Welcome to Mexico!

For most of us, this week is going to be full of new experiences---a new language, a new environment, a new mission, and perhaps even a new way to spend time with God. Alongside the other challenges we are going to face this week, we want to challenge you to rethink how you pray. The devotional for this week is a combination of scripture and written prayers. Praying through scripture is one of the many ways that we are able to better connect with God, as Jesus showed us. In Matthew 4, Jesus retreats to the desert and fasts for forty days and nights, resisting temptation by turning to Gods Word to combat S atans lies. Like Jesus, during our time in this desert we will be tempted as we enter into a week of service and selflessness and it is vital for us to refuel ourselves with the truth of Gods Word. This type of prayer might be a little different for some of you or something you have been doing for many years. Either way, we trust that the Holy S pirit will bring the Word to life. There are a variety of different ways that you can use this devotional, much like there are a variety of ways to praise God. You can pray as an individual, as a family, or with your team. You can pray aloud or silently. There are prayers outlined for three times of day- morning, midday, and night. You can determine when and how often you wish to pray, it is up to you! If you can do all three, GREAT! Throughout the week, the structure of the prayers remains the same, but the Psalms, New Testament, and Old Testament scriptures will change. The repetition of the prayers can serve as a tool to get into a rhythm with God and we encourage you to do that. Whether youve been on this trip ten times or if this is your first trip, Mexico will be a week full of new experiences, but the Lord our God is faithful and constant. We hope that you rest in that truth and refill your heart, your body, and your mind with this devotional.

Morning Prayer
Opening S cripture Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3

Morning Psalm - Please turn to the back of the devotional to find the scriptures for each day. Old Testament Lesson S ilent Reflection on the Passage for the Day The Apostles C reed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only S on, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy S pirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy S pirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. AMEN.

Prayers for the Day and the Lords Prayer Please take some time to thank God and to pray for his help and strength in the day ahead Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil, For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever. Amen. A Prayer to Begin the Day from John Calvin My God, my Father and my S aviour, since it has pleased you to preserve me by your grace through the night just ended and into the present day, grant that I may use it entirely in your service and that I may think, say and do nothing but to please you and to obey your holy will, so that all my actions may reflect the glory of your name, and build up those around me. And just as in this earthly life, you cause the sun to shine on the world to give physical light, light your Holy S pirit shine in my mind to guide me in the ways of your righteousness. And so, in everything I do, let my goal and intention always be to walk reverently and to honor and serve you, trusting only on your blessing for my wellbeing and doing only what pleases you. Grant also, O Lord, that as I labor for my physical needs and for this present life, I may lift up my soul to that heavenly and blessed life which you have promised to your children And since to begin well means little unless one persevere, I ask you to be my guide, not only today but for all my life, daily continuing and increasing your grace in me until you have brought me into full union with your S on, Jesus Christ our Lord, who is the true S un of our souls, shining day and night forever Amen.

Midday Prayer Opening Prayer from The Pattern of our Days We have laid our burdens down in the presence of the living God. We have been nourished for the journey in the presence of the living God. We have taken on the armor of Christ in the presence of the living God. Now lead us, guide us, defend us, as we work in your world. New Testament Lesson - Please turn to the back of the devotional to find the scripture for each day. S ilent Reflection on the Passage for the Day The Apostles C reed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only S on, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy S pirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy S pirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. AMEN.

The Lords Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil, For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever. Amen. A Prayer for Midday from The Divine Hours: Prayers for S ummertime To you, O God, I lift up my heart at this midday prayer. I ask you to remember me, and all who need your help at this time. Help me to reach out in faithfulness and love to those in need. In your S ons name. Amen

Night Prayer Opening Words The Lord Almighty give to us a peaceful night and a perfect end. Our Help is in the Name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith 1 Peter 5:8,9 Prayer of C onfession Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you and against our fellow men, in thought and word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We are truly sorry, and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your S on Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Evening Psalm - Please turn to the back of the devotional to find the scripture for each day. Reflective Prayer Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my S pirit; For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth. Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of your eye; Hide me under the shadow of your wing.

The Lords Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil, For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever. Amen. The Prayer of S imeon - Luke 2:29-32 S overeign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss[d] your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. Prayer to End the Day from John Calvin Lord God, S ince you have made the night for us to rest as you have created the day for work, I ask you to give my body a restful night and to grant that my soul may be lifted up to you and my heart always filled with your love. Teach me, O God, to entrust all my cares to you and constantly remember your mercy, so that my soul may enjoy spiritual rest. Let not my sleep be excessive, but let it serve to renew my strength so that I may be more ready to serve you. May it please you also to keep me pure in body and in spirit, preserving me from all temptations and all danger, so that my very sleep may contribute to the glory of your name. And since this day has not passed without my offending you in several ways, I who am a poor sinner make this request. Grant, O God, that just as now you have hidden all things in the shadows of the night, you will also bury my sins in your mercy, through Jesus Christ my S avior. Amen

C oncluding Prayer Keep watch dear Lord, with those who work or watch or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give

rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your loves sake. Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace. Amen.

Scriptures for Each Day Monday

MORNING PSALM 5 1 Give ear to my words, O LORD; give heed to my sighing. 2 Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.
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For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil will not sojourn with you. The boastful will not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful. But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house, I will bow down toward your holy temple in awe of you. Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. For there is no truth in their mouths; their hearts are destruction; their throats are open graves; they flatter with their tongues. Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of their many transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you. But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. S pread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover them with favor as with a shield.

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EVENING PSALM 4 1 Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. 2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? 3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. 4 Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. 5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord. 6 Many, Lord, are asking, Who will bring us prosperity? Let the light of your face shine on us. 7 Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound. 8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. OLD TESTAMENT READING 1 SAMUEL 18:5-16 5David went out and was successful wherever S aul sent him; as a result, S aul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of S aul, approved.
6As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine,

the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King S aul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. 7And the women sang to one another as they made merry, S aul has killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands. 8S aul was very angry, for this saying displeased him. He said, They have ascribed to David tens of thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; what more can he have but the kingdom? 9S oS aul eyed David from that day on. 10The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon S aul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. S aul had his spear in his hand; 11and S aul threw the spear, for he thought, I will pin David to the wall. But David eluded him twice.

12S aul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him but had departed from S aul. 13S oS aul removed him from his presence, and made him a commander of a thousand; and David marched out and came in, leading the army. 14David had success in all his undertakings; for the LORD was with him. 15When S aul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. 16But all Israel and Judah loved David; for it was he who marched out and came in leading them. NEW TESTAMENT READING ACTS 11:19-30 19Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over S tephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. 20But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. 21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. 22News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; 24for he was a good man, full of the Holy S pirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. 25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for S aul, 26and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. S o it was that for an entire year they associated with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

Tuesday
MORNING PSALM 146 1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! 2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
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Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD!

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EVENING PSALM 31 1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3S ince you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,

5 Into your

for you are my refuge. hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.

OLD TESTAMENT READING 1 SAMUEL 19:1-10 1S aul spoke to his son Jonathan and to all his servants about killing David. But S auls son Jonathan took great delight in David. 2Jonathan told David, My father S aul is trying to kill you; therefore be on guard tomorrow morning; stay in a secret place and hide yourself. 3I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you; if I learn anything I will tell you. 4Jonathan spoke well of David to his father S aul, saying to him, The king should not sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have been of good service to you; 5for he took his life in his hand when he attacked the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced; why then will you sin against an innocent person by killing David without cause? 6S aul heeded the voice of Jonathan; S aul swore, As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death. 7S o Jonathan called David and related all these things to him. Jonathan then brought David to S aul, and he was in his presence as before.
8Again there was war, and David went

out to fight the Philistines. He launched a heavy attack on them, so that they fled before him. 9Then an evil spirit from the LORD came upon S aul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand, while David was playing music. 10S aul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear; but he eluded S aul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. David fled and escaped that night.

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON ACTS 12:1-17 1About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. 2He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. 3After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.) 4When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him. 6The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison.7S uddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, Get up quickly. And the chains fell off his wrists. 8The angel said

to him, Fasten your belt and put on your sandals. He did so. Then he said to him, Wrap your cloak around you and follow me. 9Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angels help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him. 11Then Peter came to himself and said, Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.
12As soon as he realized this, he went

to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. 13When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. 14On recognizing Peters voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. 15They said to her, You are out of your mind! But she insisted that it was so. They said, It is his angel. 16Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed. 17He motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and described for them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he added, Tell this to James and to the believers. Then he left and went to another place.

Wednesday
MORNING PSALM 147:1-11 1 Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. 2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. 4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. 6 The Lord lifts up the downtrodden; he casts the wicked to the ground.
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S ing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre. He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry. His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

EVENING PSALM 91 1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. 3S urely he will save you from the fowlers snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall

at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you say, The Lord is my refuge, and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. OLD TESTAMENT LESSON 1 SAMUEL 20:1-23 1David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came before Jonathan and said, What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin against your father that he is trying to take my life? 2He said to him, Perish the thought! You shall not die. My father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me; and why should my father hide this from me? Never! 3But David also swore, Your father knows well that you like me; and he thinks, Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved. But truly, as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death. 4Then Jonathan said to David, Whatever you say, I will do for you. 5David said to Jonathan, Tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at the meal; but let me go, so that I may hide in the field until the third evening. 6If your father misses me at all, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family. 7If he says, Good! it will be well with your servant; but if he is angry, then know that evil has been determined by him. 8Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a sacred covenant with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father? 9Jonathan said, Far be it from you! If I knew that it was decided by my father that evil should come upon you, would I not tell you? 10Then David said to Jonathan, Who

will tell me if your father answers you harshly? 11Jonathan replied to David, Come, let us go out into the field. S o they both went out into the field. 12Jonathan said to David, By the LORD, the God of Israel! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or on the third day, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? 13But if my father intends to do you harm, the LORD do so to Jonathan, and more also, if I do not disclose it to you, and send you away, so that you may go in safety. May the LORD be with you, as he has been with my father. 14If I am still alive, show me the faithful love of the LORD; but if I die, 15never cut off your faithful love from my house, even if the LORD were to cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth. 16Thus Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, May the LORD seek out the enemies of David. 17Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him; for he loved him as he loved his own life. 18Jonathan said to him, Tomorrow is the new moon; you will be missed, because your place will be empty. 19On the day after tomorrow, you shall go a long way down; go to the place where you hid yourself earlier, and remain beside the stone there. 20I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark. 21Then I will send the boy, saying, Go, find the arrows. If I say to the boy, Look, the arrows are on this side of you, collect them, then you are to come, for, as the LORD lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger. 22But if I say to the young man, Look, the arrows are beyond you, then go; for the LORD has sent you away. 23As for the matter about which you and I have spoken, the LORD is witness between you and me for ever. NEW TESTAMENT LESSON ACTS 12:18-25 18When morning came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19When Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he examined the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
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Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and S idon. S o they came to him in a body; and after winning over Blastus, the kings chamberlain, they asked for a reconciliation, because their country depended on the kings country for food. 21On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat on the platform, and delivered a public address to them. 22The people kept shouting, The voice of a god, and not of a mortal! 23And immediately, because he had not given the glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
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the word of God continued to advance and gain adherents. 25Then after completing their mission Barnabas and S aul returned to Jerusalem and brought with them John, whose other name was Mark.

Thursday
MORNING PSALM 97 1 The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! 2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3 Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side. 4 His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
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The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory. All worshipers of images are put to shame, those who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him. Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O God. For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. The LORD loves those who hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked. Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

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EVENING PSALM 134 1 Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. 3 May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who is the Maker of heaven and earth.

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON 1 SAMUEL 20:24-42 24S o David hid himself in the field. When the new moon came, the king sat at the feast to eat. 25The king sat upon his seat, as at other times, upon the seat by the wall. Jonathan stood, while Abner sat by S auls side; but Davids place was empty.
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did not say anything that day; for he thought, S omething has befallen him; he is not clean, surely he is not clean. 27But on the second day, the day after the new moon, Davids place was empty. And S aul said to his son Jonathan, Why has the son of Jesse not come to the feast, either yesterday or today? 28Jonathan answered S aul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to 29 Bethlehem; he said, Let me go; for our family is holding a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. S o now, if I have found favor in your sight, let me get away, and see my brothers. For this reason he has not come to the king's table.
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was kindled against Jonathan. He said to him, You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mothers nakedness? 31For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die. 32Then Jonathan answered his father S aul, Why should he be put to death? What has he done? 33But S aul threw his spear at him to strike him; so Jonathan knew that it was the decision of his father to put David to death. 34Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food on the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, and because his father had disgraced him.
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out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him was a little boy. 36He said to the boy, Run and find the arrows that I shoot. As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37When the boy came to the place where Jonathans arrow had fallen, Jonathan called after the boy and said, Is the arrow not beyond you? 38Jonathan called after the boy, Hurry, be quick, do not linger. S o Jonathans boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master. 39But the boy knew nothing; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement. 40Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said to him, Go and carry them to the city. 41As soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He bowed three times, and they kissed each other, and wept with each other; David wept the more. 42Then Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, since both of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants, for ever. He got up and left; and Jonathan went into the city.

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON ACTS 13:1-12 1Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, S imeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and S aul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy S pirit said, S et apart for me Barnabas and S aul for the work to which I have called them. 3Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
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out by the Holy S pirit, they went down to S eleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5When they arrived at S alamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John also to assist them. 6When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, named Bar-Jesus. 7He was with the proconsul, S ergius Paulus, an intelligent man, who summoned Barnabas and S aul and wanted to hear the word of God. 8But the magician Elymas (for that is the translation of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9But S aul, also known as Paul, filled with the Holy S pirit, looked intently at him 10and said, You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11And now listen the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind for a while, unable to see the sun. Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he went about groping for someone to lead him by the hand. 12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

Friday
MORNING PSALM 51 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
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For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment. Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you have no delight in sacrifice;

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if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

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EVENING PSALM 4 1 Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. 2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? 3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. 4 Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. 5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord. 6 Many, Lord, are asking, Who will bring us prosperity? Let the light of your face shine on us. 7 Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound. 8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. OLD TESTAMENT LESSON 1 SAMUEL 21:1-15 1David came to Nob to the priest Ahimelech. Ahimelech came trembling to meet David, and said to him, Why are you alone, and no one with you? 2David said to the priest Ahimelech, The king has charged me with a matter, and said to me, No one must know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you. I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. 3Now then, what have you at hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here. 4The priest answered David, I have no ordinary bread at hand, only holy bread provided that the young men have kept themselves from women. 5David answered the priest, Indeed, women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition;

the vessels of the young men are holy even when it is a common journey; how much more today will their vessels be holy? 6S o the priest gave him the holy bread; for there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the LORD to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away. 7Now a certain man of the servants of S aul was there that day, detained before the LORD; his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of S auls shepherds.
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or sword here with you? I did not bring my sword or my weapons with me, because the kings business required haste. 9The priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if you will take that, take it, for there is none here except that one. David said, There is none like it; give it to me. 10David rose and fled that day from S aul; he went to King Achish of Gath. 11The servants of Achish said to him, Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, S aul has killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands?
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and was very much afraid of King Achish of Gath. 13S o he changed his behavior before them; he pretended to be mad when in their presence. He scratched marks on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down his beard. 14Achish said to his servants, Look, you see the man is mad; why then have you brought him to me? 15Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? S hall this fellow come into my house? NEW TESTAMENT LESSON ACTS 13:13-25 13Then Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John, however, left them and returned to Jerusalem; 14but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15After the reading of the law and the prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, give it. 16S o Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak: You Israelites, and others who fear God, listen. 17The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 19After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance 20for about four hundred and fifty years. After that he gave them judges until the time of the

prophet S amuel. 21Then they asked for a king; and God gave them S aul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years.22When he had removed him, he made David their king. In his testimony about him he said, I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes. 23Of this mans posterity God has brought to Israel a S avior, Jesus, as he promised; 24before his coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25And as John was finishing his work, he said, What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet.

A Word of Encouragement If you have found this devotional helpful, and have appreciated the way the daily scriptures have followed on from one day to the next, I want to encourage you to continue to use these three models for daily prayer. They are not specific to Mexico, so you can absolutely use them once you get back home. It may be harder to set aside three times for prayer each day, but if you have done it this week, make every effort to continue to pray three times a day. By doing this you stand on the shoulders of giants. Men and women have prayed at different points in the day every day, throughout the history of the Christian Faith. And even before that remember Daniel prayed three times a day. Talk to God, listen to God, he has spoken and does speak, when we pray, especially when our prayers are centered upon his Word. If you want to continue with the daily readings, please scan this QR code which will take you to a site with a Bible Reading Plan that will take you through the whole Bible in 2 years. You will also go through the Psalms 3 or 4 times. You can also access the site, with this web address http:/ / goo.gl/ UdVnW

This devotional was put together by Ian Rankine, Claire Teague and Lindsey Cianciotta.