Day 34

Read Ephesians 6:10-19.

1.  In verse 11, Paul’s motivation for “being strong in the Lord” is so that you can “take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” In your life today, how do you see Satan plotting and scheming against you? Will you be able to overcome his attacks on your own?

2.  The Catechism teaches that we are to pray, “Lead us not into temptation” because “by ourselves we are too weak to hold our own even for a moment.” Do you feel like there is a danger that you will “go down to defeat in this spiritual struggle?” (cf. Q&A 127) What would prevent that from happening?

3.  Jesus Himself knew the dangers of temptation. (cf. Luke 4:1-13) What images of God do you suppose came to His mind as He prayed, “Lead me not into temptation but deliver me from the evil one.”?

4.  Review the armor of God (truth, righteousness, the Gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God). Are there pieces of your armor that are weak or missing? What do you need to do to “put on the full armor of God?”

Before you go to sleep tonight, acknowledge your weaknesses before God and your need of Him. Cry out to Him as a mighty warrior who fights on your behalf and a strong tower in which you can hide yourself. Ask Him to empty you of self-reliance and to teach you to earnestly seek His strength so that you may eventually “win the complete victory.” (Q&A 127)

It Has Begun

As we close out our pursuit of a richer prayer life that develops our relationship with God, remember that the degree to which He reveals Himself to us is the degree to which He reveals Himself through us. May we long to see Him more completely until the day we see Him face to face.

Heidelberg Catechism Q & A 128

Q. What does your conclusion to this prayer mean?

A. “For yours is the kingdom
and the power
and the glory forever” means,

We have made all these requests of you
because, as our all-powerful king,
you not only want to,
but are able to give us all that is good;^1
and because your holy name,
and not we ourselves,
should receive all the praise, forever.^2

^1 Rom.10:11-13; 2 Pet. 2:9
^2 Ps. 115:1; John14:13

 Heidelberg Catechism Q & A 129

Q. What does that little word “Amen” express?

A. “Amen” means,

This is sure to be!

It is even more sure
that God listens to my prayer,
than that I really desire
what I pray for.^1

^1 Isa. 65:24; 2 Cor. 1:20; 2 Tim. 2:13

Day 33

Read Matthew 18:21-35.

1.  Jesus could have answered Peter’s question much more succinctly by asking, “How many times would you like me to forgive you?” For us, to forgive others 7 times sounds generous. But to be forgiven “only” seven times seems stingy. What stands in the way of us having a more forgiving attitude? Why wasn’t the unmerciful servant more merciful?

2.  How does the unmerciful servant’s fate change after he displays his greed and ingratitude? How does the master feel about him? When you harbor resentment in your heart toward a friend or family member, do you know that you are making God angry? Is that really something you want to do?

3.  Make a list of the people who “owe” you something (that is, they need to be forgiven by you). What would it mean for you to be merciful to them? What would that look like? Would they know that their “debt” had been forgiven? How?

4.  Who are you willing to forgive today as you pray, “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.”

Before you go to sleep tonight, start by humbling yourself before God. Acknowledge that you are far more willing to receive forgiveness from Him than you are to offer it to others. Ask Him to purify your heart so that you become as merciful to others as He is to you.

Day 32

Read Matthew 6:25-34.

1.  What sorts of things are you most likely to worry about? Is there any concern that gives you indigestion during the day and/or insomnia at night?

2.  Jesus teaches that the pagans run after “all these things” (i.e., food, drink and clothing). He then challenges us to “chase after” God’s kingdom and His righteousness instead. What do you tend to worry about more: matters of your physical life or matters of your spiritual life? Why? Where do you tend to put more energy?

3.  Jesus teaches us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” yet He also says, “…your heavenly Father knows that you need [food, drink and clothing]. Why does He teach us to pray for these things, then? Does thanking Him for what He has provided accomplish the same thing?

4.  During the day today (or tomorrow if you do your devotions at night), take the following words of Jesus literally: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

Before you go to sleep tonight, take a look around (figuratively) your house and life. What do you have to be thankful for that you don’t normally thank God for? Spend some time reflecting on what you learned while bird watching, then come to your heavenly Father in confidence that He knows what you need.

Day 31

Read Revelation 21.

1.  What part of the New Jerusalem (i.e., heaven) is most appealing to you? Why? What does that reveal about what you are longing for most and what you are most ready to be done with?

2.  Imagine Jesus praying this prayer. He spent forever in heaven and had seen thekingdomofGodfirst hand. Now He’s teaching His disciples to pray for it to come to earth. What sorts of emotions would He feel as He taught them to pray, “Thy kingdom come?”

3.  When you think of Jesus praying this prayer, what part of the “kingdom to come” do you think He longs to see most “on earth as it is in heaven”? Why?

4.  The Israelites had a tabernacle (tent), then a temple where God dwelled. As Christians, we have now become the temple. In heaven, God the Father and the Son are the temple. What is happening in this transition from earth to heaven? What does it mean for us?

5.  What needs to happen for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done in your life today? In your family?

Before you go to sleep tonight, remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return; you are mortal. Come into the presence of “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” and ask Him to fill you with a thirst for Himself and then to quench that thirst with Himself.

Day 30

Read Psalm 145.

1.  Reread verse 3. Close your eyes and try to come up with an image that symbolizes God’s greatness. Is it a mountain? An ocean? Remind yourself that what you imagine is only a drop in the bucket, for you cannot fathom how great God is.

2.  Verse 7 speaks of God’s “abundant goodness.” What evidence can you give of God’s goodness today? Spend a few minutes digging deeper (try to fathom a little more of His greatness and goodness). Don’t limit yourself to His goodness to you.

3.  Verse 8 draws us back to God’s self-proclaimed name again. To be compassionate is “to suffer with another.” Often, that shared feeling leads to action on the part of the compassionate one. Do you see God suffering with you when you are going through hard times? What does that mean to you?

4.  Verse 13 speaks of God’s faithfulness to all of His promises and His love for all creation. How confident are you that God will carry through on His promises for you? What promises do you most need to lean on today?

Before you go to sleep tonight, remember that names describe a person’s character. As you’ve reflected on God’s character through Psalm 145, what is the one part that you most want to “hallow” or treat as holy right now? Present yourself to this God and humble yourself before Him.

Day 29

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God!

And that is what we are!                                             1 John 3:1

Read Galatians 4:1-7.

1.  “Guardians and trustees” are those who teach us the “basic principles” (i.e., the ABCs) of the faith. Who taught you when you were first coming to faith in Jesus Christ? How did they teach you to think and to live?

2.  In time, the Spirit of God takes over for the earthly mentors and teachers. He redeems us from the law and gives us the full rights of sonship. What do you suppose this change is that Paul is describing? Have you gone through spiritual puberty? When? How did it happen? What changed for you in how you followed Jesus Christ? (You may want to read Romans 8:1-17.)

3.  Since you are a child of God, you are also an heir. What have you inherited from God? (Another way to look at this is, “What has Jesus inherited from God through His death and resurrection?” You are, after all, a co-heir with Him.) How are you “spending your inheritance” today?

Before you go to sleep tonight, start by reading 1 John 3:1 (top of the page) to set the stage for your celebration of what our Father God is doing in you. Notice where you are spiritually mature and spiritually immature and bring it before Him. Ask Him to continue the good work that He has begun in you.