PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson: Mark 9:38-41 Don't stop people who are doing good

Time to reflect: The Apostles didn't understand things, didn't want to ask and bickered among themselves as to who was more important. Just like any other gathering of Christians. Can't you see Jesus rolling his eyes and sighing? But in the end the changed the world.

Moving through the day:Through the day, if you see someone helping others or otherwise doing good works, thank or compliment them.

Scripture:

 Mark 9:38-41

Another Exorcist

38 John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone* casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ 39But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of me. 40Whoever is not against us is for us. 41For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: James 5:13-20 Pray for healing

Time to reflect: One important point is that “anointing with oil” wasn't some magical or mystical religious activity, but was a part of the medical practice of that day. To truly honor the spirit of this passage we should combine the best of modern medical practice with prayer.

Moving through the day: Take time to pray for people you know that are ill.

Scripture:

James 5:13-20

The Prayer of Faith

13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 17Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.

19 My brothers and sisters,* if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, 20you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s* soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 124 God is on our side... when?

Time to reflect:There is much wisdom in this Psalm

Moving Throughout the day:

Think about struggles you are aware of, not just wars, but also everything from family issues, to social movements. Think about what side God is most likely on based on the idea that God defends the downtrodden.

Scripture

Psalm 124

Thanksgiving for Israel’s Deliverance

A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1If it had not been the Lord who was on our side
   —let Israel now say—
2if it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
   when our enemies attacked us,
3then they would have swallowed us up alive,
   when their anger was kindled against us;
4then the flood would have swept us away,
   the torrent would have gone over us;
5then over us would have gone
   the raging waters.

6Blessed be the Lord,
   who has not given us
   as prey to their teeth.
7We have escaped like a bird
   from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
   and we have escaped.

8Our help is in the name of the Lord,
   who made heaven and earth.

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Esther 7:1-6 Brave Esther

Time to reflect:

Although this is a wisely couched argument, Esther was taking a very big risk here by joining herself to the fate of her people, and speaking up to the king.

Moving through the day: How often have you had to put yourself on the line for what was right? Pray that God be with you the next time you need to.

Scripture:

Esther 7:1-6

Esther 7

Haman Hanged

 1 So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther, 2 and as they were drinking wine on that second day, the king again asked, "Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted."

 3 Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold for destruction and slaughter and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king. [a] "

 5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, "Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?"

 6 Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman."
      Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen.

PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson: Mark 9:38-41 Don't stop people who are doing good

Time to reflect: The Apostles didn't understand things, didn't want to ask and bickered among themselves as to who was more important. Just like any other gathering of Christians. Can't you see Jesus rolling his eyes and sighing? But in the end the changed the world.

Moving through the day:Through the day, if you see someone helping others or otherwise doing good works, thank or compliment them.

Scripture:

 Mark 9:38-41

Another Exorcist

38 John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone* casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ 39But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of me. 40Whoever is not against us is for us. 41For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: James 5:13-20 Pray for healing

Time to reflect: One important point is that “anointing with oil” wasn't some magical or mystical religious activity, but was a part of the medical practice of that day. To truly honor the spirit of this passage we should combine the best of modern medical practice with prayer.

Moving through the day: Take time to pray for people you know that are ill.

Scripture:

James 5:13-20

The Prayer of Faith

13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 17Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.

19 My brothers and sisters,* if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, 20you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s* soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 124 God is on our side... when?

Time to reflect:There is much wisdom in this Psalm

Moving Throughout the day:

Think about struggles you are aware of, not just wars, but also everything from family issues, to social movements. Think about what side God is most likely on based on the idea that God defends the downtrodden.

Scripture

Psalm 124

Thanksgiving for Israel’s Deliverance

A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1If it had not been the Lord who was on our side
   —let Israel now say—
2if it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
   when our enemies attacked us,
3then they would have swallowed us up alive,
   when their anger was kindled against us;
4then the flood would have swept us away,
   the torrent would have gone over us;
5then over us would have gone
   the raging waters.

6Blessed be the Lord,
   who has not given us
   as prey to their teeth.
7We have escaped like a bird
   from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
   and we have escaped.

8Our help is in the name of the Lord,
   who made heaven and earth.