Return to Bible Devotional > Scripture Prayer > Mini-Worship
Mini-Worship
August 6-11, 2024
Center yourself (take a few breaths and quiet down)
Enter to the presence of God
Psalm 91:14-15
Those who love me, I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name.
I will be with them in trouble,
I will rescue them and honor them.
Adoration:
O, God of loving kindness. You remind us that the flowers in the wild field may only last for a season, yet you have prepared them to bloom, to shout for joy, and to sing for life with all beauties. You are an amazing God. You truly know our needs ahead of us. We trust that you will meet us in them. Thanks for your provision and protection. Thank you for your understanding beyond measure. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Confession:
Lord, this is an anxious time. Many transitions are taking place as the new school year is around. Many adjustments and challenges are on the way. We confess that we do not like change and challenges. We underestimate this stage of learning in your plan for us. We doubt your provision in this time. Have mercy on us. Please renew our visions, open our minds, and give us strength. Come, to campuses, to many young people. May you walk with them, guide them, lead them, and prepare them for a life of purpose that you plan them to be in. In Jesus’ name.
Scripture reading
Mark 11:1-10
(ESV)11:1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”
Thoughts to share and to ponder:
In this passage, at first glance, there is a glorious scene. There is a popular scene. There is an agreeable scene.
Jesus entered Jerusalem. He had come to fulfill God’s dream for human beings. He was going to bring in heavenly peace. He was going to reveal God’s deepest love. He was going to redeem human sinful hearts.
On the city streets, it was packed with many people. They shouted a dream: the dream of the restoration of the Kingdom of David; the dream about an earthly Savior to rescue people from the rule of a foreign oppressive power; the dream that peace was on the earth.
Here we see that there was a dream for a Savior, but there were two versions of this dream. A few days later, people were tested by the true nature of their enthusiasm for Jesus. They met Jesus with disappointment, anger and violence. The loss of a dream was difficult to take and hard to handle.
In our life journey, we can have the times when we puzzle and struggle between God’s dream and our dreams. Which dream will you follow? Are we street people? Are we Jesus’ followers? Are we willing to risk loss to gain the better dream?Can we perceive that there may be a better dream for us, because our God knows the great and unsearchable things which we do not know and he loves us dearly? Can we reevaluate what our real losses and real gains? Can we think that our loss can be his gain and his gain can heal our loss?
In this ever-changing world, we do experience loss in many ways in many life contexts. God has a way to see and use our losses. Loss could be part of God’s plan for us. In our loss, we can let God’s gain to replace our loss. Let God’s joy wipe away our sadness.
7. Prayer suggestion:
Have you ever experienced the loss of your dream? Were you disappointed? Sad? Confused? Hopeless? Bring all of these things to God. He understands his plan for you. He is able to lead you to walk on an unknown road.
Awesome God, what we know about our future is very little. What we understand of our past is also not that clear. We all experience different degrees and types of losses in our lives. May you lift our eyes toward you. Answer us when we call to your name. Guide us all the way no matter in all ups and downs in our life journey. We trust that you are there for us, not against us. You have a dream bigger and better than mine. I come to you and ask you to walk by me and to lead me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Benedictions
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer Request
Devotional
News
2024-01-3
Free Training Mental Health Initiative for church by Light University
2024-01-3
-info on 2024 Christian Ministry Learning and special grant Opportunities
2024-01-3
-EFC educational workshop
2024-01-3
-Rev.Dr. Samuel Tang Bookroom
2024-01-3
-Church Leadership Podcast
2024-01-3
-free courses at Our Daily Bread Christian University for edifying and serving