Sunday, December 1
God’s Mission

1 Corinthians 15:57

Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
~ Apostle Paul

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Pondering Point

Victory or defeat are often associated with games – and great building blocks for life. In war, these ideas carry much deeper and harsher impact – both for victors and victims. Even more so, the concepts of victory and defeat carry great weight with our souls. Being victimized by our sin is a terrible, soul-destroying notion. But in Christ becoming the victim who dies for our sins, we are given victory over sin and a blessed (rather than cursed) relationship with God.

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Prayer

Father God, lead me to a deep and humble appreciation of Jesus’ victory over my sin – a costly victory to be sure. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Monday, December 2
God’s Mission

1 Corinthians 15:57

Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
~ Apostle Paul

Placeholder Picture

Pondering Point

Victory or defeat are often associated with games – and great building blocks for life. In war, these ideas carry much deeper and harsher impact – both for victors and victims. Even more so, the concepts of victory and defeat carry great weight with our souls. Being victimized by our sin is a terrible, soul-destroying notion. But in Christ becoming the victim who dies for our sins, we are given victory over sin and a blessed (rather than cursed) relationship with God.

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Prayer

Father God, lead me to a deep and humble appreciation of Jesus’ victory over my sin – a costly victory to be sure. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Tuesday, December 3
God’s Mission

1 Corinthians 15:57

Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
~ Apostle Paul

Placeholder Picture

Pondering Point

Victory or defeat are often associated with games – and great building blocks for life. In war, these ideas carry much deeper and harsher impact – both for victors and victims. Even more so, the concepts of victory and defeat carry great weight with our souls. Being victimized by our sin is a terrible, soul-destroying notion. But in Christ becoming the victim who dies for our sins, we are given victory over sin and a blessed (rather than cursed) relationship with God.

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Prayer

Father God, lead me to a deep and humble appreciation of Jesus’ victory over my sin – a costly victory to be sure. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Wednesday, November 27
Biblical Teachings on Prayer

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
~ Apostle Paul

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Pondering Point

The fact that Paul tells us not to be anxious belies the reality that people often are anxious. The question is what to do about it. Do not be anxious about any one thing – he shares – but keep it within the perspective of everything else going on. See the anxiety-producing issue in relation to the big picture and then…

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Prayer

… with prayer, petition, and thanksgiving for your overall circumstances – share your request with God about the issues causing anxiety.

Thursday, November 28
Prayerfully Re-Center Around God

Philippians 1:3

I thank my God every time I remember you.
~ Apostle Paul

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Pondering Point

“I have thankful memories of you.” Those would be stirring, heartening and encouraging words to hear from someone. Such words are a reflection of the person being remembered and of the person doing the remembering. Let’s take time to thankfully remember and re-center around God.

Review the week

Is there an attitude of thanksgiving that matches up with your memory of people? For whom are you most thankful?

Repent (if necessary)

Repent for a less-than-thankful attitude and thank God for His willingness to forgive any ungrateful mindset you found.

Return (as necessary)

Do your remembering – with thanksgiving – as you bring people to mind that have been blessings this past year.

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Prayer

[Insert your own prayer of thanksgiving for the people that have been blessings this past year.]

Friday, November 29
Discipleship Point and Prayer

1 Timothy 4:4

Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.
~ Apostle Paul

Hmmm… everything God created is good and is to be received with thanksgiving. OK, so here we go: Thank you Lord for… mosquitoes and cockroaches, leeches and lizards, highway traffic (You didn’t create that, we did!)…

Actually the Apostle Paul was reacting to people who were creating unnecessary rules about following God, even to the point of calling the good things of God untouchable. Paul’s view is this: Let God set the standard of good and bad rather than men.

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Humility Prayer

Ask God to help you see this world from His view, and to use His standard to properly appreciate the things and people in His (and your) world.

Saturday, November 30
Scripture's Story for the Week

Ezra 3:11

With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD.

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Pondering Point

What songs of thanksgiving would you choose to sing in praise to the Lord? Who would you yearn to hear singing them for the Lord (maybe a favorite artist, a friend, or a family member)? Thank God for the writers of these song lyrics, the creators of the song’s tunes, and the people you would love to hear sing to God in praise…and for God’s sake, sing yourself! Car, shower, kitchen – sing to the Lord!

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Prayer Prompt

Find a song or hymn that is set in prayer form, addressing God, and use it as your prayer today. It does not have to relate to thanksgiving, but look for ones that “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.”