PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson: Matthew 14:13-21 The feeding of the 5000

Time to reflect: It does not help to argue over how this was done. Neither natural explanations nor an insistence on it being supernatural is helpful. We need to focus on the significance of the event. Jesus truly cared about the people that were following him.

Moving through the day:  Pray thanksgiving for such a loving caring God.

Scripture:

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."

 Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."

 "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.

 "Bring them here to me," he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: Romans 9:1-5 “Accursed ... for the same of my own people”

Time to reflect: This passage is part of a three chapter exposition on the relationship of Jews and salvation. This section is easily misunderstood and has often been used for anti-Semitism although that is 180 degrees from Paul's intent.] How strongly Paul must have felt for his “people” that he would offer to be cursed and cut off from Christ on their behalf! Of course that love and concern for others would keep him from being cut off. [An old trick question for ministerial candidates was “would you go to Hell for the same of the Kingdom of God. One quick thinking young candidate under the stress of this examination said: “I think I already have...”]

Moving through the day: Are there people that you would sacrifice ANYTHING for? Pray for them.

Scripture:

I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

 

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 17:1-7, 15 Not sin at all?

Time to reflect: For most of the Old Testament period sin was defined as specific acts and conditions that made one inappropriate for the temple. So they could, conceivable, be “sinless” to this degree. We define sin a lot broader and it would be hard to relate to this Psalm and line thinking.

Moving Throughout the day: Try thinking of sin in two categories – that which we have control over and can strive to conquer and that for which only the Grace of God can wipe out.

Scripture:

Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;
       listen to my cry.
       Give ear to my prayer—
       it does not rise from deceitful lips.

May my vindication come from you;
       may your eyes see what is right.

Though you probe my heart and examine me at night,
       though you test me, you will find nothing;
       I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.

As for the deeds of men—
       by the word of your lips
       I have kept myself
       from the ways of the violent.

My steps have held to your paths;
       my feet have not slipped.

 I call on you, O God, for you will answer me;
       give ear to me and hear my prayer.

Show the wonder of your great love,
       you who save by your right hand
       those who take refuge in you from their foes.

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Genesis 32:22-31Jacob and ??? wrestle

Time to reflect: Jacob was probably being cowardly in sending the wives and children ahead. Whether this is a reporting of a historical event, a reporting of a Psychological struggle within Jacob or a parable, we need to recognize the changes that came upon Jacob because of this “encounter” with God. Even his name changes from Jacob (“grabber”) to Israel (“God rules”).

 

Moving through the day: Think of a new (secret) name for yourself that reflects your current relationship with God.

Scripture:

 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
      But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

  The man asked him, "What is your name?"
      "Jacob," he answered.

  Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."

  Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."
      But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.

 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

  The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 145:14-21 When, O Lord?

Time to reflect: We all want the things listed in this Psalm but all know that it doesn't seem to work this way in real life. We first need to keep in mind that this is an expressed wish by the Psalmist more than a statement of fact. As we know from other passages, God will take care of “in due season” not just whenever we would prefer.

Moving through the day: Pray about the ambivalent feelings you may have about wanting God's intervention and not getting it when you want it.

Scripture:

The LORD upholds all those who fall
       and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,
       and you give them their food at the proper time.

 You open your hand
      and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

  The LORD is righteous in all his ways
       and loving toward all he has made.

  The LORD is near to all who call on him,
       to all who call on him in truth.

  He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
       he hears their cry and saves them.

  The LORD watches over all who love him,
       but all the wicked he will destroy.

  My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
       Let every creature praise his holy name
       for ever and ever.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Isaiah 55:1-5 A passage reinterpreted

Time to reflect: Although this passage was originally intended to be taken literally for a time in the future when everyone's needs would be taken care of, we apply this passage to Christ and make the language metaphorical – Christ is the “living water” that ends thirst, etc.

Moving through the day: Think this passage through, phrase by phrase applying it to our Christian faith.

Scripture:

"Come, all you who are thirsty,
       come to the waters;
       and you who have no money,
       come, buy and eat!
       Come, buy wine and milk
       without money and without cost.

  Why spend money on what is not bread,
       and your labor on what does not satisfy?
       Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
       and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

  Give ear and come to me;
       hear me, that your soul may live.
       I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
       my faithful love promised to David.

  See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
       a leader and commander of the peoples.

  Surely you will summon nations you know not,
       and nations that do not know you will hasten to you,
       because of the LORD your God,
       the Holy One of Israel,
       for he has endowed you with splendor."

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: Job 38:1-21 God being sarcastic

Time to reflect: Job has been challenging God's wisdom and fairness. God comes back with a long poem that puts Job in his place. In short who are we, mere mortals, to second guess the creator of the universe?

Moving Through The Day:  Can you think of a time when you didn't have all the information you needed for a judgment and could have/did make the wrong decision? Can you think of a time when you second guessed God?

Scripture:

Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:

  "Who is this that darkens my counsel
       with words without knowledge?

  Brace yourself like a man;
       I will question you,
       and you shall answer me.

  "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
       Tell me, if you understand.

  Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
       Who stretched a measuring line across it?

 On what were its footings set,
       or who laid its cornerstone-

 while the morning stars sang together
       and all the angels shouted for joy?

 "Who shut up the sea behind doors
       when it burst forth from the womb,

 when I made the clouds its garment
       and wrapped it in thick darkness,

  when I fixed limits for it
       and set its doors and bars in place,

  when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther;
       here is where your proud waves halt'?

  "Have you ever given orders to the morning,
       or shown the dawn its place,

 that it might take the earth by the edges
       and shake the wicked out of it?

 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;
       its features stand out like those of a garment.

  The wicked are denied their light,
       and their upraised arm is broken.

  "Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
       or walked in the recesses of the deep?

 Have the gates of death been shown to you?
       Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death ^[b] ?

  Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?
       Tell me, if you know all this.

  "What is the way to the abode of light?
       And where does darkness reside?

  Can you take them to their places?
       Do you know the paths to their dwellings?

  Surely you know, for you were already born!
       You have lived so many years!