THANKFUL

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, when I watch the news today, I’m reminded of the old Hee-Haw song, “Gloom, Despair And Agony On Me.”* This is not the theme song of the redeemed. Christ-followers place their trust in you, despite the circumstances. Your Word says what I put into my mind determines may behavior and how I respond to circumstances. I will choose to live my life by the principles of Romans 10:17, and dwell on your Word, your promises of protection and peace. Then I can stand on the street corner at social distances and sing confidently, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”

May we, your people and church, rise to this challenge to help those affected by the COVID-19. Give us godly compassion to all who are suffering from this virus, whose lives and livelihood have been altered, who need to know there is hope in the world and a mighty God who loves them. Lord, we pray you silent the fearmongers and stop those who would take advantage of vulnerable people.

Forgive our sins. Bring our country back to Bible principles and morals and teach us how to love you, Lord, and love others.

Standing on the corner, singing about you, Jesus. Amen.

(*Gloom Despair And Agony on Me by Roy Clark, Buck Owens)

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord God, how do we, your people, remain calm amid today’s craziness? But then this fallen world has always faced uncertainties, creating consuming fears. Over the centuries, your formula for our soul’s stabilities when circumstances seem to overwhelm us hasn’t changed. “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you” (Isaiah 26:3). How true! Pity the poor souls devoured by fear, who refuse to look to you in the darkness of their circumstances.

With your help, Lord God, I’ll slam the door on fear and not dwell on this world’s hysteria. May your Spirit open my eyes to see you working in all my circumstances. How thankful we are that when you are present in our circumstances, your peace reigns.

Use this coronavirus to put aside our differences and unite our nation again under godly principles and truth. We pray those who would use this virus for exploitation will have their deceptions exposed and their efforts fail.

Thank you for your peace in our circumstances, Jesus. Amen.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, despite the chaos, with the coronavirus spreading worldwide, pushed along by fear mongering, creating panic, we need not fear the future. You have given us a great promise for times like this: “Those who follow you and love your Word will have great peace, and nothing will cause them to fall” (Psalm 119:165). Millions may be affected by calamity, but for God’s people, your peace silences the fears of the “what if’s” or the “if onlys.” Your Word states the devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy, but you came to give us life, and life abundantly (John 10:10). May this coronavirus backfire on the devil bigtime. Instead, may this virus cause people to seek and find you, Lord Jesus, and further your kingdom. Wouldn’t that just rub the devil’s nose in it!

Forgive our sins, heal our nation, let us as individuals and as a nation return to living by your principle and morals.

Thankful for your peace, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Monday 03/16/20

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, we’re thankful you placed your Spirit within each believer who has place their trust in you to guide our actions. In this fallen world, we’re tempted by presumptuous sins, to compromise our beliefs and convictions to wander off and do something stupid. From the “Mother Teresa’s” and the “Billy Grahams” of your kingdom to the newest believer who has just place their faith in you, all are tempted to stray. However, when we’re “led into temptation,” your Spirit applies its holy speed-brake on our wandering to preserve our relationship with you until the end. Your promise is you will walk alongside us, keeping us steady and on track until we transition to you into our heavenly home (1 Corinthians 1:8),

Lord God, fears and anxieties come from the enemy of our souls, the devil. But you haven’t given us a spirit of fear, but to all who have placed their faith in you, you’ve given love, power, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). We have nothing to fear from this coronavirus, since we’re committed to trusting you in all situations. As we persevere, we will see your power and provision during this outbreak. Lord God, you are for us, so who or what can come against us? You are our refuge in times of trouble. Your power and grace is greater than COVID-19. We pray this outbreak will bring people to you in repentance and find you life in you.

Thankful you never leave our side, Jesus. Amen.

Friday, March 13, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, it seems like they are everywhere. You ran into them when you were here. Those annoying, religious busybodies, watching you and your disciples every move, eager to point their virtue-signaling finger at some perceived wrongdoing. I love how the Message Bible describes your actions: “But Jesus stood up for them” (Luke 6:3). Good news! Jesus, you still stand up for us when we’re accused by the devil. His allegations of our transgression run into a stronger-than-brick wall—your cross! You remind him how you’ve paid for these sins and he no longer has any control over us. Then when your rose from the grave on Easter Sunday, that was the icing on the cake for the devil’s and death’s defeat. Take that, Satan!

We ask again for your mercy and deliverance from this coronavirus disease. We trust you are in control, Lord, and we know you will work good for those who place their trust in you. We pray you reach your hand out and say, “Stop! You can go no further!” to this virus. May no more lives be lost to this disease. Help people not to panic, to act foolishly and spread fear. Bring peace to this situation. Give our leaders wisdom to govern during this crisis. And may the plans of those who would use this outbreak for political gain come to futility. Let righteousness rise and deception and fraud fall.

Thanks for standing up for us/me, Jesus. Amen.

Tuesday, March 11, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, you’ve seen how I pride myself in remembering names. The accolades puff my chest out. Recently, I tried to impress a guy I met a few weeks ago. “Hi, Steve. Good to see you again.” His name was Chad. He didn’t seem impressed. Again, Lord, I’m refreshed on the lessons how pride precede me embarrassing myself.

Jesus, how thankful I am you do not forget the names of those who belong to you. Once we enter into covenant with you through your cross, you write our name in the palm of your hand. Every time you reach for us, you see our name. But more importantly, when you see your hand, we see our name tattooed below your nail scars, assuring us we belong to you forever, and nothing can take us out of your hand. Thank you, Jesus.

Lord, keep us calm and not panic-stricken over this coronavirus scare. Fear comes from the enemy of our soul, the devil, but you are the God of peace and order. Strengthen our faith to us rest in your peace, knowing you are in control. May people who are fearful turn to you and find the peace and comfort they seek. Give our leaders and medical providers wisdom to guides us through this outbreak so no more lives are lost. No matter if people believe this is a manufactured crisis for political reason, or if it is a legitimate crisis, raise up your church to do its part to minister to all affected by coronavirus.

Thankful to see our names in your hand, Jesus, Amen.

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, I’ve been frustrated, confused and just plain miserable from the pressures of well-meaning people who think I should meet their expectations as your follower or force me into ministry or activities that you didn’t call me to do.

Thank you for not creating us “cookie-cutter” Christians. You intend for each one you have called to use the various gifts and talents you’ve entrusted to us to bless others and honor you. When you call us to do something, you equip us to do what you’ve asked. It’s a given we are to do your basic commands as your follower: love one another, obey your Word, and do your will. Help us meet your expectations to be who you created us to be. I’m thankful your expectations are much less stressful than others.

We all have trials and problems in this fallen world, but you’ve promised to stick with us through it all. When it seems we can’t go on, your presence keeps our faith secure in you. You see the whole picture. Nothing in our lives is hidden from you. You see the future, and it is under your control. We can have confidence you will work all things for our good.

Forgive our sins, heal our nation, show us how to love as you love.

Living to be who you created me to be, Jesus. Amen.

Friday, March 06, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, you never force me to do anything. You have never overridden my free will when I’m faced with choices. When I choose wisely, you are pleased. Other times, I’ve chosen to ignore your ways, and even though your Spirit is yelling, “What are you doing!” you step aside and let me go ahead and step in it. Why is this a repeated lesson for me? When I come to my senses after falling on my face, and I can barely lift my head, what do I see? Your nail-scarred hand reaching for me. You pick me up, dust me off, and put my cap back on. I hear no condemnation, no scolding. “You okay, kid?” you say. “Let’s keep walking together.”

We pray for your provision and comfort for the good folks in Tennessee, recovering from the storms. Bless, protect and strengthen the first responders and emergency workers, to give them endurance as they go about their gruesome tasks amidst the destruction. Protect the peoples’ minds from PTSD as they rebuild. Give them hope amid the carnage around them, that you are good and will somehow bring good from this act of nature. Bless and comfort those who are burying their loved ones.

Forgive our sins, heal our nation. Unite us as a people and show us how to love one another as you love.

Choosing to follow you, Jesus. Amen.

Thursday, March 05, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, help me bury my pride under your Lordship so I may serve you with humility. My carnal man tries to give me the big head, thinking I’m more than what I am. To think I’m better than others because I thinks I is more hightly edumacatid annoys people and makes me gossip fodder. Lord, you set the example: You left Heaven to come here, leaving your glory and majesty behind and humbled yourself to become one of us. Teach me your ways. Write your statutes on my heart. Enhance your Spirit within my heart so I may honor you by humbly serving in your kingdom here.

We pray your blessings and relief for our friends in Tennessee recovering from the disastrous storms. Bless the rescue workers, the first responders and the emergency personnel. Give them supernatural energy while they go about their sometimes gruesome work. Protect their minds and emotions from PTSD that is sure to follow. Give comfort to all affected by these tragedies, especially those who are burying their loved ones. Empower your church be active in ministry to the community, showing your love and compassion. Help folks put aside any differences and come together in our common humanity.

We pray for those affected by the coronavirus, that they will recover, and no more lives are lost. Direct men how to fight this illness and reveal to them the cure that will end this virus. All healing comes from you, Lord God. May all the infighting and finger pointing among the governing officials immediately cease.

Forgive our sins, heal our nation. Teach us how to love one another.

Praying to humbly serve you, Jesus. Amen.

Wednesday, March 04, 2020

Good morning, Jesus.

Lord, this world has been going off its rocker since the fall. Jesus won the spiritual fight for our souls on Calvary. Even though we’re eternally secure in you, our current culture wants to separate your followers from you any way it can. Surfing the Internet offers more (mis)information, biased opinion, and “fake news” than we will ever need. Social media influences people to act in ways they normally wouldn’t, but the desire to be one of the “woke” people can override common sense. And don’t get me started on what comes out of Hollywood.

Lord, transform my mind, align my thoughts with your thoughts, renew my spirit and draw me closer to you as I meditate on your Word. You’ve promised your grace will keep me from being conformed to this world’s values.

Be kind and merciful to our friends in Nashville. Provide their needs, show your goodness to those affected by these catastrophic tornadoes. Comfort those families who lost loved ones and friends. As people are drawn to you, show your grace and power to transform their lives to follow you. Provide the financial and material support they need.

Living transformed lives for you, Jesus. Amen.