Monday
Read Psalm 103:1-8
Think
I love verse 8 of this Psalm.
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and
abounding in steadfast love.”
As you read through Vs 1-7 think of all the reasons you have
to ‘Bless the Lord.’
Pray
Perhaps verse 5 is a good focus for your prayer. Perhaps you are feeling run down and tired –
in what areas of your life do you need God to ‘renew your youth like the eagle’s?’
Tuesday
Read Isaiah 58:9b–14
Think
“If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the
finger, the speaking of evil…”
The yoke is a symbol of oppression – a way of tying oxen
together to make them pull ploughs. One
of the things that oppresses us is our constant blaming each other (pointing
fingers) and negative speaking (speaking of evil).
We could be a much more positive influence in our world if
we spent less time complaining and more time doing.
Pray
One of the lines of the Lord’s prayer is ‘Thy Kingdom come.”
Spend some time praying for God’s just Kingdom to come into our world.
Wednesday
Read Hebrews 12:(12)18-29
Think
The writer to the Hebrews describes worship in the Old
Testament – a moment when God made a covenant with Israel and there was fire
and thunder.
From 22-29 the writer seems to describe worship after Jesus
has come. Part of that is listening to
and obeying the words of Jesus.
Pray
‘Our God is indeed a destroying fire.’
Ask God to purify you – to cleanse away those things that
keep you from obedience to Jesus.
Thursday
Read Luke 13:10-17
Think
Religion that is meant to set us free can easily oppress
us. Jesus wanted to show that the
Sabbath was for good – not for oppression.
So he healed people on the Sabbath and got into trouble for doing it.
We always need to check ourselves – to see that our faith is
liberating, rather than oppressing.
Pray
‘She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up
straight.’
Bring ‘the burdens that bend you’ to God.
Imagine Jesus placing his hands on you – and feel the weight
of those burdens lift.
(Verse 13)
Friday
Read Luke 14:1 & 7-14
Think
How do we move from being people who are almost always
selfishly motivated to being people who are motivated by generosity. Jesus suggests we should put ourselves last –
he suggests we should give to those who have nothing to give in return. Our culture tells us to look after ourselves.
Pray
Ask God to help us become less self focused and more
outwardly focused.
What one generous thing can you do without hope of reward
this weekend?
