Psalm 8:1-9

1 Passage: Psalm 8:1-9

1 Verse: Verse 4^. What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?

1 Prayer: Thank You, Father, for thinking of me. Thank You for caring for me. I couldn't survive without Your attention, and there are times when even with it I wonder how I'll get through. I don't even know what I am. But I trust that You do. Help me to believe what You say is true about me -- even when I feel unthought of and uncared for. Help me to remember that You made me -- and not only that, but You made me in Your image, to be crowned with glory and majesty, to have dominion over Your creation. I don't feel up to it. Please make me worthy of it.

1 Person: Now, it's your turn! Please click "COMMENTS" below to add your own favorite verse and to share your own personal prayer from today's passage. (Your favorite verse and prayer might even be the same as mine, but we'd still love to hear from you. Feel free to just drop us a note so we know you stopped by.) Thanks!

Tomorrow's passage: John 15:1-5

James 5:13-18

1 Passage: James 5:13-18

1 Verse: Verse 13. Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

1 Prayer: Here I am, Father, praying to You. I guess in the grand scheme of things my suffering really isn't so bad, but it doesn't feel that way. Thank You for inviting me -- or is this a demand? -- to share my sufferings with You. I know You feel them, too, so much so that You gave us Your own Son Jesus -- Your Suffering Servant -- to bear our sorrows and sins for us. Thank You, Father. And You give us the Holy Spirit to Comfort us in our afflictions. Thank You, Father. It is enough to make me cheerful even in the midst of sufferings. Help me to sing Your praises today, Lord.

1 Person: Now, it's your turn! Please click "COMMENTS" below to add your own favorite verse and to share your own personal prayer from today's passage. (Your favorite verse and prayer might even be the same as mine, but we'd still love to hear from you. Feel free to just drop us a note so we know you stopped by.) Thanks!

Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 8:1-9

1 Thessalonians 5:11-15

1 Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:11-15

1 Verse: Verse 14. We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

1 Prayer: Thank You, Father, for the beautiful picture of a community living out the kind of love You have for us all. May our communities reflect this kind of love. Help me to be patient with everyone, encouraging, and helpful.

1 Person: Now, it's your turn! Please click "COMMENTS" below to add your own favorite verse and to share your own personal prayer from today's passage. (Your favorite verse and prayer might even be the same as mine, but we'd still love to hear from you. Feel free to just drop us a note so we know you stopped by.) Thanks!

Tomorrow's passage: James 5:13-18

Hebrews 10:19-25

1 Passage: Hebrews 10:19-25

1 Verse: Verse 22. let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

1 Prayer: Thank You, Father, for being near to me. Forgive me for not always drawing near to You in return. Forgive me for my insincere heart -- a heart that wavers between faith and doubt. I know I have full assurance in You. I have no reason to doubt, and I don't doubt Your faithfulness, Your goodness, Your love. But perhaps I listen too often and too long to my unclean evil conscience -- that fickle voice of condemnation or license that threatens to weaken my faith. It drives a wedge of separation between us, just when You are calling me to draw near. Help me, today, Father, to silence that evil conscience and listen instead to Your Holy Spirit -- the voice of the Comforter. Sprinkle me clean and wash me with water, Lord, so that I may boldly and confidently draw near.

1 Person: Now, it's your turn! Please click "COMMENTS" below to add your own favorite verse and to share your own personal prayer from today's passage. (Your favorite verse and prayer might even be the same as mine, but we'd still love to hear from you. Feel free to just drop us a note so we know you stopped by.) Thanks!

Tomorrow's passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:11-15

2 Corinthians 1:3-7

1 Passage: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

1 Verse: Verse 4. who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

1 Prayer: I have to confess, Father, that it is hard to be thankful in all our affliction. Sometimes it is only cold comfort that these afflictions serve the purpose of someday helping others. Obviously, Father, we want to be able to share Your love with others. But did we really know the price we would have to pay in the currency of afflictions to accomplish that holy vision? I didn't expect to have to count this cost. I'm afraid I may not even be able to count that high. Still, I know it is only a fraction of the afflictions of Christ. And You are faithful, Lord. You are the God of all comfort. You are the Comforter. Please help me today to receive from You soothing peace beyond understanding, serene calm, contentment, solace and relief. Help me be a source of such gifts to others today, too, please. Just as I have been comforted, may I also comfort others.

1 Person: Now, it's your turn! Please click "COMMENTS" below to add your own favorite verse and to share your own personal prayer from today's passage. (Your favorite verse and prayer might even be the same as mine, but we'd still love to hear from you. Feel free to just drop us a note so we know you stopped by.) Thanks!

Tomorrow's passage: Hebrews 10:19-25

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1 Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1 Verse: Verse 18. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Prayer: Thank You, Father, for comforting my heart with the promise of Your eternal presence. I know that Jesus is coming back, and I know that when He left, he left behind His Spirit -- the Comforter. Help me to take comfort not only in our future together, but in our present. But also help me remember, when the present seems to lack Your presence, that in the future lies the fulfillment of all I hope for. Come, Lord Jesus.

1 Person: Now, it's your turn! Please click "COMMENTS" below to add your own favorite verse and to share your own personal prayer from today's passage. (Your favorite verse and prayer might even be the same as mine, but we'd still love to hear from you. Feel free to just drop us a note so we know you stopped by.) Thanks!

Tomorrow's passage: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Ephesians 5:18-21

1 Passage: Ephesians 5:18-21

1 Verse: Verse 19. speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

1 Prayer: Thank You, Father, for the gift of music. Thank You that we get to speak to one another with a language that communicates more than words alone. As we gather this morning for corporate worship -- to sing together as one congregation -- please help us all to make music with our hearts to You.

1 Person: Now, it's your turn! Please click "COMMENTS" below to add your own favorite verse and to share your own personal prayer from today's passage. (Your favorite verse and prayer might even be the same as mine, but we'd still love to hear from you. Feel free to just drop us a note so we know you stopped by.) Thanks!

Tomorrow's passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18