Prayer Emphasis Week: CONFESSION

Dailey Devotional October 26, 2020

Song for Reflection - “I’m Sorry” Toby Mac - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUYClC6vqKk

“What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22).

As we embark on our week of prayer emphasis it is important for us to put our hearts right before God. Today, I’d like to encourage all of us to follow the example of David who God declared was a ‘man after His own heart.’ David was no saint, but he was quick to humble himself when he was in error. The Bible is clear–God prefers a heart submitted to Him than one that simply knows how to put on a good show. Our faith in Jesus should not simply result in changed behaviour, but should also transform our hearts.

No one is perfect, so pretending to have it all together before our Heavenly Father makes no sense whatsoever. He already knows our every action, word and thought...before it happens. For all of David’s foibles, we should take a page from his life. The Book of Psalms, many of which David composed, were prayers; many focus on praising God for His greatness, many are a cry for help and rescue from his enemies, but many are the times when David’s psalms also contain prayers of confession and repentance. David knew he wasn’t perfect. He knew everything he had achieved should be credited to God. He knew that his relationship with God was his greatest treasure...undeserved, unearned, yet freely given. He didn’t presume upon God and he was quick to acknowledge when he was at fault.

As we enter into this week of prayer emphasis and focus on “Finding Our Way Through Prayer,” it is important that we follow David’s example of confessing and repenting of those things in our lives that displease God. Today, let’s ‘clear the air’ between us and God. God has promised to forgive the person who repents of wrong actions, words and thoughts. His forgiveness, made possible through the work of Jesus on the cross, declares us ‘righteousness’ or ‘made right in God’s eyes.’ God’s Word also tells us that “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16b). If we want to have God provide answers to our prayers, we must first seek forgiveness...for without Jesus’ righteousness that is applied to those who seek His forgiveness, the Bible tells us that “there is no one who is righteous–not even one” (Romans 3:10)! Forgiveness is only a prayer a way...and our willingness to humble ourselves is the key.
~ Pastor Jane
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Make the most of your time during our week of prayer emphasis!
Prayerful Fast: Choose a meal or activity to fast from in this coming week to set aside more time to spend with God each day. A shift in our focus often requires us to forego set routines in order to make space in our day.
Verse: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27
Theme Song: “Spirit Lead Me” Michael Ketterer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABWnLjXer10