Prayer and Devotional Guide

Weekly devotionals are given on this page or may be printed from this pdf file.

hands of two people, grasped in prayer

How to use this Guide

It is our desire that you will utilize this in your own personal prayer life or as a devotional to share with your family. You will find one devotion to use during each week of October. The devotions focus on specific scripture related to stewardship. Use the discussion questions to help personalize the topics lifted up in the devotionals.

As you develop and maintain a daily habit of prayer, you can use the following as a model during the Stewardship Campaign:

Heavenly Father, we pray that you will open our eyes and our hearts to the many blessings and gifts you have given us so that we may respond joyfully with our gifts in support of your body. Amen

Dear Heavenly Father; thank you so much for all that you have given to me in my life. God, please help me to keep you always first in my heart so that I will make choices in accordance with your will. Help me to discipline myself with my money and my time so that I do not use up all that you have given me, but rather that I always have the means to help others and show Your Love in the world. Amen

Week 1

Lisa Coyle

“… choose for yourselves today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

We are called upon almost every minute of the day to choose how and where to expend our resources of both time and money. We have what we think of as “fixed expenses” and then we have choices to make about our discretionary spending, whatever is left over when we have taken care of the basic costs of living. We frequently have very limited time in the day after our work, household or child rearing activities. What we choose to do with our money and our time define who we are and how we order our lives. We must always remember that no one person has gotten where they are in life completely on their own. We have all had the help of others along life’s way. And we all have special abilities or talents that are gifts from God. Is the example that we set for our children and others one of self serving isolationism? Or do we seek to exemplify a life of giving and serving God’s kingdom here on earth by returning the gifts He has given us in service to Him. What do people see when they look in our house? We can always choose “to serve the LORD” by giving back of what we have been given.

Discussion:

  1. Joshua 24:15 mentions the choice of serving the false Amorite gods or serving the True God. How can you and your children avoid serving the false gods of consumerism and materialism that seem to permeate modern society?
  2. What do people see when they look at your house?

Week 2

Alison Mahnich

“Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul.” Isaiah 55:2 NLT

Isaiah 55:2 instructs the reader NOT to spend their money on things that are excessive and wasteful but to listen to the Lord and put your money to good use for yourself and His Kingdom. This is a perfect example of being a good steward of your money and time. Consume what you must and put the rest toward serving the LORD. We can trust that God will always provide for us. In committing to a regular monthly tithe through the Stewardship Campaign, you are providing the operating funds to keep First Church running.

Discussion:

  1. We often hear the term “being a good steward.” What does being a good steward mean to you? What are some ways we can be good stewards of the resources that God has blessed us with?
  2. We have been blessed at FUMCR with a great clergy and staff, by dynamic worship services, and by outstanding ministries and programs offered by the church. What blessings have you received through your association with our church? Make a list of these blessings and lift them up in prayer as you consider your stewardship pledge.

Week 3

James Lee

“Each man should give what he has decided to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

Our financial support of the church is one component of the commitment we make as members when we join. But our gifts are not to be made reluctantly out of a sense of obligation; rather, they are to be made as a joyful response to the many blessings and gifts God has so graciously given to us. The Stewardship Campaign is really about celebrating God’s blessings and looking forward to the future blessings God has prepared for us as we plan and provide for the upcoming year’s ministries. Our family has received so many blessings from the church and the ministries the church supports. It is with great joy that we acknowledge God’s gifts as we prepare to make our financial pledge to the church for the upcoming year. When we focus on how richly and deeply blessed we are, we can not help but to give joyfully!

Discussion:

  1. List some things you can do to ensure that you give to our church joyfully rather than reluctantly or out of a sense of duty?

Week 4

Bert Duckett

“His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:21

Any Christian wants to be met by Jesus and hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” I know I do. God has blessed each of us with talents (skills, abilities and financial resources). All in differing amounts. It does not matter what or how much we are given, what matters to God is how faithful we are to him in the use of these resources. God calls His faithful servants and faithful stewards to use their talents and resources for Him. God has blessed our wonderful church by giving us increased opportunities to witness to His love. With this opportunity comes responsibility. Are you being a faithful servant and steward?

Discussion:

  1. Discuss the talents you have been blessed with and how you are using them for the church.
  2. Do you often compare your talents, gifts and financial resources to others? What would Jesus say about your viewpoint?
  3. How will you or your family decide on the level of financial support during the Stewardship Campaign?
  4. Discuss the blessings you have received from using your talents and resources at FUMCR