What's the Difference?
Over the next couple of months we're going to be experimenting with some changes to the prayer guide. For this sermon series "What's the Difference?" we're going to try connecting the prayer guide to the Sunday messages. If you didn't get a chance to participate in the service, you can view all of our messages on our website.
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Devotional Thought on Joy
What gave Paul joy?
It couldn't have been his circumstances: people trying to kill him, jail, stoning, rejection from friends. Yet, he had a rock solid trust and joy in the power of God to take care of him.
“He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how will he not also with him freely give us all things?”
- Romans 8:32 (NASB)
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”
- Philippians 4:19 (NASB)
It's what Paul knew because he had experienced life with God, abundantly, that he could say these things. It wasn't just 'head knowledge' but active day-to-day 'experiences with God' kind of knowledge. The abundance of God is not passively received, and does not happen to us by chance. It is claimed and put into action by our active, intelligent pursuit of it.
Jesus taught his disciples and then asked them to put into practice what they learned from him. We gain confidence when we test what he says to be true. The more we act and discover it's true, the more confidence we have in him. The more our joy is complete.
Here's a few examples:
- Check the log in your eye first, before condemning another-try it
- Consider the birds and lilies and know you are worth more - try it
- Use your free will to work towards the good of others - try it
We cannot do this, of course, purely on our own. We rely on the power of the Holy Spirit; but we must act. Well-directed, decisive, and sustained effort places our lives in direct contact with our living Savior, who can transform us into his very likeness.
Test him in this and you will find joy.
Petition
God invites us to cast our cares on him because he cares for us. God is all-together good, already knows what we need, and is eager to give us good things. So we don’t need to pray out of anxiety or fear, but confident trust. Spend a few minutes making your requests known to God.
- For the church
- For others
- For myself
Closing Prayer
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen