This is the day the Lord has made! Pick up (or pull up) a Bible and start working through all or part of the prayers, scripture, questions, and reading below. May the Lord bless you as you do so. May you rejoice in the gift of this day. And may the Spirit of God work in us to shape us to give and pray with the love and humility of Jesus!

— Praise: (1)
O Lord God,
Creator above us,
Spirit within us,
Lord ahead of us,
open us to yourself,
that we may become transparent to ourselves.
Make us masters of ourselves,
that we may be the servants of others.
In the name of Jesus Christ,
we bless you for the gift of our lives.

— Scripture:
Come Holy Spirit, open our minds and hearts as we read your word:
Matthew 6:1-8

— Answer these four questions:
What does this passage say about God?
What does this passage say about people?
As a result of this reading, what is one step God is inviting you to take?
Who is one person you will tell about that step today?

— Response: (2)
God of extravagant mercy,
with hands outstretched
you have poured out wonder and pleasure and delight,
goodness and beauty and bounty.
We humbly acknowledge that our ways are not your ways.
Teach us to trust you.
Inspire us to pray and direct us to give in a way that will glorify your name rather than ours.
Let our prayers and gifts serve as a protest against all that is
evil and ugly and impoverished,
trivial and wretched and tyrannical,
in our world and in ourselves.
As a result, may we and others know your blessing in Christ.
Amen.

— Devotional: (3)
It is difficult to recognize pride as a sin when it is held up on every side as a virtue, urged as profitable, and rewarded as an achievement. What is described in Scripture as basic sin, the sin of taking things into our own hands, being our own god, grabbing what is there while you can get it, is now described as basic wisdom: improve yourself by whatever means you are able; get ahead regardless of the price; take care of me first. For a limited time it works. But at the end the devil has his due. There is damnation. – Eugene Peterson (See Philippians 2:3-4)

— Closing Prayer: (4)
God our helper,
show us your holy ways and teach us your paths.
By your Holy Spirit open our minds that we may be led in your truth and taught your will.
Then may we praise you by listening to your Word and by obeying it.
Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(1) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.
(2) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources with original edits.
(3) From A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson
(4) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.