PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday: Luke 8:26-39 The Gerasene Demoniac

Time to Reflect: [Our modern sensibilities make us sympathize with the pigs. This is an inappropriate application of the modern to the ancient. For the 1^st century Jew having a herd of forbidden pigs killed in this way would have been a delightful event and a protest against their conquerors. And the pigs are beside the point.] This is a demonstration of the power of Jesus. This was a remarkable healing. The punch line is verse 39.

Moving through the day: Take verse 39 as a command from Jesus and act on it.

Scripture:

The Healing of a Demon-possessed Man

 26They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,[a] which is across the lake from Galilee. 27When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!" 29For Jesus had commanded the evil[b] spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

 30Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"

   "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

 32A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. 33When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

 34When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

 38The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39"Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: Galatians 3:23-29 Adopted into God's family

Time to reflect: All baptized people are a part of God's family and “joint heirs.” This is not just a romantic would-it-be-wonderful-if notion, it is a reality. We need to be viewing all Christians as truly brothers and sisters.

Moving through the day: Are there fellow Christians near or far that you have trouble viewing as siblings?

Scripture:

23Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ[a] that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

Sons of God

 26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 42&43 A Psalm of Lament

Time to reflect: These are actually a single psalm that got accidentally (?) split in ancient times. It is a beautifully written, poetic psalm but one of anguish. But there is no despair despite the psalmist's tremendous unhappiness.

Moving through the day: Think about what it feels like to have your very being (soul) “thirst for God.”

Scripture:

[b] As the deer pants for streams of water,
       so my soul pants for you, O God.

 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
       When can I go and meet with God?

 3 My tears have been my food
       day and night,
       while men say to me all day long,
       "Where is your God?"

 4 These things I remember
       as I pour out my soul:
       how I used to go with the multitude,
       leading the procession to the house of God,
       with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
       among the festive throng.

 5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
       Why so disturbed within me?
       Put your hope in God,
       for I will yet praise him,
       my Savior and 6 my God.
       My [c] soul is downcast within me;
       therefore I will remember you
       from the land of the Jordan,
       the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

 7 Deep calls to deep
       in the roar of your waterfalls;
       all your waves and breakers
       have swept over me.

 8 By day the LORD directs his love,
       at night his song is with me—
       a prayer to the God of my life.

 9 I say to God my Rock,
       "Why have you forgotten me?
       Why must I go about mourning,
       oppressed by the enemy?"

 10 My bones suffer mortal agony
       as my foes taunt me,
       saying to me all day long,
       "Where is your God?"

 11 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
       Why so disturbed within me?
       Put your hope in God,
       for I will yet praise him,
       my Savior and my God.

 

 

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: 1 Kings 19:9-13 The Lord was in the silence

Time to Reflect: Sometimes we find God in unexpected places. The wind and earthquakes and fire and other large traumatic events is where the ancients expected to find God. Elijah did not find God in these but in the “sheer silence.” Most unexpected.

Moving Through the Day: Where do you expect to find God? Where would be the opposite situation? Think about finding God in that setting. (e.g. expect to find God in Church, but look for him at work.)

Scripture:  

9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.
      

The LORD Appears to Elijah

    And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

 10 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

 11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
      Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
      Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 22:19-28 God saves

Time to reflect: Substitute the names of groups, institutions, people that try to devour you in verses 19-21.

Moving through the Day: Make this a personal prayer.

Scripture:

Psalm 22:19-28 (New International Version)

 19 But you, O LORD, be not far off;
       O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

 20 Deliver my life from the sword,
       my precious life from the power of the dogs.

 21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
       save [a] me from the horns of the wild oxen.

 22 I will declare your name to my brothers;
       in the congregation I will praise you.

 23 You who fear the LORD, praise him!
       All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
       Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

 24 For he has not despised or disdained
       the suffering of the afflicted one;
       he has not hidden his face from him
       but has listened to his cry for help.

 25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
       before those who fear you [b] will I fulfill my vows.

 26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
       they who seek the LORD will praise him—
       may your hearts live forever!

 27 All the ends of the earth
       will remember and turn to the LORD,
       and all the families of the nations
       will bow down before him,

 28 for dominion belongs to the LORD
       and he rules over the nations.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Isaiah 65:1-9 “Hello, are you listening?”

Time to reflect:The ancient society was ignoring the real God, involved in other concerns and issues and being drawn to more exciting and interesting religious practice. God had every right to walk away from Israel. But didn't, at least not entirely.

Moving through the day: How about our society, are we doing the same thing? How about you personally?

Scripture:

Isaiah 65

Judgment and Salvation

 1 "I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;
       I was found by those who did not seek me.
       To a nation that did not call on my name,
       I said, 'Here am I, here am I.'

 2 All day long I have held out my hands
       to an obstinate people,
       who walk in ways not good,
       pursuing their own imaginations-

 3 a people who continually provoke me
       to my very face,
       offering sacrifices in gardens
       and burning incense on altars of brick;

 4 who sit among the graves
       and spend their nights keeping secret vigil;
       who eat the flesh of pigs,
       and whose pots hold broth of unclean meat;

 5 who say, 'Keep away; don't come near me,
       for I am too sacred for you!'
       Such people are smoke in my nostrils,
       a fire that keeps burning all day.

 6 "See, it stands written before me:
       I will not keep silent but will pay back in full;
       I will pay it back into their laps-

 7 both your sins and the sins of your fathers,"
       says the LORD.
       "Because they burned sacrifices on the mountains
       and defied me on the hills,
       I will measure into their laps
       the full payment for their former deeds."

 8 This is what the LORD says:
       "As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes
       and men say, 'Don't destroy it,
       there is yet some good in it,'
       so will I do in behalf of my servants;
       I will not destroy them all.

 9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,
       and from Judah those who will possess my mountains;
       my chosen people will inherit them,
       and there will my servants live.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: 1 Samuel 11:26-12:10 Nathan calls out King David

Time to reflect: Most Kings would have had Nathan killed, David repents. Nathan's parable, however, is very good for it put the question in the abstract and helped David see clearly and without personal bias what is right and what is wrong.

Moving through the day: Have a prayer of confession. Then remember God's grace and love.

Scripture:

1 Samuel said to all Israel, "I have listened to everything you said to me and have set a king over you. 2 Now you have a king as your leader. As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day. 3 Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the LORD and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these, I will make it right."

 4 "You have not cheated or oppressed us," they replied. "You have not taken anything from anyone's hand."

 5 Samuel said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and also his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand."
      "He is witness," they said.

 6 Then Samuel said to the people, "It is the LORD who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your forefathers up out of Egypt. 7 Now then, stand here, because I am going to confront you with evidence before the LORD as to all the righteous acts performed by the LORD for you and your fathers.

 8 "After Jacob entered Egypt, they cried to the LORD for help, and the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your forefathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place.

 9 "But they forgot the LORD their God; so he sold them into the hand of Sisera, the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them. 10 They cried out to the LORD and said, 'We have sinned; we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. But now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve you.'

 

 

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson:   Psalm 22:27-31 The God of Time and Space

Time to reflect: This is an amazing belief: that all people through out time and space will worship God.

Moving through the day: Picture joining with myriad of myriad of people past, present, future, throughout the world all praying together.

Scripture:

27 All the ends of the earth
       will remember and turn to the LORD,
       and all the families of the nations
       will bow down before him,

 28 for dominion belongs to the LORD
       and he rules over the nations.

 29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
       all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
       those who cannot keep themselves alive.

 30 Posterity will serve him;
       future generations will be told about the Lord.

 31 They will proclaim his righteousness
       to a people yet unborn—
       for he has done it.

PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday: Luke 7:36-8:3 The sinful woman

Time to Reflect: [A couple of technical notes: Mary Magdalene in chapter 8 is often confused with the sinful woman of chapter 7. There is no justification for this. Also Mary was sick (demons) not “sinful.” The sin of the sinful woman is not stated, and cannot be implied and is beside the point.] Those who do not consider themselves very sinful may undervalue Jesus and thereby miss salvation.

Moving through the day: Prayer a prayer of confession and assess how much you need the grace offered by Jesus. Accept that grace.

Scripture:

36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

 39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."

 40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
      "Tell me, teacher," he said.

 41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[a] and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

 43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
      "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

 44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

 48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

 49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

 50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Luke 8

The Parable of the Sower

 1After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.