Thursday June 15, 2023

Today is Thursday, June 15 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.

As another day dawns, I lift praises to the Lord my God with the words of Psalm 113.

Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, you his servants; praise the name of the LORD. Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. Psalm 113:1-3

Pause and Pray

God has given each Christian gifts, skills, talents and abilities. Every day I have the opportunity to be generous and willing to share these with the church and invest them in God’s kingdom work. I follow the example of Jesus who came into the world to serve and not to be served. Christ emptied himself of everything, forsook divinity, humbled himself, washed the feet of the disciples, carried his cross to Golgotha, suffered and died for every soul. He became a suffering servant to all. In his first letter, Peter wrote to a troubled church in Asia Minor. He encouraged them to live out their faith and serve others with their God-given gifts regardless of the challenges and struggles they faced.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:8-11

Whatever my day holds, regardless of the challenges I face, despite the uncertainty that exists, I am called above all things to love others deeply and serve them faithfully. Peter encourages me to live this day well. I can look for opportunities to offer joyful hospitality to someone, to give whatever I have to help someone, to find words to encourage someone, to be a faithful steward of God’s love and reflect his grace. I choose how I will approach this upcoming day – I look for ways to speak love, find strength and serve well.

Ask: How can I offer myself today to serve God’s kingdom? How might my actions bring God praise and glory?

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord, thank you for guiding my journey and showing me how to live. Walk with me today and awaken me to opportunities to welcome, love, speak and serve. Raise my awareness of what you are doing and let me join you in every good work. Provide me strength to serve, good words to speak in every situation, and moments for me to share what I have with others. I read the words from 1 Peter again and listen for the message you have for me.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:8-11

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

Much of the progress I make on my spiritual journey arises from my ability to hear God speaking to me through scripture. God guides my soul and I endeavor to listen. I consider my current circumstances and what has been foremost on my mind. What is God revealing to me through the words or phrases of today’s scripture passage? Maybe God wants to direct me to a new practice, supply me with something I need, or reveal something I have overlooked in my pilgrim walk. Perhaps God wants me to recognize opportunities to serve him in my everyday life and invest myself more fully in his kingdom work.

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord, I invite you to show me what I have been missing. Reveal opportunities to serve you more fully, instances to share your love, places to provide hospitality, moments to speak encouragement, and times to offer comfort. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear the places where I can be your hands and feet. Amen.

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people. Ephesians 6:7

I leave this time of prayer, looking for opportunities to serve God diligently and faithfully.

Amen