Devotions
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DAY 6
Friday, May 6, 2022 Genesis 1:3 And God said . . . Scripture Insights Our first encounter with God in Scripture is in the creation account of Genesis 1. Notice that all God’s actions in these verses originate from his voice. Nine times in twenty-nine verses we find the words “God said . . .” At the spoken word of God, the universe and all it contains came into being. When God speaks today, I think we can all agree that it is pretty important. There is power in his words that can create the Milky Way galaxy, give sight to the blind, raise the dead, and transform a life. With that being true, why is it that the prayer life of most Christians is filled with us talking to God rather than with us listening for his voice? Prayer starts with a listening posture. The big voice in the room is God’s, not ours. Let’s begin our day—let’s begin our prayer—with similar words as those of the prophet Samuel, who said to God, “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3:10). Today’s Prayer Lord, open our ears to hear your voice. Speak to us and teach us your ways. Breathe fresh life into us through your still, small voice. We are listening. Prayer Journal Reflections What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today about the Lord’s protection, direction, and revelation for your life and the life of the church? —Scott Rainey, Global Director, SDMI
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DAY 5
Thursday, May 5, 2022 Mark 11:25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Scripture Insights Jesus links our privilege of being forgiven by God to our responsibility to forgive those who offend us. In Luke 11:4, the correlation is just stated “forgive us . . . for we also forgive everyone.” In Matthew 6:14-15, after Jesus teaches the fundamentals of prayer in seven petitions, the only petition that elicits his added emphasis and explanation was the one having to do with asking God for forgiveness. Nazarene New Testament scholar Roger Hahn noted that “verses 14-15 amplify this point and make it clear that forgiveness from God will be forfeited if we refuse to forgive those who have offended us.” Nelson Mandela insightfully said before he left prison, “As I stand before the door of my freedom, I realize that if I do not leave my pain, anger and bitterness behind me, I will still be in prison.” Forgiveness means letting go. Our release from guilt by God is simply inextricably linked to our letting go of the pain, anger, and bitterness we hold toward those who have wronged us. Today’s Prayer Father, in the name of Jesus, who asked for forgiveness for those crucifying him, please forgive my sins and fill me with the Spirit of Christ so that I, like Christ, will be able to forgive those who hurt me deeply. Prayer Journal Reflections What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today about the Lord’s protection, direction, and revelation for your life and the life of the church? —Sam Vassel, District Superintendent, Metro New York DAY 4
Wednesday, May 4, 2022 Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Scripture Insights “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matt. 4:1). Before beginning his public ministry, Jesus established the spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting, which helped him to resist temptation. Prayer was the means through which Jesus was in constant communion with the Father. On several occasions, Jesus invited his disciples to accompany him to pray, and in doing so, he taught his disciples what was essential for prayer. Jesus exhorted them, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (26:41). Prayer might be seen as an easy spiritual devotion, but in reality, that isn’t the case. When we pray for our own spiritual journey and intercede for our brothers and sisters and for the mission of the church, we learn that prayer is a hard task. Jesus made clear to his disciples that prayer requires discipline: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (v. 41). With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can develop a spiritual life of prayer and fasting, as Jesus modeled for us. Today’s Prayer “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation’” (Luke 11:1-4). Prayer Journal Reflections What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today about the Lord’s protection, direction, and revelation for your life and the life of the church? —Roberto Hodgson, Director, Multicultural Ministries DAY 3
Tuesday, May 3, 2022 Matthew 7:7-8 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Scripture Insights Our four children grew up knowing they could ask Roxanna and me for anything. They grew up that way because we gave them permission to ask us for anything. Now, of course, they didn’t always get what they asked for because some of the things they asked for would not have been reasonable for them to receive. In today’s verses, God is giving us permission to ask him for anything, with the promise that if we ask, it will be given; if we seek, we will find; and if we knock, the door will be opened for us. It is, however, important to keep in mind that our heavenly Father knows what we need and when we need it. He knows what is best for us. We don’t always get what we ask for, but he always hears our prayers and always answers those prayers according to his will for our lives. You may not always get what you ask for, but you will get what you need. The heavenly Father knows what’s best for you and me to receive. Today’s Prayer Father, help us to come boldly to your throne, knowing that we can ask you for anything but always trusting that you know what we need. Open doors that need to be opened, close the ones that need to be closed, and give us the wisdom to know the difference. Prayer Journal Reflections What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today about the Lord’s protection, direction, and revelation for your life and the life of the church? —Dan Cole, District Superintendent, Nebraska DAY 2
Monday, May 2, 2022 Matthew 6:9, 12, 14 This then is how you should pray: . . . Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. . . . For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Scripture Insights Confessing sin—other people’s sin—is an obsession in our culture. Conversations regularly turn to the details of someone’s transgression. I think the little boy overheard in prayer had it right with his petition: “Forgive us our trash passing as we forgive those who pass trash against us.” Jesus reminds us that to see the need in someone else, we must first remove what obstructs our vision (Matt. 7:5). In these days set aside for prayer, I want to start by searching my vision and checking for cataracts. My critical assessment of others softens with the honest examination of my own heart. I remember what my friend Dana Walling used to say: “A critical mind isn’t sin, but a critical spirit is, and there is a short hop between the two.” I have discovered that my honest confession of need opens pathways for others that my harsh judgment never does. Today’s Prayer O Lord, it is easy to fall into the pattern of the culture around us and become harsh and critical. Please help us by your grace to speak words of hope and life. Help us to see what you see. Prayer Journal Reflections What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today about the Lord’s protection, direction, and revelation for your life and the life of the church? —Jerry Kester, District Superintendent, Washington Pacific DAY 1
Sunday, May 1, 2022 Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Scripture Insights Jesus spoke these words from a hillside with his disciples and a crowd around him. The verse for today is from the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5–7). It is found in a section where Jesus is talking about fasting, praying, and giving. Jesus begins his teaching about each of these important practices with the word “when.” He doesn’t say “if” you pray, fast, or give. No, he says “when” you pray, fast, or give. In the hustle and bustle of our lives we know we should pray. However, it is very easy to fill our days and hours with other tasks. When prayer becomes an “if” instead of a “when,” we will find ourselves disconnected from God, from our neighbor, from ourselves, and from the world around us. What we need desperately is for those connections to be restored and renewed. Prayer is one avenue for us to be made whole. Today, let’s make prayer a priority as we seek to be Christ’s disciples. Today’s Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, make us like you. Help us to daily enter into quiet spaces, in humility, to honor you, ask things of you, and listen to you. Heal our brokenness when we come to you in prayer. Prayer Journal Reflections What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today about the Lord’s protection, direction, and revelation for your life and the life of the church? —Olivia Metcalf, District Superintendent, Upstate New York |
AuthorNotes from the Staff @The Woods Archives
March 2023
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