Quiet Walk

[Judy Harder]

September 4

Acts 8

The stoning of Stephen initiates a wave of persecution, led by Saul.

INSIGHT

As the Jewish believers flee Jerusalem, Philip comes upon an Ethiopian dignitary who is struggling to understand the Scriptures. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asks. "How can I, unless someone guides me?" is the reply (vv. 30-31). We are God's method to reach the world for Christ. The Lord could have resorted to skywriting, sending personal visions to all people, or sending angels. Instead, He chose men and women to reach other men and women. Our responsibility is simple: to manifest the character of Christ and proclaim His name wherever we go. The work is God´s, and He will use you if you will let Him.

PRAYER

Because the Lord led someone to give His message of salvation to you, praise Him with this psalm:
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
While I live I will praise the Lord;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. . . .
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God . . .
The Lord shall reign forever
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 146:1-2, 5, 10).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
There is not a just man on earth who does good
And does not sin. (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
"In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your
strength." (Isaiah 30:15)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

Greater faithfulness with your time and resources
The president and national leaders
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24) 

[Judy Harder]

September 5

Acts 9

On his way to Damascus, Saul has a divine revelation of Jesus and is converted.

INSIGHT

From God's perspective, the relationship between Christ and the church is a very close and dear one. Jesus is the Son of God; the church is His bride. To harm the church is to harm Christ. Though Paul never laid a hand on Him, Jesus spoke from heaven, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" (v. 4). Just as Paul did, we must strive to gain God's perspective on who we are. We are His bride, His chosen one, the delight of His life. When we see ourselves as He sees us, we can be more successful at living as we should.

PRAYER

Offer your praise to the Lord because He turns even the difficult things into good:
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:1-6)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Surely He has borne our grief
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:4-5)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

The renewing of your mind
The needs of your extended family
Your activities for the day
Close with the following prayer:
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
(Psalm 23:6) 

[Judy Harder]

 

   



Quiet Walk
     
September 6

Acts 13

Saul adopts a Christian name, Paul, and travels to Galatia with the message of the Gospel.

INSIGHT

Chapter 13 records a remarkable fulfillment of prophecy that is easily missed. In chapter 1, Jesus commissions the disciples to be witnesses for Him and proclaims that they will take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Now the Holy Spirit sets Paul and Barnabas apart to begin traveling to the ends of the earth, taking the message with them. You and I can extend that prophetic fulfillment, too, as we accept the Great Commission as our personal commission and help to take the message of salvation to the ends of the world.

PRAYER

Offer the following psalm of praise to the Lord for allowing you to hear the message of salvation:
Let my mouth be filled with Your praise
And with Your glory all the day. . .
I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.
My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And Your salvation all the day,
For I do not know their limits.
I will go in the strength of the Lord God;
I will make mention of Your righteousness,
of Yours only. (Psalm 71:8, 14-16)

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. (Jeremiah 33:

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Then pray this affirmation to the Lord:
The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
(John 4:23-24)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

The leading of the Lord in your life
Opportunities for personal evangelism
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, close with this prayer to the Lord:
Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints!
For the Lord preserves the faithful,
And fully repays the proud person.
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord.
(Psalm 31:23-24) 

[Judy Harder]

September 7

Acts 15

Paul begins his second missionary journey.

INSIGHT

Inherent within man is a tendency to want to work his way to heaven. Accepting a gift with gratitude does not seem to be enough; human beings want to do something to earn it. While Paul and Barnabas are at Antioch, some men come down from Judea and teach: "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved" (v. 1). This issue grows into a major debate involving the leaders in Jerusalem, but in the final analysis, Peter's argument wins out: "Why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" (v. 10). The council in Jerusalem then sends a letter to the Gentile churches encouraging their faith and assuring them that they are not under bondage.

PRAYER

Since none of us could earn it, praise the Lord that salvation is a gift:
Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. . . .
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite. . . .
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praises on the harp to our God . . .
The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy. . . .
He has not dealt thus with any nation;
And as for His judgments, they have not known them.
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 147:1, 5, 7, 11, 20)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions,
And like a cloud, your sins.
Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
(Isaiah 44:22).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
(John 17:3)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

Unity in the body of Christ
Greater commitment to the Lord
Your activities for the day
Close with this prayer to the Lord:
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,
That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!
(Psalm 90:14) 

[Judy Harder]

September 8

Acts 16

Paul travels to Macedonia, Achaia, and Greece, carrying the Gospel.

INSIGHT

During World War II, many soldiers "got religion" while in their foxholes under enemy fire. Because many of those "foxhole conversions" were not genuine, some people become skeptical of anyone who professes Christianity under stressful circumstances. Yet there are many, including the Philippian jailer, who will testify that some "foxhole conversions" are genuine. Be sensitive to the Lord when you are under stress. He may use that very situation to help you get your life into perspective.

PRAYER

Praise God for the circumstances that surrounded your conversion:
Your word is very pure;
Therefore Your servant loves it.
I am small and despised,
Yet I do not forget Your precepts.
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth.
Trouble and anguish have overtaken me,
Yet Your commandments are my delights.
The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting;
Give me understanding, and I shall live.
(Psalm 119:140-144)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity
And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?
He does not retain His anger forever,
Because He delights in mercy.
He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities.
You will cast all our sins
Into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18-19)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
"This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (Jeremiah 31:33).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

A compassionate heart
The leaders of your church
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Those who fear You will be glad when they see me,
Because I have hoped in Your word. (Psalm 119:74) 

[Judy Harder]

September 9

Acts 17

As Paul continues his journey, he establishes churches.

INSIGHT

It is often necessary to establish common ground with others in order to win an audience for the Gospel. Paul uses a point of common ground when he begins talking to the people of Athens about the idol bearing the inscription: "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD"(17:23). Catching their interest, Paul develops his argument to present to them the living Christ (vv. 30-31). This skillful message is used by the Holy Spirit to bring men and women to Jesus Christ.

PRAYER

Praise God that He has revealed Himself to you:
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
May the Lord rejoice in His works.
He looks on the earth, and it trembles;
He touches the hills, and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the Lord.
May sinners be consumed from the earth,
And the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 104:31-35).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin and in fellowship with Him:
When we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us
(Romans 5:6-8).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Power belongs to God.
Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy;
For You render to each one according to his
work (Psalm 62:11-12).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
courage to follow God's leading,
salvation of your neighbors,
your activities for the day.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. . . . Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ(Acts 2:32-33, 36).

[Judy Harder]

September 10

Acts 18

Paul embarks on his third journey that takes him first to Ephesus.

INSIGHT

Apollos combines the eloquence of the Greek with the religious instinct of the Jew. Most likely a student from the great university at Alexandria, Apollos is a convert to the Gospel, deeply conversant with the Old Testament. Gifted with marvelous eloquence, he is a strong ally of the Christian forces of his age. But he needs to understand the death, resurrection, and ascended power of Christ. Aquila and Priscilla teach Apollos these things. How wonderful is that holy wisdom that the Spirit of God gives to humble believers so that they can become teachers of men who are intellectually their superiors! When teaching children or new believers, encourage them and have hope that some may become "mighty in the Scriptures" (v. 24).

PRAYER

Offer your praise to the Lord for the ministry that He provides in your life through other believers:
Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. You show lovingkindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them - the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts. You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 32:17-19)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Our transgressions are multiplied before You,
And our sins testify against us;
For our transgressions are with us,
And as for our iniquities, we know them.
(Isaiah 59:12)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." (John 11:25)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

Greater love for the lost
The work of missions in Africa
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17) 

[Judy Harder]

September 11

Acts 21

After Paul's travels, he preaches in Jerusalem and is arrested for violating the Law.

INSIGHT

When Paul preaches, either a riot or a revival usually occurs. When he goes to Jerusalem for the last time, a riot breaks out. Having been told beforehand by the Holy Spirit, Paul is aware that he will be imprisoned and handed over to the Gentiles. Even though his friends beg him to avoid Jerusalem, Paul "would not be persuaded"; and his friends give up and say, "The will of the Lord be done" (v. 14). Paul views himself as a sojourner on this earth, for his true citizenship is in heaven. He is to be simply a steward, an ambassador of Christ while his time lasts. What power and vision that outlook gives Paul to avoid the entanglements of this world! How much more completely would we realize our calling if we saw ourselves in the same way.

PRAYER

Give praise and thanks to the Lord for giving us citizenship in heaven:
Daniel answered and said:
"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
For wisdom and might are His.
And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him." (Daniel 2:20-22)

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
You, O Lord, be merciful to me, and raise me up,
That I may repay them. . .
As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,
And set me before Your face forever.
(Psalm 41:10, 12)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
(John 14:6)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

Wisdom for your country´s leaders
Faithfulness with your talents
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
(Psalm 103:21-22) 

[Judy Harder]

September 12

Acts 22

Upon his arrest at the temple, Paul attempts in vain to justify his message to the Jews.

INSIGHT

Even though Paul lives in complete recognition of the will of the Lord and acceptance of the sovereignty of God, he is not passive regarding his personal welfare or the welfare of his mission. Paul knows it is illegal to punish a Roman citizen without his being tried and found guilty. When he is about to be beaten, Paul brings up this issue and is spared. Acceptance of the sovereignty of God does not mean passiveness in the things of this world. Paul does what he can within the legal system and then leaves the results to the Lord.

PRAYER

Because the Lord is sovereign, we praise Him and trust in His goodness on our behalf:
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving, and pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself;
It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
O Lord, correct me, but with justice;
Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.
(Jeremiah 10:23-24)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

Greater wisdom in decision making
The needs of personal friends
Your activities for the day
Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore. (Psalm 121:7-8) 

[Judy Harder]

September 13

Acts 23

Because of attempts to kill Paul, he is taken to Caesarea to await trial.

INSIGHT

Jesus says, "I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16). This certainly describes Paul. As he stands before the Jewish Council, Paul knows that his life is in peril. He also knows that the Council is divided between Pharisees, who believe in the resurrection of the dead, and the Sadducees, who do not. When Paul deliberately brings up that issue, the ensuing dissension is so great that the soldiers take him away, thwarting the immediate plot against him.

PRAYER

It is by grace through faith that we can repent, turn to God, and give Him our praise:
You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created. (Revelation 4:11)

I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. (Psalm 7:17)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving, and pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
And according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And Your law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

Spiritual victory over temptation
Opportunities to serve the Lord
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Thus says the Lord:
"Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the Lord, exercising loving-
kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight," says the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)