SCRIPTURE UNION DAILY GUIDE DEVOTIONAL FOR JANUARY 13, 2023 (SPEAKING OUT, AND HOW TO DO IT)

TOPIC: SPEAKING OUT, AND HOW TO DO IT

OPENING PRAYER: Oh Lord, grant me divine guidance as I read and meditate on your word in Jesus name.

SCRIPTURE:PSALM 39:1-13

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION
• Q 6: Is there any prayer for me to remember?

MESSAGE
The psalmist was not in a good place. He was experiencing severe discipline from the Lord’s hand, so much so that he pleaded with God to look away from him so that he could stop crying and smile again (vs.9-11, 13)! He had wicked enemies observing his agony with glee.

Can you think of reasons why the psalmist did not want to speak out (vs.1, 9)? Can you think of instances when you spoke out and immediately regretted opening your mouth?

Finally, he did speak out, and he did it in the correct way. He did not speak to the wicked people, and he did not speak about them as he does in some other psalms. Instead, he spoke to God – about his human limitations saying man at best is but a vapour (vs.4-6), his need for deliverance (vs.8,12), and his hope in God (v.7). Whatever may be our situation, it is always a good decision to speak to God, but never against Him.

Even when we do not know what to say, we can count on the help of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26).

• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?

CLOSING PRAYER
What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and grieves to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer

Offer a prayer of faith in line with Psalms 28:6 ‐ 7

ONE YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Genesis 20,21, Galatians 6.

NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN – Fri, 13-Jan-2023

PRAYER FOCUS
GOD, MY ONLY HOPE

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.- Psalm 71:5

THANK GOD FOR:
► Being our help, our hope and sustainer especially in this end time.

► Always being a present help to His children.

PRAY FOR:
► Grace to keep holding to the hope we have in Christ Jesus even in the face of tests and struggles.

► Remembrance of the assurance of God promises to all those who walk uprightly.

► Increase in our love for God our fortress our Rock and Deliverer.

PRAY AGAINST:
► Every spirit of doubt that may arise because of the hardship that has

► surrounded the world.

► All forms of distractions that will keep us from getting nourishments from God’s word.