PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 God's macro and micro views

Time to reflect: The two selections here express the mind boggling breadth of God: Creator of the universe and loving parent to each of us.

Moving Throughout the day: It is hard to focus on both of these aspects of God at the same time. Try reading this passage with alternate verses: 1/13, 2/14, etc.

 

Scripture:

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
       throughout all generations.

  Before the mountains were born
       or you brought forth the earth and the world,
       from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

  You turn men back to dust,
       saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."

 For a thousand years in your sight
       are like a day that has just gone by,
       or like a watch in the night.

  You sweep men away in the sleep of death;
       they are like the new grass of the morning-

  though in the morning it springs up new,
       by evening it is dry and withered.

Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?
       Have compassion on your servants.

  Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
       that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

  Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
       for as many years as we have seen trouble.

  May your deeds be shown to your servants,
       your splendor to their children.

  May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
       establish the work of our hands for us—
       yes, establish the work of our hands.

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 No Moses shrines

Time to reflect: “...no one know his burial place to this day.” Humans like to venerate the “saints.” But this is inappropriate and although we've invented Jesus' burial spot and have similar shrines for others, this is not what we are supposed to be doing. John Calvin and John Knox took pains to be buried anonymously so we wouldn't worship them instead of God.

 

Moving through the day: It is hard not having something tangible to worship or pray to, but these things “upstage” God – take our attention away from God. Consider if there are any such religious distractions for you.

 

Scripture:

Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it."

  And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. He buried him ^[in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.

  Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.

 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 1 Two ways.

Time to reflect: This Psalm was added as an introduction to the whole set of Psalms and is to be a summary and guide to our understanding of the Psalms. Each day we are faced with choices that are toward godliness or unrighteousness.

Moving through the day: Read this psalm, thinking about some of the choices before you.

 

Scripture:

  Blessed is the man
       who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
       or stand in the way of sinners
       or sit in the seat of mockers.

  But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
       and on his law he meditates day and night.

  He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
       which yields its fruit in season
       and whose leaf does not wither.
       Whatever he does prospers.

  Not so the wicked!
       They are like chaff
       that the wind blows away.

  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
       nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

  For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
       but the way of the wicked will perish.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 Justice to all

Time to reflect: Justice to all regardless of status or money was quite an innovation, and is still hard to achieve because of human nature. But from the earliest parts of Scripture to the latest this keeps coming up. It is a basic expectation of God's.

Moving through the day: In what ways, in your daily life, can you avoid favoritism and actively promote the fair treatment of all?

  The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

  " 'Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.

  " 'Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
      " 'Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD.

  " 'Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.

  " 'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: Mark 10:17-27 The Eye of the needle analogy

Time to reflect: Jesus called a number of potential disciples that turned him down with one excuse or another. Jesus seemed to demand what each found too difficult to accept. In this case it was giving his “hard earned money” to the poor.

Moving Through The Day: If Jesus calls you (and he has!) what would be the difficult thing he would ask of you?

 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'

 "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."

 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

 At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"

 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?"

 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."