Humility Month Day 16: Wanting Power in God’s Kingdom

Posted on August 16, 2024 by Pastor Jesse

In this world people love power. But what does it mean to be powerful in God’s Kingdom? 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 reading, questions, and devotional 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 each of us to shape us to be a little more like Jesus, today.


— Praise: (1)
Praise be to you, O LORD,
God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power,
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name. Amen.

— Scripture:
Come Holy Spirit, help us to hear your still, small voice as we read your word:
Mark 10:35-45

— 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) Let us remember our baptism:
God, you are sovereign over our lives.
We will be blessed, but that unfolds in the way you choose.
We will be given responsibility in your kingdom, but you put us where you want us.
Jesus, if we follow your example,
We will love deeply.
We will serve sacrificially.
We will take up our cross.
It will be so worth it!
For we will taste and share your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.
We will become more like you.
And it will be for our good and your glory.
We bless your name this day. Amen!

— Devotional: (3)
Out of love God becomes man; He says, “Look what it is to be a man”; but He adds, “O take heed, for at the same time I am God – blessed is he who shall not be offended in me.” As man He assumes the lowly form of a servant. He expresses what it is to be a lowly man, to the intent that no one shall think himself excluded, or think that it is human prestige or prestige among men which brings one nearer to God. No, he is the lowly man. “Look hither,” He says, “and learn what It is to be a man. I, this lowly man, am He who maketh the deaf to hear, the blind to see, the lame to walk, the leper to be cleansed, the dead to rise up. Blessed is he who shall not be offended in me.”

— Closing Prayer: (4)
Empowering God,
we pray that you will send your Holy Spirit
to move us to understanding;
to help us to believe the gospel;
to give us strength and wisdom to live by it. Amen.

(1) 1 Chronicles 29:10-13, NIV as found in The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.
(2) Original.
(3) From The Sickness unto Death, Soren Kierkegaard.
(4) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.

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Humility Month Day 15: Jesus Calms a Storm

Posted on August 15, 2024 by Pastor Jesse

Are you in a storm? Remember, this is the day the Lord has made – as John Ortberg adds – somehow! 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)
Let us call to mind the reason for our hope:
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.

— Scripture:
Come Holy Spirit, help us to hear your still, small voice as we read your word:
Mark 4:35-41

— 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)
Lord Jesus, I’ve been there. Following you, trusting you, and doing as you said, I looked up and found myself and my friends in a big storm. And we didn’t see you at first. In a panic we called. You weren’t in a hurry. You weren’t concerned at all. Eventually, at your word, the storm was over. Everything was calm. I felt your rebuke and then felt foolish. Where was my faith? But then my fears shifted from the storm to the one who calmed it. I had grown so comfortable with you that it was shock, and I had to wonder: who is this Jesus? Help me to know you and to remember who you are in every storm. Amen.

— Devotional: (3)
The deeper we grow in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the poorer we become – the more we realize that everything in life is a gift. The tenor of our lives becomes one of humble and joyful thanksgiving…
In conversation, the disciple who is truly poor in spirit always leaves the other person with the feeling, “My life has been enriched by talking with you.” This is neither false modesty nor phony humility. His or her life has been enriched and graced. He is not all exhaust and no intake. She does not impose herself on others. He listens well because he knows he has so much to learn from others. Her spiritual poverty enables her to enter the world of the other even when she cannot identify with that world: i.e. the drug culture, the gay world. The poor in spirit are the most nonjudgmental of peoples’ they get along well with sinners.
The poor man and woman of the gospel have made peace with their flawed existence. They are aware of their lack of wholeness, their brokenness, the simple fact that they don’t have it all together. While they do not excuse their sin, they are humbly aware that sin is precisely what has caused them to throw themselves at the mercy of the Father. They do not pretend to be anything but what they are: sinners saved by grace.

— Closing Prayer: (4)
God, in your mercy today,
Teach us to rightly orient our fears, our faith, and our lives toward you.
Help us to do this for our sake,
For the sake of those we love,
For the sake of those you place in our path today,
And for the sake of your name.
Through Jesus, we pray, Amen.

(1) Lamentations 3:21-26 NIV as found in The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.
(2) Original
(3) From The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan Manning.
(4) Original

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Humility Month Day 14: Faith Like a Child

Posted on August 14, 2024 by Pastor Jesse

Good Morning! Get 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)
(Read this aloud if you are able.)
Father, Son, Holy Spirit; Three in One both now and forever.
You are the sovereign God who holds my future.
You are the suffering God who knows my pain.
You are the covenant God who claims me. I am your child.
You are the creator God who made me. You tell me who I am.
You are the Redeem God who saved me. You overcame my sin and set me free.
You are the Sustainer God who transforms me. You are changing me to be more like Jesus.
Remind me, remind us, who we are and who you are today.
Through Christ, hear our prayers. Amen!

— Scripture:
Come Holy Spirit, open our minds and hearts as we read your word:
Matthew 18:1-9

— 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, apart from you, who in this world can live without sin?
Forgive us our pride.
Forgive us our sins.
Help us forgive those who have sinned against us.
Lead us away from temptation.
Lead us to trust you like a child.
Lead us into the fullness of life in your Kingdom.
Through Christ the King we pray. Amen.

— Devotional: (3)
“Measuring our Faith”
I think it’s wise to completely eliminate talk about how much faith we have, or how we need more faith. All too often when we say these things we aren’t talking about faith at all but a feeling we have. When we define faith as a feeling – of belief, or of piety – what we’re actually measuring is not faith but an emotion. Faith is not a feeling. It is simply an act of assent, of openness, and often doesn’t feel like much at all. Faith has to do with what God is doing, not with what we are feeling.
When I start measuring my faith, I’m doing it from my point of view – and I’m always looking at the wrong things. If instead I try simply to be attentive to what God is doing, I become more and more aware of what he’s doing – and that’s a lot. Jesus said that God gives the Spirit without measure (John 3:34). He doesn’t dole it out. There’s immensity here, extravagance- but I never get that picture if I’m measuring things from my side.

— Closing Prayer: (4)
Almighty and most merciful God,
from you comes every good and perfect gift.
We give you praise and thanks for all your mercies.
Your goodness has created us, your bounty has sustained us,
your discipline has chastened us, your patience has borne with us,
your love has redeemed us.
Give us a heart to love and serve you,
and enable us to show our thankfulness for all your goodness and mercy
by giving up ourselves to your service
and cheerfully submitting in all things to your blessed will,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

(1) Original.
(2) Original
(3) By Eugene Peterson, from the collection Practical Christianity, edited by LaVonne Neff and others.
(4) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.

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Humility Month Day 13: Why Give and Pray in Secret

Posted on August 13, 2024 by Pastor Jesse

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.

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Humility Month Day 12: Learning to Love Enemies

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Pastor Jesse

This is the day the Lord has made! Find 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 be more like Christ in humility!

— Praise: (1)
Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!
You, Lord Jesus Christ, are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God
saints from every tribe and language and people and nation;
you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God,
and they will reign on earth.
To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! Amen!

— Scripture:
Come Holy Spirit, open our minds and hearts as we read your word:
Matthew 5:43-48

— 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)
Dear Jesus,
it is hard to forgive people
when they hurt us and our friends.
We want to hit back—
and sometimes we do.
But you teach us to love our enemies
no matter what they do.
Forgive us, Lord Jesus,
when we do not forgive others.
Help us to understand why people hurt others,
and let our hearts be filled with love for them. Amen.

— Devotional: (3)
At a certain pint in the spiritual journey God will draw a person from the beginning stage to a more advanced stage. At this stage the person will begin to engage in religious exercises and grow deeper in the spiritual life.
Such souls will likely experience what is called “the dark night of the soul.” The “dark night” is when those persons lose all the pleasure that they once experienced in their devotional life. This happens because God wants to purify them and move them on to greater heights…
Let it suffice to say, then, that God perceives the imperfections within us, and because of his love for us, urges us to grow up. His love is not content to leave us in our weakness, and for this reason he takes us into a dark night. He weans us from all of the pleasures by giving us dry times and inward darkness.
In doing so he is able to take away all these vices and create virtues within us. Through the dark night pride becomes humility, greed becomes simplicity, wrath becomes contentment, luxury becomes peace, gluttony becomes moderation, envy becomes joy, and sloth becomes strength. No soul will ever grow deep in the spiritual life unless God works passively in that soul by means of the dark night.

— Closing Prayer: (4)
Almighty and merciful God,
through your well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
you have willed to make all things new.
Grant that we may be renewed by your Holy Spirit
and may come at last to that heavenly country
where your people hunger and thirst no more
and the tears are wiped away from every eye,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(1) From Revelation 5:9-13, NRSV
(2) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.
(3) Purifying the Soul by John of the Cross found in Devotional Classics by Richard Foster and James Bryan Smith.
(4) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.

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