PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson: Matthew 14:22-33 It is hard to be faithful when things have gotten weird

Time to reflect: I can't help but be sympathetic to Peter for losing confidence while walking on water. Sometimes we are called on to trust God even when that doesn't make sense.

Moving through the day:  Pray for strength of faith.

Scripture:

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

 "Come," he said.

   Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: Romans 10:5-15 How are people to know

Time to reflect: Of the many thoughts in this passage, one that is striking: how are people to know the Good News unless we tell them? Are we keeping the Good News to ourselves to the detriment of others?

Moving through the day: Pray for wisdom about how to tell others about our faith without getting pushing or obnoxious. Think of someone you can appropriately share with.

Scripture:

 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them."But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'(that is, to bring Christ down) "or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,"that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

 

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22,45b Not sin at all?

Time to reflect: As Joseph's brothers discovered, God sometimes provides in surprising and unpredictable fashions, with things “working out” after a long process.

Moving Throughout the day: With hindsight can you see times when God seems to have been at work even if it didn't seem so at the time?

Scripture:

  Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;
       make known among the nations what he has done.

  Sing to him, sing praise to him;
       tell of all his wonderful acts.

 Glory in his holy name;
       let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

  Look to the LORD and his strength;
       seek his face always.

 Remember the wonders he has done,
       his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

O descendants of Abraham his servant,
       O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones.

He called down famine on the land
       and destroyed all their supplies of food;

  and he sent a man before them—
       Joseph, sold as a slave.

  They bruised his feet with shackles,
       his neck was put in irons,

  till what he foretold came to pass,
       till the word of the LORD proved him true.

  The king sent and released him,
       the ruler of peoples set him free.

  He made him master of his household,
       ruler over all he possessed,

 to instruct his princes as he pleased
       and teach his elders wisdom.

that they might keep his precepts
       and observe his laws.
       Praise the LORD.

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 111:1-10 Praise the Lord!

Time to reflect: There is a lot packed into this short Psalm.

Moving through the day: Try reading this Psalm as a prayer, stopping after each phrase and personalizing it.

Scripture:

Praise the LORD.
       I will extol the LORD with all my heart
       in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

  Great are the works of the LORD;
       they are pondered by all who delight in them.

 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
       and his righteousness endures forever.

 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
       the LORD is gracious and compassionate.

He provides food for those who fear him;
       he remembers his covenant forever.

He has shown his people the power of his works,
       giving them the lands of other nations.

The works of his hands are faithful and just;
       all his precepts are trustworthy.

They are steadfast for ever and ever,
       done in faithfulness and uprightness.

He provided redemption for his people;
       he ordained his covenant forever—
       holy and awesome is his name.

  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
       all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
       To him belongs eternal praise.

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 85:8-13 “righteousness and peace will kiss each other”

Time to reflect: In our world those supporting righteousness and those supporting peace tend to whack each other rather than kiss each other.

Moving Through The Day:  Pray for reconciliation among the “peace, unit and purity” factions within the church.

Scripture:

I will listen to what God the LORD will say;
       he promises peace to his people, his saints—
       but let them not return to folly.

Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
       that his glory may dwell in our land.

  Love and faithfulness meet together;
       righteousness and peace kiss each other.

  Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
       and righteousness looks down from heaven.

  The LORD will indeed give what is good,
       and our land will yield its harvest.

  Righteousness goes before him
       and prepares the way for his steps.