THANKFUL

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Thank you, Lord, for being at our side, all day, every day. Once we come to you in repentance and you seal us forever with your Spirit in our inner man, we are glued to you. Your word says the presence of your Spirit within us guarantees our eternal security with you in heaven (Ephesians 1:14). No matter how we try, we cannot shake your Spirit, who makes us one with you. (Why would we want to?) How humbling to know you trust flawed, tend-to-wander-sin-prone people with your message of grace and forgiveness to share with others looking for purpose and meaning in life. Lord Jesus, when you are the Lord of our life and your Spirit consumes us, your love cannot help but spill out of us onto others. There’s no hiding it! And thank you for placing other believers in our lives to keep us encouraged in our faith.

If we get the bighead and start thinking we are more than what we are, we’re thankful your Spirit reminds us how your grace saved us and not our attempts at being a goodie-two-shoes. May we develop the same attitude John the Baptist had when he spent time with you, Jesus. As recorded in John chapter 3, we have only what has been given to us from above, therefore, God must increase in my life, and my prideful self must be placed on the back burner. Let us draw closer to you, Jesus, as we travel this path of faith, so that your desires become our desires (Psalm 37:4).

Bring emotional, physical and spiritual healing to those who call out to you. Send your Spirit to raise the spiritually dead to renewed life in you. Comfort those who grieve from the sorrows in this fallen world. May all who call on you find the hope the desperately need.

Protect our friends from the ravages of hurricane Dorian bearing down on them. Protect their lives and their properties. Give them wisdom to make wise decisions for their safety and preparation. When the storm has passed, raise your church up to be all the people need you to be. May this storm cause people who never gave you a second thought to call out to you. Open their spiritual eyes to see who you really are, Jesus. May your grace and mercy draw all people to you.

Forgive our sins. Heal our nation. Start a spiritual renewal in each of us.

Praying you increase in my life, Jesus. Amen.