Other than writing in the dirt with his finger (see John 8:6) we don't see Jesus doing much writing. That being said, that there is great value in the spiritual discipline of journaling. Many Christians have attested to this over the centuries. Some use it to record prayers shared (and answered), to remember seasons of life or meditations that have been on your heart, or simply to get thoughts out on paper (or computer). There are times where people in the bible are told to write, but it's not a requirement. Consider the potential blessing during this week as we dig into journaling as a spiritual discipline option, try it – you might like it. Many have found it to be a tremendous way in which one’s prayer life is enhanced.

Prayer for the Week

Father God, Father God, bless the Word to take root deeply in our hearts with you, like seed in fertile soil; may it grow uninhibited by the pleasures or concerns of other facets of life. I pray this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,

Amen.

Psalm of Meditation for the Week:

Psalms 32:8-11

• Read: the verses twice.
  

• Mark: the words or phrases that catch your attention.
  

• Meditate: talk (better yet write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect a response from the Lord.

Matthew 13:1-23

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them."

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Jesus tells his disciples: It is to my father's Glory that you bear much fruit, (John 15:8), which sounds like a very production-oriented version of spirituality.

God is interesting in our fruit-bearing, but it is just that – fruit. The key to understanding this teaching of Jesus on fruit-bearing is earlier in John 15: To stay connected to him.

While “Apart from me you can do nothing” is true, so also it is true that by remaining in Jesus, we bear much fruit – a natural result of abiding with Jesus.

And so journaling is a great reminder to stay connected to him, to stay in the position of ‘good soil’ rather than compromised soil that is hardened, shallow, or focused on growing other things rather than the seed of his Word.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Teaching or Command of God:

Proverbs 4:13-14

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.  Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.

The Promise:

Isaiah 30:21

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Philippians 4:5-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The discipline of journaling is purposely joined with our theme of the week as we’re encouraged not to not worry about tomorrow. When people say “don't worry” or “forget about it,” it doesn't make the worrying go away. Journaling offers a practical method to handle such worry by writing about it.

In following the directives of Philippians 4:4-7 about handling worry, we are encouraged into “prayer and petition” starting with thanksgiving.

Let’s do just that, sharing thanksgiving for current and past blessings and the hoped-for piece that God speaks about in Philippians. God bless you this week as you handle real anxieties and seek real peace through the real work of God.

Remember who you are in Jesus Christ:

In Christ I have the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, and that peace will guard my heart and mind so that I will not have to be anxious about anything.

Drawing from Jesus’ Sermon: 

Matthew 6:25-34

Do Not Worry

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Where is your focus? Our Father knows what we need and when we need what we need. As a disciple, I want to put my heart in a position to be productive with the Lord. Good ways to do that are to spend time with Jesus (abiding – John 15:5), to pray through worry since such worrying chokes out the place of God’s Word place in my life (Matthew 13:22), to not fear those who are going to think less of me because of the way I live or the decisions that I make (Matthew 13:21).

Discipleship Prayer:

Father God, continue to unfold blessings for me – and for my brothers and sisters – as we work through our devotions this week. Let your Word and Spirit help me to handle anxieties and pressures in ways that are healthy for my spirit. Then let this have an encouraging effect on those around me. I pray to experience in practical ways the blessings you describe (Philippians 4) of peace that guards my heart and my mind despite anxieties. In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 32:11

Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Teaching or Command of God:

Psalm 105:2

Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.

The Promise:

Psalm 112:4

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.

One of the few if not only parables Jesus fully explains, this is one of the better-known stories Jesus delivered. Living in the midst of a very agricultural setting, it was a wonderful way to capture a fundamental dynamic of spiritual life.

Here is a story from God’s Word:

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Psalms 113:1,3

Praise the Lord!... From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!

Begin to rejoice in the Lord, and your bones will flourish like an herb, and your cheeks will glow with the bloom of health and freshness. Worry, fear, distrust, care - all are poisonous! Joy is balm and healing, and if you will but rejoice, God will give power.

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Prayer Prompt

Dear Lord,

I am providing these comments about the website and devotion to increase your greater glory.

Amen.

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