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Mini-Worship
April 30 - May 5, 2024
Center yourself (take a few deep breaths and quiet down)
Enter God’s presence
Isaiah 49:8-16a (NIV)
8 Thus says the LORD:
In a time of favor I have answered you,
on a day of salvation I have helped you;
I have kept you and given you
as a covenant to the people,
to establish the land,
to apportion the desolate heritages;
9 saying to the prisoners, “Come out,”
to those who are in darkness, “Show yourselves.”
They shall feed along the ways,
on all the bare heights shall be their pasture;
10 they shall not hunger or thirst,
neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them down,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
and by springs of water will guide them.
11 And I will turn all my mountains into a road,
and my highways shall be raised up.
12 Lo, these shall come from far away,
and lo, these from the north and from the west,
and these from the land of Syene.
13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the LORD has comforted his people,
and will have compassion on his suffering ones.
14 But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me,
my Lord has forgotten me.”
15 Can a woman forget her nursing child,
or show no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.
16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.
Confession:
The Lord of all knowing and all mercies, you are able to bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and disclose the purposes of the heart. I come to you and let you show me where I had failed to your glory (examine own heart and confess…) I ask your forgiveness. Also, I ask you to renew me, and enable me to get right. You are my Savior in every way. We confess in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Scripture reading:
Matthew 6:24-34
24“No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. 25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith? 31Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34”So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Thoughts to share and ponder
Unless it is an extraordinarily wealthy person, most people have a lot of worries about their existence. Can we not worry? It is not easy, especially during economic difficult time. It is not easy, especially daily immediate needs are just right before you….
But God is the God who created us and placed us in the social systems and in the time period. He promises that he knows our needs and he will watch over our needs. So, do not worry. Jesus pointed out one thing: “strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
But what does it mean? I see a few things that may be helpful to release our worries:
Firstly, trust His sovereignty: God sovereigns. He sees and knows before we see and we know. He designed the whole world system. He placed where we are.
Secondly, trust His power: God's kingdom is his might and ever-existing power. This power is the power of love, the power of protection, the power of provision, the power of helping, the power of life, the power to save, the power to lift, the power of working...
Thirdly, obey His sayings. Notice that God’s “righteousness” is not talking about religious things. Jesus concerns all aspects of our person, our life and our existence. There are some natural laws and moral laws which God has instituted in the beginning of world creation. We cannot ignore them. If we do, we will have disasters. Moreover, he always directs us to what is good for life. For example, believe in Jesus is fundamental to our existence.
Fourthly, be faithful in whatever we are entrusted- no matter it is school work, job work, home work, tasks or relationships...
So we need to heed what God said and take responsibility to do it. We trust him for his wisdom and his able power for our best welfare. We trust that he cares. He will make provisions for us in every circumstance. He will make a way for us in where seems no way….
What do you worry? Come to meditate this passage again. Let us come to trust God who sovereigns all creation and who cares us. Let us examine our own part what we need to cooperate with him. Most importantly, let us embrace his gift of love-Jesus, because God's power and righteousness are in the person of Jesus.
Prayer suggestions:
Come to God and tell Him about your worries. Ask God to guide your thoughts, to reveal His words to your worries. Check your own responsibilities. Give thanksgiving and praise. Repent and receive forgiveness.
Dear Jesus, I confess that I worry. But I hear your good news. I cast out my worries to you. Guide me this week. I’ll do what I should do and let you take care of other things beyond I know and I see. I trust in your goodness for me. Amen
Benedictions:
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Prayer Request
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