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 103:1-5
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Read the Entire Psalm
Praise Him So You Will Remember – We are directed to praise three times in the first three lines of this poem. Then we are told one reason to praise, so that we don’t forget. Do not forget what he has done. Note the actions listed in these verses that God has done. Praise Him for these things and other things that come to mind. Praise Him so that you won’t forget.
Scripture Reading & Reflection
Read: John 17:20-26
20 “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. 21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them, and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they will see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the world’s foundation. 25 Righteous Father, the world has not known you. However, I have known you, and they have known that you sent me. 26 I made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them and I may be in them.”
Pray:
Father I pray in Jesus’ name through the Holy Spirit. You are the triune God: Father, Son, Spirit, blessed be your name. I cannot fully understand you, but I believe in you, and I trust you. Even as you are three distinct persons in one single being, I ask that you empower our church to be one in you. Please help us to celebrate and not be dismayed over how we are different. Please help us be patient and loving with one another, as we are all a work in progress. Please help me to be courageous and faithful to you and not seek the approval of others. Please help me to be generous and kind in my courage so that, though I do not seek the approval of others, I do seek the good of others. Make us one even as you are one. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Amen.
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 those in your life who do not know Christ. Pray for them by name. Ask God to bring them to saving faith in him.