READ Acts 9
On his way to Damascus, Saul has a divine revelation of Jesus and is converted.

INSIGHT
From God’s perspective, the relationship between Christ and the church is a very close and dear one. Jesus is the Son of God; the church is His bride. To harm the church is to harm Christ. Though Paul never laid a hand on Him, Jesus spoke from heaven, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (v. 4). Just as Paul did, we must strive to gain God’s perspective on who we are. We are His bride, His chosen one, the delight of His life. When we see ourselves as He sees us, we can be more successful at living as we should.

PRAYER
Offer your praise to the Lord because He turns even the difficult things into good:
Hallelujah!
Praise God in his sanctuary.
Praise him in his mighty expanse.  
Praise him for his powerful acts;  
Praise him for his abundant greatness.  
Praise him with the blast of a ram’s horn;  
Praise him with harp and lyre.  
Praise him with tambourine and dance;  
Praise him with strings and flute.  
Praise him with resounding cymbals;
Praise him with clashing cymbals.  
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.  
Hallelujah! (Psalm 150:1-6).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Yet he himself bore our sicknesses,
And he carried our pains;  
But we in turn regarded him stricken,
Struck down by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced because of our rebellion,  
Crushed because of our iniquities;  
Punishment for our peace was on him,
And we are healed by his wounds
(Isaiah 53:4-5).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
You will keep the mind that is dependent on you
In perfect peace, for it is trusting in you
(Isaiah 26:3).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

• The renewing of your mind
• The needs of your extended family
• Your activities for the day

Close with the following prayer:
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
All the days of my life,  
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
As long as I live (Psalm 23:6).