For This Purpose: Scripture, Prayer & Application

All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray

Scripture: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your forgiveness and mercy. We know that we turn to our own selfish ways and stray from You. We thank you and praise you for Your Son Jesus who bore the burden of our sins and saved us all. Amen

Application: As we focus more and more on our own self interests and comfort, we distance ourselves from the intimacy our spirit craves with God. The good news is that God cares that you are straying, He loves you and wants for you to return to Him.

Have you accepted the tremendous blessing that Jesus has given you, or are you content to wonder and stray toward man-made solutions?

Rest in His Presence

Scripture: And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for Your leadership which guides us to victory. May we have peace and rest in your loving presence. Amen

Application: When we face difficulties and challenges, as Moses was in this instance, we must both listen to the direction of the Lord, and take action to obey His commands.

We rest in the confidence that the Lord will lead us to victory, and that He is undefeated. How are you letting the Lord lead you today?

Wealth & Poverty

Scripture: Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. Proverbs 22:16

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the incredible blessings that you have given to us. May we seek to be rich in good deeds, and generous with worldly treasure that holds no value in Your Kingdom. Amen

Application: It is easy for us to spend our time and energy serving wealthy business owners, that we may become wealthy ourselves. To be rich in earthly treasure.

Why is it so difficult to apply the same concept to God, the one who created and holds all of the treasure that has any true value? Seek to be rich in the Kingdom of God.

Turn and Live

Scripture: For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live. Ezekiel 18:32

Prayer: Lord, we know that you take no pleasure in our physical death and suffering in this world. We thank you for Your Son Jesus who suffered and died, that we may live. Amen

Application: God does not take pleasure in our suffering, nor is He the source of our suffering.

Turn your troubles over to God and live with confidence, not that we will live without suffering, but that His promises are true and are worth suffering for.

To Whom Will You Liken Me?

Scripture: To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike? Isaiah 46:5

Prayer: Lord, there is none like You. May we not attempt to replace You with false idols and men of this world. We thank you for your incomparable glory, grace and mercy. Amen

Application: It is easy to make our own world, our own experiences, feel more important than our relationship with God, the Creator of the entire world.

Is there something that You are making equal to God or prioritizing over God in your life? When we do this, we will surely be disappointed when that idol falls short of the glory of God.

Inheritance

Scripture: An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end. Proverbs 20:21

Prayer: Lord, You have given us an immeasurable inheritance through Your Son Jesus. May we be patient and intentional, building firmly upon the foundation He has set. Amen.

Application: Even though we didn’t earn it, Jesus freely granted to us His inheritance.

Are you intentionally choosing to honor Him and follow Him, obeying His wishes, or are you hastily taking advantage of an inheritance that You know can never be exhausted?

The Word of Truth

Scripture: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Prayer: Lord, use us as Your workers, may we present ourselves in ways that honor You and bring You glory. May we be unashamed and unshaken, leaning on Your Word and seeking your righteousness. Amen

Application: As believers in Christ Jesus and followers of Gods Word, we are freely granted approval from God. Paul is not saying that we have to work harder or earn approval, but instead is pointing us to the foundation on which we stand, the truth of scripture.

What is something you feel ashamed of that you will give to God to be redeemed?

A New Creation

Scripture: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your mercy and forgiveness. That through the blood of Jesus we have become new. May our old selves fall away as we grow closer to You. Amen

Application: Through Christ, we have the opportunity to live a new life with Him at the center.

What is something you are holding onto that you can let go of today? Do you believe and trust that God can and will replace it with something even greater?

So It Is

Scripture: The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3:8

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your Holy Spirit which lives in us. Let us feel it moving, hear it speak and follow it, though we may not fully understand where it is leading. Amen

Application: This is such a beautiful description of Gods presence. You can feel the wind moving and hear its sound, but we are not able to discern the origin of each gust or where it ends.

Be still and feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. Is the “wind” at your back accelerating and propelling you forward? Or are you trying to fight the “wind”?

Through Love Serve One Another

Scripture: For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the glorious freedom you have granted to us through your Son Jesus. We pray that we do not use this freedom as an opportunity to fulfill our worldly desires, but that we intentionally choose sacrifice over selfishness. Amen

Application: Just as Gods love was freely given to us, we are meant to freely love and serve one another. God sent His only Son to suffer and die for us because He loved us so much. Our Lord chose mercy, forgiveness, love, understanding over destruction and condemnation.

Who then are we to withhold our love and our forgiveness from our brothers and sisters?