Tuesday, March 23 – Day 35

Seeking His Peace Among All Peoples

Seek God…for Christ to restore relationships.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.

The prayer today asks Christ to restore broken relationships. We have little understanding of the importance of relationships. God has placed each of us in a family, the perfect family, in accordance with His perfect plan. When we allow family relationships to deteriorate, either through pride, or greed, or just inattention, we become an obstacle to God's perfect plan.

Similarly, God has placed us in our church, our community, our school, and our jobs. Each is built on personal, one-on-one relationship. Trusting relationships are a prerequisite for successfully spreading the Gospel.

Jesus modeled the perfect relationship, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; the power of perfect unity. In fact, John 17:3 defines eternal life as the ultimate relationship: This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Father, we pray that you heal our broken relationships, so that you may be glorified.

Mike Pearson

New Covenant Bible, Serve The City staff

Sunday, February 28 – Day 12

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God….for the light of the gospel to shine.

I didn’t think I needed the light. I thought I could make it on my own…

It was a Friday night. We had just recently moved to Maquoketa from Ohio and were still getting settled in the parsonage. The bathroom drain was clogged, so I went down in the basement to get the plunger. After climbing down the stairs, I reached around for the string in order to turn on the light, but with no success. Oh well. I didn’t need the light.

I could easily make it across the room in the dark… Before I knew it, I was on the ground, writhing in pain. I ended up with two broken elbows that still bother me twenty years later.

The people who walk in darkness… are a lot like I was; thinking I did not need the light, thinking I could make it on my own. The problem is, in the darkness we are all headed for disaster. Often though, when in darkness we do not even realize the problem.

Christ calls us to be the light of the world. He commands us not to hide our light, but to let our light shine so that those living in darkness might come to the Light of the world. After breaking both elbows, I could not do anything for myself. If I was going to eat, someone had to feed me. If I was going to dress, someone had to dress me. If I was going to the restroom, someone had to take me. If those walking in darkness are ever going to come to the Light, someone – You and Me – must take them.

Today, pray for the Light of the gospel to shine. Pray for those living in darkness. Pray for God to let YOUR light so shine before others that they might come to the Light through you.

Shine, Jesus, shine, Fill this land with the Father's glory;
Blaze, Spirit, blaze; Set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow, Flood the nations with grace and mercy.
Send forth Your word, Lord, and let there be light.

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Jim Goodrich
The Church On Northland