Thought for Wednesday October 1

Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
Daily I call upon you, O LORD;
to you I stretch out my hands.
Will you work wonders for the dead?
Will the shades arise to give you thanks?
Let my prayer come before you, Lord.

Luke 9: 57- 62  As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”

Am I willing to follow Jesus without knowing where it will take me?  

Action:  Be willing to do something good.

Thought for Tuesday September 30

Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
O LORD, my God, by day I cry out;
at night I clamor in your presence.
Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my call for help.
Let my prayer come before you, Lord.

 

Luke 9: 51 – 56  When the disciples James and John saw this [Jesus’ rejection] they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”

  

Do I ever feel frustrated when I meet people who reject Jesus and his teaching?   What do I do about it?

  

Action:  If you know someone who doesn’t take spirituality/God seriously, get involved in a project that is trying to help your community and invite that person to join you.

Thought for Monday September 29

In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

John 1: 47 – 51  You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Do I really want to see heaven opened up before I die?  Isn’t  it easier to live without knowing everything?

Action:  Be an angel for someone today.

Thought for Friday September 25

There is an appointed time for everything,
and a time for everything under the heavens.
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to be silent, and a time to speak.

 

Luke 9: 18 – 22  He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

 

 

Why was this God’s plan for saving humanity?  What are the advantages of this plan?

 

 

Action:  If you know someone who is frequently rejected, see if you can find a way to support him/her.

Thought for Wednesday September 24

Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
From every evil way I withhold my feet,
that I may keep your words.
Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.

Luke 9: 1 – 6  Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Who do I believe now has this power and this responsibility?

Action:  Exercise whatever power you have to make someone else’s life better.

Thought for Tuesday September 23

Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.
Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.

 

Luke 8: 19 – 21  He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers  are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

How often do I consciously act on the Word of God?  Do I sometimes hear his word without acting on it?

Action:  Do something specifically in response to something you have heard or read from the Bible.

Thought for Monday September 22

The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.

The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.

 Luke 8: 16 – 18  No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.

 

Do I sometimes hide my “light”?  Who has shared the light of God with me?

Action:  Share an insight you have had with someone you think can benefit from it.

Thought for Friday September 19

Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings,
But I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking, I shall be content in your presence.
Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.

Luke 8: 1 – 3 Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Where have I most clearly heard Jesus speak to me?  Do I have a special place I can go to listen to him?

Action:  Put yourself in the presence of God; go somewhere special or set aside a special time; and read the good news and let Jesus proclaim it to you.

Thought for Wednesday September 17

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten‑stringed lyre chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

 

Luke 7: 31 – 35  They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,  ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.  We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’

When was the last time something “religious” made me dance or weep?  What excites me spiritually?

Action:  Share a favorite scripture passage with someone and see if you can get a reaction.

Thought for Tuesday September 16

We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

 

Luke 7: 11 – 17 He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”  The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

What would I do if Jesus raised me to a new life?  Would I go back to doing what I had always done?

Action:  Do something this week that you have never done before – go skydiving, read a different book, volunteer, eat different food, plan a trip, tell someone you love him/her – and rise to new possibilities in your  life.

Thought for Monday September 15

Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, “The LORD be glorified.”
Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.

Luke 2: 33 – 35  Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Does this sound like a warning or a promise?  Is the promise of  a greater good enough to motivate me through pain?

Action:  If there is something causing pain or suffering in your life now, try to name three good things that might come of your difficulty.  If you can’t come up with anything, talk to a friend.  If that doesn’t help surrender your pain to God and trust that he will bring some good from it.

Thought for Friday September 12

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
For a sun and a shield is the LORD God;
grace and glory he bestows;
The LORD withholds no good thing
from those who walk in sincerity.
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!

Luke 6: 39 – 42  Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?

What faults in others bother me the most?  Do they remind me of my own sins?

Action:  The next time somebody does something that you think is really bad, ask yourself if you have ever done anything similar.

Thought for Thursday September 11

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise him with the blast of the trumpet,
praise him with lyre and harp,
Praise him with timbrel and dance,
praise him with strings and pipe.
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!

 

Luke 6: 27 – 38  Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Who is my enemy?  How much respect do I show for people who disagree with me?

Action:  Pick any current controversial issue and write down 5 positive things about the side you oppose.  If you can’t find 5 good things, do some research.

Thought for Wednesday September 10

Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
The place of your fathers your sons shall have;
you shall make them princes through all the land.
Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

Luke 6: 20 – 26  Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.     

                                But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry.

What sounds better to me, being hungry with the promise of being satisfied or being full with the promise of being hungry?  Am I spiritually hungry or spiritually satisfied?

Action:  Fast for a little while so that you can appreciate the promise of being satisfied.

Thought for Tuesday September 9

The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.

The Lord takes delight in his people.

Luke 6: 12 – 19  When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:

How do I think the disciples who were not chosen to be Apostles felt?   Do I want Jesus to choose me for a special assignment?

Action:  Accept the work Jesus is asking you to do.

Thought for Monday September 8

With delight I rejoice in the Lord.
Let me sing of the LORD, “He has been good to me.”
With delight I rejoice in the Lord.

Matthew 1: 1 – 16, 18 – 23 Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

What values or beliefs have been passed down to me from my family?   What do I want to pass down to other generations?

Action:  Call, write, email or text someone younger than you are and share some of your values.

Thought for Friday September 5

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart’s requests.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

 

Luke 5: 33 – 39  Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.  Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.  Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.

Am I prepared to hear something new?  Am I so certain of things that I avoid listening to ideas that challenge my status quo?

Action:  If you have any non-negotiable beliefs, try to imagine what difference it would make if you are wrong.

Thought for Thursday September 4

To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.

Luke 5: 1 – 11 After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.”

 

What do I “fish” for in my daily life?   Am I ever too tired to keep trying?

 

Action:  Keep trying.

Thought for Wednesday September 3

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.

How often do I pray for other people?  Do I believe my prayer has power?

Action:  Pray for someone today.

Thought for Tuesday September 2

The Lord is just in all his ways.
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.
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? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”

 

When do I recognize the presence of Jesus most – when I am being holy or when I am struggling with my demons(sins)?

Action:  If there is anything in your life that you do as a result of your “unclean demons,” ask Jesus to help you with them and make one change in your life to try and conquer them.