and receive his continued mercy.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
THANKSGIVING: Giving thanks to God for his specific blessings in our lives.
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100
SUPPLICATION: Bringing our requests to God.
- Bring your personal prayer requests to God.
- Pray for Embrace. Ask God to use their ministry to rescue unborn children.
- Ask God for opportunities to have gospel conversations with your non-believing friends.
SCRIPTURE READING:
2 Corinthians 13 New Living Translation
This is the third time I am coming to visit you (and as the Scriptures say, “The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses”). 2 I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit. Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that next time I will not spare them.
3 I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak when he deals with you; he is powerful among you. 4 Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have God’s power.
5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. 6 As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority.
7 We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come—even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority. 8 For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. 9 We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.
10 I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won’t need to deal severely with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to strengthen you, not to tear you down.
Paul’s Final Greetings
11 Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
12 Greet each other with a sacred kiss. 13 All of God’s people here send you their greetings.
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
Paul said that he prayed for their “perfection” and he encouraged them to “aim for perfection.” Some translations have restoration in place of perfection. The context here is not to become people who have reached a state of sinless perfection. This perfection in direction is about relationships. The closer we draw to Christ the better we will treat those around us. If we are not treating others with more grace, kindness, love, forgiveness, etc…then we can be sure, whatever else we think is happening…we are not growing closer to God. Perfection as a goal is not about “us” it is about how we treat others. Aim for perfection/restoration in all your relationships. Aim for ongoing health in your relationships…continually seeking to make them into the Christ-honoring, joyful things that God desires them to be.