As members of Christ’s body, the Church, we rise to pray together as one. We invite you to use this guide in your daily devotional time.

 

 

 

One bread, one body, one lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless. And we, though many through the earth. We are one body in this one Lord. Many the gifts, many the works, one in the Lord of all.

 

Father, what are you seeking to accomplish in and through me in order to fulfill your will for my life and for your Church at Bethlehem UMC?

 

Holy Father, help me to discern and live your will.

 

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will hear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

 

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

 

The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.