At the beginning of each session:
God is present with us. As a way for us to be also present with Him, take the next few moments to slow down and be still before Him. As you begin to focus your heart towards the Lord, breathe in deeply, slowly letting it out.
If your mind wanders, silently pray a simple prayer again and again, such as, "I surrender to your love" or "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me" until the Holy Spirit gives you a sense of peace and focus.
Reading:
Hebrews 12:12-17 12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; 16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
Consider:
What areas might you presently feel particularly weak or out of joint?
Ask God to help you see what it means to make straight paths for your feet, that you would grow strong and heal.
Pray this with me:
God, help me pursue peace with everyone. Take the bitterness from my heart, that Your grace might be experienced all the more by those around me.
God, forgive me for the ways I’ve compromised my inheritance as your son or daughter for temporary gratifications.
Help me know my identity, and live with strength during these present trials and temptations that I face.
At the end of each session:
Take a moment to thank God for the work He is doing in you.
As you go from this time, may your heart and your mind continue to relate to God, fixing your eyes on Jesus through each step of your day. Amen.