PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson:        Matthew 25:1-13 Judgement Day

Time to reflect: This passage epitomizes the dichotomy of our life as Christians. We have to live every day as if it is the last – we need to be ready to meet God, each day. While, at the same time we need to view each day as one of millions more. And we won't know which kind of day it is until it is over.

Moving through the day: How would it affect your life if you knew that this was your last day? How would it affect your life if you knew it was one of millions more? Pray about keeping both of these eventualities firmly in your head.

Scripture:

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

 "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

 " 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

 "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'

 "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'

 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 The Resurrection

Time to reflect: This passage gives us confidence in the resurrection for ourselves and for our loved ones. Paul didn't know the details or the mechanics of the resurrection any more than we do but the core belief is essential to our failt.

Moving through the day: Boil this passage down to a simple sentence or two that you can use thank God for the resurrection.

Scripture:

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 78:1-7 Each generation could be the last Christian generation

Time to reflect: It is up to all current Christians to pass on the faith to the new generations.  If we get too busy, too passive, too politically correct, too indulgent, we fail them and God.  We all need to take these verses to heart.

Moving Throughout the day: Pray about when and where you should be teaching others about your beliefs.

 

Scripture:

O my people, hear my teaching;
       listen to the words of my mouth.

 I will open my mouth in parables,
       I will utter hidden things, things from of old-

  what we have heard and known,
       what our fathers have told us.

 We will not hide them from their children;
       we will tell the next generation
       the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
       his power, and the wonders he has done.

  He decreed statutes for Jacob
       and established the law in Israel,
       which he commanded our forefathers
       to teach their children,

  so the next generation would know them,
       even the children yet to be born,
       and they in turn would tell their children.

  Then they would put their trust in God
       and would not forget his deeds
       but would keep his commands.

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Joshua 24:14-18 “As for me...”

Time to reflect: Two classic lines that say it all are in this passage: “Choose this day whom you will serve” and “...as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

 

Moving through the day: Each day we should challenge ourselves with, “Choose this day whom you will serve” -- and then set out to face the day with “as for me.. I will serve the Lord.”

 

Scripture:

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

  Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God."

 

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday

Scripture lesson: John 15:12-16 The Charge from Jesus

Time to reflect: Jesus is giving his disciples their “marching orders” just before he faces death. Notice that the chief expectation is “love” -- sacrificial care and concern for others.

Moving through the day: Think about this passage carefully, phrase at a time, applying it to yourself.

 

Scripture:

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Zephaniah 1:12-18 The Day of the Lord

Time to reflect: These kinds of passages are not very popular. We really only want to read the “sweetness and light” passages. By the way, the New Testament has plenty of Judgment Day passages also, so we can't just write these off as being “Old Testament” and no longer applicable. Keep in mind those who need to hear these passages “...those who say in their hearts, 'The Lord will not do good, nor will he do harm.'”

Moving through the day: Pray about any tendencies you might have for relegating God to being irrelevant to your life.

 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps
       and punish those who are complacent,
       who are like wine left on its dregs,
       who think, 'The LORD will do nothing,
       either good or bad.'

 Their wealth will be plundered,
       their houses demolished.
       They will build houses
       but not live in them;
       they will plant vineyards
       but not drink the wine.

The Great Day of the Lord

 "The great day of the LORD is near—
       near and coming quickly.
       Listen! The cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter,
       the shouting of the warrior there.

  That day will be a day of wrath,
       a day of distress and anguish,
       a day of trouble and ruin,
       a day of darkness and gloom,
       a day of clouds and blackness,

 a day of trumpet and battle cry
       against the fortified cities
       and against the corner towers.

  I will bring distress on the people
       and they will walk like blind men,
       because they have sinned against the LORD.
       Their blood will be poured out like dust
       and their entrails like filth.

  Neither their silver nor their gold
       will be able to save them
       on the day of the LORD's wrath.
       In the fire of his jealousy
       the whole world will be consumed,
       for he will make a sudden end
       of all who live in the earth."

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: Titus 3:1-7 Some HARD instruction

Time to reflect: Especially as we approach the election on Tuesday, The first couple of verses of this passage can be challenging of not offensive. It would have been equally so in its original Roman context.

Moving Through The Day: Make a point this week of “showing every courtesy to everyone” -- it'll mess with their minds!

 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.