Monday, May 14
Theme for the week:
Disciples Learn to Pray for God’s Spirit

Galatians 5:25

“Live by the Spirit… Keep in step with the Spirit”

This coming Sunday is the Festival of Pentecost, both in the church past and present. Sometimes called the birthday of the church, It was on this day that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples and 5000 people were baptized.

Our theme revolves this gift of the Holy Spirit. According to Luke 11:13, He is the answer to what God gives when we ask, seek, and knock.

The answer to many situations can be more of God. For instance more of God can bring more patience or more self-control. More of God might bring less frustration or less anxiety.

Along with the gift of this Holy Spirit comes his wisdom, his guidance, his insight, his comfort, and other dynamics and aspects he brings to the table. Along with this theme we are going to use short prayers offered to or through the Holy Spirit through the week. They are known as breath prayers and we’ll share more about them in tomorrow's devotion.

For now, a thought: Breath prayers help combine intentionally slowed breathing (helpful to relax) with very simple thoughts turned into prayers.

If you want other aids to assist, a candle or soft music is good also. Breath prayers are simple and short to coincide with your breathing: Inhale with one phrase, exhale with a second (not necessarily aloud); repeat in order to settle the mind and relax.

Here is an example to practice with for today, called “The Jesus Prayer” and serves as our prayer for the day:

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Prayer Prompt

(with an inhale):  Lord Jesus...

(with an exhale):  ... have mercy...

[repeat the prayer 4 - 5 times]

Psalm 119: Immersed in the Word of God

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This is our continuing opportunity to encounter God through His Word in Psalm 119. Unique in the bible, Psalm 119 is fashioned around the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet (seen above). Each section contains eight verses, making it easily the longest psalm at 176 verses. 

Psalm of Meditation for the Week:

Psalm 119:33-40 (He)

ה

  1. Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end.
  2. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
  3. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
  4. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
  5. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.
  6. Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.
  7. Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good.
  8. How I long for your precepts! In your righteousness preserve my life.

  • 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.

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Pondering Point

This week, in league with our breath prayer teaching, we will build breath prayers from the Psalm each day (as you do, go through each prayer with
multiple breaths: 4-5 times).

(with an inhale): Teach me Lord...

(with an exhale): ... the ways of your decrees...

[repeat the prayer 4 - 5 times]

Tuesday, May 15
Introduction to Breath Prayers

Breath Prayer

Breath Prayer is for the purpose of settlng one's body/mind/soul so as to be increasingly conscious of God's presence in our everyday experience.

Breath prayers are called that because they are aligned with your breathing.

Breath Prayers are prayers in the mind or heart that are aligned with your breathing in and out; you think one thought while breathing in and another part of the thought while breathing out.

Richard Foster called them “prayers of the heart”. Every day we will give you a couple along the way, one in the primary devotion and one with the meditation of scripture devotion with the psalm of the day.

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Prayer Prompt: John 14:23

(with an inhale):  Come Father...

(with an exhale):  ... make your home with me...

[repeat the prayer 4 - 5 times]

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:33-34

Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Ephesians 5:1-2

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 

The Promise:

Ezekiel 36:26-27

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 

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Pondering Point

This week, in league with our breath prayer teaching, we will build breath prayers from the Psalm each day (as you do, go through each prayer with
multiple breaths: 4-5 times).

(with an inhale): Give me understanding...

(with an exhale): ... to obey with my heart...

[repeat the prayer 4 - 5 times]

Wednesday, May 16
Your Identity in Christ

Through Christ, I am a receiver of the Holy Spirit, who counsels me in the ways of God.

Spend some time thinking about yourself as a receiver of gifts, or in this particular situation a receiver of a gift known as the Holy Spirit. With the gift of the Holy Spirit comes so many other gifts. It is easy to find ourselves seeking gifts from the Giver rather than the giver himself. In this case The Giver comes to us with gifts. Even when we don't even know what we want or need, the Holy Spirit provides what we are looking even though without us being fully aware of it.

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Prayer Prompt

(with an inhale): Holy Spirit...

(with an exhale): ... counsel me...

[repeat the prayer 4 - 5 times]

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Proverbs 3:6

In all your ways submit to [the LORD] and he will make your paths straight. 

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Proverbs 3:6

In all your ways submit to [the LORD] and he will make your paths straight.

The Promise:

Psalm 37:23

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him.

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Pondering Point

This week, in league with our breath prayer teaching, we will build breath prayers from the Psalm each day (as you do, go through each prayer with
multiple breaths: 4-5 times).

(with an inhale): Let me delight...

(with an exhale): ... in your commands...

[repeat the prayer 4 - 5 times]

Thursday, May 17
Re-Center Around God

Review the week

Have I asked God for the Holy Spirit, not just as a one-time experience (as in baptism) but as a daily experience?  Have I asked God for the Holy Spirit's leadership and guidance and the other facets of help offered by Him as testified in Scripture? Have I asked specifically for him in times of a particular need? If you want a greater understanding of the Spirit’s role, do a search on the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.

Repent (if necessary)

Take some time to admit (if you need it) that you have learned to live day to day without asking for this. The truth is, as James says in chapter 4:2, that “we have not because we ask not”. Yes, we always have the Spirit, but we don't always ask for his leadership and guidance.

Return (as necessary)

Tell the Father that you’re sorry for neglecting this situation (if it is the case). And then ask afresh and know that he will grant that.

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Prayer Prompt

(with an inhale): Fall afresh on me...

(with an exhale): ... Holy Spirit...

[repeat the prayer 4 - 5 times]

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:37-38

Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Matthew 7:15

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 

The Promise:

Psalm 121:8

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

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Pondering Point

This week, in league with our breath prayer teaching, we will build breath prayers from the Psalm each day (as you do, go through each prayer with multiple breaths: 4-5 times).

(with an inhale): Turn my eyes...

(with an exhale): ... from worthless things...

[repeat the prayer 4 - 5 times]

Friday, May 18
Discipleship Point from Luke 18:13

Luke 18:13

“God have mercy on me a sinner”

You may recall that in Jesus’ teaching on prayer, he told a short parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector. In the end, it was the tax collector who was right with God – the one who beat his breast in repentance and humility and cried out, “God have mercy on me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).

This simple prayer has become one of the most well-known since Jesus shared it in story. It is also a great breath prayer to approach God with. It can be full of grief and shame, or one filled with confidence and assurance, or yet gratitude and peace. Let it be our breath prayer for today:

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Discipleship Prayer:

(with an inhale): God have mercy...

(with an exhale): ... on me a sinner...

[repeat the prayer 4 - 5 times]

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:39-40

Take away the disgrace I dread for your laws are good. How I long for your precepts! In your righteousness preserve my life.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Romans 13:14

Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. 

The Promise:

Psalm 145:19

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. 

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Pondering Point

This week, in league with our breath prayer teaching, we will build breath prayers from the Psalm each day (as you do, go through each prayer with multiple breaths: 4-5 times).

(with an inhale): Preserve my life...

(with an exhale): ... in Your righteousness...

[repeat the prayer 4 - 5 times]

Saturday, May 19
God Speaks With the Child Samuel

1 Samuel 3:1-21

The Lord Calls Samuel

1 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’”

15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”

Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

17 “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”

19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

This week's story centers around the young child Samuel who was growing up under the failing eyes of the high priest Eli.

Samuel spent many days and nights present at the temple, even sleeping there.

One of those nights the Lord spoke to Samuel, but Samuel mistook the voice of the Lord to be Eli calling for him. Three times this would happen before Eli realized that the Lord was trying to speak to Samuel.

As you take in this story, note the phrase shared that "the word of the Lord was rare in those days" and the irony of a high priest who didn’t see physically or spiritually.

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Prayer Prompt

(with an inhale): Speak Lord...

(with an exhale): ... Your servant listens...

[repeat the prayer 4 - 5 times]

Father God, I don't want your word to be rare in my life in my days in my world. I pray that your Holy Spirit comes; I ask that you give me your Holy Spirit in full measure, I seek him to influence my life with his wisdom, guidance, comfort, and Leadership. In Jesus’ name I ask this, amen.

Sunday, May 20
Call to Worship God, to Gather Together

God Bless You

Ephesians 5:18-20

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

It is in the process of being worshipped that God communicates his presence to men.

~ C.S. Lewis
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Prayer Prompt

(with an inhale): Holy Spirit...

(with an exhale): ... let me be filled with You...

[repeat the prayer 4 - 5 times]

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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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