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Week 4

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Monday, March 9: Seeking and Sending CMC’s Next Pastor

 

Genuinely Cares: Philippians 2:19-23

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing.  I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs.  For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.  But you know Timothy’s proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel.  So I hope to send him as soon as I see what happens with me.

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Prayer: Lord Jesus, raise up and send to Cypress Methodist Church a  Pastor who truly cares for our people, who seeks not personal interest but Yours, and who will faithfully advance the gospel among us and in our community. Amen.

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Tuesday, March 10: For The Church

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

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Prayer: Holy Spirit, come upon Cypress Methodist Church with power, that we may be bold and faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ in our city, our region, and to the ends of the earth. Amen.

 

Wednesday, March 11: Testing In The Wilderness

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,

    and they will lift you up in their hands,

    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”

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Prayer: Father, strengthen us to stand firm against temptation, to trust You without testing You, and to hold fast to Your Word when the enemy seeks to deceive us. Amen.

 

Thursday, March 12: Lenten Disciplines

16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 

Prayer: Gracious Father, purify our fasting and our devotion, that we may seek Your face in sincerity and humility, desiring Your approval above all human recognition. Amen.

 

Friday, March 13: Transformative Potential

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.

 

Prayer: Lord, teach us to speak truth in love, to guard our hearts from sinful anger, and to protect the unity of Your Church by giving no foothold to the enemy. Amen.

 

Saturday, March 14: Personal Devotion

Matthew 22:35-40

35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

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 Prayer: Heavenly Father, draw my heart to love You fully—with all that I am—and teach me to love my neighbor faithfully, that my life may reflect the heart of Your Kingdom. Amen.