Deny Yourself (Matthew 16:24)
Dear Members of the Our Savior Lutheran Church Email Prayer Chain,

Deny Yourself

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. --Matthew 16:24

Sin causes us to be self-centered, shifting our hearts from God to self. The essence of salvation is an about-face from self-centeredness to God-centeredness. The Christian must spend a lifetime denying self. Our great temptation will be to affirm ourselves while we follow Jesus. James and John did this when they chose to follow Jesus but asked for the two most prominent positions in Jesus’ kingdom (Mark 10:35-37). James and John wanted a discipleship that would not impede their personal desires and aspirations. Like them, we say, “Lord, I want to be pleasing to you, but I want to stay where I am.”

Self-centered people try to keep their lives unruffled and undisturbed, safe and secure. Our temptation is to give our time and effort to the goals of this world. Then, when we are successful in the world’s eyes, we seek to bring God into our world by honoring Him with our success. We may say, “Now that I have succeeded in business [or sports, or politics, or with my family, or even Christian ministry], I want to give God the glory for it!” God is not interested in receiving secondhand glory from His activity through our lives.

The world will entice you to adopt its goals and to invest in temporal things. Resist the temptation to pursue your own goals, asking God to bless them. Rather, deny yourself and join the activity of God as He reveals it to you.

REFLECTION

Am I trying to go with God while at the same time trying to stay where I am?
What and where am I denying myself so I can join God where He is working around me?

PRAYER REQUESTS -- Week of July 13, 2008

Please continue to pray for our Sunday School. To this point no one has answered the call to take on the leadership of our Sunday School ministry. Please pray earnestly believing God will place our Sunday School ministry on someone’s heart. Many have been asked. Pray to the Lord to lead us to the person(s) He has chosen to be our Sunday School Superintendent(s). Time is growing short for now is the time for staffing this fall’s Sunday School.

Please pray for our Vacation Bible School. There are still one or two volunteer needs. But especially pray for the volunteers that the Holy Spirit would empower them as they prepare. Pray for the children that will attend, that their time at VBS will be a blessing for them.

FOR THOSE WHO LOOK TO THE LORD FOR HEALING

Marlo Dedmon                  [Daycare worker] undergoing testing for health concerns
Raynanza Williams, Jr.       [Nephew of Marlo Dedmon] hospitalized in critical condition, after being shot in the 3 times head and neck after an altercation

FOR THOSE WHO MOURN

The family of Joann Ratterman, Mother of Mark Ratterman, who was called to her eternal home this week and received a Christian burial, may they receive comfort from the promise of the Easter Resurrection.   

"Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. --1 Corinthians 15: 54b-58

In Christ,
Paul Nickel
Director of Christian Education
Our Savior Lutheran Church
 

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