Friday November 4, 2022

Today is Friday, November 4th, and this week we are studying the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter six.

I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to quiet my mind, and to focus on the presence of God.

Pause and Pray

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening. For you alone are holy, and you alone are good. Lead me in this time exploring the scriptures. Amen.

I praise the Lord, my God with the words of Psalm 27.

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
Psalm 27:1-4

Pause and Pray

In this week’s scripture, Jesus has been teaching the crowd that God, who loves them and provides for them, is in control. The Jewish audience would have remembered how God sustained of their ancestors wandering in the desert with just enough manna for each day. When the Israelites collected extra manna for the next day, God caused it to spoil because they did not trust in his daily provision. (Exodus 16:16-20) Jesus wanted them to see how seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness means looking to God, not grasping for control.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

When I spend energy excessively worrying about the future, my I lose focus on what the Holy Spirit is guiding me to do here and now. The adversary is always at work, and he delights when I get off course. My troubles today are only amplified when I spend time anticipating troubles that are to come in the future. So I pause this moment to be present; to quiet my heart and mind, not petitioning God, but simply focusing on what he wants me to hear.

Ask: What is God saying to me today?

Pause and Pray

Heavenly Father, I thank you for your abundant love and generosity. Help me cast all my anxieties upon you because I know you care for me. Guard my heart and mind today. I reread the words from Matthew and seek your message for me today.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

Ask: What image, word, or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

I take some time to think about or write down what worries I have been carrying. Which of these can I control? What does scripture say that God will do? What worries do I need to give to God today? What is the Holy Spirit guiding me to do today?

Pause and Pray

Lord, thank you for faithfully providing for my needs every day. I want to trust you wholeheartedly with every area of my life. I believe in who you are; help me overcome my unbelief. Protect me from the schemes of the evil one. Remove anything I am holding on to that is not building your kingdom. Amen.

Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:11

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

I leave this time of prayer releasing my worries to the Lord and fixing my eyes on him as I go through my day.

Amen