Thought for Monday September 1

Lord, I love your commands.

I have more understanding than all my teachers

when your decrees are my meditation.

Lord, I love your commands.

Luke 4: 16 – 30 Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day.

What is my Sabbath day custom? Is it something I look forward to?


Action: Share your Sabbath custom with someone; your spouse, children, family, friends or anyone you think needs a little encouragement to observe the Sabbath.

Thought for Friday August 29

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;

he foils the designs of peoples.

But the plan of the LORD stands forever;

the design of his heart, through all generations.

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Mark 6: 17 – 29 Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.


What prophets do I listen to? Do I sometimes avoid listening to people because I am afraid they will challenge my beliefs?

Action: Listen to a viewpoint or opinion that is different from your own and see if you can recognize any similar values.

Thought for Thursday August 28

I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

Every day will I bless you,

and I will praise your name forever and ever.

Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;

his greatness is unsearchable.

I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

Matthew 24: 42 – 51 Jesus said to his disciples: “Stay awake!


Do I ever “doze off” spiritually? What wakes me up?


Action: Do something different in your spiritual life (different kind of prayer, different mass, retreat, class, etc) and see if you wake up to something new.

Thought for Wednesday August 27

Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Blessed are you who fear the LORD,

who walk in his ways!

For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;

blessed shall you be, and favored.

Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Matthew 23: 27 – 32 You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’


What things have my ancestors (social, cultural, or familial) done that I believe was bad? Do I think there are things that I am doing now that some future generation will see as bad?

Action: Think of something that was done in the past that is still having negative ramifications and do something to try and make it better.

Thought for Tuesday August 26

The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;

let the sea and what fills it resound;

let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!

Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.

The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Matthew 23: 23 – 26 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity.


How often do I show mercy? In what areas of my life is fidelity important?


Action: The next time you have the chance to put someone in their place, show a little mercy.

Thought for Monday August 25

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Announce his salvation, day after day.

Tell his glory among the nations;

among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Matthew 23: 13 – 22 You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves.


What responsibility do I have to lead others in living a good life? How am I doing?


Action: Make a point of doing something to model Christ to someone who needs a good example.

Thought for Friday August 22

Give thanks to the Lord; his love is everlasting.

They cried to the LORD in their distress;

from their straits he rescued them.

And he led them by a direct way

to reach an inhabited city.

Give thanks to the Lord; his love is everlasting.

Matthew 22: 34 – 40 He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”


Has trying to obey these two commandments ever affected any real decision in my life? Do I see these commandments as true rules for living or as nice platitudes?

Action: Do something for someone specifically to live out this second commandment.

Thought for Thursday August 21

I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins.

Give me back the joy of your salvation,

and a willing spirit sustain in me.

I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners shall return to you.
I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins.

Matthew 22: 1 – 14 “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come.


Do I ever decline invitations even though the events might be fun? Do I ever refuse the good things God offers me?

Action: Accept an invitation you would normally decline and try to see God in the experience.

Thought for Wednesday August 20

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Only goodness and kindness will follow me

all the days of my life;

And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

for years to come.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.


Matthew 20: 1 – 16 Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’


Am I standing around doing less than I could be doing? Is it too late for me to get started working for the Kingdom of God?

Action: Start working on something you keep putting off.

Trying Something New

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