21 Days of Prayer and Fasting: Day 4, John 4 and Psalm 4
Read: John 4, Psalm 4,
Who: Who wrote this book? Who did they write it to? What was their reason for writing?
What: What does this passage say about God, me, and my relationship with Him?
Don’t sin by letting anger control you.
Think about it overnight and remain silent. Interlude
5 Offer sacrifices in the right spirit,
and trust the Lord. Psalm 4:4-5 (NLT)
This passage reminds me to put every aspect of my life into God’s hands. I want to respond in the moment, and sometimes I stop myself. However, I then spend my nights up worrying, replaying conversations, or thinking of possible future scenarios. I’ve got the thinking about it overnight part down. The part I often leave out is the offering sacrifices in the right spirit and trusting the Lord.
We are often driven to respond to God solely in our emotion, but this passage prompts us to not allow our emotion to take control, but rather to make a choice to come before God in the right spirit and in obedience and trust.
Why: Why is this truth important?
This truth is important because God gives us the opportunity to live an abundant life, but we often get bogged down in hurt feelings, the worries of each day, or the red hot anger of the moment. We miss out on the joy that comes in accepting his grace and finding our peace in him.
Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”
Let your face smile on us, Lord.
7 You have given me greater joy
than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. Psalm 4:6-8 (NLT)
How: How would my life/character/perspective be different if I truly believed this truth?
Living this truth out would mean reacting with patience, choosing obedience, and trusting the one who is ultimately in control.
I would experience greater peace if I gave all my frustrations, anxieties, and fears to God and walked in complete trust.
Prayer:
God, help me to give every part of my life to you. I know that true joy and peace come from you rather than the circumstances of each day. Help me to walk in obedience and to trust you. Thank you for your great love for me. You are an amazing God, and it is an honor to live my life for you.
Amen.