August 13

Deuteronomy 8:3

And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

God will satisfy your hunger for Him! We need to be hungry not for physical or tangible food but for the living Word of God. For by this do we truly live and flourish as the church. Jesus said He was the bread of life which is the true food that endures to eternal life. So we can be assured that when we consume the living Word we will be abundantly satisfied. Life pulls all of us in many directions, but the Word never returns void and never fails in us who believe. As we look ahead to the Lord’s Day, pray and know that when we gather and we celebrate the bread from heaven that gives life to the world, we can eat and be satisfied. 

August 12

Mark 3:13-14

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach

This passage from Mark’s gospel teaches us about Jesus’s calling of the disciples to Himself but also speaks to the reality of how He calls all of His children to Himself. He calls those whom He desires. He delights in His children. He chose us to be with Him. He doesn’t need any of us, but has purposed in Himself to share Himself with us, His church. In describing how Jesus desired the apostles, He also models for us what discipleship looks like in the church. We intentionally pursue one another to build one another up in love and training as God builds His church. Pray this day that God would increase the scope of discipleship in our own lives as God arranges His church according to His own purpose and goodness.

August 11

Malachi 3:10

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

A believing heart will invest in the things of God with full trust that He is the giver of all things and we are but stewards of what He actually possesses. This is one of the promises we see over and over again throughout Scripture; we will reap the blessings of faithful sowing. While there is nothing we can achieve in regards to our own salvation, there is much to be said of faithful stewardship within the kingdom. God gets glory in distributing blessings to His children. So let us pray that the house of the Lord be full with the offerings of pure worship and the obedient hearts of His children.

August 10

1 Peter 4:8-11

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Today we read from Peter’s epistle what it looks like to live out our faith among one another. It is good to take time and consider how our day to day lives line up with the Spirit-breathed words in this passage. Is the word of God dwelling in us in such a way that we are compelled to love and serve one another like this? Are we using the gifts and blessings given to us to build up the church? Pray today for the Lord’s kindness to be shown through us and that we would be light to our brothers and sisters in Christ and a light unto the world. 

August 9

Psalm 119:11

I have stored up your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.

As we start the work week our hearts need to be drenched by the word of God! It is important that we spend time meditating on the promises of God, studying His faithfulness, and reminding ourselves of the treasures we have in the Gospel. In the war against the flesh, we must hold fast to truth and remain steadfast and resilient towards the schemes of the enemy. Let us pray that the Lord would make His word dwell in each of us richly and that we would magnify His great name.

August 6

1 Corinthians 10:16-17

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

As we approach the weekend and more specifically the Lord’s Day, let us consider our “participation” in the blood and body of Christ. The blood covers us and reconciles to the Father. It unites us to one another in our adoption as sons and daughters of the Most High. We are also united with Christ and His body that He offered up of His own accord. He was broken so that we may be healed and pardoned. Pray that our worship would be centered on the redeeming work of Christ uniting us both to Himself and one another. 

August 5

Psalm 133

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is

        when brothers dwell in unity! 

It is like the precious oil on the head,

        running down on the beard,

    on the beard of Aaron,

        running down on the collar of his robes! 

It is like the dew of Hermon,

        which falls on the mountains of Zion!

    For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,

        life forevermore.

This Psalm is a description of the ideal and familial condition of the people of God. Our aim as the church is to grow in unity and favor with one another. That we would share both our blessings and our burdens with each other. Like the oil of consecration and the dew of fruitfulness, we pray that our church would be found faithful in our unity and fruitful in our worship. 

August 4

Romans 12:3-5

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

As we see ourselves as the body of Christ, let us strive for humility that is granted to us by the Holy Spirit. We should pray for a holy self-awareness to understand our own deep need for grace. And we should pray for an awareness of our brothers and sisters in Christ in order to best edify and serve them. We are not alone and we are not above. We are all serving at the feet of our Lord.