Reading: John 17:6-7 & 20

6 “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, 8 for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.

20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.

Reflecting:

Let’s get the next 2 weeks of prayer off on the right foot and place our focus on listening to God’s voice and how He will draw us closer to Him in the coming days. In John 17, Jesus prayed specifically for all His Believers, not just for the ones he had 2,000 years ago. In verse 20, He prayed specifically for you…today! In John 17, Jesus states how important it is to know and do the Father’s will, and how frequent prayer is the way we keep in step with The Father’s Will. Before and after big events, Jesus often withdrew to a quiet place to pray to the Father (John 6:13-15). If Jesus found prayer necessary to align His will with The Father’s, how much more important is it for us to do that also. Our obedience to His will allows miraculous things to happen in ways it would have never happened by doing things in our own will and strength.

Requesting In Prayer:

Lord, please still my restless heart and busy mind. As the days unfold, enable me to genuinely tune my heart to Your guiding voice. May Your divine guidance shape my intentions and actions, especially in the way I manage all you have given me, and in faithful service to You…Amen.

Reading: Matthew 6:7–9

[7] “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. [8] Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. [9] Pray then like this:

Reflecting:

These are the simple truths Jesus taught us on prayer.

We have a Father in heaven that knows and loves us. He is holy and pure. His nature and essence is pure love. He occupies everything, everywhere, and is Sovereign over earth and heaven. So, if we are His children and He is Our Father who rules over heaven and earth, He gives us access to heaven and earth through faith and grace. This reality means God will provide for our physical and spiritual needs every day, one day at a time. And, by God’s grace, when we ask, He forgives our sins, no matter who we are or what we have done. Therefore, when we forgive others the way God forgives us, we reflect His glory to the world!

Sometimes when we face evil, it looks like evil has won. But it’s only a small battle. God made sure evil lost the war by sending His Son to be our Savior. And because Jesus has won the war over eternal death, there is nothing the Devil can use to stop us from accomplishing all that God calls us to do.

Requesting In Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, holy be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Reading: Matthew 6:31-34

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Reflecting:

In this passage, Jesus gives us the key to making our spiritual pursuits primary over worldly concerns. He encourages us to trust in God’s divine care, assuring us that if we prioritize God’s Kingdom and righteousness, He will meet our needs. The warning against worrying about our future needs, emphasizes a God who is divinely present providing for each day’s need. Our focus on, “one day at a time”, is enough for our attention. This teaching promotes a life of faith, ethical living, and a present-minded approach. It relieves undue worries about future uncertainties by fostering trust in God.

Requesting In Prayer:

Lord, dispel my fears of not having enough to live on, and constantly remind me of Your infinite supply and boundless love. Let me trust in Your care, knowing that Your love is always sufficient to meet my needs. Amen.

Reading: Psalms 34:8-10

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! 9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

Reflecting:

The notion of forgetting to breathe seems absurd! Breathing is an involuntary, natural process vital to our existence, occurring without conscious effort or constant reminders. The process of breathing can be likened to God’s unwavering, steadfast provision for His children. Just as our bodies are inherently programmed to inhale and exhale, God, in His boundless love and wisdom, is intrinsically inclined to cater to our needs, both seen and unseen. He doesn’t need reminders or prompts to sustain us; His care is relentless and unfailing. His divine provision is a testament to His all-powerful, nurturing nature, reflecting His deep, unconditional love for us. It’s a comforting reminder that, in every moment, whether in abundance or in want, God’s sustaining grace is as constant and unceasing as the breaths we take, and those who trust in the Lord will provide for all our needs.

Requesting In Prayer:

Lord, strengthen me with unwavering trust in Your divine provision as I extend my hands in giving. Surround me with the assurance that Your provisions are abundant. May I find joy in seeking refuge in You. Instill in me a holy determination, and a godly fear, knowing that those who honor You will lack nothing. Keep me anchored in You, Lord, and bestow on me Your constant care. Amen.

Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need, and plenty left over to share with others.

Reflecting:

There are three laws of the harvest and generosity that are reflected in the passage above.

1. You don’t reap a harvest if you don’t sow any seeds.

   Nothing planted will yield no harvest.

2. You reap a harvest of what you sow.

         You don’t plant okra and reap bananas.

3. You reap a harvest of more than you sow.

   One seed yields a harvest of 30, 50 and sometime 100

    times more than was planted.

What do you think the crop is in this passage? It says,” But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give.”

Why did God create the 3^rd law above? It says above,” Then you will always have everything you need, and plenty left over to share with others.”

Understanding these laws gives us a joyful anticipation of God’s abundant harvest that allows us to bless others year-round.

Requesting In Prayer:

Heavenly Father, fill my heart with the pure joy that comes from giving, as a reflection of Your limitless, unconditional love for me. May others be blessed with Your love and kindness through my faithfulness. Amen.

Reading: Matthew 6:1-4

6 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Reflecting:

Being a blessing is not necessarily giving something to a homeless person. Guilt is a human impulse that can and will motivate us to give. While any motivation to give is positive, there are better reasons. The best is when the still small voice of the Holy Spirit impresses our heart to respond to a need directed by Him that no one else would have seen, or known about…but your Father in Heaven does.

Requesting In Prayer:

Lord, as You guide and inspire me to open my mind toward giving, I pray that each offering I make serves as a blessing to others. Lord, let my giving reflect Your divine generosity that has been showered upon me. I pray that my contributions touch lives and help spread Your Gospel throughout my community and the world. I offer this prayer, in love and service to Your Kingdom. Amen.

Reading:

18 Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath. (Deuteronomy 8:18)

11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? 13 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” (Luke 16:10-12)

Reflecting:

Axiom #1 – God is the source of EVERYTHING in our life. He owns it all.

Axiom #2 – We are the managers of everything and the owners of nothing.

Axiom #3 – If you forget axiom #2, see axiom #1.

Requesting In Prayer:

Lord, teach me to hold loosely to the things of this world, remembering always that they are Yours, entrusted to me for a short time to fulfill Your purposes. May I seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, trusting that as I do, You will provide for all I need. Amen.

Reading:

Jeremiah 29:11(ESV)

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV)

[8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Reflecting:

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God revealed His plan for the people of Judah. God revealed to Judah what He reveals to each of us today. Ephesians 2:8-10, reveals that we have a Divine purpose, assigned to us by Him. As a church, God carries out His mission through Grace River, made up of a collection of people who have said “yes”, to the purpose God has revealed to them. The best way to serve the church with your time, talents and treasure are in the places where God has asked you to respond to His call. After all, He prepared these “good works” just for you before you were even born.

Requesting In Prayer:

Lord, I am seeking clarity and direction concerning the unique purpose You have planned for my life. Help me understand the good works you have set out for me to accomplish in your strength. As I make life choices, especially in my giving, let my decisions reflect the divine purpose You have established for me. Guide my heart, hands, and resources to flow in sync with Your will, ensuring that my actions bring glory to Your name. Amen.

Reading: 1 Chronicles 21:24

But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it for the full price. I will not take what is yours and give it to the LORD. I will not present burnt offerings that have cost me nothing!”

Reflecting:

David adamantly insists on purchasing Araunah’s threshing floor at its full price to present burnt offerings to the Lord. He firmly states, “I will not take what is yours and give it to the LORD. I will not present burnt offerings that have cost me nothing!” This story should cause us to think about our own practices of giving, particularly to the work of the Lord. If we commit to give an amount that surpasses what we deem “affordable,” it challenges our perspective on sacrifice and giving. It raises the question: Does our definition of “affordable” include the willingness to give up non-essential expenses we regularly spend money on, does it reflect an amount that doesn’t involve real sacrifice? David’s example prompts us to reflect on the depth and sincerity of our own sacrifices. It beckons us to ponder whether our offerings to the Lord truly cost us something, ensuring that our giving is a genuine reflection of our gratitude and commitment to God, rather than a mere transaction devoid of personal sacrifice.

Requesting In Prayer:

Father, grant me the courage to give sacrificially, understanding that true giving often comes at a personal cost. May I lay at the altar of sacrifice my wants, and trust fully in You to provide to me all I need. Amen.

Reading: 1 Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Reflecting:

The profound message of this passage underscores the pivotal role of prayer, supplication, and a heart of gratitude in our interactions and petitions to God. He ensures us that our mental and emotional state is safeguarded by His incomprehensible peace. When contemplating giving, it’s imperative to recognize that our contributions are not solely measured by their monetary value but more significantly, by the intention and spirit driving the act of giving. Whether deciding as an individual, couple, or family, our financial commitments, should mirror our gratitude towards God, and our faith in His provisions. It should reflect our willingness to be fully engaged in the mission of Grace River, to help people meet, know, and follow Jesus. Our giving should come from a place of genuine sacrificial love and not from a place of obligation or show. This demonstrates that our offerings are not just physical transactions but spiritual acts of worship, reflecting our trust and devotion to God.

Requesting In Prayer:

Prayer: Lord, as I commit to giving, let it be a faithful response to Your love, a testament to my trust in You, and a beacon of Your light to the world. Amen.