Thought for Friay July 30

Lord, in your great love, answer me.

But I pray to you, O LORD,

for the time of your favor, O God!

In your great kindness answer me

with your constant help.

Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Matthew 13: 54 – 58 Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. Where did this man get all this?" And they took offense at him.


Were they offended at what he said or just offended because they didn’t think he should be preaching to them at all? What offends me?


Action: The next time something offends you, make a special effort to meet that offense with grace and love.

Thought for Thursday July 29

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.

Blessed he whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the LORD, his God.

Who made heaven and earth,

the sea and all that is in them.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.

John 11: 19 – 27 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home.


Am I more likely to go out to Jesus or to wait for him to come to me? Under which circumstances am I likely to do the opposite of my usual?


Action: If what you are doing isn’t bearing great fruit, try a different approach.

Thought for Wednesday July 28

God is my refuge on the day of distress.

Rescue me from my enemies, O my God;

from my adversaries defend me.

Rescue me from evildoers;

from bloodthirsty men save me.

God is my refuge on the day of distress.

Matthew 13: 34 – 36 The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.


What would I sell for the Kingdom of heaven? What is it worth to me?


Action: Do something worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Thought for Tuesday July 27

For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Help us, O God our savior,

because of the glory of your name;

Deliver us and pardon our sins

for your name's sake.

For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Matthew 13: 36 – 43 Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house.


Does it comfort me to know that Jesus recognized that there were times to stop preaching and expecting the people to respond? Do I give myself a break from time to time?


Action: Give yourself a planned break (a short one) from studying the word of God.

Thought for Monday July 26

You have forgotten God who gave you birth.

You were unmindful of the Rock that begot you,

You forgot the God who gave you birth.

When the LORD saw this, he was filled with loathing

and anger toward his sons and daughters.

You have forgotten God who gave you birth.

Matthew 13: 31 – 35 He spoke to them another parable. "The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened."


Do I wonder what the kingdom of heaven would be like? Why is it important to think about the Kingdom of heaven here and now?


Action: Do something to make your world a little bit more like the Kingdom of heaven.

Thought for Friday July 23

The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,

proclaim it on distant isles, and say:

He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,

he guards them as a shepherd his flock.

The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Matthew 13: 18 – 23 But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.



Am I rich soil or just mediocre soil or _________ ? What can I do to get better?



Action: Do something to make yourself better prepared to hear the word of God and act on it.

Thought for Thursday July 22

With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.

For with you is the fountain of life,

and in your light we see light.

Keep up your mercy toward your friends,

your just defense of the upright of heart.

With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.

John 20: 1 – 18 But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'


Is my relationship to God the Father the same as Jesus’? Do I feel like God loves me as much as he loves Jesus?


Action: Do something today that you couldn’t do if you were not a child of God.

Thought for Wednesday July 21

I will sing of your salvation.

Be my rock of refuge,

a stronghold to give me safety,

for you are my rock and my fortress.

O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.

I will sing of your salvation.

Matthew 13: 1 – 9 A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up.


Do I ever feel like the good that I do just gets swallowed up and lost? Does it frustrate me when my efforts don’t bear fruit?


Action: Keep planting seeds even if many of them never bear fruit.

Thought for Monday July 19

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

"Gather my faithful ones before me,

those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."

And the heavens proclaim his justice;

for God himself is the judge.

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Matthew 12: 38 – 42 Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."

Do I want a sign from Jesus? Do I need a sign?


Action: When you see a sign today, ask yourself if what you are doing bears witness to Christ.

Thought for Friday July 16

You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.

My dwelling, like a shepherd's tent,

is struck down and borne away from me;

You have folded up my life, like a weaver

who severs the last thread.

You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.

Matthew 12: 1 – 8 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath."


Do I often point out others “sins”? Do I hold myself to the same standard?


Actions: Lighten up on others.

Thought for Thursday July 15

From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.

You, O LORD, abide forever,

and your name through all generations.

You will arise and have mercy on Zion,

for it is time to pity her.

For her stones are dear to your servants,

and her dust moves them to pity.

From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.

Matthew 11: 28 – 30 Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”


Where do I find rest? Does Jesus help me with my burdens?


Action: Let Jesus carry part of your load so you can get some rest.

Thought for Wednesday July 14

The Lord will not abandon his people.

Shall he who shaped the ear not hear?

or he who formed the eye not see?

Shall he who instructs nations not chastise,

he who teaches men knowledge?

The Lord will not abandon his people

Matthew 11: 25 – 27 At that time Jesus exclaimed: "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.


What do I see that seems to be hidden from others? How do I respond when someone points out something that had been hidden to me?


Action: Point out some truth that is hidden from other people’s revelation.

Thought for Tuesday July 13

God upholds his city for ever.

Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised

in the city of our God.

His holy mountain, fairest of heights,

is the joy of all the earth.

God upholds his city for ever.

Matthew 11: 20 – 24 Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented.

What does it take for me to repent? Do mighty deeds inspire me?


Action: Your choice – perform a mighty deed or repent.

Thought for Monday July 12

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

"When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?

Or do you think you that I am like yourself?

I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.

He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;

and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God."

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Matthew 10: 34 – 11: 1 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.


Do the routines of my life ever keep me from changing and growing? How willing am I to let go of my rituals?


Action: Change some routine in your life to give you more time to pray, study the Gospel, or minister to others.

Thought for Thursday July 8

Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

Once again, O LORD of hosts,

look down from heaven, and see:

Take care of this vine,

and protect what your right hand has planted,

the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

Matthew 10: 7 – 15 Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.


Do I give and receive freely or do I keep score? How did I get the things that are most valuable to me?


Action: Do something nice for someone in honor of someone who really helped you out.

Thought for Wednesday July 7

Seek always the face of the Lord.

Sing to him, sing his praise,

proclaim all his wondrous deeds.

Glory in his holy name;

rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!

Seek always the face of the Lord.

Matthew 10: 1 – 7 Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.


What has Jesus given me authority to do? What problems am I working to cure in my community?


Action: Exercise some authority in your community and work to make things better.

Thought for Tuesday July 6

The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.

Our God is in heaven;

whatever he wills, he does.

Their idols are silver and gold,

the handiwork of men.

The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.

Matthew 9: 32 – 38 At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.


Have I ever felt abandoned? Do I know anyone who feels abandoned?


Action: Be a leader for someone who seems to be wandering aimlessly.

Thought for Monday July 5

Lord is gracious and merciful.

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.

The Lord is gracious and merciful.

Matthew 9: 18- 26 She said to herself, "If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured." Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, "Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you." And from that hour the woman was cured.


If her faith saved her, why wasn’t she cured until Jesus spoke to her? What healing do I seek?


Action: Pray for someone’s healing.

Thought for Friday July 2

One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

The way of truth I have chosen;

I have set your ordinances before me.

One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Matthew 9: 9 – 13 As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.


Is it really that easy? When was the last time I just got up and followed Jesus?


Action: Get up and follow Jesus.