Night Prayer
Give us this day our daily bread.
Inspiration
Most of us get up each morning and head to work to earn our keep for the day. But do we pause and ask God to sustain our work? Do we assume that our work is guaranteed and our jobs are secure forever? The Israelites could gather manna each day only because God had already supplied it for them. Let us not lose sight of where our daily bread comes from.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for sustaining me each day. As I prepare for the day’s work, I ask that You would sustain me through the day. Give me enough to do to earn my keep, and provide for me this day. I know that nothing in this life is guaranteed, so teach me to trust in You each and every day, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Devotion
Saul/Paul
Frances Taylor
Saul's eyes have been blinded physically and I believe that this is a metaphor for his spiritual blindness in persecuting the Christians. For three days he neither saw nor ate, nor drank. Again, I think of this as his time in a tomb. During this time he prayed and saw in a vision a man coming to him who would lay his hands upon him and give him back his sight. Now, Ananias was the man Saul saw, and God asked Ananias to go to Saul. Needless to say he was reluctant but he did do as the Lord asked and Saul received his sight, rose, was baptized, ate and was strengthened. Once he had come to know Jesus he began to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God. I'm sure you can understand why the Christians in the area were afraid of him and didn't believe his transformation. Saul/Paul became the "apostle to the Gentiles" and without him, we would have so much less knowledge of the early church and the teachings of Jesus. We, too, can be suspicious of a person's ...
Morning Prayer
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Inspiration
Humans are fearful beings. Survival is our primary goal, and the fear of death is one that many people struggle with for their entire lives. God has given us the chance to live without that primary fear. God has allowed all Christians to not fear judgment day and enjoy everlasting life. God's love for us is without fear, but can we say the same? This should be our ultimate goal, one that we must strive for. The reward: a life in heaven, next to our savior, Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Eternal and forgiving God, you have shown me light of truthful and pure love. With all my being I wish to reciprocate it to you. Forgive me, my Lord, for my times of weakness and fear. My faith has wavered, my knees have buckled, my eyes have shed tears, but I pray that you know that I know that you were always with me. I long to stand next to you in ...
