Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name. Hebrews 13:15
Scripture: Habakkuk 3:17-19
Pray: Praise God, praise His name, praise His works, praise Jesus, start your day with gratitude to God.
Selah: Pause and reflect
Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32 (If you have a chance, read from The Message version)
Consider: The evidence of a life fully fascinated and devoted to Jesus
Pray: Thank God for his forgiveness and pray for forgiveness from what hinders you from loving others. Thank God for His grace and love.
Scripture: John 6:1-40
Consider: What goes into the preparation of a nutritious meal? Are the easiest meals to prepare always nutritious? Eating nutritiously is a habit and requires discipline to maintain, but what are the benefits of eating healthily? Can one maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating one nutritious meal a week, but forgoing all other healthy meals in favour of fast food? What preparation do we need to make and cultivate for our spiritual diet?
Pray: Thank Jesus for his perfect representation of our loving Father God who is our bread of life. Renew your devotion to Him and thank Him for your salvation.
Activity: Just as you would lay out the ingredients and utensils for cooking a meal. Lay out the resources in preparation for meals with God. Place your bible somewhere where you can see it and read it at various intervals in your day. Set goals or reading challenges using an app. Ask friends about what spiritual books they’ve been reading and perhaps even read them together, communicating with each other about what you are discovering. Pack scriptures into your bag, or activate them as reminders on your phone at various intervals throughout your day.
May all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
say evermore, “God is great!”
Psalm 70: 4
Consider: Curiosity and awareness takes practise. Being aware of God’s constant presence and how he reveals himself throughout the mundane activities of our day needs to be refreshed constantly. With practise we will find ourselves always in the practise of being aware of God’s presence, living a life of being fascinated with Jesus as he continually reveals something new of His nature. God’s desire is to be found, to be seen, he is like a child playing hide and seek, standing in the the middle of the room pretending to not be seen, only to be found be you every time.
Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-6; Psalm 27:4
Pray: That your curiosity and fascination for God increases. That you be made aware of God’s continued presence throughout your day.
Activity: Pay particular attention to the things that take your breath away today. It could be a beautiful sunset, or an unusual eye colour, a child’s laughter, an elegant design, or a moving piece of music. Be mindful of the beauty around you and give thanks to God.
Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3-11
Consider: As God has given us all we need for a life of godliness, what causes people to run on empty? Overflowing with grace, love and compassion indicates a continual outpouring from His source. How do we ensure that as conduits of God’s spirit we manage the flow of His divine nature in, through and out of us?
Pray: Thank God for his generosity and provision. Give thanks for the situations you will encounter today that will require the overflowing of his spirit.
Consider: “One of the most amazing revelations of God comes to us when we learn that it is in the everyday things of life that we realise the magnificent deity of Jesus Christ” Oswald Chambers ‘My Utmost For His Highest’
Scripture: John 17
Consider: What is society’s ideal for living a good life? How is a life lost for Christ different from this ideal? What does being one with God mean? Consider Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 3:16 that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and how being His temple is represented in the various locations and circumstances of your day. What differences in your actions and words set you apart as an active representation of Christ’s love and power in your interactions today? Consider that wherever your feet are, there the spirit of God is being represented.
Pray: Thank God for His spirit that is active in you. Pray for awareness of God’s presence in all of your activities today and to be mindful of the words and actions that His spirit prompts you towards.
Scripture: Psalm 18
Consider: Think about what you will be facing today. Are there any hard tasks, impossible situations, anxious thoughts that stand before you today? Consider David’s response to God in the midst of recent troubles. He directs his attention to God first and foremost as the object of his devotion. He describes his strain and in the midst of his description, acknowledges how God brings him to a place of safety.
Activity: Choose three sections from this Psalm to reflect upon. Set them as reminders on your phone to alert you at random intervals throughout your day.
Pray: Thank God. Set your eyes upon Jesus thanking him for the salvation we have through him. Acknowledge God as your shield, strength, and salvation. Tell him of your concerns and difficulties, and praise him for the strength he gives you. Acknowledge that it is all for His glory.
Consider: Do you feel that anxiety and worry is your constant companion, and ever present voice that threatens to undermine your confidence and faith?
Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9
Pray: Thank God for His peace. Tell him of your worries, and ask that he takes them. Ask that the Holy Spirit will keep you mindful of God’s promise of peace.
Scripture: Psalm 139
Activity/Pray: Write out a your prayer today. Make it a modern day Psalm and be honest with where you are at. Tell Him your thoughts, concerns and express your gratitude that he hears you!
Scripture: Psalm 63, 2 Corinthians 4:7-15
Consider: How does the life of Jesus manifest in you throughout your day? As a trophy for the glory of God, how do you mindfully prepare for the encounters you will face today?
Pray: That the Holy Spirit will bring to mind words and actions that reflect the nature of Jesus. Give God thanks for His Spirit and His word that enables and encourages you.
Scripture: James 1:2-15
Consider: “God does not give us overcoming life - He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength.If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength.” Oswald Chambers ‘My Utmost For His Highest’
Pray: Thank God for the trials, the strain for which He gives you strength to overcome. Thank Him for the Joy you receive from His grace, and thank Him for producing in you character that gives God glory.
Scripture: Psalm 42
Consider: Think of a moment that you have been utterly obsessed by someone or something. How does it affect your thinking? What physical effects do you experience? Our greatest fulfilment is found in our total obsession with God’s presence. At times we can be fresh and eager for an event or time, consider how we can feel that same freshness in our mundane tasks knowing that God is very present within those tasks.
Pray: Thank God for His presence. Ask God to constantly reveal himself in all of your daily tasks and for His spirit to quicken your awareness of him throughout the day.
‘Whatever we may be doing - even eating, drinking or washing disciples’ feet - we have to take the initiative of realising and recognising Jesus Christ in it.’ Oswald Chambers
Scripture: Romans 12
Consider: God’s aim for us is to achieve a realisation of His son Jesus in every one of our daily activities, both in the mundane and in the highlights.
Pray: Thank God for His constant presence and ask that we have an awareness of His presence throughout our day. List what your tasks today are likely to be.. breakfast, getting dressed, washing clothes, dishes, driving, catching a bus, working, studying, interacting with others, known and unknown. Ask for an awareness of His presence in each one of these situations and the ones we can’t account for.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10
Scripture: Colossians 3
Consider: Consider the mindset of Jesus and the various encounters he had. The demand for His attention was constant, and yet he never once faltered in His attitude. Have a look at the various attributes that we are encouraged to put on that represent a mindset of Jesus. Compassion, Kindness, gentleness, humility, and forgiveness.
Pray: Thank Jesus for treating us with compassion, kindness, gentleness, humility and forgiveness, and pray that we too cloth ourselves with the same mindset as we interact with others.
Activity: Think of the most difficult person you are likely to encounter today. Be relentless, with the strength of the Holy Spirit, seek them out and forcefully practise one of the attributes on them. It will be difficult, but consider what an effect that the love of Jesus will have on them over a period of time.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Scripture: Psalm 23
Consider: Psalm 23 is a psalm of gratitude to God in the midst of hardship. Paul informs us in Romans 8:35 that despite tribulation, distress, persecution, nakedness, the sword, famine, that nothing will separate us from the love of God. He is with us through all trials and tribulations when they come, and we will find that he gives us what we need in order to overcome by His spirit.
Pray: Give thanks to God for his protect and security. Let him know of your troubles and thank Him that he is the source of all peace and protection.
Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see— how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.
Scripture: Psalm 34
Consider: Have you ever refused to try some ‘new food’ and refused based on the way it looked or smelled? Have you ever seen a child look dubiously at a portion of food they’ve never tried and seen their face light up from the taste? God’s desire for us is only for good. The more we taste and see, the more we realise just how much he truly sustains us.
Pray: Thank God for His provision and delight in His goodness as you consider how he demonstrates His love for you.
Selah: Pause and consider
Scripture: Psalm 8
Reflect: Think over the last four days of devotions and consider what God has been saying to you. Close your eyes and perhaps listen to the music in the video, praying and being mindful of His voice. Thank God for His love of us and His son Jesus.
Activity: Take time to be present in all aspects of your day. Smell something outstanding, taste something delicious, see something beautiful, listen to something sweet, feel something interesting, and thank God for just these small samples of His greatness that we can experience.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.
Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10
Reflect: Think about God’s rich mercy and His incredible gift of grace that is not a condition of our efforts.
Pray: Thank God for His rich mercy, immeasurable grace, how we are His workmanship, and for His great love for us.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Reflect: Are you struggling with your faith? Do you recall times where you were active in the building of God’s Kingdom but now feel run down and no longer useful? Are there small compromises you are aware of that are creeping into your thoughts and actions that are or will separate you from God’s plan for you?
Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-11
Consider: God cares for you. He is in the business of restoration and His desire is to see you actively building the kingdom of God.
Pray: Thank Jesus for healing, forgiveness, restoration, renewal. Confess to Him what’s on your heart and what you’ve been going through. Let Him know your fears and doubts, your anxieties.
Activity: We aren’t meant to journey alone in our faith. Text, call, message someone who will pray with you, who will listen and cheerlead you on. Be also an encourager to that person as you reciprocate.
Scripture: Psalm 63
Consider: What’s one thing that you crave? Is it coffee, exercise, pizza, holidays, attention? Consider the Psalmist’s words in Psalm 63 and dwell on his desire for God.
Prayer: Ask God for an awareness of His presence throughout your day and an increase of your desire for Him and His word.
Activity: List three characteristics of God and write them down on three separate pieces of paper. Place them in random locations that you will encounter throughout your day like your wallet or purse, in the car, fridge, office.. When you see the piece of paper be mindful of that characteristic and thank God.
