PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 19 “The Law of the Lord is perfect”

Time to reflect: This is one of the all time great poems and it is centered on God's Law and God's rule.

Moving Throughout the day: Read and meditate on the Psalm, but copy down vs 14 and say it to yourself periodically all day long.

 

Scripture:

The heavens declare the glory of God;
       the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

  Day after day they pour forth speech;
       night after night they display knowledge.

  There is no speech or language
       where their voice is not heard.

 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
       their words to the ends of the world.
       In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

  which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
       like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

  It rises at one end of the heavens
       and makes its circuit to the other;
       nothing is hidden from its heat.

  The law of the LORD is perfect,
       reviving the soul.
       The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
       making wise the simple.

  The precepts of the LORD are right,
       giving joy to the heart.
       The commands of the LORD are radiant,
       giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure,
       enduring forever.
       The ordinances of the LORD are sure
       and altogether righteous.

  They are more precious than gold,
       than much pure gold;
       they are sweeter than honey,
       than honey from the comb.

 By them is your servant warned;
       in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can discern his errors?
       Forgive my hidden faults.

  Keep your servant also from willful sins;
       may they not rule over me.
       Then will I be blameless,
       innocent of great transgression.

 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
       be pleasing in your sight,
       O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Exodus 20:1-17 The Ten Commandments

Time to reflect: The Ten Commandments are a part of a formal treat or covenant between God and Israel. Although the original commandments were “10 words” in Hebrew, in Exodus we get a lot of commentary to go with the 10 words. I wish there was room here to add to the commentary to fill out the meaning for modern people. However, most of the commandments are clear enough in their simplest forms and in modern translations.

 

Moving through the day: Some of the commandments are easy, others quite difficult. Pick out the 2-3 hardest ones for you and pray about them.

 

Scripture:

And God spoke all these words:

  "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

  "You shall have no other gods before me.

 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

  "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

  "You shall not murder.

  "You shall not commit adultery.

  "You shall not steal.

 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

  "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 80:7-15

Time to reflect: Taking yesterday's vineyard imagery one more step, Israel's bad behavior, like sour grapes, caused its destruction. The Psalmist is not praying for restoration.

Moving through the day: Pray to God for improvement in some of the hard situations you see yourself in or see our country in.

 

Scripture:

Restore us, O God Almighty;
       make your face shine upon us,
       that we may be saved.

  You brought a vine out of Egypt;
       you drove out the nations and planted it.

 You cleared the ground for it,
       and it took root and filled the land.

  The mountains were covered with its shade,
       the mighty cedars with its branches.

 It sent out its boughs to the Sea,
       its shoots as far as the River.

 Why have you broken down its walls
       so that all who pass by pick its grapes?

  Boars from the forest ravage it
       and the creatures of the field feed on it.

  Return to us, O God Almighty!
       Look down from heaven and see!
       Watch over this vine,

  the root your right hand has planted,
       the son you have raised up for yourself.

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: Hebrews 1:1-11 Jesus is more than I nice man

Time to reflect: This passage uses language we usually don't use or think about. We tend not to think of “heaven” in such graphic and concrete terms. But how would we graphically and clearly state our belief that Jesus is God and ruler of the universe?

Moving Through The Day: Find some modern images that reflect this exalted view of Jesus.

The Son Superior to Angels

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
   "You are my Son;
      today I have become your Father^”? Or again,
   "I will be his Father,
      and he will be my Son"? And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
   "Let all God's angels worship him." In speaking of the angels he says,
   "He makes his angels winds,
      his servants flames of fire." But about the Son he says,
   "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,
      and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
      therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
      by anointing you with the oil of joy." He also says,
   "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
      and the heavens are the work of your hands.
 They will perish, but you remain;
      they will all wear out like a garment.

 

 

PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson: Matthew 21:23-32 Two issues

Time to reflect: These two issues really don't go together, but one is about “Who do we think Jesus is?” Do WE believe Jesus has ultimate authority? The second deals with the problem of intent. Is it ok to have good intentions or say the right things or to actually do what needs to be done.

Moving through the day: Pray about both of these things: Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior with our whole being; and being prepared to do, even if we don't like and argue back, the right thing.

Scripture:

"The Authority of Jesus Questioned

 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this authority?"

 Jesus replied, "I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John's baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?"

   They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' But if we say, 'From men'—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet."

 So they answered Jesus, "We don't know."
      Then he said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

 "What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'

 " 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

 "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.

 "Which of the two did what his father wanted?"
      "The first," they answered.

   Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: Philippians 2:1-13 “...look not to your own interests...”

Time to reflect: I know, this is against human nature. But we can go against human nature if we try hard enough. And Paul (and Jesus and much of the Old and New Testament) is clear enough that this is what is expected of us.

Moving through the day: Pray for the ability to set other's interests ahead of your own.

 

Scripture:

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
 Who, being in very nature God,
      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
 but made himself nothing,
      taking the very nature of a servant,
      being made in human likeness.
 And being found in appearance as a man,
      he humbled himself
      and became obedient to death—
         even death on a cross!
 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
      and gave him the name that is above every name,
 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
      in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      to the glory of God the Father.

Shining as Stars

 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Exodus 17:1-7 Griping about God

Time to reflect: Why would God bother with such cranky and unappreciative people? But God did, in this case providing water from a rock. It is important to note that the place became knows as “Test” (Massah) and “Quarrel” (Meribah).

 

Moving through the day: When have we been cranky and unappreciative toward God? Print the word “Meribah” on a rock and put it on your desk to remind you to be more appreciative of God's blesssings.

 

Scripture:

The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink."
      Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?"

 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?"

 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me."

 The LORD answered Moses, "Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"