Thursday - The Letter of James (Hebrews 13:5-6)
Welcome to Daily Prayer. This week we've been exploring James' prophetic warning against greed and
justice and the foolishness of storing up earthly wealth. Today we turn to Hebrews 13 where we're
reminded that contentment and freedom from the love of money comes through confidence in God's
presence and provision.
As we begin our time together, let's take a few deep breaths. and rest in the promise that the Lord
will never leave us or forsake us.
Thank you.
Thank you that you will never leave us or turn your back on us.
You have adopted us as your own. You've guaranteed our entrance into the eternal city.
We surrender all our worries to you today.
Thank you for the truth-filled words of the missionary Jim Elliott, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
Thank you for the words of the Apostle Paul, "To live is Christ and to die is gain."
We trust your promises, Lord.
We open our hearts to you and say yes to the wonder and wisdom of your Word:
A Scripture reading from Hebrews 13:5-6:
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have. Because God has
said, never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you.
So we say with confidence, the Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
A prayer of adoration:
Holy God, our help and our shield.
Emmanuel, God with us. You humbled yourself in sacrifice greatly to draw near to us.
We adore you.
We rejoice that there's not a moment that we're forsaken by you. Nothing can separate us from your
love.
Even in the valley of the shadow of death, you are with us.
We can rejoice in every season because there's never a time that we are without your grace.
There is no earthly or spiritual power that can keep us from you.
You are our Maker, our Sustainer, our Helper.
Lord Jesus, you are our Treasure and the Source and Satisfier of all that we truly need.
We are amazed and we worship you for preserving our lives in such a way that not a hair can fall
from our heads apart from your care.
We worship you and entrust ourselves to you.
A prayer of confession:
Father, you call us to keep ourselves free from the love of money.
Your Word warns us that money has the potential to enslave us, forgive us,
We have not been on guard.
Forgive us for our lack of contentment.
Forgive us, Lord, for serving money instead of serving you.
We have been drawn away and deceived about what will give us life.
Lord, deliver us from the lie.
We renounce every vow we've made to serve our ambitions. We break off every agreement we've made
and we declare that we belong to you. We will have no other Lord but you.
No one and no thing is worthy of our hearts or our lives.
We join with James and declare, we are servants of God the Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A prayer of intercession:
Our Father, keep lies far from us. Keep fear and false hope far from us.
Good Shepherd, deliver us from the evil one.
For any in our midst, in our community who are in the midst of trouble, be the great deliverer.
Oh Lord, draw near to those who grieve.
Protect those who are being harassed and attacked.
We look to you for life, Lord.
Moment of reflection:
Lord, is there any way that I've fed or fueled discontentment in my heart or allowed fear to
motivate my decisions with money?
Would you show us, Lord?
Lord, we turn from any other hope and recommit our hearts and resources. for your kingdom purposes.
Let's listen to the passage again:
And now our weekly memory verse. to remind ourselves of what matters to the Lord:
James 1:27
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress
and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
A closing prayer:
I love your promises, Lord.
Your word has given me so much strength and hope.
Thank you for your presence and provision.
Today I say again, you are my strength and my help. I will not be afraid.
You are my hope.
In the name of Jesus,
amen.