PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Genesis 28:10-19a Jacob's ladder

Time to reflect: This is the call of Jacob where he became aware of God haven chosen him.

 

Moving through the day: Most of us do not have such dramatic calls from God – but it was “only” a dream. How has God communicated with you in the past? When have you felt God's presence.

Scripture:

And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.

 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.

 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday

Scripture lesson: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a The Love Chapter

Time to reflect: The classic love passage, 4-8a shouldn't be ripped from its context. The whole chapter is about how church people treat each other. The word “love” should really be “a sacrificial care and concern for others” but that is a bit cumbersomeT.

Moving through the day: Read this passage (and the rest of the chapter) applying it to your relationship with your church and the people in it.

Scripture:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Isaiah 44:6-8 There are no other Gods

Time to reflect: A monotheistic religion is unusual, but especially in the era of Isaiah and friends, but here it is spelled out in no uncertain terms. There is ONLY one God.

Moving through the day: Do you ever let other “gods” slip into your thinking (most superstitions assume other gods). Are you able to hold onto the idea of one, single God without succumbing to relativism or being judgmental of other religions? Think about this for awhile then re-read the passage.

Scripture:

Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
   and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
"I am the first and I am the last;
   besides me there is no god.
Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.
   Let him declare and set it before me,
since I appointed an ancient people.
   Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
Fear not, nor be afraid;
   have I not told you from of old and declared it?
    And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
   There is no Rock; I know not any."

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: Galatians 6:7-9 Reap what you sow

Time to reflect: To put this in modern terms: If you invest in impermanent securities you may lose it all, but if you invest in God's realm, the rewards are immense. “So let us not be weary in doing what is right...”

Moving Through The Day:  Meditate on what you spend your time, money and energy on.

Scripture:

 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.