Weekly Faith Focus

Greetings friends,

I ask that as we begin our spiritual journey together we begin to take some time daily (if you are not already) to read the Scripture and pray. I thought it would be beneficial for us to focus on the same passage of Scripture for the week. This week, we will focus on Sunday’s texts (See below) If you were not present in worship on Sunday and have not yet watched it, I encourage you to do so. The Scripture used on Sunday was 1 Chronicles 16, selected verses. The writer of this book is anonymous, and referred to as “the chronicler,” though there is speculation that it was written by the prophet Ezra and also that 1^st and 2^nd Chronicles originally formed one book. Throughout, the chronicler refers to other sources used, which are sadly no longer available- “annals,” “books,” and “records.” These are all cited as historical and dependable documentation. The stories in 1 Chronicles mirrors stories found in parts of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings, with this version being focused on David’s reign as king, and the importance of giving God glory, obedience to God for God’s blessing, gratitude for giving David kingship over Israel, the necessity for devotion to God, the importance and priority of the temple and priesthood, and the promises to the house of David. The chronicler opted to add in different events and details to supplement the historical record, while he also opted to omit certain events that did not point to the purpose of highlighting David as king, such as David’s adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). This book was compiled after there was no longer a monarchy over Israel, but the message was important to the people not only for the reasons mentioned, but significantly, to remember God’s covenantal promise that the Messiah would someday come through the lineage of king David.

Format-this is a repeat from every week, and will be consistently present for anyone new and as a reminder for all. It is listed at the bottom for review and for anyone who is new to this exercise. Please remember that it is a suggestion. There is no pressure to do it in the format suggested, to do everything on the days that are listed, or to even to answer all the questions. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you. If one question takes up the time because you are moved in your spirit, then stay with it. The idea of this it to spend some intentional time with the Scriptures, in the presence of God, and in prayer and reflection- in whatever way that works for you!

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16:8-12, 14-15, 23-24, 27-29, 34-36 (full, unedited version is father below)

⁸ Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
⁹ Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
¹⁰ Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
¹¹ Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.

¹² Remember the wonders he has done,

his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

¹⁴ He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.

¹⁵ He remembers his covenant forever,
the promise he made, for a thousand generations,

²³ Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
²⁴ Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

²⁷ Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

²⁸ Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
²⁹ Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his^[a] holiness.

³⁴ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

³⁶ Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.

Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”

Other Scriptures referenced:

1 Chronicles 15

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

15 After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. ² Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister before him forever.”

³ David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it. ⁴ He called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:

⁵ From the descendants of Kohath,

Uriel the leader and 120 relatives;

⁶ from the descendants of Merari,

Asaiah the leader and 220 relatives;

⁷ from the descendants of Gershon,

Joel the leader and 130 relatives;

⁸ from the descendants of Elizaphan,

Shemaiah the leader and 200 relatives;

⁹ from the descendants of Hebron,

Eliel the leader and 80 relatives;

¹⁰ from the descendants of Uzziel,

Amminadab the leader and 112 relatives.

¹¹ Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. ¹² He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. ¹³ It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” ¹⁴ So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. ¹⁵ And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.

¹⁶ David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.

¹⁷ So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph son of Berekiah; and from their relatives the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah; ¹⁸ and with them their relatives next in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.

¹⁹ The musicians Heman, Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; ²⁰ Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth, ²¹ and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith. ²² Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.

²³ Berekiah and Elkanah were to be doorkeepers for the ark. ²⁴ Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.

²⁵ So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. ²⁶ Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed. ²⁷ Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the musicians, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod. ²⁸ So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouts, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.

²⁹ As the ark of the covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.

The Story of the Widow’s Mite (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4)

Mark 12:41-44

⁴¹ Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴² But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

⁴³ Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴ They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Luke 21:1-4

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. ² He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ³ “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ⁴ All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

1 Chronicles 16- Full, unedited version of Sunday’s Scripture

They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. ² After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. ³ Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each Israelite man and woman.

⁴ He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel: ⁵ Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, ⁶ and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

⁷ That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the Lord in this manner:

⁸ Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
⁹ Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
¹⁰ Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
¹¹ Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.

¹² Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
¹³ you his servants, the descendants of Israel,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
¹⁴ He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.

¹⁵ He remembers^[c] his covenant forever,
the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
¹⁶ the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
¹⁷ He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
¹⁸ “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion you will inherit.”

¹⁹ When they were but few in number,
few indeed, and strangers in it,
²⁰ they^[d] wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
²¹ He allowed no one to oppress them;
for their sake he rebuked kings:
²² “Do not touch my anointed ones;
do my prophets no harm.”

²³ Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
²⁴ Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

²⁵ For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
²⁶ For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
²⁷ Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

²⁸ Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
²⁹ Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
³⁰     Tremble before him, all the earth!
The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

³¹ Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
³² Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
³³ Let the trees of the forest sing,
let them sing for joy before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.

³⁴ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
³⁵ Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior;
gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name,
and glory in your praise.”
³⁶ Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.

Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”

DAILY QUIET TIME WITH GOD:

Monday: v.8a “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name”- the name of the Lord is more than how we understand the term “name.” “Name” in biblical thought is an expression that points to the nature and character of the name bearer. Thus, when we do anything in “the name of Jesus,” we are doing it based upon the revelation of Christ, what Jesus stood for, his character, and especially his power and authority. In this instance, the chronicler is calling for the people of God to give praise and proclaim the name of the Lord, which is exalting and thanking God for who God is. Take a moment and consider, and if you are journaling- write a list, of any words that you can think of to describe God’s character. Then after, pray about all of those attributes, thanking God specifically for each attribute, and how God’s attributes have impacted your life.

Tuesday: v.8b “make known among the nations what he has done”- the idea is that God is so amazing, and so very important, that everyone should know! Specifically, in this instance, it’s making known what God has done. Take a moment and reflect on how you have experienced God, and all the many things that God has done in your life and in the lives of others that you know. Take a moment to thank God for revealing himself through his deeds, God’s active participation in your life in many ways. Why is it so important to take time to remember? What does remembering make you think and feel? Consider how you can “make known” what God has done. This is often the most impactful way to share your faith with someone else- to tell how your story and God’s story intersect, describing to others what God has done in your life. This is what I often call a “faith story.” “Making known” is in alignment with what Jesus and the other New Testament writers told us to do- to share the “good news,” or the gospel. Have you ever shared your faith story with someone else? If so, reflect upon that moment- what led up to it, did you discern the Holy Spirit involved in it, how was the sharing received, etc. Did your experience inspire you to be open to sharing more often or not? If not, pray for God to renew your confidence and zeal for “making known” what God has done in your life. If you have never shared your faith story, take some time to pray and ask God to reveal to you what is holding you back from that. For everyone, pray for God to reveal the stories that he would want you to share. Pray for God to give confidence and assurance through the Holy Spirit. Pray that you become open for the Holy Spirit’s “nudgings” for when to share and with whom. Pray for God to give opportunities to make known God’s goodness and grace to others, and for boldness to share when the Holy Spirit reveals the time is right.

Wednesday: v.9a, 23a “Sing to him, sing praise to him,” “Sing to the Lord all the earth”- singing to God and about God is something done throughout the Bible. The book of Psalms is a song book, and there are also songs by Miriam, Zechariah, and Mary. Songs were sung in worship in the Old Testament, David especially writing many songs (psalms), but also making sure that there were musicians and choirs. Jesus and his disciples sang songs after the Last Supper, and the early church- and the church still today- sing as a form of worship. Singing is, in a sense, a form of praying and proclaiming twice- through the lyrics and also through the music. There are songs of praise and songs of lament. Songs that proclaim/teach theological truths and songs that sing the state of our heart directly to God. Songs help us to remember and can often reinforce the message and connect us emotionally and spiritually. Singing together as a church unifies us. It is always good to sing to God-in church, when we are alone- any time the Holy Spirit moves us. Music itself has evolved and continues to evolve. In this passage, relating back to chapter 15, the music had trumpets, cymbals, lyres, harps, choirs. Consider your connection with music in relationship with God. How does singing songs of worship make you feel, and why? What are some of your favorite songs for worship, and why? Has there ever been a time when singing songs of worship brought you closer to God, or helped you in a situation, or impacted your life in some way? Describe your experiences. I encourage you to make singing songs of worship something you do, not only in worship on Sunday but throughout the week. There is worship music on the radio, on YouTube (any and all styles!), or you could just sing it without the music, because the words praising God are written on your heart. Like the hymn, “How Great Thou Art” sings, “then sings my soul!” Take some time today to sing to God, worship and bask in his presence.

Thursday:  v.10b, 11b “Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice” “seek his face always”- Why do you think the hearts of those who seek, or search after, the Lord would rejoice? What do you believe would be the state of one’s heart and mind if they are seeking God? What does that tell you about how God touches the heart in the process of seeking? Consider how this would relate to Jesus’ words in Matt. 7:7 and Luke 11:9 “seek and you will find”? Describe times when you have experienced this is an impactful way- what happened? Did it make your heart rejoice? “Seek his face always”- always, as in, we don’t find God and then assume we are “done.” Seeking God must be a continual, intentional practice as a reflection of our heart, soul, and commitment, which would then continue to grow the grace of God within us. What are the different ways that you seek God? Have you ever experienced a time when you became complacent and settled in your relationship with God, or even stepped back and stopped seeking for a while? If so, reflect upon those times- what was going on, what was the condition of your heart that instigated this response? Did Christian community play any role? Do you find that practicing spiritual disciplines, whether feeling like it or not, helps to reinforce the seeking after God and rejoicing? Why or why not? Ask God to show you areas of your life where there may need to be an increase in seeking God. What is God calling you to do? Take some time today to rejoice in God and commit to seeking always.

Friday: v.12, 14, 15, 23b “Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced… He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth… He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations… Proclaim his salvation day after day”- We need to first look at this from the perspective of the Old Testament. Wonders and miracles in the Old Testament are continually retold, especially the Exodus story, to help people to continually honor and give thanks to God, and to recognize God’s power and provision. His judgements are also continually retold- the expectation of following God alone, of obedience, is told throughout. The stories of how the people of God continually turned away and how God judged their disobedience and betrayal is also told throughout. Most scholars believe that the chronicler wrote this book during the time of Nehemiah and Ezra- after the Israelites had been exiled to Babylon due to God’s judgement. The Jews were now finally facing the return to their land after 70 years, and after it had been completely destroyed. Pointing out to remember God’s judgment would hold an extra emphasis for readers after the exile. For us, we also remember God’s judgements, God’s holy expectations for our lives. We are reminded of God’s judgements through the Holy Spirit convicting us when we sin. We respond with confession and repentance- turning back to God. How does the idea of God’s judgement make you feel? Why? What does God’s judgment have to do with God’s character and relationship with us? Take a moment and pray for God to reveal his will to you, and whether your perception of judgement is in alignment with God’s love for you. Ask God if there is any sin that needs to be confessed. If so, confess, repent, and thank God for forgiveness through Jesus Christ. God’s wonders in miracles- not only what we read in Scripture, but what we have experienced and know ourselves, especially the resurrection of Jesus Christ and our own salvation. It is through Jesus that we can be forgiven and experience eternal salvation. In the Old Testament, salvation was perceived not only as God’s deliverance from external enemies, but also spiritually, looking forward to the day of salvation that we now have through Jesus Christ. This is an everlasting covenant! “Proclaim his salvation day after day”- even more so now that we have been saved through Christ, to proclaim daily thanks for what God has done for us. Take some time and proclaim God’s salvation!

Saturday: v. 28-29 “Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of the nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness”- to ascribe is to attribute to or give credit to, and the chronicler is noting that we need to ascribe to the Lord the strength and glory due his name- basically ascribing everything good! In a very me-centered, individualistic society, ascribing everything to God is sometimes overlooked and sometimes even difficult. We want to take credit ourselves when we have accomplished anything, and yet the ability and opportunity to accomplish anything is all due to God, and we are to ascribe it to God. Take a moment and consider everything you tend to take credit for and ascribe it to God, giving thanks. “Bring an offering and come before him”- God asks us to give of ourselves as a way to acknowledge what God has done for us, a portion of what God has already given. We remember that everything came from God, and everything ultimately belongs to God, and God asks for a portion in return to acknowledge that blessing. In the Old Testament there were different kinds of offerings, all of which were the giving of something that had value. Giving in the Old Testament was minimally a tithe, or 10%, and the “first fruits”- given off the top instead of the leftovers, and often people gave even more. Again, the reason is because God wants us to be spiritually healthy, to make sure that people are ascribing to God and not allowing greed, selfishness, idolatry, etc. to lead our life. In the New Testament this understanding carried over, with a deeper focus on the state of gratitude and generosity of the heart directing all giving to God. The state of our giving is a reflection of our heart. This is why Jesus spoke about money more than anything else besides the kingdom of God. Consider someone who may have difficulty giving because low wages and necessary bills do not allow for much, yet the person longs to give out of love and gratitude for God, and they make some sacrifices to give what they can, even if it’s a small amount (for example, the widow’s mite). Versus, the one who has determined that they work hard for their money, deserve to keep all of it, that the church is out to “take” their money, etc. and if they give anything, it is whatever is left over- done as an expectation and obligation instead of with a generous heart giving thanks (perhaps like Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11). It is likely that most of us have experienced moments of being both of those types of people, and everything in between. Can you identify with feeling these ways? Consider times in your life when you gave generously, and why. How did it make you feel? Consider times when you chose to not give, or know that you intentionally held back or were not generous toward God. How did that make you feel? Ask God to reveal to you what God sees as your relationship with money. If necessary, confess and repent. Give thanks! Ask God how much God wants you to give. Ask God for a heart to reflect a giving, generous, and thankful spirit.

Meditate upon these closing words of this song of praise, and let the words dwell with you, recalling the words throughout your day (v.34-36):

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.

Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”

Other items:

Responsive Reading

Leader: For all those who have cleared the way for us to worship freely,

People: We give thanks to You, O Lord.

L: For all the saints, those who have faithfully gone before us and rest from their labors, and for all those who faithfully labor still,

P: We give thanks to You, O Lord.

L: For all those who have taught us about witness and the power of love,

P: We give thanks to You, O Lord.

L: We love You, Lord,

P: With all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength

L: We praise You, Lord

P: And proclaim Your greatness forever

ALL: As we worship You, O Lord, open our hearts and minds, and help us to become Your faithful disciples for the transformation of the world.

Unison Prayer

Lord, we praise you with our soul, our whole being!

We thank you for all that You have done for us

Help us to always recognize Your blessings,

that everything we have comes from you

With gratitude for our lives that You have given to us,

For Your Son, Jesus Christ,

For all the saints who have gone before us,

And for all the saints that continue to walk beside us,

We offer our praise and worship to You, Father Almighty! Amen!

Song Lyrics:

For All the Saints #711

1. For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
   who thee by faith before the world confessed,
   thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
   Alleluia, Alleluia!
2. Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
   thou Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
   thou in the darkness drear, their one true light.
   Alleluia, Alleluia!

   3. O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
   fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
   and win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
   Alleluia, Alleluia!

   4. O blest communion, fellowship divine!
   We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
   yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
   Alleluia, Alleluia!

   5. And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
   steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
   and hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
   Alleluia, Alleluia!

   6. From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
   through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
   singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
   Alleluia, Alleluia!

Here I Am to Worship

Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God

You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days
Oh so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came to the earth You created
All for love’s sake became poor

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God

You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross

I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross

So Here I am to worship, Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God

You’re altogether lovely, Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

Here I am to Worship….

O Worship the King #73 v.1,5

1. O worship the King, all glorious above,
   O gratefully sing God’s power and God’s love;
   our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
   pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.
2. Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
   in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail;
   thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
   our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

Format (this is a repeat from last week, and will be consistently present for anyone new and as a reminder for all):

Find a quiet place and time to focus on the Word, and to hear from God through it. It doesn’t have to be long, for some it will be longer than others. I encourage you, if possible, to do this practice in the morning. You will then find that God brings it to your mind throughout your day.

For greater impact I encourage you to get some paper and a pen and journal daily what thoughts and impressions God brings to mind. Write out also your own thoughts and your own prayers, making sure to leave space within your time for God’s response. Listen intently, and notice what rises up within you- what you are thinking, feeling, memories that arise and ideas that spring up. It may be something God would want you to address within yourself and/or with others. It may be something God is inspiring you to begin or end. God’s possibilities are infinite! After time, it is often beneficial to go back and read what you have written, and notice how God has been moving in your life (and praise God for it!).

Begin with prayer, quieting yourself within and opening up to hearing what God would like to reveal to you. Praise God for who he is, for loving you, being with you, and more. Then ask God to speak to you; to open your heart and mind to hear his message. (if you are journaling, you could write out the prayer)

Read the Scripture passage over twice; once as a read through, and the second time slowly, meditatively. Notice what God illuminates for you. Notice what words or ideas are “jumping off the page at you,” impacting you from the Scripture. Ask God why that is being highlighted for you. What is God saying to you? What is God asking you to say, do, change, pray about, etc.? What is the application for my life today? **Most importantly- what am I going to do about it? (If you are journaling you could write it all out, which reinforces it in a greater way)

I have put together some daily questions based upon the Scripture. You may use those, but also feel free to deviate away from it if God is leading you there. They are simply offered to prompt contemplation with God. There is much more in this passage, feel free to delve in more!

At the end of your time pray again. I recommend praying throughout, but the ending prayer would include praise, thanking God for revelation, and asking for the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal, bringing to mind God’s will. Ask God for the courage, empowerment, and opportunity to do what you have determined God is asking you to do.