Monday June 12, 2023

Today is Monday, June 12 and we are learning about serving Christ and others.

As I begin this time of prayer, I center myself upon the goodness of God. I slow my breathing and calm my mind. With every exhale I relinquish negative thoughts, worries and fears. With every inhale I take in God’s love, joy and peace.

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord and Savior, take my hand, guide my steps and lead me on this pilgrim journey. Open my heart, mind and soul and help me comprehend the truth you speak into my life today. Amen.

This week’s Psalm of Ascent (Psalm 123) calls me to serve God. I embark on today’s journey lifting my eyes to the God I love and choose to serve.

I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he shows us his mercy. Psalm 123:1-2

Pause and Pray

After decades of wilderness wanderings, Joshua established the people of Israel in the land God promised them. At Shechem, he called the community together to renew their commitment to God and to his Covenant. Joshua read them all the words of God’s Law and asked them to make a firm and clear decision to choose either the one true God or the worship of pagan idols. The people were asked to choose for themselves that day whom they will serve. The same question is asked of me, who will I serve?

Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:14-15

In the eighteenth century, John Wesley utilized twenty-two questions that members of the Holy Club asked themselves every day as a practice of self-examination. Question number five is “Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?” That question is still relevant today. I might expand it to include additional items. I consider whether I am a slave to selfish ambition and vain conceit. Am I shackled to social media, entertainment or politics? Am I tied to pleasing others, seeking approval or gaining praise? Am I a slave to food, caffeine, nicotine or alcohol? Do I serve my career, my ego, my pride, my bank account? Or do I serve God?

Ask: What holds the highest priority in my life? Who do I choose to serve?

Pause and Pray

Lord God, you are holy, good and mighty. You are worthy of all my love and respect. I seek to serve you faithfully. Reveal the idols in my life, the things which captivate my time and steal away my attention. Show me what I need to throw away and leave behind so I can make progress serving you on this pilgrim journey. I read the words from Joshua again and listen for the message you have for me.

Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:14-15

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?

Pause and Pray

Each day begins with a choice. I decide who (or what) I choose to worship. Who (or what) I will serve. Who (or what) holds first place in my heart. I decide where I will place my trust. Who receives my loyalty and faithfulness. There are many little “gods” and “idols” in the course of my day that vie for my time and attention. Their voices clutter my mind and distract my focus away from the one true God. I consider the things I place before God and what I might need to discard and throw away. What have I been carting along with me on this journey that would be better left behind? Jesus is Lord of my life and King of my heart. He is the one I look to and the one I choose to serve.

Pause and Pray

Come, Lord Jesus, shine your light inside the treasure trove of my heart. Reveal the things I love the most and on what I place the highest value. Show me what I truly serve and who holds me captive. Lead me to tear down false idols and reject deceptive priorities. I hold fast and serve you with all my heart and soul. Amen.

Be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. Joshua 22:5

I leave this time of prayer, committed to faithfully serving Jesus Christ my Savior. I go to do his good will and work in the world.

Amen