THANKFUL

Monday, December 21, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, November and December are the most stressful for most folks. Family gatherings, parties to give and attend keep us hopping. The non-stop Christmas commercials urge us to buy this or that to make that certain someone very happy. How did it come to this? We need to slow up and refocus, Lord. This Christmas, keep me from focusing on “presents.” Instead, may I focus on Your “Presence.” Most presents are soon forgotten or returned for something else. Many gifts end up in the springtime garage sale. Your Presence, however, remains with me yearlong. Even when life demands more of my time than I like, may I never forget Your Presence is always with me. What could I possibly exchange for the peace, joy and contentment I find in Your Presence? (Psalm 16:11) Is there a dollar value? Hardly. Your Presence is a priceless gift to all who follow You, Lord, for You are “Immanuel” God with us (Matthew 1:23).

Training my focus to stay on You, Jesus. Amen.

Friday, December 18, 2020

Lord, when people make promises, most intend to keep them but often those promises are broken for one reason or another. Some no-gooders make every excuse to get out of keeping their promise. Not so with You, Lord. Once You make a promise, You do not go back on Your Word (Hebrews 6:18). However, Your unchanging promises found in the Bible do come with a stipulation: “If I will” . . . “Then You will” Thank You, Lord, for promising to honor my faith, no matter how weak or how small (Matthew 17:20). Even though I may face many mountains in my life’s journey with You, Jesus, when I act in faith, if need be, You will move heaven and earth to keep Your end of the promise. Your faithfulness is a promise I can bank on.

Living confidently in Your promises, Lord God. Amen.

Thursday December 17, 2020

Lord, how many of Your kids feel unworthy to belong in the Kingdom of God? We find out soon after placing our trust in You that our spiritual enemy is relentless in his attacks on our new-found faith. He is the biggest liar! He claims You remember our past mistakes and You will always hold them over our head. You don’t do that. Never have, never will. May Your Spirit within us cement this truth to our spirit: “Guilt and shame no longer identify me, since Christ removed my sin from me as far as the east is from the west!” (Psalm 103:12) We pray all Your followers, whether they are a seasoned saint or a new believer beginning a new life of faith, will remember another great truth: By Your grace, Jesus, we are made worthy to be in Your family since once our sins are forgiven, they are forever forgiven.

Living in the freedom of forgiveness and grace, Jesus. Amen.

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, some well-intentioned but misguided folks try to encourage those facing insurmountable mountains, saying “God won’t allow more than you can handle.” Nonsense! If God won’t allow more than we can handle, then why would we need God? You are mindful of Your children, Lord God. In Your wisdom, You allow more to accumulate on our plate so we will seek You for wisdom to know how to respond and plan in the crisis, grace to persevere during the trials, and waiting faithfully for deliverance in Your timing, not ours. How else would we know Your power if we could solve everything on our own? Thank You, Lord, that without problems, trials, and crisis’ in my life, I would never experience my soul’s strength found in the power of faith in You and the extent of Your grace.

No matter what life may bring, I’m thankful my strength is found in faith in You, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, it happens every year. These frenzied holiday happenings can overwhelm me where Your still quiet voice is drowned out. You watch patiently as I scurry about, attempting to collect every item on my Christmas list. Will they like this gift? Is this the perfect gift for him/her? Wow! That’s pricey! Is that too much to pay? All this time, You’re trying to tell me, “Slow down. I’m looking at your list and Jesus has fulfilled every gift on your Christmas list. He came to give mankind (that’s me) His gift of salvation. Sure, the price was high. it cost My Son is life! But the resurrection was His gift of eternal life to you on Easter.” Jesus truly is the perfect Christmas gift who never quits giving. Lord, You renew in me what is important in this life. Thank You, Jesus.

Giving my Christmas list to you, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Monday, December 14, 2020

Lord, No one gave Mary a second look. Just a simple “uneducated” 14-year-old peasant girl in the remote village of Nazareth, how amazing You chose her to be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. Nonetheless, Mary believed You and responded in faith to her unbelievable assignment: “So be it unto me as You say” (Luke 1:38). In like manner, everyone was amazed when You assigned to one as flawed as me a role in Your Kingdom. Thankfully, the role of parent to the Divine is already taken, but whatever You’ve called me to do, You will equip me for that role. And not just me. You call all who follow You to a role in the Kingdom of God. That task may be being an influence as a teacher in a public school. God may call you to lead a small prayer group. Perhaps you will be appointed to work on the front lines in the pandemic. Maybe your assignment will be called to make a difference as that “light in the darkness” at your workplace or mentor wayward youths in an urban neighborhood. Of all You call us to do, perhaps the most rewarding task is to be a positive Christlike influence on children to point them to a life of righteousness and serving You, Jesus. Whatever our assignment, may we respond in faith like Mary, “So be it unto me as You say!”

Lord God, equip me to accomplish all You created me to do in Your Kingdom, Amen

R I P Charlie Pride. A life lived that honored God.

Friday, December 11, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, how easily I get off track and allow my circumstances to dominate my thinking. What will I do? How will I straighten out this mess? The slightest panic when things don’t unfold as I want gives doom and gloom a foothold. As usual, my efforts to solve bad circumstances make things worse. Lord, help me abandon this negative attitude habit. Instead, show me how to look to You and meditate on Your Word. Your unchanging promises give me hope, imparts wisdom and sustains me. I find peace while Your Spirit changes the things happening around me. The ancient psalmist nailed it: “You are my refuge and shield; I put my hope in Your Word” (Psalm 119:114). May I do the same.

Lord Jesus, may I surrender my will and make You the “Lord of my circumstances!” Amen.

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, I have to live with me in this broken world 24/7. These spiritual battles are real, but just think how much more I could do for You if You just eliminate all my flaws. Obedience will be a snap. My sin issue will no longer be an issue. Temptations will never again cause me to stumble. I could stomp the devil like he has never been stomped before. Isn’t that a good idea, Lord? “No, it’s not!” You say. “I didn’t create a robot. I created you in my image. I gave you My same power of reason and logic, so your choices amid trials either strengthen your faith or set you back. You must understand — I allow these trials. Trusting Me with your problems helps you become a more faithful child of God. And by the way. I stomped Satan like he had never been stomped before when God the Father resurrected Me from the grave on Easter Sunday.”

Thankful You created me in Your image, Lord. Amen.

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Lord, as surely as the sun rises in the east, today the devil will tempt me to sin and thus dishonor You. Some temptations are obvious, so opposite of Your precepts that it’s hard to mistake them for anything else. Others are subtle, seemingly harmless. A little “white lie” won’t hurt, maybe an impulsive purchase when the rent is due or perhaps cheating on your golf score card. Whatever it may be, temptations are common to all people. However, for Christ-followers, You placed a limit to what we can endure. You won’t allow Your people to be tempted beyond their level of faith. You tell us, “Keep your eyes open. When you’re tempted, you’re not alone. I always provide you a way of escape. Look for it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Lord, help me draw closer to You and look for Your deliverance when I’m tempted. When I don’t fight temptation on my own but lean into Your strength, Lord, the enemy’s temptations only make me a stronger Christ-follower.

Living in the safety of Your deliverance when I’m tempted, Lord Jesus. Amen

Tuesday, December 08, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, You tell me not to be anxious when life’s stuff hits with a fury. That looks so easy on paper, but requires renewed faith to put into practice. When trials and problems overwhelm me, You say, “Worship Me!” when that seems like the last thing I feel like doing. Nonetheless, with the Holy Spirit’s help, in obedience, I put my feelings aside and worship You. I pray Your Word, declaring Your great power and the faithfulness of Your promises to those who have placed their faith in You. Gradually, I realize I am not reminding You who You are. Of course, You know who You are. Instead, like the psalmist discovered, You are reminding me who You are(Psalm 29:2). My faith gets a shot in the arm and I confidently transfer my anxieties on to You, because You got this!

Thankful I live anxiety-free in You, Lord Jesus. Amen.