PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson: Luke 24:44-53 Understanding the Scriptures in a new way

 

Time to reflect: “fulfilled” is often interpreted as meaning “a prediction carried out.” But what it really means in the New Testament is “filled with (new) meaning.” The ancient writers described how God works. The stories and utterances were fulfilled more than once – and continue to be fulfilled today. But with Christ they were fulfilled in a very special and unique fashion.

Moving through the day: How can we fill with meaning the charge in verse 47? It was directed to Apostles, but it can apply to us also.

 

Scripture:

 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

The Ascension

 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: Ephesians 1:15-23 Paul loves his people

 

Time to reflect: In the original Greek, verses 15-19 form one single sentence! English just doesn't work that way, but try reading these verses as one breathless exclamation and see if it makes a difference in your understanding of it.

Moving through the day: Think about whether you secretly or overtly believe that God should/does protect you from the harshness of life.

Scripture:

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 47 Sing praises

 

Time to reflect: What is your favorite praise song or hymn?

Moving Throughout the day:What is your favorite praise song or hymn?

Scripture:

 Clap your hands, all you nations;
       shout to God with cries of joy.

 How awesome is the LORD Most High,
       the great King over all the earth!

He subdued nations under us,
       peoples under our feet.

He chose our inheritance for us,
       the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
       Selah

  God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
       the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.

 Sing praises to God, sing praises;
       sing praises to our King, sing praises.

For God is the King of all the earth;
       sing to him a psalm of praise.

  God reigns over the nations;
       God is seated on his holy throne.

  The nobles of the nations assemble
       as the people of the God of Abraham,
       for the kings of the earth belong to God;
       he is greatly exalted.

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday

Scripture lesson: 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11 Suffer for the right reasons

 

Time to reflect: We all go through suffering from time to time, but are we suffering from our own bad judgments? or because of our faithfulness? In reality we need to also add in suffering caused simply by being human and susceptible to injury and death.

Moving through the day:

Think through things that have happened to you and separate them into these three categories: just a part of life; self-induced; out of faithfulness.

Scripture:

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Isaiah 6:1-13 They get what they deserve

Time to reflect: What happens when God gets disgusted with a people? God sends a prophet to tell them. But God is pessimistic – they aren't going to listen anyway and they will bring on their own destruction.

Moving through the day: Meditate on whether or not we, as a people, are or are not listening to the modern prophets.

Scripture:

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
       "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
       the whole earth is full of his glory."

  At the sound of their voices the door posts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

  "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

  Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

  Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
      And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

  He said, "Go and tell this people:
       " 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
       be ever seeing, but never perceiving.'

  Make the heart of this people calloused;
       make their ears dull
       and close their eyes.
       Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
       hear with their ears,
       understand with their hearts,
       and turn and be healed."

  Then I said, "For how long, O Lord?"
      And he answered:
       "Until the cities lie ruined
       and without inhabitant,
       until the houses are left deserted
       and the fields ruined and ravaged,

 until the LORD has sent everyone far away
       and the land is utterly forsaken.

  And though a tenth remains in the land,
       it will again be laid waste.
       But as the terebinth and oak
       leave stumps when they are cut down,
       so the holy seed will be the stump in the land."