Quiet Walk

[Judy Harder]

October 26

Philippians 3

Our goal in life should be to forsake temporal things for the sake of the eternal.

INSIGHT

Benjamin Franklin once decided to become morally perfect. He chose 13 qualities he felt embodied moral perfection and tried to perfect one a week - at the end of 13 weeks he would be morally perfect. He failed, yet later wrote he had become a much better man for trying and failing than if he had never tried at all. Our situation with the Lord is similar. We will never become morally perfect, as Paul writes, but we can experience maturation as we grow into the image of Christ.

PRAYER

Because the Lord knows our weaknesses and loves us anyway, we can praise Him with enthusiasm:
Inasmuch as there is none like You, O Lord
(You are great, and Your name is great in might),
Who would not fear You,
O King of the nations?
For this is Your rightful due,
For among all the wise men of the nations,
And in all their kingdoms,
There is none like You. . . .
But the Lord is the true God;
He is the living God and the everlasting King.
At His wrath the earth will tremble,
And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation
(Jeremiah 10:6-7, 10)

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit
(Psalm 34:17-18).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
(Romans 8:26)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
a stronger desire to be like Christ,
churches across the nation,
whatever else is on your heart.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen (1 Timothy 1:17).

Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
(Ephesians 6:13)

[Judy Harder]

October 27

Philippians 4

We must focus on those things which are pure and good.

INSIGHT

You are what you eat." Your body reflects what you feed it. Eat well and your body rewards you with health. The same is true spiritually and mentally. We become like what we put into our minds and like what we allow our minds to dwell on. Paul encourages us to think about whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, or of good report (v. . If you are unsatisfied with your spiritual, mental, or emotional development, ask yourself: "What do I put into my mind - what do I think about?" You may need a radical change in your spiritual diet.

PRAYER

God's attributes include love, joy, kindness, and mercy. Praise Him for developing these characteristics in your life:
Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
(1 Chronicles 16:8-11)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,"
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Selah (Psalm 32:5)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
(Psalm 7:17)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
graciousness toward others,
laborers for Christ in India,
whatever else is on your heart.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
The Lord is their strength,
And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.
Save Your people,
And bless Your inheritance;
Shepherd them also,
And bear them up forever (Psalm 28:8-9).

[Judy Harder]

October 28

Colossians 1

Christ is the image of the invisible God and the Head of the church.

INSIGHT

On the surface, it is pretty difficult to explain why you believe in God. No one has seen Him face-to-face, touched Him, or smelled Him, yet His fingerprints are everywhere. You must get beneath the surface where the intangible becomes tangible. God is made visible through Jesus Christ. Paul writes that Jesus is "the image of the invisible God" (v. 15). If you want to know about God, learn about Jesus. If you want to see God, look at Jesus. If you want to please God, follow Jesus. He is God in the flesh!

PRAYER

Praise God that He came to us in the person of Jesus Christ:
"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
(John 14:10-13)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge - by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen
(1 Timothy 6:20-21)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen
(1 Timothy 6:15-16)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
spiritual discipline,
strength for those ministering Gods Word in China,
your activities for the day.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
(John 1:18)

[Judy Harder]

October 29

Colossians 2

Christ is our Savior and example; the center of life for Christians.

INSIGHT

People can no more save themselves than they can fly to the moon. Both are utterly impossible. And because of our spiritual condition and the spiritual laws of God, we stand a greater assurance of making our spiritual condition worse instead of better by trying to save ourselves. Paul says that we were dead. We had decrees written against us that we were powerless to remove. God made us alive together with Christ and removed the decrees against us by nailing them Òto the crossÓ (vv. 13-14). We must gain salvation by grace through faith in Christ or not have it at all.

PRAYER

Praise the Lord that in our utter helplessness He offered us salvation through Christ:
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)

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities
(Psalm 51:7-9)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
(2 Timothy 1:12)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
greater love for others,
the work of missions in Australia and New Zealand,
your activities for the day,
whatever else is on your heart.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.
(Titus 3:5)

[Judy Harder]

October 30

Colossians 3

We have been raised up with Christ and should seek the things above.

INSIGHT

It is possible to be one place physically and another place mentally. It happens every Sunday morning in church. Bodies warm the pews while minds roam the kitchens and golf courses of the nation. In a graver example, prisoners of war survive by taking themselves mentally into another world away from the prison and there find meaning and solace. We, as Christians, are to do the same. We are to take ourselves out of the physical world, into the spiritual world, and operate according to its values, truths, and realities. "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above. . . . Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (vv. 1-2).

PRAYER

Place your mind on Christ, and give Him your praise as you seek the things above:
O Lord my God, in You I put my trust;
Save me from all those who persecute me;
And deliver me . . .
I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High (Psalm 7:1, 17).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving, and pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin and in fellowship with Him:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
(Psalm 51:10-13)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
This is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
(1 John 3:23)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
faithfulness in sharing Christ,
the Lord's work in national and world affairs,
your activities for the day.

Close your time of worship by offering this prayer to the Lord:
May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen
(1 Peter 5:10-11)

[Judy Harder]

October 31

Colossians 4

Conduct yourself with wisdom, and let your speech be filled with grace.

INSIGHT

"Out of the abundance of [a man's] heart his mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45). A man cannot claim his heart is kind if his words are unkind. He cannot claim his heart embraces heaven's values if his mouth speaks the values of the world. The heart is a reservoir and the mouth a faucet. When the faucet is turned on, whatever is in the reservoir comes out. Paul writes: "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6). Elsewhere he writes: "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29). Listen to your speech! Analyze your heart!

PRAYER

Out of the abundance of your heart, offer to the Lord the praise of your lips:
Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints!
Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested (Revelation 15:3-4).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise (Psalm 51:14-15).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
If you love Me, keep My commandments (John 14:15).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
your growth as you pursue your full potential as a child of God,
fulfillment of the Great Commission,
whatever else is on your heart.

Close with this prayer to the Lord:
We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
(Hebrews 2:9)

[Judy Harder]

November 1

1 Thessalonians 1

The Thessalonians follow Paul's life example and grow to spiritual maturity.

INSIGHT

Because the Christian life is more easily caught than taught, personal godliness is a powerful ministry tool, and imitation is a powerful tool for spiritual growth. Paul gave the Thessalonians not just the words of the Gospel, but also his very life - "you know what kind of men we were among you" (v. 5). The Thessalonian believers witnessed Paul's life and imitated him, which resulted in spiritual growth for them - "you became followers of us" (v. 6). As a result, they became an example to the Macedonians and Achaians. This pattern of "life-on-life" ministry was first demonstrated by our Lord. Jesus selected 12 men "that they might be with Him" (Mark 3:14). Take a moment to think about how you can learn from or teach someone else in a mentoring relationship.

PRAYER

Praise God that He is our perfect example:
Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our
Father, forever and ever.
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness,
The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty;
For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;
Yours is the kingdom, O Lord,
And You are exalted as head over all.
(1 Chronicles 29:10-11)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy . . .
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.
(Psalm 103:8, 13-14)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
We are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
(2 Corinthians 5:6-8)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
health and strength to serve Him,
His will to be done in your life,
whatever else is on your heart.

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
May the God of peace . . . make you complete in every good work to do His will.
(Hebrews 13:20-21)

[Judy Harder]

November 2

1 Thessalonians 2

Paul's method of ministry is described. He communicates the Gospel with love and integrity.

INSIGHT

Whenever the message of your words and the message of your actions conflict, the message of your actions will always win out. You may speak gruffly but act kindly, and you will be known as having a hard shell but being a "softie" on the inside. Or you may speak well but act selfishly, and you will be known as a hypocrite. There is no accusation leveled at Christians more consistently than that of hypocrisy. Our lives must support the reality of the Gospel, or the Gospel will not be taken seriously and we will be resented. Paul writes: "We were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives" (v. . Unless we are willing to impart our lives in ministry, our words will mean little.

PRAYER

Thank the Lord and praise Him that He was willing to give us His very life:
Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like You, glorious in holiness,
Fearful in praises, doing wonders? (Exodus 15:11)

"You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You,
nor is there any God besides You,
ccording to all that we have heard with our ears." (2 Samuel 7:22)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

As you pray this confession to the Lord, seek to keep your life free from sin and in fellowship with Him:
You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart
These, O God, You will not despise.
(Psalm 51:16-17)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affir-mation to the Lord:
There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
(1 Timothy 2:5-6)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
greater sensitivity to sin,
the ministry of your church,
your activities for the day.

Close with this prayer to the Lord:
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen
(2 Peter 3:18)

[Judy Harder]

November 3

1 Thessalonians 3

Paul is not able to visit Thessalonica so he sends Timothy instead.

INSIGHT

Affliction is part of life. Sometimes circumstances afflict us; sometimes other people afflict us; sometimes we afflict ourselves. In the midst of affliction, we need encouragement. Paul writes that he sent Timothy to visit the Thessalonians "to establish and encourage" them because of their afflictions (vv. 2-3). Paul feared for their spiritual well-being. When we see others in the midst of affliction, we should be quick to encourage them. Rebuke, exhortation, counsel, and instruction all have their time and place, but encouragement is one of the most powerful ministries on earth.

PRAYER

Praise God for His encouraging Word!
I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,
O You who save those who trust in You
From those who rise up against them.
Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings.
(Psalm 17:6-8)

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
He shall judge the world in righteousness,
And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.
(Psalm 9:

Confess any sins which the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16)

Be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
joy in the midst of unpleasant circumstances,
a positive, encouraging mind-set,
your activities for the day.

Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes (Psalm 19:7-8).

[Judy Harder]

November 4

1 Thessalonians 4

Paul informs the Thessalonians regarding the Lord Jesus Christ's second coming.

INSIGHT

Death is a mysterious, unavoidable experience. For the most part a fearful and foreboding process, death is a common factor in human experience: We live to die. Understandably, the most profound question human beings ask is: What happens when we die? Death is fully addressed in the Scriptures - and the answer is one of the most satisfying answers in the Bible: "The dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (vv. 16-17).

PRAYER

Praise God that Christ's death andresurrection removed the sting of death:
Surely He has borne our griefs
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.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:4-6).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God (Psalm 14:2).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
(1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:
deeper understanding of Scripture,
missionaries in west Africa,
whatever else is on your heart.

Close your worship time with this prayer:
I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. (Psalm 7:17)