April 29 - May 3
There are so many loud voices that compete for our attention, and this week we study the idea of listening for God’s voice.
Monday—Read: Exodus 3:1-10 Think: Have you ever prayed for God to send you a burning bush because you couldn’t figure out what he was saying to you? What do you think God would say to you out of that burning bush – based on what he said to Moses? Pray: Spend five minutes in silence listening for the voice of God.
Tuesday—Read: 1 Samuel 3:1-18 Think: The Lord wasn’t speaking to the priest, Eli, but Eli knew what to do. What prayer did Eli teach? What did The Lord tell Samuel? Pray: The prayer Eli taught to Samuel.
Wednesday—Read: Jeremiah 18:1-11 Think: Where was Jeremiah told to go? What lessons might you learn, and what word might you hear, if you looked at everyday things differently? Pray: Pray through the potter’s house – door, pottery, potsherds, wheel, clay, water, sunlight, and tools, and ask the Lord to speak through those to you. Now, look around the room you are in.
Thursday–Read: 2 Peter 1:16-21 Think: Peter is telling us the word of God is in our hands – the Bible. Have you ever considered how the Holy Spirit speaks to you directly from the pages of his word about situations in your everyday life? Pray: Ask the Lord to guide you through his word for instruction.
Friday—Read: Matthew 4:18-22 Think: Jesus called the disciples with a simple phrase – what was it? If all you ever heard from Jesus was this one statement, would that be enough? Pray: Open the email from this week marked Prayer and Praises and pray through the prayer list.
May 6 - 10
One of the strategies for overcoming the pressures of our constant ‘crisis’ and ‘emergency’ situations is to plan for the long-term. In Jeremiah 29, we find the word of the Lord to the exiles about this very issue.
Monday—Read: Jeremiah 29:1-3 Think: Who is the letter from and who is the letter to? When was this letter written (according to v. 2 – and does that matter?) What is an exile? How are we exiles, too (c/f Ph. 3:20). Who delivered this letter? Pray: Pray for people who are living far away from the place of their birth – such as exiles, refugees, immigrants, transplants, migrants, students, and soldiers/military families.
Tuesday—Read: Jeremiah 29:4-5 Think: Who is this letter really from? Circle the verbs in verse 5 and consider what that practically means for you. Pray: For your physical home and those who live in it and for the farmers who grow the food we eat every day.
Wednesday—Read: Jeremiah 29:6 Think: Why would The Lord be concerned with the marital status and family status of the exiles, after all, he had just punished them by sending them away? How important is your family to your overall happiness? Pray: For your family – all of them you can think of.
Thursday–Read: Jeremiah 29:7-9 Think: How exactly does one seek the welfare of their city? What is your city? What do you do for it that makes it better? What do we sometimes do that may make it worse? Pray: For the cities of Marble Falls, Cottonwood Shores, Horseshoe Bay, Burnet, Kingsland (unincorporated), Granite Shoals, and your own city or neighborhood. Then pray for the city you grew up in. For the vast majority of us, these will not be the same place.
Friday—Read: Jeremiah 29:10 Think: Seventy years is a long time. What are you doing right now that will still be relevant in seventy years? Pray: Open the email from this week marked Prayer and Praises and pray through the prayer list.