Prayer Practice
Breath Prayer – Take 2-3
minutes today to pray a simple breath prayer. Get somewhere quiet and relaxing.
Breathe in deeply, and then breathe out fully. As you breathe in, ask God to
fill you with His presence, grace, love, peace, etc. Consider using the list of
spiritual fruit in Galatians 5:22-23. As you breathe out, offer to God the
things you need Him to take from you – sin, doubt, shame, anxiety, fear, etc.
Pray this way for just a few minutes, trusting God to work, and then begin
reading today’s Scripture.
DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Rewind, Pause, and Fast Forward
by Mary McGinnis
If you have been reading along with us in this “Daily Worship” blog, you know that we just finished the book of Luke.
Even if this is your first time reading this blog, you might be wondering, “Why are you talking about the Birth of Jesus on February 20th? It feels like we have hit the rewind button today as we reread the Christmas story.
I really “love” my rewind button. Whether it is when I am watching a movie or listening to an audio book. Sometimes I feel like I need to rewind, because I want to capture something I missed, or replay a scene that might bring new light to something that happens later in a story line. For me, sometimes having heard the end of the story, or the next chapter, rewinding to an earlier episode or chapter reveals something new. I discover a new perspective, a nuance I had not noticed before, or a new understanding of how the whole story comes together.
This is what struck me today, as we hit “rewind” on the story of God’s grace unfolded in the look of Luke.
“But when [in God’s plan] the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman. . .” Galatians 4:4a AMP
“He (Jesus) was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.” 1 Peter 1:20
God knew from before the world began, that He would send Jesus to this earth to be born, to live and to die for us! He saw the whole picture, from start to finish, and He revealed it one segment at a time. None of it was a surprise to Him.
This gave me cause to pause. Press the “pause” button on these thoughts today. Ponder on how God’s grace for YOU was so rich, that He chose to plan it long before time began.
He is still unfolding His plans for us even now in this season of life, February 20, 2021. Even when things seem chaotic and life is hard. Nothing is a surprise to Him. In His divine mercy and love, He holds us in His hands when we cling to Jesus.
This is not the end of the story. When you become discouraged and weary, allow your mind to fast forward to the end of the story.
He will come again! Later in Luke, he writes, “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
From the depths of your heart today, inhale and pray, “Even so come,” and exhale, “Lord Jesus Come!”
