THANKFUL

Friday, August 09, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, our desire is to let your light and love shine through us. Many in this world are looking for the peace and purpose you give. In their efforts to find meaning for their lives, they try everything except looking to you. May our lives reflect what they are searching for. You word repeatedly instructs us to glorify the Lord (Psalm 34:2–5), but how do we do that?

When others see Jesus in us, we glorify you. When those who don’t know you ask you why we live the way we do, when they notice our actions show grace and not a “get even” attitude, we glorify you. When we don’t judge others, but treat all with respect, we glorify you. When we are quick to offer forgiveness, we glorify you. And when the skeptics and mockers highlight our flaws, point out our mistakes, recall the times we have stumbled in our faith, how we miss the standard you set for your followers, we glorify you by reminding them that, yes, we are not denying our flaws, but we are forgiven by God and we belong to you. Despite not understanding everything, praising you in all circumstances glorifies you. This glorifies you, Lord God, when we practice such before the world.

In sickness and in health, we glorify you by persevering in the hope found in you. Believers glorify you when sickness lingers, damaging and sometimes destroying the body, but never destroying our alive-in-Christ spirits. We glorify you when, despite our illnesses or afflictions, we remain joyful and full of life.

Bless our friends in El Paso and Dayton, planning funerals for loved ones. Only you, Lord God, can bring the spiritual and emotional healing they need during these most difficult times. May your grace sustain them as they seek you. Let they feel your tears as they shed theirs.

May everything we do glorify you, Jesus. Amen.