PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Wednesday

Scripture lesson: Proverbs 15:30 “Good News refreshes the body”

Time to reflect: Like so many proverbs, this would make a good needlepoint. Something to think about: Does the Good News of the Gospel mean enough to us to refresh us? Is it still Good New to us?

Moving through the day: Pray that the joy of salvation refresh and renew you for the week.

Scripture:

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,
       and good news gives health to the bones.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 65:1-5 Praise God

Time to reflect: It is basic to the Judeo-Christian religion that God is loving and gracious and full of mercy. This Psalm, along with so many other Old Testament passages give lie to the old saw that “The Old Testament is a testament of Law and the New Testament is a testament of Love.” Both have both.

Moving through the day:Pray a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God.

Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion;
       to you our vows will be fulfilled.

  O you who hear prayer,
       to you all men will come.

  When we were overwhelmed by sins,
       you forgave our transgressions.

 Blessed are those you choose
       and bring near to live in your courts!
       We are filled with the good things of your house,
       of your holy temple.

  You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness,
       O God our Savior,
       the hope of all the ends of the earth
       and of the farthest seas,

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Malachi 4:5-6 A final comment

Time to reflect: Although the author of these verses had no idea they would be the concluding comment of the Old Testament, the final editor of the “Book of the Twelve” (Hosea through Malachi) would have consciously placed them at the end of this important collection of prophetic books. The gist of the collection is that prophets warned Israel/Judah that their bad behavior was going to lead to their destruction, which it did, but afterward, while in captivity they were given words of hope and assurance and then, on their return, warning not to do it again. These verses are a part of that final warning.

Moving through the day: Meditate on why having generations listen to each other deserved the last word of this collection.

"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Monday

Scripture lesson: Isaiah 40:3-5 “Every mountain and hill made low”

Time to reflect: Isaiah probably visualized this literally. A superhighway would have been built for a king or emperor. How much more for the Lord of the universe? We now take this figuratively. The hills weren't flattened when Jesus came, but the whole world was changed by his coming.

Moving Through The Day: If you were to express what it might be like for God to appear on earth, what images would you use?

Scripture:

Isaiah 40:3 A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. ⁴ Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. ⁵ Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." (Isa 40:3 NRS)

PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Sunday

Scripture lesson: Mark 6:1-13 The Disciples (students) become Apostles (sent-out ones)

Time to reflect: We are all, always both disciples learning about our faith and apostles sent out to proclaim the Gospel to others.

Moving through the day: Are you mostly disciple or apostle? What do you need to do to be a better disciple, better apostle.

Scripture:

Mark 6:1 He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. ² On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! ³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary¹ and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense² at him. ⁴ Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." ⁵ And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. ⁶ And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching. ⁷ He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. ⁸ He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; ⁹ but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. ¹⁰ He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. ¹¹ If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." ¹² So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. ¹³ They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Saturday

Scripture lesson: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 “How spiritual are you?”

Time to reflect: Paul references unnamed people that bragged about how spiritual they were. Without challenging or condemning them, he shows a better way: humbly doing what is right.

Moving through the day: Meditate on your spiritual practices and whether they are simply rituals, sources of pride, infrequent, something to be worked on.

Scripture:

I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. ³ And I know that such a person -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows -- ⁴ was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. ⁵ On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. ⁶ But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, ⁷ even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep¹ me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.^{2 8} Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, ⁹ but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power¹ is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. (2Co 12:2 NRS)

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Friday

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 48 A Psalm of Victory

Time to reflect: This was song by the King and probably many others in behalf of Israel after a victory (or possibly after the promise of a victory). Its been awhile since the United States could sing a Psalm of victory like this. This would indicate, based on a reading of the Old Testament, that we are relying to much on ourselves and not enough on God.

Moving Throughout the day: Pray in behalf of your country.

Scripture:

Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, ² beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. ³ Within its citadels God has shown himself a sure defense. ⁴ Then the kings assembled, they came on together. ⁵ As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic, they took to flight; ⁶ trembling took hold of them there, pains as of a woman in labor, ⁷ as when an east wind shatters the ships of Tarshish. ⁸ As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes forever. Selah ⁹ We ponder your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. ¹⁰ Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with victory. ¹¹ Let Mount Zion be glad, let the towns¹ of Judah rejoice because of your judgments. ¹² Walk about Zion, go all around it, count its towers, ¹³ consider well its ramparts; go through its citadels, that you may tell the next generation ¹⁴ that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever. (Psa 48:1 NRS)