Blessings or Consequences
SUNDAY, June 18
Third Sunday After Pentecost
Genesis 12:1-9
The story of Abram is such a great reminder of how far-reaching the blessings or the consequences of our decisions can be. Abram knew the promise God was making, but how could his mind fully comprehend the impact it would continue to have thousands of years later? All too often, when faced with an important choice, we only consider the effect it may have on the here and now. Rarely do we take the time to consider the ripple effect that one simple step can make for generations to come.
Is God calling you to take a step of faith in your life right now? Take some time to meditate on the lengths God will go to bless those who are obedient to his call.
Father God, thank you for your faithfulness in fulfilling the promises you make to your children. Please help us to take time out of our hurried schedules to stop and listen for your still, small voice so that we may recognize your call in our lives. AMEN.
PRAYER FOCUS: THE FATHERS IN OUR LIFE
A Trustworthy God
MONDAY, June 19
Psalm 33:1-12
“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him” (v. 1, NIV).
Time and time again we have seen the evidence of how God’s Word can be trusted. We’ve seen it in the lives of the patriarchs. We’ve witnessed it in the fulfillment of God’s promise through Jesus. His faithfulness and love are woven into the tapestry of the entire Bible. He truly is worthy of our praise! So it is fitting that those who belong to him should praise him. Praise and thankfulness should be our natural response when we fully realize the depth of God’s faithfulness and grace toward us.
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name! Your goodness and mercy never cease. You are worthy of all praise! Thank you for the endless blessings you choose to bestow upon your children. No one can fathom just how vast your love for us is. Please walk with us for all our days, and help us to remember all that you have done so that we may glorify your name to the world. AMEN.
See the Fruit
TUESDAY, June 20
Matthew 7:15-20
“Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit” (vv. 17-18).
When we seek God’s will in our lives, we often look to others for their wisdom and advice. We should be discerning of those we put our trust in for guidance. Jesus tells us we can identify them by their fruit. They exude confidence and speak with authority, but do their actions match those of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23? Does their advice show evidence of these things? Let us be careful not to justify anything that is contrary to the Holy Spirit just because it may be what we want to hear. Let us prayerfully guard our heart and wisely seek God’s will over our own.
Jesus, thank you for giving us your living example of the blessed fruit of the Spirit. In you, we can see the wise balance of humility and discernment. Help us to always be mindful of the fruit we are producing in our own lives. AMEN.
PRAYER FOCUS: COMMUNITIES DEALING WITH DROUGHT
Seeking God’s Heart
WEDNESDAY, June 21
Matthew 7:21-23
God is not moved by the words we speak or the great things we think we have done in his name. He is moved only by a heart that glorifies him through a spirit of gratefulness and humility. Like David, we are to seek God’s own heart. Sadly, our churches are filled with people who rely on their own strengths to earn their way into heaven. They are so impressed with their achievements that they have become blinded by pride. These were the very sins that led the Pharisees astray. They knew every word of Scripture but did not breathe it in. The gift of God’s grace is so much sweeter than anything we could ever accomplish on our own.
Holy Spirit, you are the one who abides in us and gives us strength. Help us to always serve the Lord with humility and thankfulness so that when we come face to face with him on that day, he will know us and greet us with open arms. AMEN.
Cornerstone
THURSDAY, June 22
Matthew 7:24-29
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice
is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (v. 24).
The Bible refers to Jesus Christ as the cornerstone on which the church was built. A cornerstone is the most important part of any foundation. It is where the groundwork begins, and every other building block is measured from it and built upon it. Jesus never promised us a trouble-free life. On the contrary, he warned that storms will come. Storms can take many forms. They can even challenge our faith. But if we are
deeply rooted in him, not a mere surface righteousness, we can endure to the end.
Heavenly Father, may we always hold tight to Jesus as our mighty rock and root our faith in your unfailing love. AMEN.
PRAYER FOCUS: GLOBAL PERSONNEL IN LATIN AMERICA
Grace-filled Boundaries
FRIDAY, June 23
Hosea 5:15–6:6
“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds” (6:1).
Just as any parent disciplines their children whenever they have gone astray, so too does God. If humanity was left to our own devices, we would surely bring destruction down upon ourselves. For goodness to prevail, there must be boundaries. God told the children of Israel exactly what those boundaries were, yet they chose to disobey him time and time again. His discipline can be harsh, but he is faithful in his love. He doesn’t want empty sacrifices or burnt offerings; he desires a repentant heart that will turn back to him and seek to truly know him.
Abba Father, thank you for your steadfast love and forgiveness. Your mercies never cease. May we always remember that you are waiting for us with open arms, no matter how far we have gone astray. AMEN.
A Life of Abundance
SATURDAY, June 24
Psalm 50:7-15
“Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me” (vv. 14-15).
Have you ever gone through a period in your life when you went to church on Sunday but forgot God the rest of the week? Sometimes we treat our relationship with God like a checklist of things we do to appease him while we live our lives the way we want. Yet God sees through this empty righteousness. Do we desire this type of relationship with our own children? No. It would pain us to be treated in this way. Spiritual abundance is worth far more than the material abundance offered by this world. Living a life of true abundance means we are in constant relationship with the one who offers it.
Heavenly Father, help us to remember how fulfilling our lives can be when we are in constant connection with you. Your Holy Spirit fills our lives with a peace that surpasses all understanding, even in the midst of storms. Thank you for calling us to a personal relationship with you. AMEN.
PRAYER FOCUS: WILLINGNESS TO SERVE OTHERS
