PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson: John 20:19-31 Doubting Thomas

 

Time to reflect: We are all doubting thomases from time to time. A resurrection is so far outside normal human experience that we doubt. But humans have doubted all kinds of things, that the earth was round, that people can fly, that sound can be carried over a wire. Some people have even doubted the reality of existence. So believing becomes a decision. What do you decide?

Moving through the day: Pray the prayer “I believe, Lord help my unbelief” (Mark 9)

 

Scripture:

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

Jesus Appears to Thomas

 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
      But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: 1 Peter 1:3-9 The Good News

 

Time to reflect: Another straightforward proclamation of the Gospel. In verse 6 is a reminder that faith does not mean we do not suffer, only that we can endure suffering because of our faith.

Moving through the day: Every hour through the day remind yourself of God's salvation and become joyful, no matter what is going on around you.

Scripture:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 16

 

Time to reflect: We have a choice of gods. Lots to choose from today, both declared gods and things that play the role of a god in our lives. But “those who choose another god multiply their sorrows.”

Moving Throughout the day: What gods sometimes displace God? Pray for strength in keeping God in the center of your life.

Scripture:

 Keep me safe, O God,
       for in you I take refuge.

  I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
       apart from you I have no good thing."

  As for the saints who are in the land,
       they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.

 The sorrows of those will increase
       who run after other gods.
       I will not pour out their libations of blood
       or take up their names on my lips.

 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
       you have made my lot secure.

 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
       surely I have a delightful inheritance.

I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
       even at night my heart instructs me.

  I have set the LORD always before me.
       Because he is at my right hand,
       I will not be shaken.

  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
       my body also will rest secure,

because you will not abandon me to the grave,
       nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

  You have made known to me the path of life;
       you will fill me with joy in your presence,
       with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Acts 2:14a,22-32 Peter's Pentecost speech

Time to reflect: This was part of Peter's speech to the gathered crowd in Jerusalem on Pentecost. This was the first opportunity for most of the people to hear the story of Jesus and his resurrection. Peter lays it out pretty clearly, but using supporting references that would have been meaningful to that crowd. But it all, finally, came down to “...all of us are witnesses.”

Moving through the day: These witnesses have been dead for millenia, but their witness still carries weight throughout the world! In prayer thank them for their witness, their faithfulness and their martyrdom. Pray that you, too, can be a witness.

Scripture:

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him:
   " 'I saw the Lord always before me.
      Because he is at my right hand,
      I will not be shaken.
 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
      my body also will live in hope,
 because you will not abandon me to the grave,
      nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
 You have made known to me the paths of life;
      you will fill me with joy in your presence.

 "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 22:27-31 Proclamation and service

 

Time to reflect: Our two jobs are listed here: proclaiming the Good News wherever we can and serving those in need. These are both/and not either/or

Moving through the day: Which of these two tasks do you find easier and which harder? Are you doing both even though they are difficult? Pray about how you can strengthen your work in both areas.

 

Scripture:

All the ends of the earth
       will remember and turn to the LORD,
       and all the families of the nations
       will bow down before him,

  for dominion belongs to the LORD
       and he rules over the nations.

 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
       all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
       those who cannot keep themselves alive.

  Posterity will serve him;
       future generations will be told about the Lord.

  They will proclaim his righteousness
       to a people yet unborn—
       for he has done it.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: John 14:22-23 Jesus still with us

Time to reflect: The larger context of these verses is a saying by Jesus that after his death the world at large will think he is gone, but that he will be a real presence for the church. What makes the difference? Love. Love of God makes room for God.

Moving through the day: Do you have room for God? As a part of your prayer, picture Jesus coming to you and you lovingly letting him come into your home.

Scripture:

Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: Isaiah 52:7-10 The messenger

 

Time to reflect: Who brought the good news of salvation to you?

 

Moving Through The Day: Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for those who nurtured your faith. Consider who you need to be a “messenger” of the Gospel to.

How beautiful on the mountains
       are the feet of those who bring good news,
       who proclaim peace,
       who bring good tidings,
       who proclaim salvation,
       who say to Zion,
       "Your God reigns!"

  Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
       together they shout for joy.
       When the LORD returns to Zion,
       they will see it with their own eyes.

 Burst into songs of joy together,
       you ruins of Jerusalem,
       for the LORD has comforted his people,
       he has redeemed Jerusalem.

  The LORD will lay bare his holy arm
       in the sight of all the nations,
       and all the ends of the earth will see
       the salvation of our God.