There is something
above the relationship among Christians that is deep and nourishing. When two
Christians meet for the first time, there is an immediate bond. I remember one
day, as I waited for my husband to be done with a dental appointment, a woman
and I began a conversation in the waiting room.
The conversations
couldn’t have lasted more than ten minutes. In that very short time, we shared
family news and ended up talking about our favorite Bible studies. As my
husband came out, we hugged and said we would pray for each other.
My husband often
shakes his head as I make yet another best friend. That is the life Christ
gives us. We have true brothers and sisters all over the world. We have the
ability to pray for each another, to be close spiritually, no matter the number
of miles between us, even as death separates us, and we forge instant
connections. The relationships are immediate and real, because Christ is in the
center of them.
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and
everyone members, one of another. Romans 12:5
Keep on loving one another as brothers and
sisters. Hebrews 13:1
Father,
Today, we thank You for the body of Christ. Keep us united as
we take care of one another in love.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Are you living apart from a loved one? The cause for
separation can be as simple as moving to another state. Some of our separations
are not our choice. My aunt is trying to imagine life without her husband of 72
years. Right now, it seems impossible for her to imagine life lived without her
long loved and treasured spouse, now in heaven.
Others have lost
children to addictions or even death. There are broken relationships between
couples and within families that cause grief and loss. What do we do when we
live apart from those we love?
There are no easy
answers and each person’s grief is unique. Grief needs to be walked through and
deeply experienced. When we close ourselves off to our true grief, it always
comes back to harm us.
Jesus finds hope in
any situation. His words offer us compassion, kindness, graciousness and peace.
Our prayers go right to His heart and He is there to heal any wound. With Him,
any separation is temporary and as the apostle Paul reminds us, we do grieve.
BUT we grieve with hope.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers
and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as the rest
who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now, for a
little while, you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 1 Peter
1:6
Hope is powerful
and eternal. Notice the words in the
verse above from Peter, “for a little while.”
The Bible continually reminds us of the brevity of life, comparing our
lives to a wisp, a vapor, like the grass that withers away. Here are my life
verses. You will notice that God
mentions our troubles on this earth as “light and momentary” when compared to
eternity. It certainly doesn’t feel like
that when we suffer.
But in a little
while, in a moment of time, we will be healed eternally, never to die, in
paradise with Jesus!
Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly
we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our
light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far
outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes
not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary and
what is unseen in eternal. 2 Corinthians
4:16-18
I pray for many of
you and grieve as I see and hear of your suffering. God’s hope is there,
eternally present. Fix your eyes
above. Fix your eyes on what is unseen.
Fix your eyes on Jesus. Amen
Our daughter and
her husband recently invited a sixteen-year-old relative to stay with them, as
she struggled with challenges in her home life. This was unexpected and decided
in a moment of time. They did not know how long she would stay, or exactly what
she needed.
But, the beauty of
our God remains steadfast. He brings people into our lives seemingly out of
nowhere. The spontaneity is no coincidence. God’s footsteps continue to walk
ahead of us with a plan. As you walk into new situations, trust His lead.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit will bring words or heart-felt actions directly from
Him. Watch how He will bless others through you.
I am so proud of our
daughter and son-in-law for so many reasons. But their heart for God and for
others is a profound blessing to watch.
For the Holy Spirit will give you, at the right
time, what you should say. Luke 12:12
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step
with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25
Lord,
Today we ask You to keep us from fear as You place
opportunities in our path. Give us the words and the actions to be Your hands
and feet, to speak Your Words, to love in Your ways, as we walk through the
rest of our lives.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Sharing life can be difficult. When our family and friends are
suffering, we suffer along with them, longing to take away their pain, their
loss, their sadness. Loving others sacrificially blesses them and, in due time,
we ourselves will be blessed.
Jesus is the
perfect example of sacrificial love. He separated Himself from His Father in
heaven, choosing to live out a life for one purpose only. That purpose was to
die in our place, to suffer the consequences of all of our sin, to take on a
fallen world in what was the most agonizing death of all time, and He overcame
death for us.
If you are in an
exhausting situation of care taking, of uncertainty, of giving, if you are
tired and weary of waiting and wondering, let Jesus comfort you. He has been
along the same, tough road and He understands.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves
those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their
wounds. Psalm 147:3
Sometimes, others
can’t give us just what we need, but Jesus can. He came to do just that. Here
are the words Jesus quoted, words prophesied long before His birth. Let them
comfort you.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon Me,
because the Lord has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent
me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and
release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1
Jesus,
Comfort the caretakers and their families. Give strength to
the weak. Give us hope when we see none. Be our guide and our protector. You will lift us up.
Amen
There is a Swedish
proverb that reads, “Shared joy is double joy, shared sorrow is half a sorrow.”
God created us to share life together. He designed marriage, along with the
gift of children, for some. He created friendship and family and love.
When our lives are
filled with deep connections and commitment to one another, it becomes easier
to navigate what can be a treacherous journey at times. When I was a little
girl and something wonderful or something awful occurred at school, I couldn’t
wait to get home and tell my mom and dad. They had answers. They congratulated,
comforted and corrected me along with way.
Now, I share my concerns, my joys with my family and friends. What a blessing and a privilege it is to be
open and authentic with those we love, listening and lifting one another up
with encouragement and hope.
Walking alongside
others throughout our lives is not always easy, but it is always worthwhile. If
you find yourself alone, remember God is your constant companion. You can run
to Him with all that is in your heart and He will find others to surround you. Here
is a verse to take along with you as you go through this day.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those
who mourn. Romans 12:15
Lord,
I thank You for all of the people is my life, my husband and
children, my sons-in-law and my grandchildren, my friends and acquaintances and
my extended family. Keep all of our eyes open to those in need. Show us how to
walk beside others, even for a little while.
In Jesus name,
Amen
God’s work in us never ends. He will work in us and through us
up and through our dying day. As long as He can use us on this earth, we will
remain strong in Him. He brings hope in dire circumstances. He offers peace in
turmoil. He brings deep joy, even when we feel our hearts may be breaking.
Jesus finds us in
the deep recesses of our souls. He cries out to us and with us.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul
pants for You, my God. Psalm 42:1
Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls.
All Your waves and breakers have swept over me. Psalm 42:7
Wherever your heart
and your mind take you today, go deep with God. His Spirit is right there to
meet you, to pray with you and for you, to lift up your needs to our heavenly
Father.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our
weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself
intercedes for us with wordless groans. Romans 8:26
As our trust builds
in Jesus, our hope can remain steady until eternity. His work is always good.
Our faith can remain true and fixed.
And we know that in all things, God works for the
good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
Father,
Keep us from living in the shallow areas of life. Draw us
deeper and deeper into faith, into trusting You, into finding hope as we recognize
that all things work together for Your good.
Amen
As we turn our
lives over to Jesus, changes begin to take place. Miraculously, our hearts,
minds, our very souls are filled with Christ’s righteousness, even though we
may not feel different. And added to His righteousness, He uses our unique
qualities and gifts, our varied personalities and quirks to be used for His
glory.
All of our old sins,
our present foibles, our future mistakes are washed away, never to be used
against us again. Forgiven! Cleansed! Pure as snow! The old has gone!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation, old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. 2
Corinthians 5:17
New creations, born
anew, fitted for eternal life. Rejoice today in the good news. New adventures
await both in this life and forevermore.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up. Do
you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness, streams in the
desert. Isaiah 43:19
Father,
Your only Son, Jesus, continually transforms and renews, somehow
using us as our true selves. We are in awe of the way You redeem and create.
Keep up your good work in us, as we turn more and more to You.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Sanctification is the process of becoming more Christ-like. God’s
word is written for that purpose. As
Jesus was preparing for His death and resurrection, He prayed. He prayed to God
in praise. He prayed for Himself and for His disciples. He prayed for you and
for me. Here He explains the process of sanctification:
Sanctify them by the truth. Your Word is truth.
John 17:17
A woman was
captured during World War II and was held in a concentration camp. Somehow, she
was able to hold onto a small copy of the Gospel of John. If this had been
discovered, she would have been immediately put to death. After each page was
memorized, one by one, she would wet them and let them dissolve into the drain.
As the war ended, a reporter from Time
magazine was allowed to interview the prisoners before they were released.
After the interviews, he stood outside the gates with others, and watched as the
prisoners walked out. Most were downcast, lost, shuffling their feet, hesitant
and fearful after the horrors of their confinement.
But one small lady
stood out, head held high, strong in step, eyes lit with joy. Someone asked the
reporter if she had been brainwashed somehow.
He replied, “Her brain has been washed with Christ.”
The Bible doesn’t
brainwash as in a cult. It brings clarity and pure cleansing, through the
washing of the blood of Christ. There are thousands of stories over the years
of how Christ managed to keep those in the most horrific circumstances, steady
and courageous and filled with peace and joy.
If it is true of
them, why not us? Keep His words alive and well in you and believe!
But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1
Corinthians 6:11
Lord,
Thank You for Your powerful words that keep us safe and
peaceful. Sanctify us by Your truth. Your word is truth.
Amen
The Bible insists we
can capture our thoughts for the purposes of Jesus.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that
sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought
to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
God is kind enough
to give us a list of the kinds of things we should think about, as we turn our thoughts
over to Him.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think on these
things. Philippians 4:8
The apostle, Paul,
is the perfect example of how to set our minds on the things above. He wrote
the book of Philippians from a Roman prison cell, cold and dark, chained to a
guard day and night. He continually praised God. He penned the words that would
travel through time. His words changed lives then. His words change lives today,
through the comfort and praise of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that is
available to us today. Think on those things
Father,
Set our minds to capture our thoughts and give them to You.
Refine our minds to be filled with joy and praise, to think on things that are
lovely and true, pure and excellent. What a difference we could make, if we
allow Your word to transform us.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Last week I challenged us to place more of the Bible in our
hearts and in our minds. Let’s look deeper into how God’s word can change us,
as His thoughts become our very own. The Bible comes directly from God. His
supernatural being has been translated, through human authors, into words that
are written for our human understanding. I love how God used these authors,
over fifteen hundred years of time, men and women filled with the Holy Spirit, using
their various personalities and abilities, to offer us His very own perfect
words.
Only God could have
orchestrated and created our Bible. As we study and ask for the Holy Spirit’s
help, we gain an even deeper hunger and thirst to fill up on more and more.
There is no end to the knowledge and wisdom, the heart and the love, the
history and the foreknowledge, the compassion and the hope found in this book.
Here are some
beautiful verses written in God’s word about the word itself and its power.
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the
soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The
precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the
Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Psalm 19:7-8
The words
above include, “perfect, refreshing, trustworthy, wise, right, radiant.” How
precious are these words that take us into a different realm, written for us.
Find rest in the word and find hope.
Father,
Your words are made for us. Show us how to dive deeper this
year, to become wise in Your ways, to find radiance for our eyes and joy for
our hearts.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Keep this book of the law always on your lips,
meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything
written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8
With the word
of God living within us, we can wake each morning, walk through our days and
reach out to welcome the night, living in the light of Christ. God told Joshua
to meditate on His word day and night, to follow the instructions given. God
desires the very best for us.
He teaches through
the tough times, through the difficult people, through our suffering and
through our joys. He is there. His word is always available for every occasion.
Store up heavenly treasures for your benefit. Teach them to your children.
Teach them to your children, talking about them
when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and
when you get up. Deuteronomy 11:19
What a great
privilege it is to tell others about God. When we have Scripture memorized, we
can teach them, gain strength from them, and pass them on. The Bible is a gift
available to us. Here are the verses from the beginning of our week.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
The Word
became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory
of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Lord,
Would you write these verses on our hearts? Jesus is Your
word. Everything in the Bible leads to Him. He is our Redeemer, our Shepherd,
our Rock, our Salvation, our blessed hope.
Amen
Did you know the word
of God may be used as a sword? When Satan interrupts our thoughts, when we feel
trapped by temptation, unsettled with worry, filled with discontent or doubt,
God’s Word will fight for us. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by
Satan, His weapon of choice was His very own words. Satan left Him alone,
knowing he was no match for the power found in Scripture.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the
Spirit which is the Word of God. Ephesians 6:17
God’s word is so
powerful, it will move into our bodies and demolish any strongholds that have
been set in our minds or hearts in the past.
For the Word of God is alive and active, sharper
than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,
joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews
4:12
Are you stuck in
negative thinking, with a critical spirit, with becoming discouraged? Look at the
words above from God for you and for me. This powerful sword of the Spirit
moves in and takes over our long-held attitudes and thoughts and changes them
into the thoughts of God Himself. I could use that every single day! Let’s be
brave and let God take over as we take in His words for us.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and
courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will
be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
Lord,
Help us to wield the sword of the Spirit, to conquer Satan’s
hold on our lives, to overcome strongholds, to devour bad attitudes, to become
more Christ-like to others. We believe.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Our minds are
renewed, refreshed, transformed and settled in peace through God’s Word. Without
it, our minds become jumbled, filled with fret and worry, with anxious thoughts
and with critical attitudes towards ourselves and others.
When we fix our
thoughts on Christ, our lives begin to change. As life takes us away into
busyness, distractions, work and activity schedules, phones, media, television,
parties, (add more to this never-ending list), our minds can easily be moved
away from the mind of God, forgetting what is available to us, to keep us
grounded and faithful.
Take heart from the
following verses as we set our minds above all that is around us into the
heavenly realms.
Set your mind on things above, not on things on
the earth. Colossians 3:2
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of
power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but
be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God’s will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ
Jesus. Philippians 2:6
Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Ephesians
4:23
Let these verses
dwell richly in your minds and in your spirits. These beautiful verses will
bring us back, with the Spirit’s help, into the mindset of Christ. We can think
and act more like Him, and we can and will be filled with power and love and a
sound mind.
Let’s set our
minds, fix our thoughts, on Jesus and His Word.
Father,
We thank You for the God-breathed Words that fill our minds
and hearts. We ask that our minds be renewed. Give us the ability to listen for
Your voice as we move through our days, living in the love and hope of Christ.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Your instructions are written on my heart. Psalm
40:8
The law of their Lord is in their hearts. Their
feet do not slip. Psalm 37:31
God’s instruction
book for us is alive and powerful. If our hearts are filled with God’s word, we
can rise above the world around us to gain the wisdom of our Creator. The Holy
Spirit will guide us into writing the thoughts and commands of our Heavenly
Father on our hearts. He has promised to do so.
“I will put my law in their minds and write it on
their hearts. I will be their God and they will be My people.” Jeremiah 31:33b
When God’s words
are etched in our hearts, we become a willing participant in His ways, more and
more able to walk in His will, His perfect and good will. He will keep us
strong and faith-filled as we walk in the world around us. As the verse above
says, “Their feet will not slip.”
Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might
not sin against You. Psalm 119:11
Think about filling
your heart more and more with God’s wonderful instruction book of life. His word
is meant for our use.
All Scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
Lord,
Let Your holy scriptures fill our hearts with power, wisdom,
strength, comfort and encouragement. We need Your steadfast presence each day.
Help our minds to take it in and our hearts to keep it safely hidden as a
treasure to be taken out and savored again and again.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Let the Word of Christ dwell among you
richly…Colossians 3:16a
Does the
word of God live richly among you and within you? Do you store Scripture as
treasures written on your heart? As part of my year of being “devoted,” (my
word of the year) I am reading, studying and memorizing Scripture, along with
two dear friends of mine. The meditation and memorization is based on a book by
Robert J. Morgan, called, “100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know By Heart.”
In one of the
opening chapters he writes, “It’s a force to be reckoned with, containing
intrinsic power, high enough to give us insight, deep enough to give us peace,
wide enough to mold our personalities, and strong enough to bear us through
horrendous days.”
This morning I am
going to encourage you (and motivate me) to memorize Scripture this year. The
Word of God is powerful, uplifting, filled with wisdom and given to us for our
use each day. When we memorize Scripture, it becomes available to us at any
time of the night or day.
When we can pull
Scripture out at any given time, it can be used as a light for others, as a
relief for us from anxiety or worry, as a word of hope for our future as a
comfort when we are burdened. Remember, The Word of God represents Jesus
Himself. Here is a great verse to memorize. Give it a try.
In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
This verse reminds
us that Jesus was with God from the beginning. He is eternal. He was and is
God! He is embodied in God’s Word. A verse to go along with this one, reminds
us that Jesus walked as one of us. This eternal God came to save us.
The Word became flesh and made
His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only
Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
The apostle, John,
was an eyewitness to the glory of God. Jesus Himself, the Word became flesh, in
His full glory. And He is grace and He is truth.
Father,
Give us more and more of Your precious Word. The Word became
flesh and lived among us. It is Jesus, sent from You, eternal God and the Son
of Man.
In Jesus name,
Amen
This week we looked to the ancient paths, pressed forward to
the future, and anticipated our heavenly home, all with the acknowledgement of
the presence of God in our every moment. Living each moment in His care
provides us with His peace and joy. Remember, in our ever-changing lives, Jesus
remains steadfast and faithful.
Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and
forever. Hebrews 13:8
Worried about the
future? God knows everything about us. His intimate love and grace for us will
be sufficient. His promises are all true and He is real.
I make known the end from the beginning, from
ancient times, what is still to come. I say, “My purpose will stand and I will
do all that I please.” Isaiah 46:10
His plans for You
are good. Place your yesterdays, todays and tomorrows in His comforting hands.
Listen for His voice to give you the next step and rejoice! All is well with
our souls.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares
the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and
a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Jesus,
Your peace and joy are available to us in each moment. Your
grace is enough for this day. We give You our lives with abiding hope for
tomorrow.
Amen
The days of our lives are numbered. One day we will reach the
end of our earthly lives. With Jesus, we need have no fear of death. Each step,
each year, each moment, brings us nearer to Him and to our heavenly home. With
this is mind, we, like Paul, can press on as we eagerly await forever.
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for
which God has called me, heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
My Uncle Paul is
ready for heaven. He has been in hospice care for a few weeks now and I have
been blessed to speak with him three times. Each conversation remains the same.
He says, “Judy, I will be with Jesus soon. Thank You, Jesus!” He is almost there. The angels will surround
him soon and bring him safely home. What a blessed assurance we have in Jesus.
We have a continual living hope.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ. In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope,
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance
that can never perish, spoil or fade. The inheritance is kept in heaven for
you. 1 Peter 1:3-4
Unlike our earthly
bodies and our earthly home, our forever bodies and our forever home will never
perish, spoil or fade. Forever with Jesus, our living hope. Keep the peace and
joy for eternity ever in your hearts as you walk through your yesterdays,
todays and tomorrows.
Until heaven, we
will not understand it all. But eternity awaits!
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also,
He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work
that God does from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
Father,
Today we praise You for eternity. You offer us this hope
through Jesus, His birth, death and resurrection reminds us we need not fear
death. Keep eternity in our hearts as we move through our lives.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Having Scripture to guide us with wisdom from the past, living
in the present moments with Jesus showing the way, gives us a deep hope for
tomorrow. He provides for us. Give yourself to Him and find rest for your souls.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not
on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct
Your path. Proverbs 3:5-5
The verses above
give me peace. If we acknowledge God is everything we do, He will give us the
right path to follow. Each step can be given into His capable hands. His ways
are so much higher than ours.
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are
My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:5
Look to God’s word
for answers. Rely on His strength to get through each day. The Bible is full of
power and light. The promises packed within the pages are true and mighty.
Place the words on your heart and pull them out when you need them. Listen to
these beautiful verses about God’s word from the prophet Isaiah.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and
flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is
My word that goes out from My mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will
accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah
55:10-11
Father,
We acknowledge You in our ways. We look to Your word to give
us hope for all of our tomorrows. Your word never returns empty. It
accomplishes all You desire for us and for others who rely on You. yesterday,
today and tomorrow are in Your hands.
In Jesus name,
Amen
As we focus on
being present in the moments of our days, the Bible also reminds us to look and
learn from the ancient ways, to learn from those that have gone before us,
especially from the Scriptures. God will teach us lessons from the lives of
others and walk us through the tough times that arise in our lives. Pray for
His guidance that comes from His eternal wisdom.
Show me Your ways Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide
me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You
all day long. Psalm 25:4-5
This is what the Lord says, “Stand at the
crossroads and look, ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and
walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16a
Remember the former things, those of long ago. I
am God and there is no other. I am God and there is none like Me. Isaiah 46:9
Father,
We long for rest for our souls. Your words and Your ways guide
us, as we stand at the crossroads of our lives and pray. You have the answers.
You provide peace and joy from within. Thank You for the ancient paths that
show us the good way to go.
In Jesus name,
Amen
The last two weeks have been filled with family and friend
get-togethers, with the celebration of the birth of Jesus, with too much
eating, and finally, with a day or two of rest. My husband and I like nothing more
than having a day to relax. We love the days when we can be together, take a
walk, do a crossword, or go our separate ways for a time of solitude. Yes, we
are growing older.
I have always
appreciated the days I have to myself, to meditate on Scripture, to read and
reflect, to contemplate, to write. This is the way I gain energy, a true
introvert at heart. How about you? What will you do with today? What gives you
renewed energy? What is your favorite type of day?
How are you at
living in the present? We are apt to dwell on past mistakes, or worry about
future events, real or imagined. Our minds launch into scenarios that may or
may not take place and we worry too much about what others think of us. What
would happen, if this year, we try to live in the present, to try to live by
the will of God and let Him take care of the worrying and remove our regrets?
I’m willing to try.
He is our guide and our biggest cheerleader. He has work for us to do, without
panic or worry, without burdening ourselves with the past or the future. He has
grace for each moment, for every circumstance. He is here, omnipresent,
omniscient, omnipotent. Let’s listen for His voice today.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your
ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” Isaiah
30:21
In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the
Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 15:9
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you
should go. I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8
Lord,
Thank You for Your loving presence, available to us each
moment of each and every day. We turn to You again as we begin a new year, a
year of hope-filled joy as we listen for Your guidance. Help us to live in the
present with You.
In Jesus name,
Amen
