Prayer:
Great God, sustain and uphold
those who do ministry in Your name.
Give strength and love to those congregations who are seeking a new
minister. In gratitude we thank You for
those ministers who are Interim Moderators and help congregations into a new
journey in Your love. Uphold them in
their work and times of prayer. This we
ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Read Acts 10:
1 – 8
Go
and send men. In
Caesarea there was a Centurion from the Italian Regiment called Cornelius. He and his family were devout and
God-fearing. He gave generously to those
in need and prayed to God regularly.
Here is a Gentile who has heard the Word of God and has believed. The Book of Acts of the Apostles does not say
how Cornelius first came to
believe, but he obviously heard the Word
of God and was changed.
As Cornelius was in prayer, God spoke to him in a vision. An angel of the Lord came to Cornelius and
said God had heard his prayers and saw his gifts to the poor. Cornelius was to send for a man named Simon
who is called Peter.
Did Cornelius scoff at this vision? Nope,
not at all. Right away he called
two of his servants and one of his soldiers who was a devote man and sent them
to Joppa.
Without question,
Cornelius did what God had asked him to do. And how did Cornelius hear the voice of
God? Through his prayers and his gifts
to the poor.
Do we take time and make time to listen to the voice
of God today? Listening takes
practice. It is easy to say prayers and
then spend a couple of seconds in silence.
But the listening that is needed is silent listening for minutes instead
of seconds. During those minutes, we need to keep our minds clear of random
thoughts and activities. This is
difficult but through constant practice and work, listening will happen.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, hear our prayers
today as we lift up to You in prayer all Sessions and Ministers as they make
decisions for Your Church. Be with them
and strength them in every good word and work.
This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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