READ

Ezra 7-8

Psalm 78

WEEKEND REFLECTION

We have read the book of Ezra this week, including all six of the times that the author said, “…for the hand of the Lord his God was on him (Ezra 7:6d)” Throughout the book, we see God at work, stirring and acting for the good of his people. He even moves the hearts of wicked kings to accomplish his purposes.  

This book records a wonderful time of spiritual renewal and even revival. A revival is not an event that is planned and conducted by people or organizations (not even churches!). As we can see in Ezra, it is a work of God! It is God who works, in his timing and in his way, to bring about revival in the hearts of his people. 

The people sing in response, “[God] is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” (Ezra 3:11) 

Let’s pray for revival; for a genuine work of God turning hearts everywhere to Christ by faith. Perhaps we will see the hand of the Lord on us (and others) as we pray for this; for his glory and our good! 

PRAY

For the month of September in our Daily Worship we will be praying through our Five Loves during the week and our Mission and Vision statements on the weekend.  

To be a vibrant, healthy family of Christ-like believers proclaiming a cross-centered gospel, living cross-centered lives. 

By "cross-centered" we mean that we strive to keep the truth of the gospel central in all that we do. It is central to what we proclaim, (our doctrine), and it is central to how we live, (our culture). As believers who have been adopted into God’s family through Jesus Christ, we aspire to be a church that consistently proclaims the gospel that has saved us and consistently lives in a manner that reflects our love for Christ, one another, and our neighbors. 

• Pray that God would keep you and our church always rooted and grounded in God’s word. 

• Pray that God would help you and our church to live in way that is consistent with what we believe. 

• Ask God to make us a “vibrant, healthy family of Christ-like believers” who love one another. 

• Pray for God to grow our church spiritually by his word and his Spirit. 

SING

How Great - Sovereign Grace Music