PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson: John 3:1-17 Nicodemus the literalist

Time to reflect: Nicodemus had trouble with Jesus' imagery, so Jesus had to spell it out – to all of our benefit. Being “born again” simply is a metaphoric way of saying that we allow the Holy Spirit to work with in us.

Moving through the day: Being “born again” does not have to be cannot actually be a dramatic one-time event. Pray that God's spirit enters you now and guides you in the future.

Scripture:

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.

 "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: Romans 8:12-17 Children of God

Time to reflect: Children are some­times confused by the fact that we refer to Jesus as the only son of God, and then refer to ourselves and others as children of God. The way Paul explains this here is that after the fact, after the Death and Resurrection, we all we adopted by God, Adopted or not, we are now children of God and therefore “heirs” of God – we gain all the benefits of being a child of God.

Moving through the day: Contemplate what it means to you to be a “child of God.”

Scripture:

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 29 God comes

Time to reflect: The imagery of this Psalm is standard Biblical imagery for God making an appearance on earth: earthquakes, thunder, storms, tornadoes. It is not here, but there are usually a reference to volcanoes also. Are these the signs you would picture if God were to make an appearance? Jesus, Immanuel --- God with us – didn't have such a dramatic presence.

Moving Throughout the day: Think about what it would be like to have God appear to you.

 Scripture:

  Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones,
       ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

  Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
       worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
       the God of glory thunders,
       the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.

  The voice of the LORD is powerful;
       the voice of the LORD is majestic.

 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
       the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

  He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
       Sirion like a young wild ox.

  The voice of the LORD strikes
       with flashes of lightning.

  The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
       the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.

  The voice of the LORD twists the oaks
       and strips the forests bare.
       And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"

  The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
       the LORD is enthroned as King forever.

 The LORD gives strength to his people;
       the LORD blesses his people with peace.

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Isaiah 6:1-8 Here I am, send me

Time to reflect: I'm sure it would have been a lot easier to say “send me” when Isaiah felt he was in the presence of God. Maybe the call of God isn't so dramatic for the rest of us, but we are called, never-the-less.

Moving through the day: Whenever you feel you know what God wants you to do do you say “here I am, send me” or, like Moses and Jeremiah start making excuses? What does God want you to do today?

Scripture:

1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

 5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"

 13Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine.[b]"

Peter Addresses the Crowd

 14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
 17" 'In the last days, God says,
      I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
   Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
      your young men will see visions,
      your old men will dream dreams.
 18Even on my servants, both men and women,
      I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
      and they will prophesy.
 19I will show wonders in the heaven above
      and signs on the earth below,
      blood and fire and billows of smoke.
 20The sun will be turned to darkness
      and the moon to blood
      before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
 21And everyone who calls
      on the name of the Lord will be saved.'[c]

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday

Scripture lesson: Matthew 3:1-11 Brood of Vipers and other insults

Time to reflect: The problem that John the Baptist and so many of the Old Testament Prophets were up against is the tendency for the “elect” to think that an apparent “election” is enough (e.g. “things are going well, so God must be on our side”). That God will favor them no matter what. This is a mistaken notion. John was trying to get the people's attention anyway he could.

Moving through the day: Do you ever presume that God can't get put out with you? Or our nation? In what ways are you and we testing God's grace? Do you/we need to do any repentance?

 Scripture:

1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
   "A voice of one calling in the desert,
   'Prepare the way for the Lord,
      make straight paths for him.' "[a]

 4John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

 11"I baptize you with[b] water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Matthew 16:13-17 Who is Jesus

Time to reflect: I am one of the worst about answering direct questions with lots of words and qualifications and nuances. Peter got it right: “you are the Messiah, Son of the living God.”

Moving through the day: Try making this affirmation to God in a prayer.

Peter's Confession of Christ

 13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

 14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

 15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"

 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,[a] the Son of the living God."

 17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Matthew 16:13-17 Who is Jesus

Time to reflect: I am one of the worst about answering direct questions with lots of words and qualifications and nuances. Peter got it right: “you are the Messiah, Son of the living God.”

Moving through the day: Try making this affirmation to God in a prayer.

Peter's Confession of Christ

 13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

 14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

 15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"

 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,[a] the Son of the living God."

 17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Matthew 16:13-17 Who is Jesus

Time to reflect: I am one of the worst about answering direct questions with lots of words and qualifications and nuances. Peter got it right: “you are the Messiah, Son of the living God.”

Moving through the day: Try making this affirmation to God in a prayer.

When I consider your heavens,
       the work of your fingers,
       the moon and the stars,
       which you have set in place,

 what is man that you are mindful of him,
       the son of man that you care for him?

  You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
       and crowned him with glory and honor.

 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
       you put everything under his feet:

 all flocks and herds,
       and the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air,
       and the fish of the sea,
       all that swim the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord,
       how majestic is your name in all the earth!

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: Malachi 2:10 One God

Time to reflect: I really don't like taking this one verse out of context, but what is actually a passing comment in the larger passage is a significant one: there is only one God and therefore we are one people.

Moving Through The Day: Pray for specific ethnic groups and nations around the world.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

 14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

 15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"

 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,[a] the Son of the living God."

 17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.