PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson:        Matthew 22:15-22 Render unto Caesar

Time to reflect: The issue at hand in this trick question is the fact that the Roman coinage had images of humans and animals, which was forbidden in Torah as a protection against breaking the first commandment. Should people handle or hold such coins. Jesus' answer is – give it back to the people that made it. A safe, non-committal answer to the question that skirts the issue.

Moving through the day: There is always the question of how much compromise is too much compromise. Where are the compromises in your life? Is there someway of quietly giving up the compromise? Pray about this.

Scripture:

 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"

 "Caesar's," they replied.
      Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 The Holy Spirit

Time to reflect: Among the many wonderful elements in this passage there are a number of references to the work of the Holy Spirit. We often don't think much of the Holy Spirit, but this is an important subject (one of the Trinity, after all) . But the Holy Spirit works subtly and not always obviously, it is easy to ignore or feel the Holy Spirit only was active “back then” or somewhere else, not in our lives or the lives of our church. But we know from Scripture that the Holy Spirit is always active.

Moving through the day: What is your view of the Holy Spirit? Where do you see the Holy Spirit at work in your church? Say a prayer of thanks for the work of the Holy Spirit.

 

Scripture:

Paul, Silas and Timothy,
      To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
      Grace and peace to you.

Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians' Faith

 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Exodus 33:12-23 Moses negotiates with God

Time to reflect: This complicated dialog is Moses trying wheedle favors from God. He wants to be more special than he already is. God is evasive, eventually letting out with the frustrated “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious...” Moses persists and wants to see God. God points out that that is not a wise thing. (Don't worry about whether God has a “back.” This just indicates that Moses didn't really see God directly.)

 

Moving through the day: Do you ever try to manipulate God? How do you react to the “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious...”? Do you ever ask inappropriate things of God?

 

Scripture:

Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people."

  The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

  Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"

  And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

 Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

  And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

  Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 96:1-6 A Psalm of praise and adoration

Time to reflect: How often do we stop to praise God and marvel over what God has done?

Moving through the day: Read this psalm as a prayer. Put some feeling behind it!

 

Scripture:

  Sing to the LORD a new song;
       sing to the LORD, all the earth.

  Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
       proclaim his salvation day after day.

  Declare his glory among the nations,
       his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

  For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
       he is to be feared above all gods.

 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
       but the LORD made the heavens.

  Splendor and majesty are before him;
       strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Isaiah 45:1-7 Cyrus the Messiah?

Time to reflect: Verse 1 applies to the whole passage and it declares Cyrus the Great of Persia to be “his anointed” -- anointed in Hebrew is the word from which we get “Messiah.” So Isaiah felt Cyrus was the chosen one. But Cyrus was only “A” chosen one. He was selected and used by God for the purposes listed. Although not the ultimate chosen one – Christ – Cyrus was an example of God's work. It also shows that God can use people for God's purposes whether they know it or not!

Moving through the day: Who in our day and age could be serving God without being aware of it?

"This is what the LORD says to his anointed,
       to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of
       to subdue nations before him
       and to strip kings of their armor,
       to open doors before him
       so that gates will not be shut:

 I will go before you
       and will level the mountains ;
       I will break down gates of bronze
       and cut through bars of iron.

  I will give you the treasures of darkness,
       riches stored in secret places,
       so that you may know that I am the LORD,
       the God of Israel, who summons you by name.

 For the sake of Jacob my servant,
       of Israel my chosen,
       I summon you by name
       and bestow on you a title of honor,
       though you do not acknowledge me.

  I am the LORD, and there is no other;
       apart from me there is no God.
       I will strengthen you,
       though you have not acknowledged me,

  so that from the rising of the sun
       to the place of its setting
       men may know there is none besides me.
       I am the LORD, and there is no other.

  I form the light and create darkness,
       I bring prosperity and create disaster;
       I, the LORD, do all these things.

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 91:1-10 You can't be harmed

Time to reflect: These kind of Bible passages that seem to suggest that the faithful cannot be harmed are always troublesome because we all know people , if we are selves are this way, who are like Job and suffer greatly when evil people flourish. This subject is too big for a whole library of books much less a PrayerBit. However, most people have given some thought to this problem. What solutions work for you.

Moving Through The Day: Meditate on the concept of “fairness” from God's perspective – God's perspective of fairness may be different from ours.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
       will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
       my God, in whom I trust."

 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
       and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers,
       and under his wings you will find refuge;
       his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

 You will not fear the terror of night,
       nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
       nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
       ten thousand at your right hand,
       but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes
       and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling—
       even the LORD, who is my refuge-

 then no harm will befall you,
       no disaster will come near your tent.