practically living out your faith has a lot to do with your view of God…
How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk
Faith in real life
psalm 112
9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor.
The idea that people may try to persecute you because you are a follower of Jesus is valid in some circumstances. Also valid is you may positively influence people because you are a follower of Jesus. Especially when you are different than the average person in a good way.
Pray for more opportunities of influence for Jesus.
psalm 111
9 He has paid a full ransom for his people.
He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.
When Jesus took two of his followers on a journey through the Old Testament showing them the passages referring to him, he is allowing them to look back and see how it is all about Jesus all along. The Truth is anything but mysterious or secretive.
Pray for clarity in your description of life with Jesus and his community.
psalm 110
1 The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.”
David knows that there is one who comes from God who will rule, but he isn’t this King. Jesus uses this scripture to speak of himself, The King is the King.
Pray for more room for Jesus to be King of our life.
psalm 109
Psalm 109
5 They repay evil for good,
and hatred for my love.
After you trust in Jesus and he fills you with the Holy Spirit, you don’t become everyone’s new best friend. Life for the deepest followers of Jesus is hard. Life is hard. But Jesus is big.
Pray for Jesus to give you vision of his strength.
psalm 108
6 Now rescue your beloved people.
Answer and save us by your power.
When you follow God you rely on him. You don’t just go to him when times are tough. Whether there are challenges or not, we still need his power.
Pray for patience as God is at work.
psalm 107
Psalm 107
29 He calmed the storm to a whisper
and stilled the waves.
This sounds familiar. Have you heard about this before? Jesus does the same thing in the gospels. Here, it is God. Ohh….
Pray for Jesus to reveal himself when you read the Old Testament.
psalm 106
37 They even sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons.
The people of God rebelled even after they were given the Bible. After Moses they still fell into the horrible practice of their surrounding neighbors: human sacrifice. A godly life described in the Bible doesn’t mean one automatically follows it. The Holy Spirit is invited to come into life and make this kind of life possible.
Pray for the Spirit to give you confidence in following him.
confirmation 2008 message based on Luke 2.41-52
psalm 105
45 Praise the Lord!
We get a whole history lesson about God and his people in this psalm. Then at the very end, we hear, “Praise the Lord!” If you get a history of God and his people, the end is always going to be “Praise the Lord!”
Praise God for your week.
