Thursday Yr B Sunday between Jul 24-30

2 Samuel 10:1-5 Colossians 1:9-14 Psalm 14

2 Samuel 10:1-5 (New International Version)

2 Samuel 10 David Defeats the Ammonites

1 In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king. 2 David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. When David’s men came to the land of the Ammonites, 3 the Ammonite nobles said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending men to you to express sympathy? Hasn’t David sent them to you to explore the city and spy it out and overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun seized David’s men, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away. 5 When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.”

Colossians 1:9-14 (New International Version)

9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[a] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption,[b] the forgiveness of sins.

Psalm 14 For the director of music. Of David.

1 The fool [a] says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. 2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3 All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. 4 Will evildoers never learn— those who devour my people as men eat bread and who do not call on the LORD ? 5 There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. 6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge. 7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! 9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Ivy’s Prayer Chain

Karen had gone to college with good scores and much excitement. She settled into the routine of school, enjoying her classes and the camaraderie among the students in the campus life. Many of her new friends came from all around the world and had different cultural and religious beliefs. While it was fun and exciting,Karen wrote home to her parents that she hadn’t connected with a group of Christians yet that she felt would help her grow spiritually.

“I’ve visited several places, but I haven’t felt comfortable yet with the teaching and their direction. I want to learn and grow stronger as a Christian while maintaining my active school life.”

Her family added her name to the list of students at college that a group at church prayed for every week. In fact, each student’s name was drawn by one ‘prayer warrior’. Ivy Coolidge drew Karen’s name and she began to pray every day for her.

It was a simple prayer. “God, you know what her needs are, I lift her name to you and ask you to help her in school and out of school. Amen.” The prayer continued each day, until one day, Ivy found she couldn’t stop thinking of Karen.

So Ivy spoke her daily prayer and added, “God, if Karen needs some extra help, you’ll remind me, won’t you? Like today, I couldn’t stop thinking about Karen. That was you wasn’t it? Please surround her with protection and love, equip her to do right. In Jesus name, Amen.”

Throughout the next week, Ivy felt an extra niggling in the back of her mind to pray for Karen. Ivy was faithful in her prayers for the college girl. She prayed every time she felt the nudge. Finally, she returned to her practice of a simple prayer each day. But she decided to write to Karen and contacted her parents for her address, explaining that she was praying for Karen and wanted to write her.

“Oh that will be wonderful. Last week was so difficult for her.” Karen’s mom explained. “I know that she’ll enjoy hearing from you.”

Karen received the note card from Ivy, who shared that she had drawn her name and had undertaken to pray for her every day.

“It was rather odd, last week I kept praying for you over and over. I asked God to help you in wisdom and understanding.”

Tears ran down Karen’s face as she read the note card from a friend of her mother’s at church. The past week had been particularly difficult—she had struggled between new friends who pulled her in opposite directions; the studies had piled her high with homework and she had felt far away from home. When she prayed, Karen had wondered if God were hearing her. Then, at the end of the week, she had found a solution and things looked better.

The next day, Ivy’s letter came. It reminded her of the apostle Paul writing to the Colossians “9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”

She wrote a thank you note to Ivy, commenting on her comparison to Paul. A bond struck up between them and they corresponded throughout Karen’s college days and through the following years.

Karen and Ivy were bonded by the prayers that were said from far away. The empowering feeling stayed with them both.

Daily prayer: God of Wisdom and Understanding, forgive us for not remembering to pray for others as we ought. Remind us to be faithful in praying for those who need our prayer support. Nudge our minds with your suggestions. May we honor you. Amen.

Memorize: Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Apply: What do I need to pray for today? Who does God want me to pray for today? How can I be like Paul praying for the church to grow in Wisdom and understanding?