PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 A Psalm of Lament

Time to reflect: The most common Psalm type is the Psalm of Lament – a crying out to God in anguish. Anyone who is critically ill can relate to this Psalm and echo its sentiments.

Moving Throughout the day: Think about times in your life when this Psalm would have well expressed your feelings. Keep these Psalms in mind whenever you need to cry out to God.

Scripture:

1 Hear, O LORD, and answer me,
       for I am poor and needy.

 2 Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
       You are my God; save your servant
       who trusts in you.

 3 Have mercy on me, O Lord,
       for I call to you all day long.

 4 Bring joy to your servant,
       for to you, O Lord,
       I lift up my soul.

 5 You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
       abounding in love to all who call to you.

 6 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
       listen to my cry for mercy.

 7 In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
       for you will answer me.

 8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
       no deeds can compare with yours.

 9 All the nations you have made
       will come and worship before you, O Lord;
       they will bring glory to your name.

 10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
       you alone are God.

 16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;
       grant your strength to your servant
       and save the son of your maidservant. ^[a]

 17 Give me a sign of your goodness,
       that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
       for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Genesis 21:8-21 The expelling of Hagar

Time to reflect: This is a truly unpleasant story but it sure sounds human. No one's behavior here is being held up as good or divinely inspired. It is just being reported so we can learn about the human condition and that even the Abraham and Sarah can be stupid if not bad. Make a list of all the “sins” you see in this story. Note that the “unchosen” child is taken care of by God, in the end.

Moving through the day: Pray for guidance and protection from these sins you have listed – both as recipient of other people's sin and your own participation in this kind of behavior.

Scripture:

The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10 and she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac."

 11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. 12 But God said to him, "Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring ^[a] will be reckoned. 13 I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring."

 14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the desert of Beersheba.

 15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she thought, "I cannot watch the boy die." And as she sat there nearby, she ^[b] began to sob.

 17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation."

 19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

 20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. 21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday

Scripture lesson: Jeremiah 28:5-9 Who is a true Prophet?

 

Time to reflect: Although it is not entirely clear in this passage, the true prophet preaches the word of God and not the will of the people. During saber-rattling times, it is the true prophet that preaches peace.

Moving through the day: What would Jeremiah be preaching to America at this time?

Scripture:

5 Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah before the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD. 6 He said, "Amen! May the LORD do so! May the LORD fulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing the articles of the LORD's house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon. 7 Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: 8 From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague against many countries and great kingdoms. 9 But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the LORD only if his prediction comes true."

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 57:7-11 Praise of God

Time to reflect: Do you ever just feel like breaking into song in thanksgiving to God? What gets in the way?

Moving through the day: Try singing or praying a Psalm of Praise – but in your own words.

Scripture:

O LORD, you deceived me, and I was deceived ;
       you overpowered me and prevailed.
       I am ridiculed all day long;
       everyone mocks me.

  Whenever I speak, I cry out
       proclaiming violence and destruction.
       So the word of the LORD has brought me
       insult and reproach all day long.

  But if I say, "I will not mention him
       or speak any more in his name,"
       his word is in my heart like a fire,
       a fire shut up in my bones.
       I am weary of holding it in;
       indeed, I cannot.

  I hear many whispering,
       "Terror on every side!
       Report him! Let's report him!"
       All my friends
       are waiting for me to slip, saying,
       "Perhaps he will be deceived;
       then we will prevail over him
       and take our revenge on him."

But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior;
       so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.
       They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced;
       their dishonor will never be forgotten.

  O LORD Almighty, you who examine the righteous
       and probe the heart and mind,
       let me see your vengeance upon them,
       for to you I have committed my cause.

 Sing to the LORD!
       Give praise to the LORD!
       He rescues the life of the needy
       from the hands of the wicked.

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: 1 Timothy 2:1-4 “... for everyone...”

 

Time to reflect: We are to be in prayer for everyone, without restriction.

 

Moving Through The Day: Think about people or types of people you don't normally pray for – even make a list of them – and over time systematically pray for them all.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.