For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?35It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

Lord God my Father,

Help me to find my place in your kingdom and do your work as you desire. Make me fruitful and carry your word well so it is shared. Open my heart so I know you and share you with others and allow them to hear. Help me find the lost sheep so we can celebrate.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.

“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

 “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”

Lord God my Father,

Keep me quiet and content with what I have and cause me to maintain well all the blessings you lay on me. Keep me from worry and stress but delighted for the opportunity of today. Bless my actions so your desire flows from me and makes a difference, keep me from undue rest. Show me how to allow your inspiration to move me forward.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’6If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.7Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages.

“Martha, Martha,”the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,42but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Lord God my Father,

Show me and allow me to carry and share your Peace as you desire. Keep me from worry or concern for the daily needs. Allow your plan to be revealed and followed so your will is first in my actions.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

“Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42And in that place many believed in Jesus.

Lord God my Father,

You are my creator, protector, sustainer. Without you I am only dirt. Please remove my desire to follow my sin nature and restore me to a powerful servant in your name. Help me to cast off my broken and live confident and peaceful in your protection.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?”

12Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”

Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” 13But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? 42Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?”

 “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

“You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.24I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

“Very truly I tell you,”Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”59At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

Lord God my Father,

Give me that powerful Peace that reveals your way in confidence. Help me to live only your will this day and allow your way to release a strength in Love that removes the limits of my life. You are always with me, help me to hear and obey you over the deceiver. Give me a faith that only represents you. Thank you for your design and closeness that is greater than imagination.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.33Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’34In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Lord God my Father,

Give me a heart filled with your mercy and grace. Keep judgment from my thoughts and allow your Peace to rest on me well. Help me to treat others as you treat me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“ ‘If you can’?”said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

24Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Lord God my Father,

Help me to know you without doubt. Keep me from my worldly beliefs and allow me to know from my spiritual nature that your power is almighty and able to do your will at all times.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

 “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Lord God my Father,

You are order and Peace, help me to see your way and keep you first in my thoughts. With you, all things, things I can’t imagine, are possible. Help me to not limit your power to my understanding, show me how to let go of my understanding so yours can rest on me. Your Glory is my desire.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

“What comes out of a person is what defiles them.21For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder,22adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.23All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

Lord God my Father,

Help me to keep my focus on you first in all my thoughts and protect me from my sin nature, replace my nature with the one you desire me to carry so I may honor you in all situations today.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

“The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’

“This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

Lord God my Father,

Help me to not see the limits of the world but the limit less way of you. You know me and how I struggle, give me wisdom to overcome my way and accept your way as absolute Truth. I believe and I need to trust only in your ability alive in me. Show me how to leave this world behind and live bold and confident in your Peace and Truth. Open my eyes and fill me with your way.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen