Friday, October 18
Day 5
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. – Acts 17:24-26
God is Sovereign
If you are like me, you need to be continually reminded that God is sovereign and that He is aware of every detail of what is happening in this world. He knows how crazy everything seems to be in our culture. Yet as we read through scripture, we find God has a plan, and His will cannot be thwarted by human endeavors. We can find peace and assurance in the fact that God is eternal, He is perfect, and He loves us enough to send His one and only son to die for our sins. The promise of eternal life with a God who is holy and righteous and full of grace and mercy can allow us to not be consumed by the worries of this world.
We must remember we live in a broken, sin-filled world that needs salvation, and until God’s plans have been fulfilled, this world will continue to struggle with the effects of sin. We can choose to focus on God’s plans and how we can take part in His efforts to restore and redeem those who are lost. It is hard to grasp, but in relation to all of eternity, our time here is but a “wisp of vapor”. When we shift our focus to that which lasts forever, we see God in His sovereignty, in His goodness, and in His love for us. Please join me today in praising God for who He is!
Prayer:
Lord, we thank you and praise you for who you are, for your holiness, your grace and mercy and your love! Thank you for what you have done, for what you continue to do, and for what you have promised! Lord, help us to remember that you are in control and that we do not need to worry about our future. Lord, forgive us when we allow this world to take our eyes off you and to forget what really matters. Open our eyes, Lord, to those around us who need to know you as Lord and Savior and help us to allow your Spirit to lead us! We pray these things in the holy and precious name of Jesus Christ.
Pray For Our Church: Take some time to pray for Pathway today—the people who make up our church, the staff, the ministries, etc. Ask God to work in and through us.
Pray For Our City: Pray for the people of our community and ask God to be at work in our hometown.
Pray For Our Nation: Pray for our nation—its people and its leaders. Boldly and specifically make your requests, then submit those desires to God’s will. Express your trust in Him.
Reflect:
- How have you seen God’s faithfulness and his promises lived out today?
- Write 2-3 points of gratitude and thank Jesus for these things.
- Spend time praising God for who he is, what he has done, where he is at work, and what he has promised.
By Mark Grime
