THANKFUL

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Lord, maybe if I will just be quiet, I can hear what You are trying to say to me in these difficult circumstances. You know I want to do the right things. You know I try to treat others the way I want to be treated. You know I love You. So, if I’m doing these good things, what explains these difficulties? Could it be that despite being Your follower I remain too headstrong, and this is the only way You get my attention and my obedience back in order? Perhaps I should grumble less about my situation and start listening for Your voice amid the chaos. Maybe if I cease striving for what I want and instead ask what You want, then all this will begin to make sense. I surrender. Direct my life how You want, Lord, by these difficult circumstances to make me more like You.

Looking for You as Lord in all circumstances, Amen

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Lord, when we are tempted, Your Word instruct Your followers to “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). We spiritually stomp our feet and declare this Scripture: “No devil is gonna bully me! Hit the road, Satan!” we command. Yet, the temptation steamrolls over us. What happened? What’s the deal? Your Spirit within reminds us the deal is we forget the first part of that Scripture “Submit to God—[then]—Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Unless we submit to You, Lord God, we are fighting Satan in our human strength. We will never overcome that way. You defeated Satan on the cross, Jesus, and when You rose from the grave, You permanently sealed the deal. And because we belong to You, we can share in Your triumph over our enemy. You want all of our heart, Jesus, not just some parts. May we be in total submission to You, Lord, every part of us.

Living in submission to my Lord Jesus, Amen.

Monday, April 19, 2021

Lord, the prophet Joel pleaded with his people to “rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God . . .” (Joel 2:13). In this broken world, it is easy to become complacent. Everyday distractions, and social and family obligations can cause our affections for You to grow cold. Once, we served You fervently, and even though we didn’t mean to, in our busyness, we began to just go through the motions of following You. Yes, we still belonged to You, and because of Your grace, we will spend eternity with You, but that closeness went missing. Daily cares began to take more of our attention. We realized our heart wasn’t totally Yours, was it Lord? Forgive us. May we do what Joel urged his people to do. Truly repent, or as he wrote “rend our heart,” of our wandering. Help us not to just “rend our garments,” or in other words, show an outward appearance of repentance yet only being remorseful we strayed from Your presence. Nothing can replace that closeness with You, Lord.

Thank You for accepting my rendered heart, Lord, Amen.

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Lord, the many crisis we face today is as never before. “These are the worst things to ever happen in the history of the world,” we moan, overwhelmed. “It’s hopeless!” When was the last time the media gave good news? Your followers are supposed to be united as one with Christ, yet we are divided by politics. Despite epidemiologists’ best efforts, disease and plague roam the earth. Unemployment. Riots. Racism. The doom and gloom culture has taken center stage. All this is nothing new. “What has been will be again; what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, ‘Look! This is something new?’ It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time” (Ecclesiastes 1:9–10). When we study Your Word, we see Your believers went through similar situations that seemed hopeless, yet You intervened at the right time to deliver them amid their troubles. “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us,” Paul wrote. “And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled” (Romans 15:4). May we as individuals and as a nation return to You, Lord God, in repentance from our straying from Your precepts and values. Help us hold on, Lord. You will come through for us.

You are and always have been our answer to this fallen world’s woes, Lord. Amen.

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Lord, we love to use flowery words in our prayers, asking for blessings and general well-being. While these eloquent prayers, often spoken using King James verbiage, sound impressive, You are pleased and are moved to answer only when they are spoken from a sincere heart. You outlined for Your followers how to petition heaven for our needs when You so masterfully taught the Beatitudes (Matthew 6:9-13). These prayers are necessary for every believer, yet there is a simple, ancient prayer You desire to hear from each of Your followers. This prayer is just as relevant today as it was several millennia ago, when the now humbled psalmist sought Your mercy. This specific entreaty opens us up for judgment. “Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my concerns [priorities]. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way of everlasting life” (Psalm 139:23,24). Lord, give me the courage to ask You to search me, knowing I own the disobedience against You lurking in my heart. Once You begin to weigh the areas of my heart, help me be prepared to make changes and surrender whatever You ask.

Wanting my life to be pleasing to You, Lord Jesus, Amen.

Monday, April 12, 2021

Lord, in my busy world, my carnal self makes excuses as to why I don’t spend time with You. “I’ve got early appointments,” “there’s a pile of laundry to do,” “gotta make the kids lunches before that crazy work commute,” etc. Seems like a new excuse every day while You wait patiently to share Your heart with me. Even in retirement, we find ourselves busy. “The grandkids are coming over.” “Gotta run to Walmart.” Or most likely, “We have a 9:00 tee time.” Forgive me, Lord. Help me prioritize my obligations and activities where I carve out some time to spend with You every day. I want to know Your heart and Your purpose for my life. I need Your Spirit to lead me, teach me, guide me, so my choices will be pleasing to You and I’ll do the right things in my sphere of influence. The more I commune with You, the more my thinking becomes like Your thinking, my ways more like Your ways, and my love more like Your Love (Isaiah 55:6).

Help me slow down to know Your heart, Jesus, Amen.

Friday, April 09, 2021

Lord, the writer of Hebrews emphasized the importance of speaking God’s Word over our circumstances when he wrote “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith, without wavering, for God is faithful to keep what He promised” (Hebrews 10:23). But at times, in our weakened faith, we carelessly speak what we want to hear, not what Your Word declares over a matter. Forgive us, Lord. To speak truth over all circumstances, we need to know the truth of what You say so our words will align with Your Word. We don’t want to be presumptuous to declare something over our circumstances that You never promised. Then, when the outcome is not what we wanted, we tend to blame You, Lord, or doubt who You are. Give us a hunger to devour and study Your Word, to search the Scriptures to know Your heart. As Your followers, show us how to live Psalm 1:1–3, to meditate on Your Word day and night, so in every circumstance, our hearts are one with Yours and our words match Your Words.

Desiring to know Your every Word, Lord God, amen

Thursday, April 08, 2021

Lord, thankfully, we are seeing an end to these most trying months of lockdowns and isolations. Because You created us as social beings, forced isolations from family and loved ones can have negative effects on our humanity. King Solomon saw the spiritual danger of isolation. “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated,” he wrote in Ecclesiastes 4:12. Nevertheless, when we reflect on the past few months, we see how You extended Your grace through our most difficult season. For Your followers, we’re thankful for the time with You we normally would not have. It was a time of spiritual renewal and growth. As society opens again, we pray to join other believers to further Your Kingdom and bring others to You. Solomon continued with more of his godly wisdom: “but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken.”

Thankful for the changes You made in Your people during isolation, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Tuesday, April 06, 2021

Lord, at times I find myself in circumstances I can’t understand. But I trust You, Jesus. I believe You are the only Son of God who came to redeem me from my sins. I try to do the right things. I even read a devotional every day. So why am I in this pickle? Your Spirit reminds me how the great Apostle Paul described the purposes of suffering for the believer. “. . . we also glory in our suffering, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope . . .” (Romans 5:3,4) The ancient psalmist knew pain and suffering came with seeking God. “Why are you downcast, O my soul?” he cried. “. . .I will put my hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior” (Psalm 43:5). How can hope in God in all circumstances disappoint us? Our circumstances may not change overnight, but our hope in God, regardless how the circumstances appear, deepens faith to trust You, Lord.

Trusting You with things I cannot understand, Jesus.  Amen.

Monday, April 05, 2021 Lord,

Your Resurrection on that Easter Sunday changed our world. You rolled away the stone, allowing anyone who seeks You to inspect the empty tomb for themselves. The doors to the Father’s throne room were thrown open to all who believed Your Resurrection. The Father welcomes with open arms all who place their trust in Your Resurrection. Your Resurrection unleashed the Holy Spirit to live within each of Your followers to grant us unlimited access to You. You hear our every prayer, know our every thought, feel our every pain, celebrate our every joy. Despite our circumstances, regardless of our station in life, no matter where we find ourselves, because of Your Resurrection, You are always with us (John 5:24). By the Father’s power, we have eternal life with You, Lord Jesus, when He raised You from the dead on Easter Sunday (1 Corinthians 6:14). Our souls soar with inexpressible joy, knowing the tomb is still, and will always remain, empty!

Loving new life in the Resurrected Savior, Amen.