Pray: Build up my confidence in you, Lord, so I can show my true, blemished self to the people I’m praying for.
Thursday – Day 23
Approaching God – Read this message from 1 John 1:5, and then close your eyes for a minute. As you breathe slowly, let these words dwell in your soul:
“God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
Listening to God – Read the next few verses from I John 1, twice. The second time reading them, try substituting “I” for “we.” How does this change your perspective on the passage?
“If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” (1 John 1:6-10)
Talking to God – There are three “claims” in the passage above. How do each of these “claims” in your own life limit your ability to be hospitable with the three people for whom you’ve been praying? Talk with God about what you are learning, taking time to confess your sin and aski him to help you live by the truth.
Ministering in God’s Name – Living in a “Pinterest” world, where there is pressure to come across as being perfect and having our lives all together, we hesitate to let people see the real messes in our lives. The book of 1 Peter reminds us, however, that we are all sinners in need of God’s grace. How can you be real and authentic with the three persons for whom are you are praying?
Surrendering to God – We are all sinners. But we also “have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (I Peter 2:1-2). Put your faith, hope, and trust in him again today.
By Amy Schenkel
