ADORATION – Reflect on God’s Greatness
IMMANENCE OF GOD The literal meaning of the immanence of God is “to be within” or “near” in relation to God’s creation. Immanence is closely related to God’s omnipresence, in that God is always present within the universe, though distinct from it. God is ‘within’ the universe in that God is its sustaining cause. God is active within His Creation.
Genesis 3:9 But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”
Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
Praise God for His Immanence
God calling to Adam in the garden in Gen. 3:9 showed that God made us to be near Him. Praise God that He has drawn near to us. Praise God that He is distinct from creation but near. Give thanks to God for specific times when you experienced His immanence.
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 Youth Horizons. Ask God to use mentors and the staff at the ranch to bring children to Christ.
- Ask God to speak to you as you read the scriptures.
SCRIPTURE READING:
1 Thessalonians 1 English Standard Version
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
The Thessalonians’ Faith and Example
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
Today I’d like you to start by writing down the things that you tend to perpetually feel guilty about. Perhaps they are things you think, say or do that you wish you wouldn’t. Perhaps they are things you don’t think, say, or do that you wish you would. Maybe it is something from the recent or distant past that you just can’t shake. You have confessed a thousand times but the regret and guilt haunts you still. If you don’t have anything to write then please spend whatever time you have thanking God for this fact. It is his grace and not your own goodness that has made this so. Of course, we all have sin but it may be that you have experienced victory over continual guilt from past sin. If so, thanks be to God. If you do have things to write down, then do so now. Don’t be afraid that anyone will see them, they won’t. Be honest. Write them now. Be specific or be general, God knows your heart. Now, give them to him. Make note of this day. Refer back to it as often as you need during the days to come. You have given your guilt and regret and shame to God…he has taken it from you. It only remains for you to learn to live in his grace and love. This will take ongoing effort and prayer and practice.