Missionary Renegade: The Daily Guide-The Daily Devotional grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Sunday, 3 January 2016 "Prayer Tip"

Sunday, January 3, 2016

The Daily Guide-The Daily Devotional grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Sunday, 3 January 2016 "Prayer Tip"

The Daily Guide-The Daily Devotional grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Sunday, 3 January 2016 "Prayer Tip"

Daily Scripture: Luke 2:41 Every year Yeshua’s parents went to Yerushalayim for the festival of Pesach. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up for the festival, as custom required. 43 But after the festival was over, when his parents returned, Yeshua remained in Yerushalayim. They didn’t realize this; 44 supposing that he was somewhere in the caravan, they spent a whole day on the road before they began searching for him among their relatives and friends. 45 Failing to find him, they returned to Yerushalayim to look for him. 46 On the third day they found him — he was sitting in the Temple court among the rabbis, not only listening to them but questioning what they said; 47 and everyone who heard him was astonished at his insight and his responses. 48 When his parents saw him, they were shocked; and his mother said to him, “Son! Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been terribly worried looking for you!” 49 He said to them, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be concerning myself with my Father’s affairs?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant.

51 So he went with them to Natzeret and was obedient to them. But his mother stored up all these things in her heart.

52 And Yeshua grew both in wisdom and in stature, gaining favor both with other people and with God.

Prayer Tip:
So many world events in 2015 have triggered feelings of fear. One kind of prayer that can be most reassuring in times of fear is praying the Psalms. Praying the Psalms is a lot like praying the Lord's Prayer, in that you use words from Scripture to give voice to your own heart.

Choose a Psalm of comfort (check out more than one translation to find a voice that is meaningful to you at this time)
Find a quiet place, or sit quietly in the midst of the storm if you need to, and just quiet your mind as much as you can
Read the Psalm as a prayer, lifting up the words to God.
If one word or phrase seems to jump out at you, repeat it, or examine it to determine why that word or phrase is particularly meaningful right now
Repeat the Psalm multiple times if that is comforting and reassuring. If you are very fearful, repeat the Psalm until you feel comforted.
Pray out loud! Fear happens in darkness and praying out loud is a great way to bring the light.
Pray together. In some Jewish communities, members of the community form Hevra Tehillim a "Psalm Fellowship," which gathers regularly to study or chant Psalms together. In some places, when an individual is ill, the community divides the 150 psalms among all its members and dedicates the reading of the entire book of Psalms to the cure, healing, strength, comfort and recovery of the one who is ill.

Finish with a Psalm of gratitude or praise and thanksgiving.Some Psalms you can use in times of fear or trouble of any kind: