Week 2 - THEME: Cultivating rhythms of daily being with God and Sabbath Rest
Scripture: Song of Songs 2:10; Mark 6:31
14th April - 20th April
Jesus’ desire for his disciples is to come be with Him and to rest in Him.
Tuesday 14th April
This scripture shows us there are different types of the heart condition. The seed of the God’s word is continually sown either by reading or hearing. How am I receiving it?
Prayer:
Thank you for the gift of the seed of your word- they are life giving. Forgive me when I have missed or misused your seed. Help me to cultivate a listening tender heart to your presence.
Scripture:
Luke 8:11-15 … The seed is the Word of God and those by the wayside are those who hear, then the devil comes and takes the word from their hearts lest they should believe and be saved…
Wednesday 15th April
The idea of work and rest started in the heart of a loving Father – God. He wants a people who would fully trust and obey Him within the boundaries He set for us.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to be fully surrendered to your instructions even when they don’t make sense to me. Help me to turn my whole attention to you as I rest in the knowledge of your love.
Scripture: -
Genesis 2:9b, 15-17 In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Lord took man and put him in the garden to work and to care for it… but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil… you will surely die.
Thursday 16th April
Some of us love the outward sensation of the dramatic e.g. wind, fire, and water. God sometimes uses these to get our attention, but he also is in the gentile whisper of His voice.
Prayer:
Teach us how to cultivate a restful attitude in your presence so we can hear your gentle whisper like Elijah did.
Scripture:
1 King 19:11-12 The Lord said, Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by… And after the fire, came a gentle whisper.
Friday 17th April
Prayer:
O Lord, my desire and longing is to remain in you. Help me not to be too busy with the demands of living here on earth that I spend little or no time abiding in you. Let me know the joy of being rooted in you.
Scripture:
John 15:4-6 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine……. I am the vine.
Saturday 18th April
Prayer:
Lord, as the psalmist says teach my heart to be still and wait patiently for your timing.
Scripture:
Psalm 46:1-3, 10 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble… I will be exalted in the earth.
Sunday 19th April
Jesus describes the kingdom using two types of work (planting and baking) and both involves timing, waiting, or resting.
Prayer:
Help me to live from a place of rest and trust in you.
Scripture:
Matthew 13:31 -33 … “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which is planted in his field…. The kingdom is like yeast.
Monday 20th April
Keeping the Sabbath is a commandment from God (Ex 20: 10). Jesus says we show our love for him by obeying his words… Keeping the Sabbath at the end of each working day and week is profitable to our walk and spiritual maturity.
Prayer:
Show me how I can be intentional in giving you a whole 24hours weekly or a few minutes daily morning & evening?
Scripture:
Mark 2:23-28 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples walked along… the Sabbath was made for man, not man for Sabbath… He is Lord of the Sabbath.