THANKFUL

Tuesday, March 09, 2021

Lord, I confess my prayers can be self-centered, but I’m sure You are well aware of that. I need to change that. You are reminding me—again—I’m not 100 percent surrendered to You. Help me suppress my “this-is-what-I-want flesh” so I can change my prayers of trying to get You to line up with my will. Instead, guide me to pray specifically for my needs, the needs of others and issues of life, but may I emphasize “Lord, may my prayers line up with Your will.” As Your child, my life is in Your hand, so, whatever mountain I cannot climb, or no matter the raging storms battering me, let this be my prayer: “Lord, Your will be done.” You have guaranteed I will find You as I seek You (Jeremiah 29:13). Therefore, I’m confident You will increase my faith and develop more Christ-like character in me as You lead me through these difficult times.

Seeking Your will, Lord Jesus. Amen. (162)

Monday, March 08, 2021

Lord, this fallen world can be cruel. It can chew people up, misuse them mercilessly, and spit them out when they seem to no longer have value. Sadly, either by poor life choices or by circumstances out of their control, there is no shortage of broken people in this world. Because we are trapped in our humanity and we battle our sinful nature that tries to rule our lives, all of us are broken to some extent. But the good news is our Savior Jesus sees value in everyone. All wounded souls who call out to You for mercy find there is no shortage of Your grace. Those You rescue and redeem, who fall upon Your life-changing grace, know the extent of this truth, “Those who have been forgiven much, love much!” (Luke 7:42,43). They have a greater love for You, Jesus, and others since the offshoots of brokenness are spiritual growth and Christ-like character. That is so much like You, Jesus, taking ashes and making someone beautiful.

Loving You more every day, Jesus. Amen.

Friday, March 5, 2021

Lord, You said You will lead me in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake. Your name is sovereign, holy, truth, love, grace, forgiveness. The list of Your attributes is endless. As Your follower, wherever I go I represent Your name and all You are. Therefore, You will never lead me down a path that contradicts Your Word. Never will You lead me into temptation but will deliver me from the evil one. Nor will You lead me down a path of deception or betrayal of my convictions. You will guard my heart as You trust me to let Your Light shine through me in dark places. You will lead the poor, the downtrodden, the less fortunate, the broken across my path for me to share the good news of Your unconditional love, unlimited hope and incredible grace of salvation. Your path never leads me to cause a brother or sister to stumble, but You lead me where I can bless others and bring honor to Your name. So, You lead, Lord, and I will follow. (Psalm 23:3)

Lead on, Lord, I right behind You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Thursday, March 04, 2021

Jesus, once we have identified with You, our life is never the same. In the first chapter of John’s Gospel, he describes how in our redeemed righteous state, our “life is the Light” to all mankind. This “Light” is Your character, Lord God, revealed to the world through our changed life and actions. The closer we get to You, Lord, the brighter our light becomes, But pressures of living life in this fallen world, with daily obligations, jobs, school, activities tend to smother our light to just a flicker. Help us understand we do not light our “light” ourselves. Only You do, Jesus. John doesn’t say You give light; he says You are Light. You don’t just give salvation, Jesus, You are salvation, since You came to save us from our sins (John 1:4). John wrote You don’t give love, Lord God, You are love (1 John 4:16). May we order our lives according to these great truths, so our light will shine brightly in this dark world.

Shining the Light of Your character, Lord, Amen.

Tuesday, March 3, 2021

Lord, when life is going well, the skies are blue, the sun is shining, and birds are singing, I like to think I’m Super Christian, strong and can handle anything, anytime. But when trials are allowed to come against me, I’m forced to face my weakness. I need a divine strength if I’m to trust You in all circumstances. In this fallen world, many things are more than I can handle. The enemy of my soul tempts me to panic, to compromise if things are not going as I planned. Only You, Lord, can strengthen me to stay grounded in faith, especially when I don’t understand Your workings (Romans 8:28). May all who call You Lord and Savior never get to the point we think we can handle life without Your guidance.

Trusting You in all circumstances, Jesus, amen.

Tuesday, March 02, 2021

Lord, You never promised following You would be a cakewalk. You said to expect opposition, persecutions. Friends will misunderstand. Family may think we’ve gone off the deep end becoming one of those religious fanatics selling flowers at airports. Our humanity’s default is to lash back, to get even, insult for insult. That reaction opens the door to self-righteousness. Here Your Spirit gently reminds us our carnal nature was nailed to the cross. We are now governed by Your Spirit who lives within us. Help us to “get even” like You would, Jesus: be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, quick to love and quicker to forgive. Reacting any other way does not demonstrate the righteousness You desire (James 1: 19-20).

When facing adversity and we pray for our circumstances to change, may we pray more for Your godly changes within ourselves. Let us see suffering from Your eyes, Lord.

Becoming more like You, Jesus, Amen.

Monday, March 1, 2021

Jesus, the night before You went to the cross, You prayed Your disciples would have a holy boldness to proclaim the Gospel You left them, that “God so loved the world He gave His only Son that whosoever believed in Him would not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). You prayed they would be united as one, as You and the Father are one. However, You prayed not just for the twelve disciples that night but for all who would come to faith down through the ages because of the disciples’ message. Because they were faithful to share Your message of salvation and redemption, others did the same generation after generation, until now, we are in that group (John 17:20). Our prayer is as those who came before us, we are faithful with that same boldness to share this wonderful Gospel of hope, grace, and forgiveness of sin.

As You taught us to pray, Jesus, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). So be it Lord. Amen.

Friday, February 26, 2021

Lord, You “welcomed sinners and even ate with them” (Luke 15:2). To the self-righteous, this was unthinkable since they were certain sinners, tax collectors, and degenerates were enemies of God. Their immoral lifestyles couldn’t match the religious elite’s perfection. If Jesus were who He claimed to be, they reasoned, He would know what kind of people they were. Lord, You knew exactly who these “sinners” were. They were people just like me who You came to save. Centuries earlier, the psalmist foretold Your actions. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5). Thank You, Lord, for inviting me to dine with You. Sad the elites refused Your invitation. By the way, Lord, may I have a second helping?

Again, we ask for Your grace for our friends recovering from the blizzard last week. Provide their needs and give them all safe shelter, food and water as they rebuild their lives. Expose all unscrupulous contractors who would take advantage of their misfortune. May the skeptics of the world see the works of the church as selfless, genuine and compassionate. Open the eyes of the spiritually blind to see You in a whole new light and seek to know You. May they not decline the invitation to “come and dine” at Your table.

Feasting with You, Jesus, Amen.

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Lord, You created me uniquely. Your Word states “We [I] are God’s handiwork” (Ephesians 2:10). I need to sit back and let that truth set in. Countless people are similar to me, but none exactly like me, especially my kids. But there’s more to the Scripture. “. . . created to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us [me] to do.” Good works didn’t save me—You saved me for good works. So, Lord, what good works have You assigned for me? With the Holy Spirit’s help, show me my role in Your kingdom. Knowing Your character and Your desire for my faith to grow, You will probably assign me tasks out of my comfort zone. That is so like You, but You’re faithful to equip me for the task.

Lord, maybe some of these tasks are helping those dear folks affected by the Great Blizzard of 2021. Bless those people. We’re thankful many churches have stepped up to the plate with food, water, any assistance. Bless, guide and protect the people who face major repairs. Protect them from people who would take advantage of their dire situations. Send good, godly contractors to help them in their restorations. Touch the hearts of Your people and may we see Your love in all we do during this difficult time.

Thankful to work for You, Jesus. Amen.

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Lord, since my hospitalization with COVID-19, I’ve noticed how fearful people have become. I know first-hand this covid is nothing to sneeze about. It is serious. debilitating, and it is deadly. Sadly, too many precious loved ones and friends are no longer with us. Yet, because You are our anchor, our family had great peace during those dark days of sickness and uncertainty. You and I had many long talks while I lay in that hospital bed, struggling to breathe. You sent Your Spirit to comfort and encourage me that You had this. How my heart breaks for those dear souls who have nothing to hold on to. I pray You send Your Spirit to them as You were with me. Be their God of hope. In Your mercy, give them faith to anchor onto You and surrender their fears and lives. Be their God of peace who “gives me rest in green pastures,  leads me beside still waters, and restores my soul” (Psalm 23:2–3). Hold these precious people close to Your heart.

We join prayers worldwide for an end to this pandemic, that it will be eradicated from the earth, never to rise again. You are the Great I AM who watches over us. What a comfort. In Jesus’ name, Amen.