THANKFUL

Friday, March 25, 2022

Lord, we picture the psalmist as Your perfect follower, spending his days reclining under a tree in picturesque green pastures, playing a harp and eating grapes while writing prose that honors You. That’s far from an accurate picture. In truth, Scripture indicates he is more like me, and likely, all Your followers. His faith had its ups and downs, his periods of faithfulness to You and his near and far wanderings. He remembered his promise to follow You, and he was sincere. But then life’s stuff got him sidetracked, and he found himself trying to figure life out on his own. Nothing made sense. Predictably, without the joy of Your presence, he was miserable. And as You faithfully promised for Your true followers, Your Holy Spirit revealed how out-of-step the psalmist walked with You and Your Spirit had to holy-slap him back to his senses. He owned up to his wandering and made a new vow. “I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again,” he wrote with a contrite heart. “I will obey your righteous regulations.”  He lamented about the state of his life. “I have suffered much, O Lord. Restore my life again as you promised” (Psalm 119:106, 107).

Believers and non-believers alike suffer in this fallen world. However, as the psalmist found, how much better is it to face life’s challenges with You, Lord God, surrounded by Your presence, than to go through life on your own.

Lord, I give Your Holy Spirit permission to holy-slap me when I need it to get me back on track. Amen.

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Lord, did I read that right? Searching for Scriptures about what pleases You, I found throughout the Old and New Testaments Your Word reveals dozens of Scriptures that describe how we may please You. However, I cannot say I “stumbled” upon Revelation 4:11, rather I’d say Your Spirit directed me to this truth: “You were pleased to create me,” i.e., I brought a big ear-to-ear grin to Your face when You created me. Paul describes Your kids as a “masterpiece” (Ephesians 2:10). But as my life unfolded, were You still smiling when Your “masterpiece” ignored You and disregarded Your commandments to live as I pleased?  Maybe I wasn’t what the world calls evil or wicked, perhaps occasionally referred to as a good guy, but was my rebellion against You, which caused me to crash and burn when I hit rock bottom spiritually, pleasing to You? Yes, You were pleased—overjoyed maybe—to show me what You do best. Your outstretched hand offers mercy, grace, and redemption for all who call out to You in their brokenness. Without a doubt, You are pleased to salvage the shattered and bruised pieces of our life by Your compassion, healing our wounded soul and spirit, and flooding us with unexplainable love to remake us into something beautiful that only You can create.

As I’m basking in Your love, Jesus, I envision looking up into Your wonderful, loving face, smiling at Your big toothy grin. Amen

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Lord, the psalmist lived a while in his own arrogance, ignoring Your precepts and Your Words of life. He was the king, and he acted like it.  His self-centered ways didn’t turn out well. As with most defiance of living contrary to God’s Word, what he’d hope would bring fulfillment only brought misery compounded at every turn. Second Samuel 12 tells how Nathan the prophet, brought God’s Word to admonish King David. “Hey, king, God is asking you, how’s that rebellious life working out for you?” He came to his senses, repented, and returned to living according to Your Word and values.  After David forsook the worthless things he chased after and sought You with all his being, Your mercy and grace restored his peace. The assurance his sins were forever forgiven brought an unexplainable joy to his soul, and the joy of his salvation sustained him daily on his road with You.  Years later, as David reflected over his life’s ups and downs, he penned his thoughts for our benefit. To paraphrase one such example, Psalm 119:92: If Your Words of truth about Your merciful character and unfailing love had not grabbed hold of my spirit when I acted the fool, I would have died in my misery.” The Lord God to the rescue again.

Lord, we’re thankful when we seek You, Your Word will always reach out to us when we need it most. Amen.

Monday, March 21, 2022

Lord, You are good. You always do what is right, especially when a Christ-follower goes astray. You’re our Good Shepherd and we’re Your people, the sheep of Your pasture (Psalm 100:3). And like sheep, we wander occasionally, thinking our own pastures are greener. Gradually, Your voice becomes a distant sound. We’re unaware of the wolves lurking nearby, licking their chops. However, You’re faithful, desiring none to perish when we get off-track. Just like me, the psalmist was so imperfect. How he knew Your mercy firsthand. He realized he’d wandered again and didn’t deserve mercy, but he also realized Mercy is part of Your character. “Remember me in light of Your unfailing love, for You are merciful, O Lord,” he cried in repentance, heartbroken how he failed You again. “You, Lord, are good and do what is right; You show the proper path to those who go astray” (Psalm 25:7-8). You lead us home again.

Give me the discipline to stay close to You, Lord Jesus. I’ll recognize and reject the other voices wooing me, which are from the enemy. May I grow closer to You to the point I recognize no other voice except Yours, my Good Shepherd (John 10:11).

When I’m hanging out with You, Jesus, the sheep-eating wolves don’t stand a chance. Amen

Friday, March 18, 2022

Lord, No one likes pain. You hardwired our humanity to avoid suffering at all costs yet pain visits everyone, no exceptions. People of all stripes throughout the centuries join the ancient psalmist to ask the same question: why do good people suffer? For the believer, is there a purpose for our suffering? How should we view suffering? As a good thing? Maybe punishment? A consequence of a poor life-choice? Perhaps a bridge to deeper faith?

In Psalm 51, King David acknowledged his sin brought on his suffering, and he pleaded with You, Lord God, for mercy and grace. Violations of Your standards will always brings suffering in some form. But what about those who live as close as humanly possible to Your standards yet are afflicted with pain and suffering that seems more than they can bear? The psalmist suffered great pain in his later years from what some scholars believe was diabetes, yet he declared this spiritual truth: suffering was good for me since it caused Your Word [Your promises] to come alive to me (Psalm 119:71). As with the psalmist, amid our suffering, Lord, You will bring new levels of grace we otherwise would have never known. Develop in us a deeper understanding of Your Word than we had before our suffering, which will bring us a greater awareness of Your presence. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us how You learned obedience through what You suffered, so we, Your followers, aren’t exempt from pain. Use our suffering, our afflictions to bring us closer to You.

Lord, assure Your followers You will never allow our suffering to be in vain, but will develop more Christlike character in us.  Amen

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Lord, human nature is the same today just as it ruled men three-thousand years ago. Our eternal, lying enemy, who desires to destroy our souls, promises an exciting and action-packed life if we abandon Your archaic and restrictive laws and live “free,” doing what comes naturally. Scripture recalls how the ancient psalmist fell for the devil’s lie and lived a few years in stupidity. At first, the excitement of licentious living was an adrenaline rush, but when the promises of that immoral lifestyle failed to materialize and life’s reality hit, the devil’s promises brought only misery and spiritual destruction. This lifestyle did not have an action-packed novel ending. Thank You, Lord, the psalmist came to his senses. He recorded his epiphany: “I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow Your laws” (Psalm 119:59). Centuries later, the story of the prodigal son re-enforces the foolishness of choosing a lifestyle void of God’s Word and His standards (Luke 15). A life without You leads to a dead end, but all that can change in an instant.

Lord, You remain faithful to reveal yourself to those who truly seek You. We praise You and thank You, Lord God, for You are the God who restores shattered lives, and You are pleased to redeem the time we wasted during our stupid years (Joel 2:25). Amen!

Pray for Ukraine. God, be merciful to those dear people.

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Lord, today keep me focused on You. If I’m to make it in this fallen world, then I need You all day, every day. As sure as the sun rises in the east, my convictions will be tested, my faith challenged. I want to thank You today for giving me Your promises. Like the ancient psalmist who recognized You as the “Promise Keeper,” I need Your help if I’m to order my life according to Your promises. They are my only hope, since You know how my wants, my desires, my will keeps me from meditating on Your Word. May I never give the enemy a victory by ordering my life according to my feelings instead of trusting my life according to Your Word (Psalm 119:49, 50). May Your promises touch my spirit to revive me when I’m struggling in some area. May Your promises protect my heart and keep me from reckless words and actions that would embarrass Your kingdom. And may I fully follow Your Spirit guidance to develop in me the Christ-follower You desire.

Thankful to follow You, the “Promise Keeper.” Amen.

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Lord, You see how I want to pray but often don’t know how or what I should pray for. It’s this way when life is good, the sky is blue, and birds are singing.  It’s this way when the walls seem to be closing in. My mind is constantly bombarded with varying thoughts and ideas, coming from every different direction. So how do I process what is from You or what’s of my own making? My eternal enemy, the devil, throws out lies and half-truths, hoping something will stick. He’s sly, adding just enough truth to lure me to “just consider” his half-truth lies. It’s an old trick. Lord, may I be like the psalmist, who didn’t fall for this sham. “Help me keep from lying to myself,” he wrote. “Give me the privilege of knowing Your instructions” (Psalm 119:29). Your Holy Spirit dwelling within me warns me when the devil tries to unload a whopper on me. Equip me like You did the psalmist who ordered his soul to “[…] hide Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). Knowing Your Word protects me and keeps me on the right path. Your Word knows how to handle a whopper!

Lord, we’re thankful You are our good Shepherd who watches over Your own. Amen.

Monday. March 14, 2022

Lord, today I choose to follow You. When You created me in Your image You also gave me free will to do as I choose. It’s on me to follow wherever Your Spirit leads. You didn’t come to drag me along, kicking and screaming. You never promised Your followers a life of ease, without troubles, trials, broken hearts, or whatever life’s stuff throws at me. Whoever came up with that misguided “genie-in-a-bottle” theology didn’t know You. You don’t respond to selfish “Gimme this! Gimme that!” prayers. You’re not that kind of God. You’re the Holy Sovereign Lord God Almighty.  

You sent Your only Son Jesus to save us. He simply invites us. “Follow Me. I’m leading you on the adventure of your lifetime. You won’t regret it! It’s your choice.” (Psalm 119:30, 31) 

When I became Your follower, You promised Your Holy Spirit would come live within me. You would forgive my sins forever; I’d no longer be condemned.  You’d never leave me or forsake me. You promised to work all things for my good. Your Spirit gives me power over the enemy of my soul, love for others —especially those who are a challenge to love—and a sound mind to discern spiritual things. You promised nothing in this physical world or unseen world will ever separate me from Your love. In my weakness, You promised Your grace would strengthen and equip me to do what I cannot do on my own. And when I leave here, You promised I’ll share the glories of Heaven with You.

Lord, living for You is quite a ride! Amen.

Friday, March 11, 2022

Lord, You know our hearts. We desire to serve You, but we struggle with our wandering-sheep humanity and lose sight of the important things in life. You bless Your followers and remain faithful to supply our needs. Living for You and obeying Your Word should always be our number one priority. If we’re not diligent to stay close to You, however, worldly attitudes can set up residence in our mind to turn our focus away from the spiritual and on to the carnal. The desires to get ahead in life, to excel in our careers, to improve our family’s standard of living are all noble and good, and we all should strive to improve our lot. But when these goals consume us to the point they are always forefront on our mind, they become the idols Your Word warns us about. Idols come in all forms. That new gadget we could not live without last month now sits in the corner, collecting dust. Remember the outfit you hoped would make you king/queen of the ball? How about the Netflix episodes we binge on over the weekends?  This battle to say plugged into You, Lord, has waged a long time. The psalmist found himself in this situation and saw where he was headed. “I will obey Your decrees,” he promised in repentance. “Please don’t give up on me!” (Psalm 119:8). He didn’t deny his wandering mind. “Turn my eyes from worthless things,” he pleaded. “And give me life through Your Word” (Psalm 119:37).

Lord, may this prayer be my heart’s desire. Amen.