4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Questions for Reflection:
What role does community play in the identity that God has given you?
What does it mean to you that Jesus is THE living stone and we are like little versions of Him? How does that inform our actions and daily living?
In your story how have you received mercy?
Prayer of the Week:
Consecration Prayer for 2022
Father in heaven, we come to You to be restored and renewed in You. We are Your amazingly loved children and You are our Father in heaven. We are Your church in 2022. We now consecrate this year of life as individuals, as families and as Your church to You and You alone! We surrender every aspect of our lives totally and completely to You. We yield ourselves to the leading of Your Holy Spirit.
Come Holy Spirit, fill us afresh every day this new year. We want to follow Your lead!
Jesus, we receive all the work and triumph of Your life, death, resurrection, ascension and current reign over our lives and church. We are not our own we have been bought with a price. Thank you for giving us salvation identity. We pray, “Hallowed be Your name, Your Kingdom come and Your will be done” in our lives, families and church in 2022!
Jesus, I am Yours totally and completely in 2022 - bought in and sold out for You and Your purposes for me.
- My time, ability, possessions and money,
- my sexuality, influence, personality and imagination,
- my work, plans, pleasures and ambitions
- my brokenness, imperfections, disappointments and failures
- my loves, losses, worries and dreams
- my everyday all day living
… is now set apart, surrendered and consecrated to You, Jesus!
I give everyone and everything to You, Jesus!
I now bring the authority, rule and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ over all aspects of my life and over all my arenas of influence this new year.
We now bring the authority rule and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ over our church, mission and purpose this year. Lead us Jesus lead us! We come in Jesus name against Satan and His kingdom binding and banishing him and all forces of evil from our lives, our families and our church this year in the powerful and victorious name of Jesus! Amen!
