THANKFUL

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Good morning, Jesus

Lord, on this National Day of Prayer, we can do nothing more important than pray. We acknowledge as a nation, and individually, we have sinned against You. Today, our prayer for mercy could not be more urgent. Your wayward people’s prayer of repentance is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If My people [Christ-followers], who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Our survival as a people and as a nation depend on Your mercy, Lord.

So be it, Lord Jesus. Amen!

Wednesday May 6, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, not all days are good. Sickness comes, accidents happen, relationships dissolve, and the list goes on. Life’s stuff can be devastating physically, emotionally, spiritually, not to mention financially. In no way are Your followers exempt either. Many of us are going through battles we never dreamed we’d fight. Relentlessly, the enemy challenges our faith, accusing God of punishing us for some perceived wrong, denying Your goodness. I get so tired of the devil’s lies. You are a good God. You are love. Your grace enables us to persevere, knowing the light will dawn and our hearts will sing and dance again. Thank You, that in our darkest hours, amid our suffering, Your Spirit strengthens us, making us aware of Your presence.

Bless and protect our front-line workers, first responders and emergency personnel. Keep them safe from COVID-19, and may we always show them our appreciation. We pray for all those infected with the virus, that all will make a complete recovery. Our hearts go out to those dear folks who have lost loved ones and friends to this pandemic. Comfort and strengthen them as only You can, Lord.

Forgive our sins, heal our nation. As individuals, and as a people, may we order our lives according to Your precepts and our leaders to govern by Your values.

No matter what, You are still good, Jesus. Amen.

Tuesday, May 05, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, unexpected changes drive some folks nuts! Uncertainty about the future makes them anxious. Fear is given an open door when all they’ve placed their trust in is shaken, and their dreams washed away. Unfortunately, we’re trapped in these turbulent times when it seems changes occur hourly. Fortunately, those placing faith in You, Jesus, have an anchor amid this chaos. Fact: You, Lord God, do not change. The apostle Paul wrote eloquently to his Corinthian friends about their uncertainty. Everything may fall apart around us, “but these three remain forever: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Faith in our loving heavenly Father is our hope that never changes. We’ll never be abandoned.

May these troubling times cause people to seek You, Lord. You are waiting with open arms to receive all who come to You. From the beginning of time, You’ve never rejected any who have come to You with a sincere heart. You are the hope people find when they place their faith in You. Trusting You will reveal a love they’ve not known before. Open people’s spiritual eyes to see Your unending goodness.  

Heal our sick, renew our faith, draw us closer to You. Bring an end to this COVID-19, and may it be forever eradicated from the earth.

Thank You for never changing, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Monday 05/04. 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord. how sad for us if we let this COVID-19 crisis slip by without putting down deeper spiritual roots and helping others build up their most precious faith (Jude 1:20). Although we grieve for lives lost, remind us how this health crisis is only a temporary blip on our life’s journey, but the spiritual lessons we learn last our lifetime. You have ways of orchestrating events and situations that build our trust in You. We are Your people! We refuse to be manipulated by a spirit of fear, but we will live in confidence of our God’s power. You’ve proven for millennia that what the devil meant for harm, You turned for our good, and shown how the devil is such a loser.

Heal the sick. Bring an end to this COVID-19 virus and eradicate it from the earth. Give revelation knowledge to the doctors, scientists and researchers looking for the cure. Bless and protect our front-line workers and first responders. Show Your sustaining power in amazing ways to those who trust You. Provide their needs in ways they never expected so they will know You’ve divinely intervened on their behalf. Call us as individuals and as a nation back to You.

Trusting You are Lord even in COVID-19, Jesus. Amen.

Friday May 1, 2020

Lord, we’re grateful You called us to follow You, however, your plan was never for us to sit idly on our haunches, keeping the life-changing message of Your cross to ourselves. Because our soul’s antagonist constantly reminds us of our failures and imperfections, vast numbers of Your followers think themselves unqualified to share the hope found in the cross. But as usual, the devil is lying—again. You’ve given every Christ-follower talents and gifts that we can use to honor You. When we what You ask of us, people can’t help but give You, Lord Jesus, a second look at putting their faith in You. May we be wide-eyed and amazed, watching lives transformed for You when we’re willing to use what You’ve given us for Your glory.

Lord, heal the sick we pray. Give wisdom to doctors, scientist and researcher to discover the cure for this COVID-19. Reveal all that is hidden so this virus will be eradicated from the earth. May all who are infected with this virus make a full recovery. Comfort the family and friends of those who lost loved ones. Open our spiritual eyes to see Your goodness in all circumstances.

Forgive our sins, show us how to love one another as You love us, Jesus. Amen.

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, I’m thankful Your salvation is freely offered, even though I fail repeatedly and don’t deserve Your amazing grace. But to partner with You, I had to come in humble repentance to ask Your forgiveness. With Your Holy Spirit now living within me, my Christlike character development will continue until I join You in Heaven. Because we are in a working relationship, Jesus, the more I cooperate with Your plan, the clearer I see my purpose and find fulfillment. Difficult circumstances fail to rob me of my God-given peace or my joy of life. Lord God, may I always make You “Boss,” since Your job is waaayyy above my paygrade.

Help us, Lord. We’re a people in need of Your divine intervention in this COVID-19 pandemic. We pray for Your wisdom for the doctors, scientists and researchers to reveal that which is hidden to find a cure for this virus. Bless and protect all our frontline workers and their families. Meanwhile, may people draw closer to You to find mercy and the hope that has been missing in their lives. Use this pandemic to bring people to repentance and a new life with you, Lord Jesus. Bring to our consciousness what matters in life.

Forgive our sins, heal our nation. May we return to living by Your precepts and values.

Yielding myself to Your control, Boss. Amen!

Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Lord, we get tired. Life is exhausting with responsibilities we can’t ignore. Sometimes I reach the point where I just want to give up and run away. Regardless, Your Word tells us to praise You in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). But who am I to withhold worship and praise that is rightfully Yours just because I don’t feel like it? When I attempt to count Your countless blessings, mostly—it not all—undeserved, why would I hesitate to thank You? I’ve found when I order myself to give You praise and thanks, the message of Psalm 103 takes on new life: “You refresh my weary soul and strengthen my weaken spirit to soar like an eagle.”
Refresh and strengthen the medical workers and front line responders during these perilous but improving times. Bless and honor their sacrifices to serve and minister to the sick and diseased. Protect them and their families from the virus. Protect their faith, no matter how small. You can do amazing things for those who trust that You can do the impossible.
Forgive our sins, heal our nation. May our nation return to following Your precepts and turn from our wrongheaded ways.
Praising You, Jesus. Amen.

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, challenges today are like no other our generation has faced. With so much unknown about this COVID-19, we’ve become a fearful people. Media pundits continue to spread news of the devastation, whether their information is accurate, or exaggerated, deceitfully meant to push an agenda. As a Christ-follower, my choices are either to put my faith where my mouth is and obey Isaiah 41, “Fear not, for I [Jesus] am with you,” or worrying myself into a frizzy trying to handle this fear-mongering crisis on my own? It’s easier to believe You, Lord. We pray You increase our faith to stand fearlessly on Your truths, knowing You’ve got this! You will never leave us on our own nor forsake us. May we never leave You, Jesus.

We pray You use this virus to bring people to You and increase the faith of Your people. Cause people to call on You and show them how to draw near to You. Open our spiritual eyes to see Your higher purpose during this time despite what we see on the news. Grace the doctors, scientists and researchers who are seeking a vaccine with Your wisdom and insight to reveal that which is hidden from their knowledge. We pray this virus is eradicated from the Earth.

Forgive our sins, heal our nation, show us how to love one another the same as You love us.

Choosing to trust You, Jesus. Amen.

Wednesday April 22. 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, in our social media culture, everyone has an opinion. Right or wrong, we tend to throw our two cents into conversations, usually knowing little of the subject being discussed—or cussed. Oftentimes, our disagreements become offensive. Our ranting toward others brings You glory—not! Your Word clearly instructs Your followers how to avoid senseless conflicts: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:19-20). For those who know me, they can only accuse me of only faithfully following the “slow to speak” command. Help me, Lord, to season my words with Your grace, and thus honor You.

We pray again for a cure for the COVID-19 and rid it from the earth. Use this virus to cause people to call on You and find You in a new, exciting way. Open their spiritual eyes to see Your goodness, experience Your kindness and begin a new life in Your grace. Protect our medical workers and their families. Honor the personal sacrifices of those exposed daily to this virus, who risks their health to protect and serve us. May we always show those who serve and protect us our appreciation in tangible ways.

Forgive our sins. May our nation return to governing by Your precepts and may we order our lives according to biblical values.

Seasoning my conversations with Your grace, Jesus. Amen.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord Jesus, Life in this broken world is often heartbreaking. Unfairly, life’s stuff can leave us broken. Love ones leave us either by death or by choice. Disease destroy our once-healthy body, or life choices that seemed good at the time only brought destructive consequences. Since You came to us as a human and shared our humanity, You know how our physical and spiritual wellbeing need divine renewal. Although brokenness weakens our faith, there is good news. We don’t need to possess the faith of Moses, or John the Baptist, or the apostle Paul for Your divine intervention on our behalf. If from our wounded heart we cry out to You, even if all we can muster is the tiniest mustard-seed faith in Your power, in mercy You promised ‘mountains’ will move and circumstances change (Matthew 17:20). So when life’s stuff hits, no matter how weak my faith, let it be anchored in You, Jesus.

We pray for an end to this COVID-19 crisis, that it will be eradicated from the earth and never return. Heal those affected by this disease and comfort and strengthen the friends and family who lost loved ones. Bless and protect our front-line workers, our medical workers, police, firefighters, and first-responders. We pray after this crisis is passed, we will reflect on these circumstances, and see how You were merciful and kind to us amid this storm. Make us stronger as a people and as Christ-followers.

I’m weak in faith but trusting You, Jesus. Amen.