Sunday Morning Devotional: Week 40

This Week's Rest and Reset

To pray well is the better half of study. (Martin Luther)

This Week’s Scripture

·         Genesis 18:1-15
·         Psalm 116:1-19
·         Romans 5:1-8
·         Matthew 9:35 – 10:8

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Adoration

Psalm 116:5-7
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
    our God is merciful.
6 The Lord preserves the simple;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;
    for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed (verse 1)
Alas! And did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die?
Would he devote that sacred head for sinners such as I?
At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light,
and the burden of my heart rolled away;
it was there by faith I received my sight,
and now I am happy all the day.
(Isaac Watts)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.

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Confession

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

Can ye doubt, if God is love, if to all his mercies move? Will ye not his word receive? Will ye not his oath believe? See, the suffering God appears! Jesus weeps! Believe his tears! Mingled with his blood they cry, why will you resolve to die? Amen. (Charles Wesley)

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).

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Thanksgiving

O Great Redeemer, I give you praise and thanks for your compassion. As the Lord Jesus traveled throughout all the cities and villages, teaching and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, he also healed every disease and affliction. He saw lost, hurting, and helpless people as sheep without a shepherd. And to this day, O Lord, you continue to remind us that the harvest is plentiful, yet laborers are few. Help me, merciful God, to be one who prays earnestly to you for those who are lost. Cause me also to pray that you would send out laborers into your harvest. And just as Jesus called out and sent the twelve, move me to become one who has compassion over those who do not know you. Here I am O Lord, send me to them with that same gospel of the Kingdom. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen. (based on Matthew 9:35 – 10:8)

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.

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Supplication (Petitions – prayers for yourself)

·         Lord, help me to faithfully participate in the life of my congregation and for the sake of my community…
Ø  By my prayers
Ø  By my presence
Ø  By my gifts
Ø  By my service
Ø  By my witness
·         Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned
·         Other needs

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Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others)

·         My family
·         For those who serve in government, at the national, state, and local levels
·         For those who serve in law-enforcement
·         For those who serve in fire and rescue
·         For those who serve in our nation’s military
·         Other needs

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God wants worshipers before workers; indeed the only acceptable workers are those who have learned the lost art of worship. (A.W. Tozer)

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