THANKFUL

Friday, June 28, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

We’re forever thankful, Jesus, that You’re our good and faithful Shepherd. As “sheep” of Your pasture, we see You holding Your rod and staff, and find comfort (Psalm 23:4b). Although Your rod corrects and disciplines us when we stray, we rejoice to see the hooked end of Your rod reaching down to rescue us from danger and lift us out of the pitfalls in this fallen world. But woe to the enemy when he sees You flip Your rod around to wield the staff end and he puts a whupping on him. Now Your comforting rod is a mighty weapon that protects the sheep from attacks. Once the threat is eliminated, Your rod again gently guides Your sheep along life’s pathway.

Every night, You gently touch each sheep’s head with Your rod, counting each one as they enter the safety of the pen. The tender touch of the Shepherds rod confirms we belong to the Shepherd and He provides everything we need. Our Shepherd watches over us. We rest in peace (John 10:11–14).But if the count reveals some are missing, You are faithful to leave the ninety-nine and go searching for the lost sheep (Luke 15:4). Lord Jesus, we’re thankful for the comfort and assurance of Your rod and staff, especially when we walk through the darkest valleys.

Forgive our sins, heal our nation. May our nation’s leaders honor You and govern by Your principles.

So good to feel the touch of Your rod on our head, counting us as one of Yours.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord Jesus, You are our faithful and loving Shepherd, tenderly caring for Your people. You are our strength when the difficulties, the heartbreaks and grief of this fallen world rip our souls apart. We have this biblical promise: We will walk through the darkest valley (Psalm 23:4). Your Word emphasizes that for Christ-followers and those who do not follow You — everyone — will walk through this valley at some time in our lives. No exceptions. Unfortunately, in this broken world, many will make several trips through the valley. Another biblical fact about the valley: evil is present (Ephesians 6:12).

The enemy of our souls knows when we are in the valley, we are at our weakest—physically, emotionally and spiritually. Our humanity is most vulnerable to attacks. For those who have placed their trust in You, Jesus, You’re carrying them in Your arms. When evil attacks, they must get through You first. For those who rely on their own strength, the trip’s pain is magnified. Depression is common. Despair becomes rampant. The enemy shows no mercy when we are at our lowest. But You are true to Your Word, Lord God, and You send Your Spirit to reach out to those poor souls pummeled by the enemy’s attacks. Psalm 34:18 tells us You are close to the brokenhearted, to those crushed in spirit. And we know when we enter the valley for the final time, we will not fear, for You are with us, carrying us to the other side.

Thankful You are with us when we walk through the darkest valley, Jesus.

In Your name, Amen.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

We’re thankful You are our true and faithful Shepherd who leads us in the right paths. You do this to make us like You since we represent You in this fallen world. We’re Your namesake here (Psalm 23:3).

At times our journey can be confusing when we are going through trials and problems, some which leave more questions than answers. “I thought this was a pathway of righteousness,” I cry to You lord, “but it seems like it is more a problem pathway. Where’s Easy Street?” Then You, my Shepherd, gently remind me that Easy Street is a myth. If I’m Your spokesperson and carry Your name to those in my world, then I must go through problems and face resistance just as You did. I won’t have to sacrifice my life on a cross for the sins of the world, but I need to place my will on the altar of sacrifice if I’m to follow Your paths of righteousness. This is part of the maturing of my faith, persevering when the outcome is uncertain, believing Your promises and resisting the devil’s temptation to my prideful, impatient inner man to take things into my own hands (James 1:4). You give me another reminder — that’s how I ended up in the spiritual desert in the first place and not resting in Your green pastures. Lord Jesus, my Shepherd, help me follow You despite the stormy waters of life. May my obedience keep me on the path of righteousness for Your namesake.

Forgive our sins, heal our nation. Unite us under Your principles and show us how to love one another.

I’m walking with You Lord Jesus along Your path of righteousness. Thankful You’re the God who trust me with Your namesake.

Amen.

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord Jesus, You are my shepherd. Therefore, I lack no good thing or have want. When I’m following You, I’m not anxious about anything but I rest peacefully in green pastures (Psalm 23: 1,2). But even when I’m following You and doing Your will, sometimes I’m tossed by the waves on the sea of life. And when my soul feels threatened to be dashed against the rocks, and I feel like I’m going under, I can trust You to come walking on the water to me. The first words You speak to the storms are Peace be still. The winds and waves immediately obey when they hear Your voice. The seas calm, the winds cease. and we walk hand and hand to the peaceful oasis You prepared for me (verse 2). Here, You restore my peace, my joy. My soul is refreshed, renewed (verse 3). The fruit is always luscious, and I eat my fill. The cool water is sweet, and my thirst is quenched. My sleep is restful while You hold me in Your arms. How can we know the extent of Your amazing peace and restoration if You never allow us to go through these storms, Lord Jesus? Build our faith. May we always look for You walking on the water toward us when storms come into our lives.

Resting with You Jesus beside quiet waters. Amen!

Monday, June 24, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord Jesus, You are my shepherd and I want to trust You completely. You said I would not be in want or lack any good thing. As Your follower, I must live in this fallen world. When the world’s attractions of promised pleasures and fulfillments lure me away from the “flock,” before I know it, my soul is wandering in a spiritual desert. The longer I’m trending in this wasteland, the more normal its environment becomes. My frustration grows to unhealthy levels and my striving to make happen what I want, leaves me wanting. But because You are my Shepherd, You’re faithful to come after me and bring me back to the fold.

You, not the world, can only offer our restless souls what we need. You beckon us to abandon our selfish determination to do things our way and follow You out of our spiritual wilderness. Trust Me. Stick with Me, My child, for I have much more waiting for you that you cannot imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Surrendering to Your will, we find ourselves resting in the green lush pastures we searched for but never found in the world’s systems (Psalm 23:2). In peace, we close our eyes and listen as You speak Your Love over us. This rest of surrender from my selfish striving is a good thing.

Oh, Lord, make me a faithful “sheep” and not wander away from Your goodness. Help me stay focused on You, following You, listening to Your voice.

Resting the Your lush green pastures, Jesus. Amen,

Friday, June 21, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, at times I’m at a loss as how to pray when life seems more than I can bare. One problem after another pops, and here I am wondering what just hit me! I’ve tried to do what pleases You, Jesus, but still I’m left scratching my head, asking You what’s goin’ on. When I quiet my mind for a few seconds, I hear You speaking to my inner man. Dear child. Don’t fret. Try praying my Word, you know, that book on the shelf you take out on Sundays. I literally breathed My Word into the writer’s spirit as they wrote My words. My Spirit that was in them is My same Holy Spirit living within you, so just put your name in there and see how your faith rises.

Oh, Lord, that makes so much sense. Let me begin with the 23^rd Psalm, the one we learned as a kid.

“Lord, Jesus, You are my Shepherd.” You’re my best friend and know all about me. You know everything about me and what lies ahead. As my shepherd, help me to follow You and not wander off path where You are leading me.

“Lord Jesus, since You’re my Shepherd, I shall not be in want or be anxious, since You supply all my needs.” You have my wellbeing always on Your mind. I can trust You like none other. Help me rest in Your promise to provide everything I need, even new measures of faith to believe Your promises written in Your Word.

Give us a desire to wipe the dust off our Bibles and get into what You are saying. You will open our eyes to see Your truths. Renew the hunger to know more of You that we once had. The pressures of life push us at times that our priorities are misplaced. But praying Your Word will be praying Your will.

Praying Your Word in all circumstances, Jesus. Amen.

Thursday, June 20, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, I get so physically and spiritually weak, trying to be all I need to be. As a husband/wife, father/mother, brother/sister, maybe single head of the household, I’m often overwhelmed. I know what I should be, but I fall short of that ideal. Lord, what can I do? I must admit to You my weaknesses and shortcomings. Help me be open before You, since You know the depths of my heart anyway.

In our humanity, we’re hesitant to admit we’re afraid of failing, afraid of disappointing You. But even as Christ-followers, we still sin and fall short of Your standards. Chapter 11 of Hebrews openly exposes how men and women of great faith failed but You still used them to change the world. Lord, cause our failures to make us run to You. Correct us in Your tender mercy, strengthen us to keep plugging away to live for You and do Your will. Open our spiritual eyes to see how You change our stumblings into stepping-stones to higher levels of faith. We don’t have to lean on our own understanding to figure out how You will perform Your will. That’s not our job anyway, since Your ways are higher than our ways and Your thoughts are not our thoughts. Your plan for every believer is not remain spiritually impoverished but be ever increasing our trust in who You are, becoming more like You. By the Holy Spirit’s help, use us to change our world and keep moving forward with You, Lord God.

Forgive our sins. Heal our nation. May we as individuals and as a people turn from our wicked ways and return to You.

Thankful You, Jesus, that You use us even when we fall short. Amen.

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Oh, Lord, when You look at us, You see everything. Nothing is hidden from You. Our deepest heart secrets are on open display. Every fear, hurt, regret, every morsel of unforgiveness, every ounce of prejudice is uncovered. You know the extent of our love for You since we placed our trust in You to forgive our sins. But for believers and unbelievers alike, when You look at we mortals, since we are created in Your image, You see Yourself (Genesis 1:26). And it swells Your heart to see Your kids living for You, taking on Your character and furthering Your kingdom, doing Your will here as it is in Heaven. But Your heart breaks to see people captive to sin, alienated from You, people created in Your image, wandering aimlessly in this broken world like sheep without a shepherd.

Because we are so precious to Your heart, You were moved by Your great love, a love beyond human description, to save mankind. Man’s efforts to obtain salvation proved futile. The only way to redeem us from the power of sin was for a greater power to pay our sin debt. Because of Your incredible love and unrestricted grace, You sent Your only Son Jesus to us, who showed us who You are and to paid the debt for the sins of man to obtain our salvation. To paraphrase the most quoted Scripture, John 3:16 For You, Lord God, so loved Your greatest creation, man–who You created in Your image– that You sent Your only Son Jesus to pay our sin debt. Anyone who believes that Jesus came from You and paid the price for our sins, You will save and give eternal life.

Thankful we are created in Your image, Lord God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Monday, June 17, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, many of us grew up singing the old gospel hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” After a few hundred repetitions of that great hymn, we paid little attention to the words. Instead, our minds wandered as to what’s for lunch or who the Cowboys are playing. Now, Lord, the words have an impact on our spiritual life. “All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.”

Lord Jesus, You experienced everything temptation we face when You spent those forty days alone in the wilderness, being tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1–11). He hit You with everything in his bag, trying to get You sin. He offered everything from fame to wealth to power to unlimited fleshly desires to anything our humanity could imagine–physical, emotional, spiritual– yet You did not fall to his temptation. The fact You resisted these temptations using Your humanity and the power of the Scriptures leaves us speechless. The devil figured if he could get You to revert to Your divinity to resist him, then he would have won! The devil would brag, See, no human can resist me! It can’t be done. Jesus even had to revert to His divinity to resist me! But because You, Jesus, overcame temptations in Your humanity, we who have placed our faith in You have Your Spirit living in us to overcome these same temptations. We have no greater friend than You, Jesus. You understand us, because You experienced every temptation and trial we experience. So, when we come to You in prayer, You assure us My child, I’ve been there, done that, won that! Trust Me (Hebrews 4:15).

May we always make You our Best Friend Forever, Jesus. Amen.

Friday, June 14, 2019

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, my faith is weak, so weak my soul barely speaks Your name. I’m struggling. The mountain of uncertainty before me intimidates my humanity. The enemy of my soul whispers his sinister lies, “There’s no way you will get out of this! This is too much, even for God.” In my brokenness, my soul cries out, “Lord God, are You in this at all? Lord, where are You?” Doubts about Your faithfulness cloud my judgement. All this time, have I trusted in You in vain? Am I being punished for some unconfessed sin? Where did I go wrong? Lord, Your silence is killing me. I need some answers!

Why are you anxious, my child? I hear You whisper. When You placed your faith in me to be your Savior and Lord, I became your Lord of all. I even became your Lord of your uncertainty. No, You’re not being punished for your sins, I took that for you. Know my truth: if you knew everything for certain, how would your faith grow. Trust Me with your uncertainties.

Lord, Your Word tells me not to lean on my own understanding, but in everything acknowledge You, and You will direct my path (Proverbs 3:5–6). Help me not to focus all my attention on the mountains but on You Lord, the Mountain Mover. Strengthen my faith so I can say confidentially, “Lord, Your faithfulness is rock-solid. I trust You with my uncertainty, knowing Your Spirit is guiding my life.”

Trusting You Jesus, my Mountain Mover Jesus. Amen.