When We Search, We Will Find God

Day 19: March 7^th Thursday

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11-14

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

These verses from the Prophet Jeremiah are well known.  Go into any Christian book store and you’ll see them printed on coffee mugs and picture frames and t-shirts.

When Jeremiah originally said these words they were to the Israelites in exile.  Jeremiah spoke them to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

Knowing this, read our scripture passage for today.

What words or phrases pop out at you?

What does Jeremiah teach you about God? About yourself?

In our print prayer journals we have a space for Notes, Ideas, Drawings, and Observations.  Feel free to keep your own journal.  Or share your ideas, prayers, and observations in the comments section below.

That Your Joy May Be Complete

Day 18: March 6^th Wednesday

Scripture: John 15:1-11

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”

This scripture comes from the fourth gospel in the Bible, the Gospel according to John.  These verses are part of Jesus’ “Farewell Discourse.” In John chapter 13 Jesus gathers with his disciples for the Last Supper.  He takes the opportunity to wash their feet.  Afterwards he returns to the table and begins to teach the disciples.  He is trying to prepare them for his death.  The scripture we read today is included in this teaching.  There are many parts of this scripture we could focus on. 

Right now, ask God to show you what part God wants you to concentrate on.

Re-read the scripture.  Which part is popping out at you?

Silently repeat this line or word or sentence. 

Today, whenever you walk through a door way, remember that part of scripture.

At the end of the day, consider what you learned from this scripture.  Why did God focus your mind on that particular part of scripture?

In our print prayer journals we have a space for Notes, Ideas, Drawings, and Observations.  Feel free to keep your own journal.  Or share your ideas, prayers, and observations in the comments section below.

Forgetting God

Day 17: March 5^th Tuesday

Scripture: Hosea 13:4-6 

“Yet I have been the Lord your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior.

It was I who fed you in the wilderness, in the land of drought. When I fed them, they were satisfied; they were satisfied, and their heart was proud; therefore they forgot me.”

In the Book of Exodus, when God brings the Israelites out of slavery they wander in the wilderness for a long time.  During this wilderness period the people often forget God.  They would grumble and complain and God would provide for them.  But then once their hearts were satisfied they would forget all that God had done for them.  They would forget that they were set free from their slavery.  They would forget that they received food and water—their very life—from God.  As the Prophet Hosea tells us in our scripture for today they would be satisfied and their hearts would be proud and they would forget God.

Think of a time you were prideful.  Ask God to help you remember. Did you remember God in your pride?  Did your pride separate you from God?

Consider in what ways pride makes us forget God. In your prayers today ask God for forgiveness from your pride.  Ask God for strength and courage to always remember God.

In our print prayer journals we have a space for Notes, Ideas, Drawings, and Observations.  Feel free to keep your own journal.  Or share your ideas, prayers, and observations in the comments section below.

Names of God

Day 16: March 4^th Monday

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

During Advent we read this Scripture from Isaiah.  Read it again.

These are some names we have for Jesus. 

What name do you use most often for Jesus?  Is it simply Jesus?  Maybe Son of God or Savior or Christ or Lord?  How might you use these names from Isaiah in your prayer life?  What do these names teach us about Jesus’ nature? Jesus’ character?

Write down your observations.

In our print prayer journals we have a space for Notes, Ideas, Drawings, and Observations.  Feel free to keep your own journal.  Or share your ideas, prayers, and observations in the comments section below.

Nicodemus

Day 15: March 3^rd Sunday

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Today in worship we read the passage from the Gospel according to John when Jesus has a conversation with Nicodemus.  

Re-read this scripture again, slowly.

What did you hear in worship this morning about this passage?  Did you have a new insight into it through a prayer we prayed or the sermon or a hymn?  Write about it. 

Ask God to show you even more about this story. 

How does the famous verse John 3:16 (For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life) fit into the story?

Thank God for the insights he gives you.

In our print prayer journals we have a space for Notes, Ideas, Drawings, and Observations.  Feel free to keep your own journal.  Or share your ideas, prayers, and observations in the comments section below.

Free Day Saturday

Day 14: March 2^nd Saturday

Choose a favorite scripture, one you have never understood, one you are curious about, one you’ve heard recently and read it.  Ask God to show you a new insight into the words.  Read each sentence slowly.  Let the words sink in. 

Ask God to reveal the meaning throughout your day. 

Pick a sentence and repeat it over and over again as you do the dishes or go on a walk or work on a project.  Have you noticed anything new? 

At the end of the day thank God for all he has shown you today.

In our print prayer journals we have a space for Notes, Ideas, Drawings, and Observations.  Feel free to keep your own journal.  Or share your ideas, prayers, and observations in the comments section below.

Live by the Spirit

Day 13: March 1^st Friday

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-26  

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

This is probably a familiar part of scripture.  We often learn about the fruits of the Spirit in Sunday School.  Have you considered the fruits of the Spirit recently?

Jesus says in John 15 that when we abide in him we will bear good fruit.  Here in Galatians we are told what that good fruit is:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Pray over each of those fruits.  How do you bear love? Self-control?  Gentleness?  Joy? Patience? Peace? Generosity?  Faithfulness? Kindness?

Ask God to show you how to bear these fruits in your daily life.

In our print prayer journals we have a space for Notes, Ideas, Drawings, and Observations.  Feel free to keep your own journal.  Or share your ideas, prayers, and observations in the comments section below.