1. Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence
2. Wait for God. Breathe deep for God's peace. Exhale your worries.
Praise and Thanksgiving
1. Think through your day, all the times that made you smile
2. Thank God for all those moments, and for all those people3. Open your heart to praise the Lord
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.” Psalm 16:2
Confession and repentance
1. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in you:
“Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
“Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
2. Through the Holy Spirit, examine yourself for a short silence and then pray:
"Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sin to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gift to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."
"Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sin to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gift to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."
The Word
Matthew 5:13-16
My Listening
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet."
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"
My Listening
With a new job and a lifestyle, we can see through history how salty and bright Jesus' disciples can be.
Jesus reminds Israel of God's salvation plan through this image of salt and light. God had called them to be the salt of the earth, to keep the world from going bad; however, they did not listen and obey, and became salt that had lost its saltiness.
God called Israel to be the light of the world to shine their bright light to the world but they did the opposite thing in bringing darkness to the world because they left the true light, God Himself.
To live out our purpose as God's people, we need to be salty and bright, and lead other people to be salt and light.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Lead us to shine brightly and enhance people's lives like salt. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Reflect on these questions:
1. The first function for salt at that time is to prevent food from going bad. How does that apply to your life? Do you have any recent examples?
2. The second function for salt is to enhance the taste of food. How does that apply to your life? Do you have any recent examples?
Family Corner:
2. The second function for salt is to enhance the taste of food. How does that apply to your life? Do you have any recent examples?
3. Are you in light or in darkness recently? What is the secret to prevent ourselves from going into darkness? How can you bring more light to those people close to you?