THANKFUL

Thursday, July 11, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Oh, Lord, Your Word states Your decrees that You expect of Your followers to obey. When I study these commands, and realize Your holiness, I see no way of humanly keeping what You require of Your followers. I’m not alone. The psalmist saw the same dilemma and poured his heart out to you about his powerless situation. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying Your decrees (Psalm 119:3–4). Thank You, Lord, for not leaving us in such a situation. After we placed our faith in Jesus’ work on the cross, You gave Your followers the Holy Spirit to keep us on the right path with You. In this fallen world, we still cannot keep all Your precepts. The battle of temptation to sin never ends, but the Holy Spirit is working overtime to eliminate our rough edges and replace them with Your grace and character. My prayer is for more of Your Spirit in my life to lead me in Your ways, and a lot less of me trying to figure out on my own what’s going on. Help me see You working in all things as Your love shines through me. And help us all to be real people, humbled knowing we are saved only by Your grace and not by our efforts.

Heal the sick in body, soul and spirit. Comfort those who mourn, whose grief seems to be unending. Raise the spiritually dead. Renew the spark in marriages that are barely glowing and nearly snuffed out. Give hope to the hopeless, let Your encouragement drive out despair. Be the companion the lonely desire, be the confidence the fearful need. Show the rejected Your acceptance of them as they are. For those who live in shame, assure them their actions and poor choices are not beyond Your grace and that salvation and redemption is available to all.

Thank You for giving us Your Spirit so we don’t walk this journey of faith alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.