January 7

Genesis 16:1-18:15, Matthew 6:1-24, Psalm 7:1-17, Proverbs 2:1-5 

Pray: Today as we pray to ask the Holy Spirit to open our mind and heart to understand God’s Word to us, we are aware that Jesus is actually teaching on prayer. God is answering Abram’s prayer in giving him a covenant and later a son. What can God do for you today? What does God want to do through you? Pray a bold prayer.

Read: As you read look for the ways in which God fulfills His promises and begins a new mark or sacred observance which is later known as circumcision.

Edify: There is division in the house of Abram with the birth of Ishmael, yet God will fulfill His promise in changing Abram’s name to Abraham and promising that he will have a son at the age of 100 and Sarah at the age of 90. Though this is hard to believe, God’s response is strong, “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” What need exists in your life and you are hesitant to ask God because you believe it is too far gone, not possible, or would take supernatural intervention? How big is your God?

Practice: Jesus explains to us how to pray. The Lord’s Prayer has three components about God 1) to honor His name, 2) His Kingdom come in you and me, 3) His will be done as we align our lives up with His will. There are also three components which speak to our involvement 1) giving us daily bread, 2) forgiving us as we forgive others, 3) and asking for deliverance from temptation from the enemy. Will you begin today by practicing aligning your will with God’s will? Who do you need to forgive? What temptations do you keep yielding to? Ask God for deliverance.