PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson: Luke 21:25-36 “Be alert”

Time to Reflect: We have to live each day as if it were the last and as if it was one of 1000s more. We'll never know which it really is.

Moving through the day: If this were the end of the world as we know it, would you feel fine? Contemplate your readiness.

Scripture:

Luke 21:25-36

The Coming of the Son of Man

25 ‘There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in a cloud” with power and great glory. 28Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

29 Then he told them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Exhortation to Watch

34 ‘Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.’

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 25:1-10 “do not remember...”

Time to reflect: This psalm, and so many others, imply a moveable, interactive, interpersonal God. This is not the Divine Watchmaker but one that cares, can be persuaded, has the capacity to rise above rules, personal insults and sin and show grace and mercy.

Moving Throughout the day: Pray a personal prayer, asking God for forgiveness for sin – be specific.

Scripture

Psalm 25

Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance

Of David.
1To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2O my God, in you I trust;
   do not let me be put to shame;
   do not let my enemies exult over me.
3Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
   let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
   teach me your paths.
5Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
   for you are the God of my salvation;
   for you I wait all day long.

6Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
   for they have been from of old.
7Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
   according to your steadfast love remember me,
   for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!

8Good and upright is the Lord;
   therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9He leads the humble in what is right,
   and teaches the humble his way.
10All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
   for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Jeremiah 23:14-16 “The Lord is our righteousness”

Time to Reflect: Although Jeremiah was picturing someone more like an earthly king, we feel that Jesus was the fullest and best fulfillment of this passage. The Hebrews had a more concrete concept of “Righteousness” than we do. We tend to feel it is a personal choice to do right. They felt it was a divine quality imparted to humans that required right behavior.

Moving Through the Day: Contemplate how God is our righteousness. What does that mean to you?

Scripture:

Jeremiah 23:14-16

14But in the prophets of Jerusalem
   I have seen a more shocking thing:
they commit adultery and walk in lies;
   they strengthen the hands of evildoers,
   so that no one turns from wickedness;
all of them have become like Sodom to me,
   and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.
15Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets:
‘I am going to make them eat wormwood,
   and give them poisoned water to drink;
for from the prophets of Jerusalem
   ungodliness has spread throughout the land.’

16 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you; they are deluding you. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday

Matthew 10:16-22 “The one who is faithful to the end...”

Scripture lesson:

It would be easier to be faithful if we were persecuted as foretold in this passage. Then the issues would be stark and clear and not so muddled, confusing and uncertain as we have in our lives.

Time to reflect: Pray to God asking help in figuring out the right thing to do to be faithful when the issues are so vague.

Scripture:

Matthew 10:16-22

Coming Persecutions

16 ‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; 20for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: 2 Peter 1:1-11 Start with faith and then build on it

Time to reflect: There is a lot in this passage that can be commented on, but I'd like to focus on the sequence of 5-7 and the fact that this passage indicates that faith and godliness is a process and one we can/should work on constantly.

Moving through the day: Think through the sequence of qualities and see if you can determine what the writer had in mind in linking these and in this order.

2 Peter 1:1-11

THE SECOND LETTER OF

Peter

Salutation

1Simeon* Peter, a servant* and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ:*

2 May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

The Christian’s Call and Election

3 His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by* his own glory and goodness. 4Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants in the divine nature. 5For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, 6and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, 7and godliness with mutual* affection, and mutual* affection with love. 8For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9For anyone who lacks these things is short-sighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. 10Therefore, brothers and sisters,* be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. 11For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 46 “He makes wars cease”

Time to reflect: Commenting on the three stanzas: 1) “though the earth should change” Our earth is changing in ways the Psalmist could not have imagined. But we still have the assurance of God's presence; 2) This is talking about Jerusalem which they felt was the “center of the universe” and where God, in some sense or other, dwelt; 3) This is talking about something still in the future: the coming of the Realm of God when all are at peace.

Moving Through The Day: Pray for the coming of the Realm of God, both in this world and in the world to come.

Psalm 46

God’s Defence of His City and People

To the leader. Of the Korahites. According to Alamoth. A Song.
1God is our refuge and strength,
   a very present* help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
   though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3though its waters roar and foam,
   though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
          Selah

4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
   the holy habitation of the Most High.
5God is in the midst of the city;* it shall not be moved;
   God will help it when the morning dawns.
6The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
   he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7The Lord of hosts is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our refuge.*
          Selah

8Come, behold the works of the Lord;
   see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
9He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
   he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
   he burns the shields with fire.
10‘Be still, and know that I am God!
   I am exalted among the nations,
   I am exalted in the earth.’
11The Lord of hosts is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our refuge.*
          Selah