Thought for Wednesday September 1

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Our soul waits for the LORD,

who is our help and our shield,

For in him our hearts rejoice;

in his holy name we trust.

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Luke 4: 38 – 44 Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them.



Can I even imagine what it would be like to be cured of all my ails? What would I do?



Action: Do something you have been avoiding doing because you don’t feel well enough.

Thought for Tuesday August 31

The Lord is just in all his ways.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and of great kindness.

The LORD is good to all

and compassionate toward all his works.

The Lord is just in all his ways.

Luke 4: 31 – 37  In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?


Why wouldn’t Jesus just destroy an unclean demon? What evil would I like to see destroyed?



Action: Try destroying a little bit of the evil that lives in you.

Thought for Monday August 30

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.

Luke 4: 16 – 30 He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.


Other than winning the lottery, what would be a “glad tiding” for the poor? Do I believe Jesus can deliver for the poor?


Action: Make a plan to do something real for a poor person for the rest of the year.

Thought for Friday August 27

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.

Matthew 25: 1 – 13 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.


Am I wise or foolish? Am I spiritually prepared for the times when things don’t go well?


Action: Imagine something really bad happens to you a year from now; start spiritually preparing yourself for that event.

Thought for Thursday August 26

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: 41 – 53 “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time?


What am I in charge of? Am I faithful and prudent?


Action: Spend one whole day being prudent about everything – time, money, food, activities, work, etc.

Thought for Wednesday August 25

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 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. 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 did past generations do that I think they should have known not to do? What have I seen happen in my lifetime that I hope future generations will not do?



Action: Do something today to help fix a situation caused by past sins.

Thought for Tuesday August 24

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,

and let your faithful ones bless you.

Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom

and speak of your might.

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

John 1: 45 – 51 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”


Do I ever form opinions about people based on something as trivial as where they are from? Have I ever come to really respect anyway I had originally dismissed?


Action: Give someone you have written off another chance.

Thought for Monday August 23

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Sing to the LORD a new song;

sing to the LORD, all you lands.

Sing to the LORD; bless his name.

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Matthew 23: 13 – 22 Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.”



If someone asked my advice about how to get into heaven, what would I tell them? Am I living my own advice?


Action: Do something special for yourself this week; give yourself a little taste of heaven.

Thought for Friday August 20

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.

Mathew 22: 34 – 40 “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.”


With all of the complexities of the modern world, do these commandments give enough direction? Do I obey them?


Action: Obey these two commandments.

Thought for Thursday August 19

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

A clean heart create for me, O God,

and a steadfast spirit renew within me.

Cast me not out from your presence,

and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

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

Matthew 22: 1 – 14 Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people in parables saying,  “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to …”


Why does Jesus try to explain to us what the Kingdom of heaven is like? Why does he use so many different parables to do it?


Action: Make up your own parable about what you hope the Kingdom of heaven is like.

Thought for Wednesday August 18

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

He guides me in right paths

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk in the dark valley

I fear no evil; for you are at my side

With your rod and your staff

that give me courage.

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

Matthew 20: 1 – 16 The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.


Am I ready to do the work of the kingdom? Do I expect any ‘special’ compensation for doing God’s work?


Action: Get up with the intent of doing some good, and then do it.

Thought for Tuesday August 17

It is I who deal death and give life.

“How could one man rout a thousand,

or two men put ten thousand to flight,

Unless it was because their Rock sold them

and the LORD delivered them up?”

It is I who deal death and give life.

Matthew 19: 23 – 30 Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven.”


Am I rich or do I want to be? Do I see being rich as a problem?


Action: Use some of your riches (money, talent, time, etc) to help someone who is poor.

Thought for Monday August 16

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 19: 16 – 22 The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”


How many people strive for the maximum instead of the minimum? Do I seek to do more than observe the commandments?

Action: Try to be perfect – pray perfectly, study scripture perfectly, witness perfectly, love perfectly, lead perfectly.

Thought for Friday August 13

You have turned from your anger.God indeed is my savior;

I am confident and unafraid.

My strength and my courage is the LORD,

and he has been my savior.

With joy you will draw water

at the fountain of salvation.

You have turned from your anger.

Matthew 19: 3 – 12 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.


How do I show respect for marriage? How can I support other people’s marriages?


Action: Be supportive of people who are getting married soon.

Thought for Thursday August 12

Do not forget the works of the Lord!

And he surrendered his strength into captivity,

his glory in the hands of the foe.

He abandoned his people to the sword

and was enraged against his inheritance.

Do not forget the works of the Lord!

Matthew 18: 21 – 19: 1 Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?


What will happen to me if I refuse to forgive? Is there anyone who refuses to forgive me?


Action: Forgive.

Thoughtfor Wednesday August 11

The glory of the Lord is higher than the skies.

From the rising to the setting of the sun

is the name of the LORD to be praised.

High above all nations is the LORD;

above the heavens is his glory.

The glory of the Lord is higher than the skies.

Matthew 18: 15 – 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.


Do I experience God’s presence differently when I am gathered with others for worship? Is gathering with others important to me?


Action: Go to church.

Thought for Tuesday August 10

Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

Blessed the man who fears the LORD,

who greatly delights in his commands.

His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;

the upright generation shall be blessed.

Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

John 12: 24 – 26 Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”


What have I seen other people give up for the sake of bearing fruit for others? What am I willing to give in order to bear more fruit?


Action: Give up something (an hour of TV, one Saturday a month, an hour of cleaning your house, facebooking one evening a week, etc) so you can bear more fruit.

Thought for Monday August 9

Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.

Praise the LORD from the heavens;

praise him in the heights;

Praise him, all you his angels;

praise him, all you his hosts.

Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.

Matthew 17: 22 – 27 Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.


What does it mean that Jesus paid for Peter too? Do I feel like Jesus has paid for me too?

Action: Do a little extra to cover someone who can’t contribute his “fair share.”

Thought for Friday August 6

The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;

let the many islands be glad.

Clouds and darkness are round about him,

justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.

The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

Luke 9: 28 – 36 Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up a mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.


Has anyone ever asked me to pray with them? How did I or how would I respond?


Action: If you are married (or are very close to someone) try praying with him or her.

Thought for Thursday August 5

Create a clean heart in me, O God.

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.

Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Matthew 16: 13 – 23 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.


What is Jesus promising? How important is it to me?


Action: Next time you make a promise, think carefully and make sure your promise has value and that you can fulfill it.

Thought for Wednesday August 4

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 15: 21 – 28 His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”


Is there someone I think Jesus should not help? How do I deal with people who are always asking for help?


Action: Do something loving for someone who bugs the daylights out of you.

Thought for Tuesday August 3

The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

Let this be written for the generation to come,

and let his future creatures praise the LORD:

“The LORD looked down from his holy height,

from heaven he beheld the earth,

To hear the groaning of the prisoners,

to release those doomed to die.”

The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

Matthew 14: 22 – 36 Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side of the sea, while he dismissed the crowds.


Do I ever feel like I have been sent out ahead of Jesus? Does he ever really send us out alone?


Action: Do something to prepare someone else for hearing the word of God.

Thought for Monday August 2

Lord, teach me your statutes.

Take not the word of truth from my mouth,

for in your ordinances is my hope.

Lord, teach me your statutes.

Matthew 14; 13 – 21 When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.



Doesn’t it sound like Jesus wanted to be alone? Why didn’t he just tell these people to go away?



Action: Make an effort to put up with people who need love even when you feel like you have nothing lefy to give.