THANKFUL

Monday, October 11, 2021

Lord, help me not fret. I don’t want a worrying heart. I want a faithful heart. You are my God and I want to believe You are in control of all things. My carnal self wants to question if You really are in control when I cannot understand why things turn out as they do, or not go as I planned. Did I sign up for this when I committed to following You, Jesus?  But as I seek You, the part of me that wants to grumble is suppressed by the Holy Spirit. Your Spirit reminds my born-again spiritual self how You have met my needs in the past. As only You can, Lord, You worked out circumstances I found unsolvable, changed people’s attitude toward me, or redirected my steps to avoid costly setbacks. I may be fearful at times, and that’s okay. That’s normal. But because You are my God, I need not be afraid. You’re my solid foundation that I stand upon. As Proverbs 16:9 states “we make our plans, but You [Lord] direct our steps.”

Thank You, Lord, for the confidence to know You are in control of all things. Amen.

Thursday, October 7, 2021
Lord, only You could implement such a plan. It is beyond our comprehension. Why would You leave the glories of Heaven and come to Earth as a flesh-and-blood human being, just like us, and live among us in this broken world (Philippians 2:5–7). It must be Your Love that we do not deserve, but humbly accept. Because our humanity is vulnerable, strong one minute, weak the next, You gave the Holy Spirit to live within all Christ-followers. Without the Holy Spirit, we’d be sitting ducks for the devil. But one reason You came was so You’d know exactly what it’s like to be tempted. like us. With all the hatred of Hell, the devil had to hubris to tempt You, the very Son of God. What makes us think the devil will not tempt us? Lord Jesus, You know what we feel because You too experienced the same thing as a human. Now You are at the right hand of our heavenly Father, interceding when we’re tempted. How thankful we are You can empathize with us (Hebrews 4:14–16).
Thank You, Lord, for giving us the Holy Spirit to fight the enemy’s temptations. Through You, we overcome. Amen

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Lord, when my focus drifts from Your plan for my life and I dwell on what others are doing, the enemy of our soul tempts me to move to Comparistan and compare my life with those who “have it all together.” I’m such a dud! Why can’t I be like them? They do everything perfectly, never stumble in faith. They always obey You completely. But not me! I daily fail You and fall short of Your standards (Romans 3:23). The devil lies, claiming I’m the only Christ-follower who constantly sins. The perfect ones never do. Funny, the devil is telling the perfect ones the same lies.

Thankfully, Your Spirit knocks this nonsense out of me. “Why do you listen to such rubbish?” You ask. “That’s not who you are. You’re my child, the redeemed.” My identity if found in You, Lord Jesus. Your Love is my love, Your Joy my joy, Your Peace my peace, Your Plan for me is uniquely for me only. Help me completely flee Comparistan, Lord.

Renouncing my citizenship in Comparistan, Jesus. Amen.

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Lord, being called to follow You means we are to stand out, be different from the world. Help me stand out, but in a good way. Maybe not like John the Baptist, who wore camel-skin clothes held together by a leather belt and had grasshopper parts stuck between his teeth. And not like some crazy, multi-colored hair, tambourine banging prophet of doom, wearing a sandwich board saying “The End Is Near!” and telling everyone they’re going to Hell. Lord, I want to be like You. In true humility, may I stand out from the herd, having a holy confidence and a peace when the world is falling apart. I want to stand out by loving as You loved, Jesus. Help me show kindness to all, especially the rude and unlovely.  May I not jump on the judgmental bandwagon when the world is jumping on some poor soul who is down and feels hopeless. Show me how to be a friend and lead them to see their worth and value is found in You.  May I not let my achievements give me the big head, but keep me humble, knowing my success comes from You Lord.   And may I always tell of Your grace and mercy  as I share my story how You, Jesus, changed my life.

To You all the glory, Lord God. Amen.

Friday, October 1, 2021

Lord, following You isn’t about just barely scraping by in this life. For those who have trusted Your work on the cross, Jesus, You offer so much more than life in this broken world offers. . Following You is relishing the full, abundant and purposeful life You give. We’re never left on our own to figure out life or wonder what Your will is for us. You requested, and the Father sent the Holy Spirit to live within each of Your followers (John 16:5–16). So when life doesn’t turn out the way I expected, and I may struggle to understand the circumstances, Your Spirit within me assures me You got this. And may I never forget also that the same Spirit that raised You from the grave on Easter Sunday dwells within me (Romans 8:11). Therefore, no matter what I may face, God, You are greater and Your grace sustains me as You develop more of Your character in me.

Enjoying the benefits of following You, Jesus, amen.

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Lord, You’re our good heavenly Father, who beckons all to come to You. Your Love has no equal. You “gave Your only Son Jesus so that all who believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Jesus’ perfection highlights our imperfections. We’re broken people. In Your incredible Love and wanting none to be lost, You call all people everywhere to come to You. Sadly, not everyone thinks they need Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for salvation (1 Timothy 2:4). Just like the religious elites who harassed You, Jesus, be it pride or ignorance, many still trust their good deeds will cancel their sins. Their “Hey, God!-Look-how-good-I-am” arrogance must leave You laughing (Psalm 2:4). Some are so intelligent they insist all religions lead to You. The carnal part of me wants to say, “Boy, are you guys in for a surprise!” Such a pity if someone has never been broken before. Help me, Lord, remain humble and not fall into the trap a haughty spirit lays. Instead, help me pray for them.. May I never forget it was Your grace that saved me. You call broken people, You call people humble enough to know they need You. You call the prodigal to come home. Thank You, heavenly Father, for calling me. I’d be so lost without You.

Thankful that You called me by Your grace, Lord God,, amen.

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Lord, You assure all who humble themselves and come to You with a repentant heart that You will welcome us with open arms. Regardless of our past, no matter how ugly our sins, You will never shoo them away since Your sacrifice on the cross has paid our sin penalty. Your Word states that our sins are removed from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Cement this truth deep within our heart.  Even though he is aware of this truth, our eternal accuser, the devil, constantly points out our past failures (Revelation 12:10). Those deeds may have existed at one time but here’s the catch: all those events happened before our encounter with Jesus, on the “sin-side” of the cross. But Praise God.  All who have trusted You, Jesus, live past the cross, on the “sin-free” side, since Your shed blood has washed us clean of all sin and unrighteousness (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus, Your cross has freed me from the sins of my past. So, in the power of the cross, let me say emphatically, “Buzz off Satan! Your accusations have no merit.”

Thankful to be living in the freedom Jesus Christ gives all who follow Him. Amen.

Monday, September 27, 2021

Lord, You created us with a free will. You didn’t create robots who were programmed to do Your every command. No, You let us choose to obey You or make ourselves lord of our lives. You let us choose our behavior and lifestyle, even if those choices are not in our best interest. When You make Yourself known to us, it’s our choice to believe what You say or dismiss Your truths as something that doesn’t apply to us.  You warn us rebelling against You will hurt us, and You don’t want to see us missing the fullness of life You bring.  Like the prodigal son, You waited patiently for us to come to our senses. But, when in rebellion my soul became a train wreck, that’s when the truth of Romans 5:20 became clear: “As people sinned more and more, God’s grace became more abundant.” When we turn from sin and turn to You, Lord God, You are waiting with open arms for us.

Putting my trust in You Jesus and realizing how You paid my sin debt on the cross gives me a confidence You are who You say You are.

Oh, Jesus I just gotta tell everybody.  Amen.

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Lord, when we stubbornly think our limited human efforts can change our circumstances, and throw up our hands in frustration that nothing we’ve tried has worked, do You look down from Heaven, sigh and say, “Now are you gonna let me have this?” Lord God, You are truly the only One we can trust to change us. And from experience, we know people are fickle, saying “Good Luck” as they separate themselves from us.  What the prophet Isaiah witnessed You do for broken people centuries ago is still in effect today. Isaiah wrote, “You ‘delight’ to take broken people, shattered lives, and by Your power, transform them into new creations. You make something beautiful from ashes, give overflowing joy that replaces mourning, and continuous praise that dispels the spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:1–3). Lord, You change it all. It’s all You, Jesus.

Lord, as Your faithful servant J.A. said, Your changes last! Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Lord, how thankful I am You didn’t play hide-and-seek when I came seeking You (Jeremiah 29:13). Weighed down with guilt and shame from my bad life decisions, I reached out to You. Your Love changed me like nothing else could. You have been my close and faithful companion ever since. You’ve been there, laughing with me in the good times. You’ve been there, crying with me, and holding me close to Your heart when my heart was breaking. You’ve never left me nor abandoned me when, for whatever foolish reasons, I got off track, lost my shoe and fell. Instead, You lifted me up and brushed the dirt off my face and helped me put my shoe back on only this time You tied it. Guess I just wanted to say, “Thank You for being such a merciful and kind God. Your Love and grace for me is unmerited but I humbly and gladly accept it.” May I reach out to someone today with Your Love who is seeking You, Jesus.

Loving my life’s journey with You, Jesus. Amen.