O Lord, our Lord, Your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of Your strength, silencing Your enemies and all who oppose You. When I look at the night sky and see the work of Your fingers—the moon and the stars You set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them? Yet you made them only a little than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything You made, putting all things under their authority—the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. O Lord, our Lord, Your majestic name fills the earth! [Psalm 8, NLT]
Holy Spirit Your word says, “Jesus said to him, ‘ No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back at things is fit for the kingdom of God.’” “So will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. On that day let him who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away. And likewise, let him who is in the field not return to the things behind. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” [Luke 9:62, Luke 17:30-33, MEV] Teach me to not be caught longing or lingering on what is behind me and to move forward. Help me not to desire the sin, the enticement, or the complacency of what was in my past, and help me to step forward in fulfilling the purpose I was made for. Help me to remember the markers that became the foundation of my faith. Help me to remember how and why I have to rely on You but don’t let me think for a minute life would be better if I went back to being a slave to sin just like it would not have been better for the children of Israel to go back and be slaves again for the Egyptians.
Holy Spirit I lift up the Millington Church of God mission team that is in the Dominican Republic serving and working to make life a little better for the 11 days they are there to serve. Give them strength and wisdom to do the tasks assigned to them so that they can accomplish much in the little time they are there. Help the ones who are helping with the healing of people as well as the ones building. Encourage their hearts, embolden their spirits with Your Spirit, and let them shine as bright as the stars on a dark night. Most of all, let the demonstrate love so that all know they are Yours. Keep them healthy and safe until they return and change their hearts as they serve and change the hearts of those they serve.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Holy Spirit help us bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances we may have against one another. Teach us to forgive as the Lord forgave us. And over these virtues help us to put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since as members of one body we are called to peace. Let us be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly as we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in our hearts to God. And whatever we do, whether in word or deed, help us to do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Amen. Colossians 3:12-17