Presence

Dear Lord, You have called me by my name.
You have carved me in the palm of Your hand.
May I grow in trust and never give in to despair.

Freedom

Lord, You created me to live in freedom. May Your Holy Spirit guide me to follow You freely. Instil in my heart a desire to know and love You more each day.

Consciousness

Lord, You gave me the night to rest in sleep.
In my waking hours may I not forget Your goodness to me.
Guide me to share Your blessings with others.

The Word of God

³⁸After leaving the synagogue he entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. ³⁹Then he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them.

⁴⁰As the sun was setting, all those caring for any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them. ⁴¹Moreover, demons also came out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah.^,

⁴²At daybreak he departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds began looking for him, and when they reached him they tried to keep him from leaving them. ⁴³But he said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.” ⁴⁴So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea.^,

Inspiration

It’s fascinating how often individuals bring their sick, damaged friends to Jesus and act as intermediaries for them. They plead, not on their own behalf, but for others less forceful than themselves. Lord, we come to you with either our own or our friends’ sickness and ask you to lay your healing hands on us.

Conversation

Lord, help me to become quiet and calm enough to hear Your still, small voice. Help me to trust what I hear. Your Word brings comfort, consolation and encouragement. Everything else I let go of.

Conclusion

I thank God for His gift of love
as I go forth with joy and hope
to serve His people.

Amen