Pause
Today is day eight of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting!
With two more weeks in front of you, how are you feeling? What has the Lord already done in your life? What has He said to you, or what scriptures have lingered in your thoughts?
If you’re fasting, how is the replacing of something you held in importance versus the extra time in prayer impacting you?
And if you are just joining us, we want you to know that you’re not “behind.” You’re right on time. Dive in!
Before starting today’s reading, pause and pray. Thank God for what He’s done and open yourself to what He might want to do!
Reset
Matthew 6:1-4 NIV
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Walk with God
When you read through this portion of Jesus’s famous Sermon on the Mount, what stands out to you? Did the Holy Spirit highlight any part of it to you? If not, ask Him to. If so, ask Him what you may need to learn.
Just a few verses before these, Jesus tells us to let our light shine so people would see our good deeds and glorify God. So, what do you think He means in the verses you read today?
A case could be made that these verses are really about our own intentions—the “why” behind our good deeds. Do you remember a time you did something good because of the attention you’d receive? Do you feel that temptation even now? Pause and pray about this. Repent if you need to, then see what God has to say and receive His help!