Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:3-12
Prayer Points
Pray about your own attitude to wealth – if you have it or if you don’t! Confess any absorbing of the world’s value system.
Trust God with your own finances. Perhaps you need to pray for money, a job, better management of your money. Trust God because he knows your needs before you ask.
Is there a gift you should make? Pray about your giving to those in need as well as spreading God’s Good News in the world.
Pray for those caught in the trap of debt.
DAY 11 : LIVING IN NEED
God’s heart is for the distressed and downtrodden. Jesus as
the son of God reveals this. In his manifesto in Luke 4:18, 19 and
in the Beatitudes (printed on the left) we see his intention to
bring good news to the poor, gladness to those who sorrow
and hope for those with a bitter past.
Everybody needs God. We need him for our next breath, our
next heartbeat, our next thought. We need him to meet us in
our other needs as well: food, health, friendship, safety, homes.
So many people are without these. We also need acceptance,
significance a sense of worth. Many limp through life struggling
with feelings of failure, rejection and worthlessness. What can we
do in the face of so much need?
Sometimes our own needs drive us to call out to God for his help
and provision. Seeking God as first priority enables us to find his
provision. Jesus encourages us to ‘Seek first the kingdom of God
and his righteousness and all these things - the daily needs of life
- will be added to you’. (Matthew 6:33.)
Sometimes our needs are based on a wrong value system. Jesus
turns upside down the value of the world which says ‘having is
blessed’. He says there are rewards for those who have not and
those who are meek, show mercy and are peace-makers.
Sometimes people’s needs just need to be met. The church
continues to be in the forefront of meeting the needs of the
poor, the desolate and the sick. It continues Christ’s ministry
of compassion.
We have many needs, the fulfilment of which occupies much
of our time and energy. God is the giver of all good things and
wisdom encourages us to seek God as first priority as the one
who provides for us.
Pray
* Pray for your ‘big issue’
* Pray for your ‘three friends’
* Pray for a new wave of revival.