April 1 – May 7, 2023
For the month of April and ending with a special worship service dedicated to prayer, on May 7, we committed to pray together as a congregation. Each day, different members shared a scripture, devotion and a prayer and we prayed together in spirit and in truth.
The following are the daily prayers that we shared.
4/1
Scripture: Judges 6:14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel. Am I not sending you?” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least in my family. “
The Lord answered, “I will be with you.”
I find myself often feeling like Gideon in the wine press, focusing more on what I think I am capable of accomplishing and forgetting who goes before me. May we take time today to reflect on who has called us?
Prayer for the day:
Thank you Father for considering us trustworthy and appointing us to the service of your kingdom.
Forgive us when we focus more on our weaknesses, inadequacies, and the challenges set before us, instead of Who it is that goes before us.
Help us today to reflect on your power, majesty, love and faithfulness, not just seen in scripture but also as we have seen those qualities of yours poured out into our own lives.
Help us to understand that just like Gideon, it’s through our weaknesses that you are glorified.
Therefore, Father, we ask for renewed boldness as we shine your light into this world. Let our lives, what we say and what we do, reflect a confidence in You and let the joy of being in your presence be our sustaining strength.
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen
4/2
Scripture: John 12:12-13 – “The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
Today is Palm Sunday. Jesus enters Jerusalem the last time before His death. The crowds recognize Jesus as the Messiah sent by God but many quickly desert Him when He is arrested and led to the cross. Take time this week to read about the events leading up to the crucifixion and remembering that Jesus willingly went to His death on the cross because He loved us.
Prayer for the day:
Father, You alone are the true King, the leader greater than all others and the One who is in control.
Be with us as we begin our journey through this Holy Week that we might reflect on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and that we may draw closer to You, knowing suffering and death, yet remaining hopeful in the life You promise. Give us the strength to remain faithful to You when life gets rough and not quickly give up on You.
We pray Father, that we would not only praise You with our lips but that our lives would reflect Your light and love into this dark world so that others might see Jesus this week.
We ask this through Christ our Triumphant Lord,
Amen.
4/3
Scripture: Romans 12:9-21 – Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
We have been called by God for a purpose…that is to love one another. Paul eloquently describes what that love should look like in Romans 12. The “Prayer of St Francis” is a beautiful prayer reminding us of what we are called to do as followers of Christ. Let’s show this love this week!
Prayer of St Francis:
Lord, Make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy
O Divine Master, grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand
To be loved, as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
And it’s in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it’s in dying that we are born to eternal life
Amen
4/4
Psalm 50: 15-16
“And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify me.”
I have probably recited this verse to myself daily over the last 30 years. It is a great comfort to know that we can call on our God to help us deal with our daily troubles. God reminds us through this verse that the deliverance he promises is for His glory.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for hearing our continual cries for deliverance from trouble. We know that you desire your children to be thankful people, so we are grateful that you have asked us to reach out to you with our concerns. Like a frightened child, we long to be comforted and to hear your soothing voice reassuring us that everything we go through will not be wasted but will be for our good and for your glory.
In Jesus name, Amen!
4/5
Scripture reading: Judges 5:3
Hear this, you Kings! Listen you ruler!
I will sing to the Lord, I will sing:
I will make music to the Lord, The God of Israel.
Reflection
It’s hard to listen to 2 different pieces of music at the same time. It’s actually painful, frustrating and annoying. It’s also difficult to listen to God’s voice at the same time you are listening to negative self-talk resulting in confusion, discouragement and condemnation.
This week ask the Holy Spirit to help you to discern God’s voice from the noise of this world and to direct your path. Ask for grace to discipline your thoughts in order to hear God better.
Prayer:
Lord, we come before you asking that you would give us clear thoughts that concentrate on you and your word. Help us to be kind to ourselves when we fall short. Help us to confess our shortcomings, and forgive ourselves when we fall short. Help us to choose wisely the entertainment we see, or the web sites we visit; to have discernment to know when we are being distracted by the noise of this world. Remind us that we belong to you, and that we are your saints. Help us to reflect your love as we go out into the world, and let our spirit sing to you in ways that glorify you.
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen
4/6
Here is a beautiful thought and prayer from one of our young people at Southside.
Scripture reading: Ephesians 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
God prepared what He wanted us to do for Him and others a very long time ago. We are the Lord’s workmanship and His artwork. He has already planned what he wants us to do with our lives. We are all unique and serve our own purpose in our lives that lead us in service to Him.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father,
You created me and shaped me in your image. I am not who I want to be yet, but I know I am called by you. You have prepared good works for me and I am used by you for your glory. Lord, I am your artwork, and I know I am capable of any good work, because of your love, kindness, and unfailing grace. Lord, please continue to guide me and give me strength to fight through any struggles I have and to complete the things you want me to do. Amen
4/7
On “Good Friday”, ~ 2000 years ago, we gained forgiveness of our sins when Jesus died in our place. If we claim to be one of His followers we must learn and be willing to forgive others in the same we were forgiven. Here is a beautiful submission from a family member that reminds of this.
Scripture – Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Forgiveness is essential to salvation. Sometimes we hold a grudge against another person because of some wrong we have perceived. We can’t forgive them, we tell ourselves, because what they’ve done has hurt us so much. But God knows our hearts. He feels our pain, and he is our judge.
Prayer:
Oh Lord my God, you know every thought, every intention, every feeling I hold in my heart. You know how I’ve struggled forgiving others on occasion. I know that this is wrong and this unforgiving heart may keep me from knowing you. You are my God. I forgive [insert name of transgressor] for [insert incident requiring forgiveness], and pray that this burden will be lifted from my heart now and forever and my sin will be forgiven.
In the name of my precious savior, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
4/8
Scripture – Luke 23:55-56 – “The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”
Holy Saturday…the day between the crucifixion and the resurrection. We really don’t know anything that took place on that Sabbath except that Luke says the disciples rested. But imagine what they must be thinking and the inner turmoil they were likely experiencing.
Many of them were most likely behind locked doors in fear for their lives thinking that what happened to Jesus would happen to them as well. Their hopes and expectations had been crushed. The Messiah that they expected to become an earthly king had been executed. They are thinking “Now what will we do?” It seems like they have lost their faith.
The Jewish leaders and Romans were also worried and so they sealed the tomb and put guards in place…providing assurance that the resurrection could not be proven a hoax. I’m sure the Jewish leaders remembered that Jesus said he would die and rise again and they seem to exhibit more faith than the disciples at this point.
Have you experienced a hopelessness and despair like the disciples had on Holy Saturday? Do you have unanswered questions and grief that accompany this life we live in a fallen world? When you have that painful darkness like the disciples you can find rest knowing that in the darkness of life, God is still alive and working in your life…He is always with you…He has not forgotten you…He loves you unconditionally…and He is continuously restoring our lives back to Him.
Prayer:
Dear Father, At times we feel like the disciples did on Holy Saturday…full of despair and hopelessness…not knowing where to turn. Help us Father to remember that you are always there for us…always ready to help us get through this life…giving us a purpose and hope in this life…knowing that as you raised your Son to a new life, you have also raised us to a new life. Help us burst forth from that darkness and despair and shine your light brightly every day.
We pray this through your son. Amen.
4/9
Scripture – Luke 24:1-8 – “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.”
Friday, a day of terror and death…Saturday, a day of silence and wondering what next…Sunday, a day of everlasting hope and joy…a promise fulfilled…an empty tomb…and a risen Savior! Praise the Lord, He lives!
Sunday started off dark as the disciples were still in disbelief. God sends a violent earthquake and then an angel rolls the stone away and the unbelievable happens…God breathes life back into our Messiah and the world would never be the same again…and we can only stand amazed in His presence today and sing Hallelujah, He is Alive!
When we remember, that what God did on the cross and at the tomb, He did it for all of us so that we might be with Him always. What an awesome promise from an awesome God. Let’s rejoice in Him today as we worship Him.
Prayer:
Father, what an awesome day to worship you as we remember that because of you and your love for us, the tomb is empty.
Help us break out of the silence of Saturday and bask in your joy on this Resurrection Sunday and remember the promises you made that you would restore us back to you.
Help us to live our lives like we believe that He is risen and because He lives, we know we can face tomorrow…no matter what tomorrow may bring.
We pray this through Your Son who You raised from the grave. Amen.
4/10
The still small voice
1 Kings 19: 11-13 – 11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
“A still small voice” … some Bible translations have this phrase as “… a gentle whisper.” After God’s big show of a windstorm, an earthquake and then a fire, He got Elijah’s attention with a whisper.
A billboard I recently saw sums, this up nicely …
You must turn off the noise of the world to hear the voice of God
Dear Lord … help me to set aside time in my busy day and hectic life to turn off all the noise; to tune out Satan’s constant yelling and listen for Your voice. In Jesus name … Amen.
4/11
From one of our young people.
Scripture reading: Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Through life’s challenges, we know that we have peace in God. When reading this scripture, we are reminded that God may not always take troubling times away from us, but He will supply us with what we need to persevere. God has given us His Holy Spirit, and with it, the hope that we need to be confident. For struggles will come, and they may knock us down, but if we allow it, our struggle will build character to be better servants of Christ.
Prayer:
Lord, We come to you in prayer, thanking you for the many blessings that you have poured out upon us. Lord, we also pray, asking that you please bless us with the strength we need to overcome our challenges. Help us, Lord, to take refuge in you, and remind us that these struggles are temporary. We must be strong until our day with you comes. It is when we see you face to face, Lord, that we will experience relief from the burdens of this life. Please have mercy on us for our weakness and stay with us, Lord, for we want to be with you forever. Amen
4/12
There is several scriptures that tell us to do things for God’s glory and not our own. Here are a few examples:
Matthew 5:16 – In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Colossians 3:17 – And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
I Corinthians 10:31 – So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Reflection:
Many times, I look for a “pat on the back” or kind words expressed to me when I do something good…I am seeking the glory. God tells us that we should do things for His Glory and not our own glory. Instead of trying to make myself look better, I need to have my heart changed by God, recognizing that He is the only One worthy to be glorified.
Prayer for the day:
Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.
You are the potter, I am the clay,
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.
Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.
Father, whatever I do, please help me to do it for your Glory and not mine.
When I speak with others…let it be for your glory.
When I am working or learning at school…let it be for your glory.
When I spend time with family or friends…let it be for your glory.
In all that I do or say, let me do it for you Father.
Through Your Son and our example,
Amen
4/13
The disciples saw Jesus always in prayer. Knowing that He considered it a central part of His life, they ask Him how to pray. He responds with what we call the Lord’s Prayer. There is so much to this prayer as you “read between the lines” and start to truly understand what Jesus is praying for.
A good suggestion made by a Southside family member was to pray through the prayer once. Then pray it a second time and stop at each thought and add individual prayers, prayers for the church, for leaders, etc.
For example: “Hallowed be your name” – Lord help us to praise, honor, and glorify your name. Help us to see the power in your name to save. Help us to call on your name in all situations.
Spend some time in meditation today around the Lord’s Prayer as suggested.
Pray the Lord’s Prayer Mt 6:9-13
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
Amen
4/14
All around us, we see lies and truth perverted in our society. This is the way of the devil. The way of God and Christ is truth and that is what we must strive to learn and practice.
Isaiah 5:20 (NASB)
20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Jeremiah 9:3 (NASB)
3 “They bend their tongue like their bow; Lies and not truth prevail in the land; For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me,” declares the LORD.
John 8:31-32 (NASB)
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
John 14:16-17 (NASB)
16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
Prayer:
Father, lend us your Spirit of truth that we may know what is true and what is a lie when we encounter it. Open our mind and lend us wisdom to recognize what is from the evil one and what is from you. Help our understanding of your word and help our resolve to continue in it and do your desires. Likewise, for those around us, show them what are lies and what are truth so that they can overcome the evil one and recognize your goodness if they choose to do so. The devil wants to make us slaves while you want to make us free. We choose freedom within your word and wish the same for those around us.
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen
4/15
Scripture – 1 Kings 3:7-12
“Now Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know who to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this So God Said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have you asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administrating justice. I will do what you asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.”
Reflection
God gave Solomon great wisdom and it is credited to him that he was a great King, but Solomon lost his way when he did not destroy the high places for sacrifice to other gods. Sometimes I ask for the wisdom to use my money wisely, or when I am in conflict with someone, or even when I go to God in prayer. God will grant an earnest prayer for wisdom, but we must remember to glorify God and continue to keep the focus on God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, We come before you today and earnestly seek your wisdom in all aspects of life. Help us to be an example to those people you have placed in our community and family so that we can show our love to you. Help us not to take for granted answered prayers, but always give glory to you. Help us to share your word with those we meet who do not know you. Help us to be wise as we make decisions in our life, and may they bring glory to you.
We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
4/16
Scripture: John 10:10-11 – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Satan and his followers are out in the world, whose only desire is to steal, kill and destroy any joy or happiness we have or can find in the Lord. But we have the good shepherd who does everything to protect us. God always has his eyes on us, looking out for us and He knows what we need and if the thief or enemy comes, He will watch out for us, protect us, care for us and provide for us including laying down His life for us. Don’t let Satan steal or destroy your love and joy for the Lord
Prayer
Father, Thank you for being the Good Shepherd, watching over us, protecting us, caring for us and providing all things we need to be fulfilled in this life and to have true joy.
Help us to draw near to you so that Satan will flee from us so that he cannot steal and destroy our joy of being under Your care.
Help us fill our lives with Your word and Your goodness so that we will not be easily swayed by the things of this world.
We love You Father and we are grateful to be under Your careful watch.
We pray this through Your Son
Amen
4/17
Scripture – I King 19:11-13 – The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountain apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire came a whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Every day the Lord shows us His presence, often subtly and gently. Look for Him in places you haven’t before.
Prayer
As we go through today, help us see your presence and the work of your hands. Forgive us when our focus is on the big and powerful and we miss you in the gentle and small things you have set before us; a gentle rain, a budding tree, a child’s laughter, or a bird singing. The list goes on and on. Your glory surrounds us but this world competes for our attention. Like Elijah needing to be refreshed by being in your presence, help us to understand that we need to do the same. Help us to appreciate that one of the greatest gifts of prayer is simply being able to tune out all the noise and spend time with you, our creator; our father. Put on our hearts an ever increasing desire to draw near to you.
In Jesus name, Amen
4/18
Scripture – John 6:35– Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
God made us dependent on food, water, oxygen, and sleep to survive physically. He designed us and the things in the world with specific needs with certain limitations. Just as food and water are essential for physical life, we need spiritual food for our spiritual life. We need the bread of life to sustain us in our spiritual lives.
We can search for fulfillment in our work, in relationships, in money, in power, etc. but it simply is a chasing after the wind…it will only result in emptiness. The only thing that will truly satisfy us is Jesus…the bread of life.
Prayer
Father, help us to realize that this world and the things in it will never satisfy us but that we already have access to true nourishment for our souls through Your Son. Forgive us when we chase what the world offers, instead of You. Help us to pursue You and not the empty things of the world. Let us come to You for the bread that will truly fulfill us and give us true contentment in this life. Fill us Father to be Your servants and to share Your Bread with others.
In Jesus name we pray
Amen
4/19
Scripture – John 14:6– Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus says He is the only way to God and that He is the Truth and He is The Life. If Jesus is the Truth, then He is the standard and measure which we should use to judge the rest of world’s claims of truth. If we set Jesus’ Truth as the standard, we can quickly realize those that do not measure up to that Truth. And if we hold to His Truth, then we can find the true Life He promises to those who believe His Truth.
Let’s not be ashamed of the Truth that we find in God’s Word…And be willing to defend that Truth against claims of “false” truths from the world.
Prayer
Dear Father,
Thank you for revealing to us what the real Truth is and showing us how to find the true life in you. Thank you for loving us and wanting a relationship with us and giving us the Way on how to be in relationship with you.
Help us to be able to see the truths of this world that are being presented to us every day, and if they don’t measure up to your Truth help us not to fall for them.
Help us to have the courage to defend Your Truth at all times and not be ashamed of it when the world does not always agree with it.
Lord, you are so, so good to us! Help us never forget where True Life comes from…It only comes through You.
In Jesus name
Amen
4/20
Scripture – John 8:12 – When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
In the Old Testament, light is often a symbol of judgement because light is what exposes the darkness and evil in hearts of people. Jesus does not only illuminate the path we walk with Him but he illuminates the rest of the world exposing the darkness so that we can see what is good and evil and to know what is right and wrong. Let’s use that light to guide us in all that we do.
Prayer
Thank you Father for shining your light in our life and letting us see the darkness for what it is. We know that Jesus is the true light that will guide us into the only true life. Help us to walk away from the darkness of this world and to put all of our efforts into walking with You, in Your light. May the things we do in this world reflect You so that the world can see You and the true light that You give.
In Jesus name Amen
4/21
Many people talk about “Praying through thre Psalms”. Many are witten in a way that allows you to talk to God through them. It is a great practice to develop for your spiritual life. Start with Psalm 23 and give it a try.
Psalm 23 – A Psalm of David
The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for His names sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me:
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil: my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Pray through the Psalm once. Then as you pray again, stop at each thought and add individual prayers, prayers for the church, for leaders, for others, for yourself, etc.
ex: “The Lord is my Shepherd” – Lord thank you that you are our good shepherd and that we are the sheep. Thank you that we can follow you as sheep follow a shepherd. Thank you for leading us. Etc.
Prayer:
Thank you, Father, for giving us the Psalms that we can use to sing to you and to use for prayer. Allow your Spirit to work in me so that I can learn to pray better by using these Psalms as a guide. In your Son’s name, Amen.
4/22
Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, great is your faithfulness.
Steadfast love occurs 172 times in the Old Testament – 120 times in the Psalms and 26 times in Psalm 136 where it is part of a refrain, “for his steadfast love endures forever.”
It occurs seven times in Psalm 89, paired with faithfulness.
Reflection
Take some time and reflect on what “God’s steadfast love endures forever” means to you.
Prayer
Dear Father, it is so amazing that you would love us so much. We can come to you in any situation and know that you will not turn us away. In our humanness we often times fall short, and make mistakes, but still you love us. How great is your faithfulness. Thank you for sending us a Savior who can cover our sins and be the perfect sacrifice. Help us to remember that your mercies never come to an end and they are new every morning. We love you Lord.
It’s in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
4/23
Let’s set aside our agenda for today and put our focus on God and lift up His precious name and show adoration for the God who is truly worthy.
Here is a psalm and prayer of adoration as we come together in corporate worship today
Scripture: Psalms 95:1 – 7
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
Prayer:
We bow down before you Father recognizing that there is no one like you, there is no god that has been set up that compares to you. Nothing can compare to Your power and glorious splendor. You are the gentle shepherd that protects us, provides for us and delivers us. How could we want anymore? You are worthy of all our praise and worship, and we are filled with awe when we think about the great things You have done upon the earth and how You love us unconditionally. Accept us now as we come into Your presence to adore and worship You.
In your Son’s holy name, Amen.
4/24
When he was a teenager, Max Lucado drove out with friends late one evening to get some ice cream … the ice-cream stand was about 20 miles out in the country. Everything was fine …. until the truck got a flat tire … and the spare was flat, too.
Max called his dad, getting him out of bed [it was around midnight] and he drove to meet Max and fix the flat. I’ll let Max tell it …
“We fixed the tire and drove home. When we reached the house Dad sat me down in the living room and gave me a good talk. He took away my car keys. He took away my privileges. But then, surprisingly, he took away my fear by saying, “Max, I’m upset with you. But I understand the temptations. I remember what it is like to be a teenager.”
Dad, a teen? Shocking thought. But he remembered.
God, a human? Stunning truth. But he remembers. “We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin.” (Hebrews 4:15 MSG)
There is never a time that he responds to your prayer with this thought: “I just don’t get it.” He knows how you feel.”
I think we often forget there’s a LOT more to the statement: We are made in the image of God. Being as God is complete, to me that means He knows us … even with all our faults, frailties, and failings. The best part? He loves us in spite of ourselves … so much so the He sent his Son to redeem us.
Prayer:
Dear Lord … thank you that you hear our prayers and are a Father who knows us and loves us. We offer praise and glory to your precious Son who died to purchase us. Forgive us when we fall short, and strengthen us through Your Holy Spirit to stay on the narrow path and give us a place to serve in Your Kingdom. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
4/25
Scripture: Matthew 12:34-35- You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
Have you ever been in a heated exchange with someone or you are upset with someone and then in your frustration, words slip out that you immediately regret? And then you try to soften the blow by saying “I’m sorry and I did not mean what I said”? The problem is that you had internal thoughts that were brewing that ended up spilling out. I am guilty of this at times. We need to control our tongues…yes…but we need to get at the root of the problem…our heart…and fix that issue. Jesus tells us in this scripture that what we say and how we act is based on what is in our heart.
Prayer: Father, help us as we seek to honor you with both our words and our hearts. You know what’s in our hearts and minds, and we ask that you forgive us when our heart is not in the right spot and we say things that are hurtful. Help us to be more like you in all we say and do.
We ask for healing in relationships that our careless words have strained or possibly severed. Grant us the humility in asking for forgiveness, and we pray that those relationships can be reconciled if possible.
Let us use our words to encourage and build up one another instead of tearing down and discouraging so that Your kingdom will thrive on this earth.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
4/26
The Children’s Bible class talked about the following Psalm and what it means to them and came up with a prayer to share with us. We are truly blessed to have these godly young people!
Scripture: Psalm 8 – For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David.
1 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
5 You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:
7 all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Even as little babies, The Lord created a longing deep inside of us for Him! He wants us, as we grow, to remain innocent like children. Even though He knew from the beginning of time that we all will fall short, He still loves us and longs for us. How amazing!
Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, how awesome, powerful and amazing You truly are. The wonders of Your creation continually awe us! We thank you for lakes & trees, family & pets, clothing & abundant food, warm water & changing seasons, ice cream & pickles, soda & bikes & pools. Please help us to take care of all of the wonderful things that You’ve blessed us with!
In Jesus Name, Amen.
4/27
Scripture: Psalms 19:1 – 4
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
I love being outside and enjoying the creation we have been placed in, because I see the glory of God all around me. I am mesmerized by the night sky that shows the immensity of the universe we live in.
The world wants us to believe that there is no God and if He does exist He does not care about us. It is easy to get caught up in those distractions and falsehoods, so when you hear those things, don’t be discouraged…just look and be amazed by the handiwork of our God who loves us!
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the creation that you have placed us in. Thank you for the very breath of life that you have given us. Help us not to be persuaded by the people who say there is no God but let us look to the creation around us to remember that You are there…You will always be there…and You will always love and care for us. Help us use that knowledge of You and Your creation to help turn others towards You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
4/28
Scripture: Galatians 1:10 – Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
We live in a society that is consumed with seeking the approval of others by the way we look, our lifestyle, the friends we have, the car we drive or the things we own. We need to ask ourselves, “Who are we living for?” Are we more concerned with the approval or being accepted by those around us, or are we focused on living for God? If we are focused on what others think and being accepted by them, then God takes a back seat. If we are God’s children, then we should be living for Him and not be worried what others may think even if we have to be different from them.
Prayer:
Dear Father, I am sorry for the times that I desire approval and acceptance to fit in with the world, when the only thing I really need is You. Help me to not be concerned with gaining the approval of people or being accepted by them, by conforming to their wishes, but help me crave You and Your approval for how I am living my life. I may be looked at differently and not accepted by the world but people will recognize there is something special about living for You, so help me be prepared to share You and Your Son with them.
In Your Son’s holy and precious name, Amen.
4/29
Scripture: Jeremiah 38:6 – So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.
Have you found yourself “stuck in the mud”? Not physical mud but finding yourself stuck in a bad place. Maybe you are doing the right things, like Jeremiah was doing in Jeremiah 38, but no matter what you do or where you turn, you seem to always get “stuck in the mud”.
Jeremiah, kept doing the right thing even when they pulled him up out the pit…even the things that got him thrown into the pit in the first place. We should have the same courage and never stop or give up doing what is right even if we get “Stuck in the mud” or thrown into a pit. God will always be with us if we are serving Him. He has a purpose for each of us.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I want to serve only You and to strive to do what is right in your sight. When life throws me in the pit or I get stuck in the mud, remind me of Jeremiah’ s faithfulness and courage to always do what is right for You.
And Father, help me to see others who are struggling when they are trying to do what is right and help me come alongside of them to lift them up out of the mud and encourage them to keep striving to do what is right.
You are the one who gives us strength to make it through this life…Thank you for always being there for us!
In Your Son’s name, Amen.
4/30
Today as we come together to worship with our Spanish speaking brothers and sisters, think about what Jesus said about unity among His believers
Scripture: John 17:20-21 – “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me”.
Ephesians 4:2-6 – Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Isn’t it interesting that, at the end of his earthly life, Jesus prays for the disciples to have unity. Not to have success, or health, or safety or even happiness but he prays that they be one as He and the Father are one. He also told the disciples in John 13 that people will know we are His followers, if we love each other.
How will the world be able to believe in Jesus if His followers are not in unity with one another and don’t love each other? I think Satan understands this, so he has caused disunity among Christians so that the world does not want to be a part of God’s kingdom. I think it is clear from Jesus’ teaching, that if we want to reach the lost in the world, then we must be united together and love one another.
Hasn’t God accepted us with all of our flaws and mistakes? If God can do that, why can’t we tolerate the flaws and mistakes of others? If God is willing to extend His grace to us, why can’t we extend grace to others? If God does not require perfection from us, should we expect perfection from others?
Prayer:
Father, we come before you today asking you to forgive us when we do not love each other, or extend grace to others or do not tolerate others when they make mistakes or are different from us. You have called us to be one as You and Your Son are one; help us to make it a priority to keep the unity with all of Your followers, so that the world might believe that Jesus is Your Son and He is the only way to become Your child.
Help us Father to see others the way that you see people. You do not see us by the color of our skin, or what country we are from, or what ethnic group we are, or what gender we are, or how old we are, or what language we speak…you only see us as your children…Help us to do the same.
Help us to love each other more deeply. Help us to set aside our differences and become united with one another so that Your kingdom will thrive!
In Your Son’s holy name, Amen.
5/1
Scripture: Heb 4:15-16 – For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
There are times when I feel like no one understands what I am going through and even that God does not understand. When I read these verses in Hebrews it reminds me that even our great high priest went through the same things and when He was feeling lonely or that people did not understand what He was feeling He turned to His Father to get through.
Prayer:
Father, As I start this day help me to remember that we have a high priest, Jesus, that went through this life facing the same things that I will face today. Help me remember, that as He turned to You for help during the day, that I should do the same. You see the struggles that I am going through…you know the hurt I am feeling…you see me when I am falling and through it all You are there to embrace me, to lift me up and to heal my wounds. Father, I love you. Thank you for being there for me and helping overcome my struggles and hurts. Help me never lose focus on where my strength comes from…You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
5/2
Scripture: Psalms 63:1-8 –
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
Acappella wrote a song based on this Psalm and after I heard the song, it helped me see the profound meaning of this Psalm in my life.
Here is a link to this beautiful song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX8Y8uviX4M
David realized that nothing in this world, including things that sustained his very life, was better than God’s love for him. David would seek after God at the beginning of the day, at night and when he faced struggles in life. Do we seek after God from morning to bedtime? Do we seek after him when we face trials in life? When we realize that God’s love is better than life itself, then praising God should be the only thing we want to do and think about in our life.
Prayer:
O Lord, You are my God, and I pray that I will always earnestly seek after you from the time I get up until the time I go to bed. When I struggle with things in life, help me remember that you are the living water of life that will truly satisfy the longing of my heart, in a dry and thirsty land. Help me to recognize that nothing in this life is better than Your love for me. May I praise you with my lips all the days of my life and always cling to You because You are the only deliverer. Thank You for loving me in spite of my flaws.
In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.
5/3
The Boy Scouts’ slogan is: Do a good turn daily.
That language is a bit old and odd, so let’s try … Do a good deed daily. Even simpler … Look for a way to help someone else every day.
The Boy Scouts don’t expect anyone following the slogan to perform Herculean tasks every day – like building someone a house or donating a kidney. Nor is there some sort of financial benchmark to hit. Nor is there some kind of quantity scorecard … like having to do 10 good deeds a day. It can be one simple thing like:
Holding open a door for someone who has their hands full or helping carry something….
Asking someone who might be having a bad day if they want to talk….
Picking up a piece of trash that someone else left behind…..
Here’s the main thing, Do a good turn daily is Biblical. The New Testament is loaded with examples of ways to help others, but probably one of the best and easiest instructions comes from Jesus himself:
Scripture: “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.” – Matthew 10:42
Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray that every day you give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and hands to serve a “… cup of water.” Help me follow your Son’s instructions by doing a good turn each and every day. In the name of our precious Jesus … Amen.
5/4
Scripture: Psalms 121
I lift up my eyes to the mountains…where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip…he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you…the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm…he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
I was about 2 hrs in on a 4 hour drive, to try and spend time with my brother-in-law before he passed away from cancer, when I received the call that he had passed. Shortly after receiving the news, I heard the song “I Will Lift Me Eyes” by Bebo Norman and I knew that God wanted me to share it with my sister knowing that she had a difficult road ahead of excruciating heartache and loneliness. It is a beautiful song, partly based on Psalms 121 and it talks about no matter what struggle/challenges you are facing, no matter what raging storm you are going through, or no matter what hurt you are feeling inside, God is there for you, ready to hold you and help you get through whatever you are going through. Here is a link to the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te0hy2YcLgg
Prayer:
Father, there are times when we are going through intense struggles and storms in our lives and there are times when we have a deep hurt inside of us.
We thank you for being the Maker who can help us overcome anything in this life.
We thank you for being the Calmer who can calm the raging storms within us.
We thank you for being the Healer that can heal our deepest hurt we have.
You are an amazing God that we can call Our Father who always watches over us. Help us realize how precious we are to you so that we are always willing to come to you for the help we need.
We pray this through your Son…Amen.
5/5
Scripture: I Thess 5:11 – Therefore encourage one another and build each other up
In the parable about the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25, The King replied “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”.
This is a powerful picture of how Jesus sees His church and what He has called us to do as His church…To love, care for, provide for, lay down our lives for one another.
How many times have you walked passed someone who needed help because you were too busy, or didn’t know how to help or just didn’t want to get involved? It is quite possible that you were passing on an opportunity to serve Jesus and encourage others. When we are given these opportunities we need to seize them! Small acts of kindness do not go unnoticed by our Father and can be a big source of encouragement to those who you reach out to help. Who do you know that you can help and encourage today?
Father, we want to love and serve You. Your Words in Matthew 25 are clear that when we do love, serve, care for, and lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters, we are doing this for You. Help us to be servants and encouragers so that others might be built up. Help me to see others that need help or encouragement and allow your Spirit to give me the courage to do it today. Sometimes a person may just need a kind word, smile or short conversation so help me to give the time to those who need it.
In our Savior’s name, Amen.
5/6
After a pressure-packed day of intense ministry and healing people, Mark wrote “very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)
Jesus understood the importance of spending time with His Father in prayer and often went out alone to do this in the early morning and in the evening. If Jesus is to be our example, then prayer has to be as important to us as it was to Jesus.
In James 5:16 we are reminded that “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Prayers make a difference…they can change our lives…they can change the lives of others. Let’s not be selfish with our time and let’s find time for prayer like Jesus did and see God change our lives.
Father, You are the Good Shepherd, You lead Your people and You hear our prayers. You know each of us by name. Help us to make time to talk to You in prayer and help us make it something we do multiple times, every day. Help us make prayer time with You a priority and to become people of prayer.
Help us pray for one another, for Your church and for those in our community. Ignite a desire in the people of our community to know You. Use us to be a light for them and teach them Your Good News so that they will come to know You.
We pray this through Jesus…Amen.
5/7
Scripture: Acts 1:14 – They all joined together constantly in prayer…
The book of Acts records the importance of prayer in the life of the early church: when they chose Matthias (1:24), when they faced persecution (4:23–31); when they selected deacons (6:6); when Peter was in prison (12:1–5); when they sent out missionaries (13:1–3), etc.
They not only prayed individually but they were in constant prayer with one another. This is how Jesus wants His church to be…a church that constantly prays together.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “It is in fact the most normal thing in the common Christian life to pray together.”
Charles Spurgeon said, “A prayerful church is a powerful church.”
Prayer is a gift from God and He wants all of us to use it. At Southside we set aside many times where we can pray together but we can do even more. We should have the same desire as the early church…to be constantly in prayer with one another. By praying together for common needs, struggles, and times of celebration, our unity with one another grows stronger and we are able to encourage other believers in our lives and motivate one another on to love and good deeds.
Prayer:
Father, help us to become a praying church for You. Help us to have a desire to be in constant prayer with our brothers and sisters so that it becomes a normal part of our lives. Help us to believe that a church that prays together can do awesome things for You. Help the community around us see us as a church that always takes time to pray so that they might have a desire to be a part of Your family.
We pray this together…through your Son’s name…Amen.