THANKFUL

Monday, February 7, 2022

Lord, after placing our faith in You and Your redemptive sacrifice on the cross, we learn the enemy of our faith puts a bounty on our head and works overtime attempting to keep us from developing Your character in our lives.  Your Word says that after coming to You, we’re not the same person we were. Second Corinthians 5:17 definition of “born again” is simple: our old person is gone forever and our new, regenerated person has arrived. Our old way of life is history, buried and remembered no more by God. We now have only a future with You Jesus. However, our transformation from our old prone-to-sin self to our new Christlike self is a lifelong process. New Christ-followers soon learn a big lesson: problems and trials fashion us in becoming like You. Where did people get the idea You promised Your followers an easy road. The Apostle Paul certainly knew this truth all too well. To paraphrase Paul’s encouragement to the persecuted Roman believers, he wrote “We can rejoice, too, when encounter problems and trials, for we know they help us be more like Christ” (Romans 5:3). Help me see the progress I’ve made in my journey with You. Today, may my reaction to an unexpected problem reveal to me and others how much You, have changed my life and may my actions bring You glory.

On the road to becoming more like You, Jesus. Amen!

Friday, February 4, 2022

Lord, society seems to be gripped by an anxious spirit. Uncertainty has people asking, “What’s next?” The stability we enjoyed before covid is like a long, forgotten dream. Divisiveness is like a cruel disease, an offshoot of covid spreading among the people. Bickering with one another over the pandemic, its origin, vax or no vax, mask or not mask, has become a blood sport. To those heartbroken by the loss or near-loss of loved ones and friends, the pandemic is life changing. Others are flippant, ignoring the warnings of the crisis. People demand answers but come up empty handed. What’s truth? What’s fake news? People are weary of this junk!

Arise oh, God. Give grace to Your followers to stand firm in the truth, that despite what we may see, You are in control (Jeremiah 10:23). Throughout history, in Your sovereignty, You have used troubles and calamities to bring Your stubborn and rebellious people to repentance and renewed faith in You. May we not curse the trials but open our spiritual eyes to see these difficulties as a platform for You to reveal Your lovingkindness to a fearful world.  We pray in these troubled times people will seek You, and find Your grace is the stable foundation for their lives, regardless of what is happening around them.

Living in the truth Your grace is greater than covid, Lord God. Amen.

Thursday, February 3, 2022

Lord, the more we seek You, spending time together, honestly talking with You about our everyday life, our struggles, fears, our dreams, and of course, our heartaches, the more we see our worth, as humans created in Your image, and our worth as Christ-followers. Everything we go through here, You have been through the same, tempted by the devil day and night without reprieve. We’re imperfect and flawed people saved by Your mercy and grace, yet You have chosen to identify with all who have placed their trust and faith in You, Jesus. Your Word describes how In Heaven’s great assembly, You represent us to all: “I [Jesus] will declare [your name here] to my brothers and sisters [other redeemed saints]; in the assembly [Heaven], I [Jesus] will sing [your name here] your praises.” What about our worth? Jesus shed blood paid our sin debt to redeem us from eternal damnation and give us eternal life.  Therefore, Hebrews 2:12 states how Jesus is quick to show us off before Heaven’s throng.

As Your followers, Jesus, may we never forget how we are worthy because of who You are and what You have done. Amen.

 Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Lord, You made becoming a part of the Kingdom of God so easy. To join the ranks of the redeemed we simply trust that on the cross, You Jesus, did everything necessary to forever separate us from our sin. This is indeed a cause for celebration. Membership in the Kingdom of God comes with freedom from the debt of our sins and living eternally in heaven with You, Lord God. In the Kingdom of God, You call us Your children (John 1:12) and Jesus calls us His brothers and sisters (Hebrews 2:11). However, Lord, both You and I know me and my struggles in life.  All I can only bring into Your kingdom is a repentant and humble heart.  My pride of my earthly accomplishments, my social status, education, the “atta-boy” placards on the wall, my ranking in the pecking order in religious hierarchy—all mean nothing. A prideful Christ-follower is not following You. Jesus, You said, “[u]nless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:3). May I never forget that the Kingdom of God is about You, Jesus, and not me. Help me guard against allowing the gifts and talents You’ve given me to replace You. May my attitude be that of childlike faith, that I depend on You for my physical and spiritual needs. And Lord, keep me from thinking more of myself than I really am. I hate to think what I’d be without Your grace.

Living in childlike wonder in the Kingdom of God, amen.

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Lord, Your amazing unconditional love amazes me. Even though sometimes I don’t follow Your ways and do stupid stuff, Your love toward me never changes. I’m left speechless. Your love is genuine and sincere, far greater than any human can show. Most times when I choose not to run my choice by You first, You say, “okay, go right ahead. You’ll talk to me later.” and allow me to suffer the consequences of my impulsiveness. And that’s okay too, since ultimately, these lessons teach me to walk closer with You and pay attention to obedience. As only You can, You use these disciplines to develop more of Your character in me. I’ll never deny that discipline may be painful at times, but You’re God, and You work all things for my good, even my bad decisions. Because I’m Your child, I don’t live in fear of You rejecting me every time I fail, discarding me as a hopeless cause, ready to rain down Your wrath on me. Jesus already took that on the cross on my behalf.  And because You don’t just love, You are Love, I can hold fast to the promise of 1 John 4:18. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.”

We praise You, Lord Jesus, for Your kindness and mercy, Your unconditional love that makes life worth living. Amen.

Monday, January 31, 2022

Lord, meditating on Your Word and being in a continual conversation with You releases Your peace that surrounds us despite life’s difficulties. The ancient scribe knew the secret of staying on top of his circumstances, whether good or dire. “Those who love Your instructions have great peace,” the psalmists wrote, “and nothing will cause them to stumble” (Psalm 119:165). We love how the King James puts this truth, “Great peace have those who keep Your Law, and nothing shall offend them.” Years later, the prophet Isaiah reaffirmed this truth for the faithful who resided in a nation that turned its back on God: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trusts in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You,” (Isaiah 26:3).  Every day in this fallen world those who call You their Lord and Savior carry a target on their back for the slings and arrows of the enemy of our faith. Despite the lies, slanders, the mocking of who You are by self-deceived fools, and the denigration of Christ-followers as bumbling people who need an emotional crutch, keeping our minds stayed on You keeps the door open for Your presence amid life’s storms. Again, we pray for our “enemies,” those who smear Your name and Your followers (Matthew 5). As countless numbers have discovered, when their world turns against them, may they turn to You and find the true, fulfilling life they sought.

 Thank You, Lord, and may I so continually dwell in Your presence that the enemy of my soul can never offend me.  Amen.

Friday, January 28, 2022

Lord, people ask why I choose to follow You and order my life according to Your precepts. Skeptics say be your own man! Be like the guy in the song and “do things my way.” Over the years that method of handling life’s stuff has proved to be unreliable and doesn’t always result in our best interest. I’d rather my reply be like the psalmist who, when mocked as being weak for trusting in some unseen entity, never wavered.  He wanted everyone, friend or foe, to hear him clearly: “This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him” (Psalm 91:2). In this topsy-turvy world, where else can my soul find refuge and safety than being in Your sweet presence?  And sweet is Your love that covers us when our hearts are broken and our world is falling apart, because life’s stuff happens to everyone. But we’re never abandoned. You’ve stated emphatically in Romans 8:38-39 that nothing in this world can separate us from Your love. We find peace in the shelter of the Almighty amid the storms of life for we trust You are who You say You are and will do what You say You will do.

Lord, may the skeptics find You when trusting in themselves leaves them empty.  Amen!

Thursday, January 27, 2022

Lord, why would any Christ-follower intentionally wander from the protection of “dwelling in the shelter of the Most High” (Psalm 91:1), since when we live in Your shelter we have everything we need for a meaningful life that pleases You.  The reality of living in this broken world finds that many of Your followers, myself included, stray outside Your shelter’s covering, not by choice but through unintended negligence in staying close to You. No, we haven’t abandoned the faith nor lost our salvation, since that is impossible once You claim us as Your own. It’s just the subtle lure of these distractions make falling away easy, too easy in fact. Blindly, we’ve wandered far from You before we realize our spiritual condition. We’re not bad people, just distracted, too busy with life’s demands in our sometime chaotic world. The enemy who opposes our faith tempts our weaknesses and lays fleshly traps in our way, just like he did to You, Jesus. But Lord, You never have, nor will ever, abandon You own. You stand at our side, waiting for our cry for deliverance from the trap we’ve found ourselves in (Psalm 91:3). You always come through, Your grace washes us clean, Your Calvary’s blood washes away our failures.

Thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness to come after us to rescue Your people, who like sheep, wander from Your protective shelter. Amen!

Wednesday, January 26, 2022,

Lord, because the psalmist David dwelt in the shelter of the Most High, whether in good or bad circumstances, he proclaimed, “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and fortress. His faithful promises are my armor and protection” (Psalm 91:2,4). David belonged to You and affirmed repeatedly You are who You say You are, therefore, You would fight his battles. Those around David saw Goliath through human eyes. David acknowledged what stood before him, but he also knew he was not alone. Through spiritual eyes, David saw Goliath defeated, for he approached his giant in the name and power of the Lord God.  “This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:47) he boldly spoke to the giant. Friends offered to equip David with what they trusted, human efforts for human protection. David considered their offers but found human efforts contradicted what You, Lord God, wanted to do. You gave David faith to face his giant with what he had, a simple slingshot, but whatever we give You in faith, You anoint with Your power. David launched the rock, but Your unseen hand guided the stone to bring down the giant. The victory is Yours, Lord. You bring victory over our giants in unexpected ways so that no one can dispute You don’t fight our battles.  Amen!

Monday, January 24, 2022

Lord, as described in Psalm 91:1, You extend an open invitation to anyone who is weary, tired of fighting the battles on their own in this fallen world to come dwell in the “shelter of the Most High.” Faith opens the door of Your protective shelter—trusting that You, Lord God, are who You say You are and will do what You say You will do. No one is turned away who uses the faith key to open the door. However, by faith we must willingly leave our burdens, problems, worries, anxieties, doubts, et al., at the door. This useless baggage is not allowed in Your shelter if we are to find the rest and comfort we so desperately need. You assure us those who dwell in Your shelter find rest “in the shadow of the Almighty.” Resting in Your shadow indicates we are close to You, but more importantly, indicates You are close to us, standing guard over Your own. While we are safely in the shelter, resting in Your shadow, the enemy is left standing outside, helplessly looking in and sees You standing behind us, arms folded, not putting up with any of his nonsense. “Just what do you think you’re doing?” You sternly rebuke the devil.

Thank You, Lord, for Your power, protection, and comfort found in Your shadow.