Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 7:9-17
Let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
but establish the righteous.
The one who examines the thoughts and emotions
is a righteous God.
10 My shield is with God,
who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge
and a God who shows his wrath every day.
12 If anyone does not repent,
he will sharpen his sword;
he has strung his bow and made it ready.
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he tips his arrows with fire.
14 See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil,
conceives trouble, and gives birth to deceit.
15 He dug a pit and hollowed it out
but fell into the hole he had made.
16 His trouble comes back on his own head;
his own violence comes down on top of his head.
17 I will thank the Lord for his righteousness;
I will sing about the name of the Lord Most High.
Read the Entire Psalm
Thank the Lord for his righteousness. He is always morally right and justified. Thank him for being a righteous judge. Praise him for his wrath against sin and evil.
Scripture Reading & Reflection
When Jesus left they could no longer ask him directly about their questions or ask him to meet their needs. He was not physically present to their senses, so they could not have these conversations with him. Up to this point they had asked Jesus for things, and they had asked God the Father for things. Now they would ask God, in Jesus’ name, for the things they needed. In Jesus name means for his sake. Now that Jesus has gone to the Father, we all have instant, personal access to God. Jesus had not put an extra layer between us and God, rather, he is the one who has removed the barrier. Now when we pray in Jesus’ name, we are praying for Jesus’ sake, for his glory. When we go to God the Father asking that Jesus be glorified in and through us, we can be sure God will answer that prayer.
John 16:23-28
23 “In that day you will not ask me anything. Truly I tell you, anything you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. 24 Until now you have asked for nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. 25 “I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. A time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 On that day you will ask in my name, and I am not telling you that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God., 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanks to God.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for Christian Challenge. Ask God to speak to college students as they gather tonight at River. Pray that students would grow in the faith and in their devotion to Jesus.