CHURCH NAZARENE

Let Us Pray...

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Thank You, God, for Your ever-present sanctuary of love and joy and peace within my heart. My only need is to savor Your sweet presence in my life. I trust – truly trust – that I am in Your care and all is well. Thank You, God.

Thank You, God, for Your living truth as it speaks to me in unmistakable ways. I still my body, I still my mind. I relax completely. I surrender myself to You, God. Fill me with Your presence as I listen in the silence.

Holy Presence within me, I am willing to release all feelings of hurt and anger, and resentment. Help me know true forgiveness and see each person as part of You.​

Let my words and my actions serve only to glorify You. May they heal and comfort and harmonize my life and the lives of those around me. Thank You, God.

Great Spirit of this universe, how glorious are Your Ways. My human mind cannot fully grasp the magnitude of all You are, yet I know I am Yours. Thank You for the safety of Your guiding presence – wherever I am, whatever I do.

Thank You, God, for the growing awareness of who I am. You have created me to express You. I make the commitment today to be Your hands, Your voice, Your heart. Live Your life through me – fully and completely. The cells of my body shout for joy as they resurrect into new life! Thank You, God, for Your powerful healing presence as it touches every atom of my body, calling forth a radiant wholeness.

I choose this day to serve You, God – to let my love radiate to all people and to be an inspiration to help lift others. My only prayer is to know You. Aware of Your sacred presence within me, I am a blessing to all whose lives I touch.

Gentle Spirit, I have heard Your call. I feel You drawing me closer to the realization of Your presence in my life. I hunger to know You more, I want to love You more, and serve You more. I am willing to let You take charge of my life. Show me Your way God, for I am ready.​​​

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“Affirming Faith” — WJD!
by
Dr. Ben Wyatt
 
While Jesus was saying these things, a leader of the synagogue came to him. The leader bowed down before Jesus and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and touch her with your hand, and she will live again.” So Jesus stood up and went with the leader. Jesus’ followers went too. There was a woman that had been bleeding for twelve years. The woman came behind Jesus and touched the bottom of his coat. The woman was thinking, “If I can touch his coat, then I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw the woman. Jesus said, “Be happy, dear woman. You are made well because you believed.” Then the woman was healed. — Matthew 9:18-22 (ERV)

Key Thought:
Two powerful realizations are driven home by this story of the desperate and outcast woman. First, even though her outward circumstances and personal demeanor are the opposite of the synagogue ruler with whom she shares the story, their core issue is the same: faith that Jesus can deliver them from their desperate concerns. They both act in bold ways to find that deliverance. Second, in both stories, even though there is a huge crowd pressing upon Jesus, he ministers personally and specifically to the needs of the people. What so powerfully sets Jesus apart from healing charlatans is that he does not use these events to focus upon himself, but to personally minister to the needs of the people involved. These stories remind us again of how powerful it is that God would become human flesh to minister to us—personally!

Today’s Prayer:
Holy Father, thank you for your love and compassion in sending Jesus. I find it both awe-inspiring and assuring to know that you walked among people and ministered to them personally, not just spectacularly, in Jesus. Thank you for reminding me that every human need, every desperate struggle, is known to you and agonized over by you. In Jesus’ name, I praise and thank you for this grace. Amen.