PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: 1 Samuel 1:4-20 Dedicated to God

Time to Reflect: This is not an attack on polygamy, although the points are well taken... However, the point is that Hannah dedicated any possible child to God. Nazirites were people who have dedicated themselves to serving God. The marks of a Nazirite were the things mentioned. It was a mark of extraordinary faith that she made this promise. The child was one of Israel's best and most important figures: Samuel the Priest. Note in verse 18, “her countenance was no longer sad.” Just because someone told her of God's blessing she viewed the problem as solved and she no longer had to worry about it.

Moving Through the Day: Some Lenten practices are Nazirite-like. If you were to make a special dedication of yourself to God for the next week, what signs or symbols would you use to illustrate your commitment?

Scripture:

1 Samuel 1:4-20

4On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; 5but to Hannah he gave a double portion,* because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7So it went on year after year; as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8Her husband Elkanah said to her, ‘Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?’

9 After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord.* Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. 11She made this vow: ‘O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite* until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants,* and no razor shall touch his head.’

12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14So Eli said to her, ‘How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.’ 15But Hannah answered, ‘No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.’ 17Then Eli answered, ‘Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.’ 18And she said, ‘Let your servant find favour in your sight.’ Then the woman went to her quarters,* ate and drank with her husband,* and her countenance was sad no longer.*

19 They rose early in the morning and worshipped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked him of the Lord.’

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday

Isaiah 26:3-4 “keeps you in peace”

Scripture lesson:

This is probably a good place to point out that peace “Shalom” is not referring to an absence of war or strife or even personal distress. It is a positive word with a broad meaning of health, wholeness, stability. When one has “Shalom” there is no room for anxiety, hostility, warfare, strife or other negatives. We need to all strive for “Shalom” in our lives.

Time to reflect: Pray about areas where there is a lack of Shalom in your life. Try thinking about how your faith in God can restore Shalom in these situations.

Scripture:

Isaiah 26:3-4

3Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—
   in peace because they trust in you.
4Trust in the Lord for ever,
   for in the Lord God *
   you have an everlasting rock.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 92:1-5 Praise God

Time to reflect: I have observed over the years that modern Americans are good at prayers of thanksgiving and not very good at prayers of praise.

Moving through the day: Meditate on why this is so.

1 It is good to praise the LORD
       and make music to your name, O Most High,

 2 to proclaim your love in the morning
       and your faithfulness at night,

 3 to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
       and the melody of the harp.

 4 For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD;
       I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

 5 How great are your works, O LORD,
       how profound your thoughts!

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 56:10-11 “What can a mere mortal do to me?”

Time to reflect: It is natural to fear “mere mortals” because they can do us real, if temporary, harm. But in the end, they can not harm our spirit or our salvation

Moving Through The Day: Pray a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for God's love and support.

In God, whose word I praise,
   in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11in God I trust; I am not afraid.
   What can a mere mortal do to me?

PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson: Mark 12:38-44 Who are like the Scribes?

Humans love to be ostentatious and we tend to honor and respect those who put on the right airs. We just went through an era when large cars and mansions were a sign of one's importance. As usually is the case, this was all sham. But, of course, it does not need to be that dramatic and obvious. We can put on airs in humbler ways as well.

Moving through the day: Think about ways where you try to inflate your position by means of external displays.

Scripture:

Mark 12:38-44

Jesus Denounces the Scribes

38 As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, 39and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! 40They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’

The Widow’s Offering

41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 127:1-2 “unless the Lord...”

Time to reflect: Any human activity is at least meaningless without the Lord's involvement and blessing.

Moving Throughout the day: Pray that God be directly involved in all the tasks you have today.

Scripture

Psalm 127

God’s Blessings in the Home

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.
1Unless the Lord builds the house,
   those who build it labour in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
   the guard keeps watch in vain.
2It is in vain that you rise up early
   and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
   for he gives sleep to his beloved.*

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Ruth 4:13-17 The Ruth story completed

As mentioned in a previous PrayerBit, Moabite Ruth took on her Israelite mother-in-law's responsibility for producing a male heir to continue the family line. This is the central theme of the book. In these verses it all comes to fruition as she bears, by Boaz, the male relative that accepted the responsibility, Obed the grandfather of King David.

Moving through the day: Naomi and Ruth went through a great deal of hardship, poverty, and uncertainty before they enjoyed this happy ending to their faithfulness. Think about a time, perhaps now, when it was hard to see a possible happy end to a bad time. Pray for wisdom at such times.

Scripture:

Ruth 4:13-17

The Genealogy of David

13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son. 14Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin;* and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him.’ 16Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse. 17The women of the neighbourhood gave him a name, saying, ‘A son has been born to Naomi.’ They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.