Sunday Morning Devotional: Week 31

Your Weekly Rest and Reset

I hope you have had a chance to read some of the offerings this past week from an old family friend, Augustus Merriweather. (Click here to read his posts.) He’s quite a fellow and I’m honored to have him writing here on the website. Enjoy and may the Lord bless you this week.

Prayer is not an argument with God to persuade him to move things our way, but an exercise by which we are enabled by his Spirit to move ourselves his way. (Leonard Ravenhill)

This Week’s Scripture

·         Acts 10:34-43
·         Psalm 118:1-24
·         Colossians 3:1-4
·         John 20:1-18

Adoration

Psalm 118:8-9
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.

Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart (verses 1-5)
Rejoice, ye pure in heart; rejoice give thanks and sing;
your glorious banner wave on high, the cross of Christ your King.
Praise God who reigns on high, the Lord whom we adore,
the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God forever more.
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, give thanks and sing.
(Edward H. Plumptre)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.

Confession

To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:43)

Lord, through the resurrection of Christ you freed us from the powers of darkness and evil. In Christ, you opened the way for us to enter your Holy Kingdom. Forgive us when we have failed to walk where you would send us, to love when our loving could have made a difference, or to be your voice of peace in the world today. In Christ we pray. Amen. (James R. Wilson)

As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Thanksgiving

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have not only raised our Lord from the dead, but you have raised me as well. Therefore, you have called me to seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at your right hand. Thank you for such a glorious, yet humbling command. You have also called me to set my mind on things above. Please help me in this endeavor as I am inclined to set my mind on the temporal and fallen things of this world. But when you remind me that I have died to such things and that my life is now hidden with Christ, I can’t help but rejoice and give you glory. For Christ is my very life and when he appears, I too will appear with him in glory. Father, this is more than I can comprehend, but I am joyfully overwhelmed by what I do understand of it. For all of this and more, I give you thanks. Amen. (based on Colossians 3:1-4)

Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life.
 
Supplication (Petitions – prayers for yourself)

·         Give me greater knowledge, depth of insight, and understanding of God’s Word.
·         Remind me daily of who I am in Christ. Let me be defined by who God says I am, not the world around me.
·         Guide me into greater understanding and faithfulness of God’s call in my life.
·         Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned
·         Other needs
 
Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others)

·         My family
·         My pastor(s), church staff, and missionaries
·         Those wrestling with anger, anxiety, or the overwhelming desire to please people at all costs
·         Other needs
 
Only God can put the touch on something that changes it from the common place to something special, different and apart. (R.C. Sproul)

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