Weekly Meditations and Prayer Prompts, January 29 - February 4, 2023

Sunday, January 29, 2023 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Matthew 5:3–12 (ESV)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

Prayer prompt:  Have you tried to inventory your strengths and weaknesses yet this year?  Would you include meekness as your greatest strength?  Poverty?  Sadness?  What about being pure in heart?  Pray that Jesus will help you see the upside-down-downside-up perspective of the Kingdom of Heaven.  Pray for a Good News perspective on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.  Pray that you’ll see with Jesus’ eyes what is important and real.

Monday, January 30, 2023

Micah 6:8 (ESV)

He has told you, O man, what is good; 

and what does the Lord require of you 

  but to do justice, and to love kindness, 

and to walk humbly with your God? 

Prayer prompt: The distance between what we think God wants and what God really wants from us can be vast.  Some of our wisest spiritual leaders have insisted that what God actually wants from us is to love one another and to demonstrate that love concretely with acts of kindness, mercy, and humble service to others.  Pray that God will tell you today what is good and what the Lord requires of you.  Perhaps you’ll find the answer to that prayer in justice, love, human kindness, and humility.  .    

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Micah 7:18-20 (ESV)

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity 

and passing over transgression 

for the remnant of his inheritance? 

  He does not retain his anger forever, 

because he delights in steadfast love. 

  He will again have compassion on us; 

he will tread our iniquities underfoot. 

  You will cast all our sins 

into the depths of the sea. 

  You will show faithfulness to Jacob 

and steadfast love to Abraham, 

  as you have sworn to our fathers 

from the days of old.

Prayer prompt:  What sort of God is this, who forgets sin, who throws it into the vast sea of forgetfulness?  What sort of God is this, who delights in steadfast love and faithfulness?  This God of compassion is our God, the one whom we know in Jesus Christ.  Pray today for a glimpse of the vastness of God’s love, mercy, and compassion.  Pray that God will show you how to emulate God’s own forgetfulness of sin and quickness to forgive in your relationships with others today.    

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Hebrews 11:8-11 (ESV)

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.  For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.  By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

Prayer prompt: Do you ever set out without knowing for certain where you are going?  Have you ever done that as an act of obedience?  Sometimes, when there has been an accident or there is significant road construction, a police officer will direct you onto a detour.  You obediently follow the officer’s signal, but if you do not know the surrounding roads well, the unmarked detour can seem daunting.  By faith we can meet the challenges of traveling to the land of promise.  Our surroundings may be very unfamiliar for prolonged periods of time, but we can trust the designer and builder of our ultimate destination.  Pray today that God will give you a strong confidence that the One who has promised is faithful.

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Isaiah 58:6–9a (ESV)

  “Is not this the fast that I choose: 

to loose the bonds of wickedness, 

to undo the straps of the yoke, 

  to let the oppressed go free, 

and to break every yoke? 

  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry 

and bring the homeless poor into your house; 

  when you see the naked, to cover him, 

and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 

  Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, 

and your healing shall spring up speedily; 

  your righteousness shall go before you; 

the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 

  Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; 

you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ 

Prayer prompt:  Have you ever undertaken to fast?  From what?  For how long?  The sort of fast described here by the prophet appears to be very active, not just a passive cessation of activity or refraining from eating or drinking.  Have you ever attempted to set a trapped animal free?  Have you ever tried to help a person who was struggling to break free from the destructive hold of addiction?  As you pray today, ask God to help you discern where there are people who are struggling with yokes, bonds, and fetters.  Ask God to show you the homeless poor.  Who in your life needs help breaking free?  Ask God for the courage, wisdom, and strength to fast in such a way that they are set free.

Friday, February 3, 2023

Psalm 112:4–9 (ESV) 

Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; 

They are gracious, merciful, and righteous. 

  It is well with the person who deals generously and lends; 

who conduct their affairs with justice. 

  For the righteous will never be moved; 

They will be remembered forever. 

  They are not afraid of bad news; 

Their heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. 

  Their heart is steady; they will not be afraid, 

until they look in triumph on their adversaries. 

  They have distributed freely; they have given to the poor; 

their righteousness endures forever; 

their horn is exalted in honor. 

Prayer prompt:  The Psalm confirms that the person who does right is blessed.  They are blessed by the Lord and blessed by those who benefit from their good deeds.  They will be remembered.  This is not automatic, of course.  In fact, we have a role to play in the blessing and the remembering.  When we all play our part in upholding those who do the right thing, they will be confirmed and established so that they do not flinch when they hear bad news.  A community that reinforces righteousness and justice is a blessed place to be and to live, a place where all can thrive.  Let’s pray to be the sort of people who are gracious, merciful, righteous, just, faithful and trusting, steady and unafraid.  

Saturday, February 4, 2023

1 Corinthians 2:9-13 (ESV) 

But, as it is written, 

  “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, 

nor the heart of man imagined, 

  what God has prepared for those who love him”— 

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.  For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.  And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 

Prayer prompt: Has God ever surprised you?  Have you ever seen or experienced something that left your mouth hanging open and your eyes bugging out?  The apostle appears to think that God is rather freely distributing such gifts of astonishing sights and thoughts.  As you pray today, ask God to open up a few more of the surprising gifts of the Holy Spirit to your awareness today.  Ask God to astonish you with sights of goodness and grace, mercy and forgiveness, truth and love.