Tuesday, May
25
-PRAYER: Lord, give me a heart which hungers and thirst after your Word.
Through what you've written, help me to see more and more of you there- to know
you, to understand you, to grasp an increasing glimpse of your heart.
Galatians
5:16-26-Examining my
own walk, do my efforts tend to be invested in only in avoiding the "bad stuff"
(sin), or am I even more motivated to think about, and strive toward, who I am
becoming (i.e. not just running from sin, but laboring to take on Christ-like
character)?
-In verses 19 through 21, Paul gives a serious warning. What
does it mean? If I accept Christ then get drunk, or fly off the handle in anger,
find myself struggling with self-gain, have I lost eternal life in God's
kingdom? Is this what Paul is saying?
-PRAYER: Jesus, your Word reminds
me that those who abide in you will live by the Spirit. And you show us in this
passage a picture of how that looks in my character. Help me Lord in all of
these fruits of the Spirit to be becoming that, particularly those where you
know I struggle.
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Wednesday, May 26
-PRAYER: God, I
sometimes seem to live my journey of faith hopelessly dependent upon my
circumstances. When my circumstances are tough, I get depressed and feel as
though you are punishing me or, worse, that you don't care. I desparately need
you to give me not only strength to endure through difficult times, but to take
on a new perspective…to see things from your point of view, and to know that you
are sovereign and you have a good plan in all circumstances.
-DEVOTIONAL: In Genesis, Abraham (who became the recipient of God's
promise to raise up a people of His own) had a son, Isaac. Isaac had two sons,
Jacob and Esau. Jacob, who became heir to the promise, had 12 sons (these became
the 12 tribes of Israel). One of those sons was Joseph. As a young man, Joseph's
brothers were jealous of him and sold him into slavery in Egypt. But Joseph
always trusted in God and was blessed. So blessed was he (the Bible tells us
that God blessed Joseph in everything he did) that through a series of
developments (some really, really tough), he rose to such success and prominence
in Egypt that he became second in power only to pharoah (the Egyptian king).
When famine struck the land of his family, Jacob (dad) sent his sons to Egypt to
get food. They went and met Joseph, who had become very powerful and who was in
charge of the stores of food. At first, Joseph's brothers did not recognize him,
though he knew who they were. Joseph, after being coy with his brothers, finally
breaks down and reveals himself to them.
Genesis
45:1-15-A lot
of "bad" things happened to Joseph when his brothers betrayed him and sold him
into slavery. What does this passage tell us about Joseph's perspective of
circumstances? -Are you facing difficult circumstances now? What is your
attitude? What is your perspective?
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Thursday, May 27
PRAYER: Lord, I confess this
challenge is harder than I dreamed. My habits and tendencies are so firmly
established, and my view of You has been so small, that I have found it
difficult to set aside even a few minutes a day to spend time in Your Word and
talking to you. And even when I do, I am so easily distracted. It is sometimes
more like a chore than a life transforming endeavor. Lord, in all the ways you
care about me and my life, help me in this above all. Lord help me be faithful
to this challenge. Give me a heart and a will to honor you in this.
-DEVOTIONAL: General Stonewall Jackson was one of the most celebrated
war hero's of the Civil War. He died from friendly fire during the Battle of
Chancerollsive. Stonewall Jackson was known perhaps even more for being a man of
tremendous faith in God. During a bloody and terrible battle, one of Jackson's
men observed him sitting calmly in the saddle of his horse, as though he were
enjoying a Sunday ride rather than being situated in the middle of a gruesome
fight. He asked General Jackson how he could remain so serene with the threat of
death so real. He famously responded: "Captain, my religious belief teaches me
to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do
not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may
overtake me." He added, after a pause, looking me full in the face: "That is the
way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave"
2 Timothy
2:8-13READ: 2
Timothy 2: 8 - 13. (Note: in verse 10 "elect" means all of those who are in
Christ)
1 Corinthians 15:
50-58-All of
life comes down to one thing: Am I in Christ? If the answer is "yes," that
changes everything about the next life and this one. -If I know that I am going
to get hit by a train tomorrow, die, and go to heaven, what am I afraid of? -How
is it then, that I allow truly little things to worry me?
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Friday,
May 28
PRAYER: [Find a quiet place where you will not be (hopefully)
interrrupted for 10 minutes]. Dear God, in Romans 8: 26-27, you spoke through
your servant Paul in giving me these words: "In the same way, the Spirit helps
us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit
himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who
searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes
for for the saints in accordance with God's will." Lord, direct my thoughts.
Direct my prayer even now. Draw me to YOU and to the conversation YOU want to
have with me.
Romans 8:
28-39DEVOTIONAL:
-We've been talking about Joseph, about suffering,
about a heavenly perspective, about looking at our very lives differently. Spend
some time with this passage. Mull it. Re-read it. Pray about it. -In what ways
does this passage encourage you? How does it challenge you?
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Saturday,
May 29
PRAYER: Pray for church, your church family, and our celebration
of community and faith tomorrow. Ask God to prepare you to connect with Him and
the family of believers deeply tomorrow.
Acts 2:
42-47-----------------------------
Sunday: May 30
PRAYER: Prayerfully reflect on your conversations during church today. Who needs
your prayers?
1 John 2: 15-17~ Philippians
3:7-11-Am I "kingdom living" or "world
living"?
Oak
Grove Community Church