Whatever We Do

 

     How do we continue to keep Jesus first in our lives, as our lives become stretched too thin? Calendars fill up. Work and chores need to be done. Friends and family need our time. Worries abound. Health issues arise. Our young children deserve our constant and consistent attention and care. Where does Christ fit in?

     Looking back over the many decades of my life, the times I have been most out of sorts have, invariably, been the times when my focus has been taken off Jesus. Enjoying and welcoming and relying on the Holy Spirit’s lead is the only answer to maintaining a peaceful and joy-filled life. It’s ultimately all about Him.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not human masters. Colossians 3:23

     The definition for “everything” includes “all things” and “life in general.” What if every single thing we do and say, including our actions, our work, our attitudes, could be given to Jesus? He bought us with a price and our lives now belong to Him.  

     I can’t imagine trying to give Him some of the things I have said or the ways in which I have completed tasks half-heartedly, or done something for someone grudgingly. So many instances come to mind as I think about giving everything to Christ. I’m sure Jesus would want nothing to do with some of it.  We will never be perfect, nope, not ever on this earth.

     But, for today, I am going to think and act mindfully as to the Lord, focusing on the way I live and act, as a child of the most-high God, as one who belongs to Christ and is given the honor of representing Him to a fallen world.

Jesus,

Help me to give all of my life to You, to act and do everything in Your honor and with You in mind. No matter how mundane, let us welcome Your presence into all we do, in all things, in everything.

Amen

 

In All Things

 

     Feeling weak? Let Jesus be your strength. Feeling tired? Come to Him and He will give you rest. Feeling unsettled? He will bring you back to peace. Are you grieving? Let Him comfort you. Content and happy? Jesus will rejoice with you.

     Be reminded that Jesus is here. He is alive and well in heaven and His Spirit resides within every believer. He is beside you, within you, around you, above and beneath you. In all things, Jesus is there. All things were created through Him and for Him.

For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things have been created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16

     We have been saved for eternity through Christ. He is with you today and tomorrow. He will walk with you, talk with you, listen to you and He is able to sustain you in all things. He is enough. Have faith. Here is the simple Gospel truth.

Through Him, you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:21

Father,

Thank You for reminding us today that, because of Jesus, we have access to You. Our hope and our faith remain steadfast in You. Give us exactly what we need right now, this very minute. We praise You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

All We Need

 

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

     Take in the blessings of God this week. Allow Him to fill the holes in your heart and bless you in all things at all times. Jesus loves you to the moon and back and beyond the stars. After all, He has washed your sins as white as snow. Take that love and the blessings of God and give some away. Count your blessings on Thanksgiving Day and every day. And don’t forget to pray for others and allow others to pray for you.

And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.  2 Corinthians 9:14-15

     God’s gift of grace is meant to be shared. And prayer changes things. Prayer opens hearts and heals wounds and gives peace. I thank God for each one of you and I pray that God’s gifts be given to you abundantly so that you may overflow with them.

Happy Thanksgiving! See you Monday.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for Your indescribable gifts. We take each one as a blessing from above and we ask to be given opportunities to give to others.

Amen

Think On These Things

 

     Well, let’s admit it. Along with the delightful, smells, tastes, sounds and anticipation of the season there is more. More stress, more busyness, more annoying relatives. There are the gifts that don’t work, that don’t fit, that we don’t need. We overeat, we over shop and we overdo. Take a break before the hoopla begins and think on these things.

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 about such things.  Philippians 4:8

     What do you think? Can we rise above the craziness and focus on the lovely and excellent and pure? Focus on the love around you and the One who came for us. It’s all about Him after all. He can change everything.

Jesus,

Calm our spirits as we get ready to celebrate the loveliest and purest gift ever given, the life You sacrificed for us, taking on all of the things that are not lovely and pure. Keep our focus on You and sharing all of the excellent and noble gifts You give to us.

Amen

The Aroma of Christ

 

     The sights, smells and sounds are upon us. Snow will soon fall. Christmas lights and displays greet us. The smell of pine infiltrates our homes. Many of us will savor the smell and taste of our Thanksgiving turkeys. I love this time of the year and look forward to decorating, baking, spending time with loved ones. Picking out gifts and delighting the young ones around us add to the holiday anticipation.

     What about the reason for the season? What about the anticipation of celebrating the miraculous birth of Jesus? The sights and sounds of the choir of angels greeting the shepherds as they tended their flocks? The realization that the Savior of the world was wrapped in swaddling clothes? What were the sights and sounds and smells of the manger where he slept?  The surroundings were common, but the magnitude of the event, astounding!

     Did you know we can be the aroma of Christ? Imagine that as this season engulfs our minds and hearts, as we are distracted from the true meaning of Christmas.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere.  2 Corinthians 2:14

Jesus,

Help us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of You throughout this season. We celebrate You. Born of a woman and the Son of God! Sent to save us all. We look forward to celebrating Your birth. Help our focus to remain on You throughout this busy season filled with sights, sounds and smells of the holidays.

Amen

Spiritual Joy

 

    Hope. Jesus returns us, always, back to hope. During the crisis times in our lives, the times of deep suffering, we often lose hope. Where Is God? How did this happen? And why? We have all been through so much, especially those of us who have lived many decades. If you have known Jesus for a while, you know He provides a way through, a way out, a reversal in your circumstances, a fresh beginning.

     Hope and joy. As we move into the holiday season, I pray your times with family and friends will be joy-filled. If it is a difficult time right now, hang on to hope and Jesus. Here is my prayer for us in the weeks to come.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

     Trust Him with it all and allow His peace to wash over you with hope for the future. May His joy be complete in us.

Jesus,

The joy of the Spirit is unlike any other joy in life. It is eternal and it s filled with hope. No matter what each of us is going through today, would you fill us with that peace and deep joy as we hope and trust in You?

Amen

Spiritual Joy

 

     Deep joy is a promise to believers. It is available to us along with the other fruit of the Spirit. (See Galatians 5) Joy in Jesus does not depend on our circumstances or even our feelings and emotions. It is the constant presence of Jesus within. Feel His joy in your spirit today. Let the joy be complete and steadfast throughout the rest of your life. Jesus brings spiritual joy.

I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11

     Believe, just believe and experience spiritual joy, deep and rich and overflowing.

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8

     Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with that inexpressible and glorious joy. It is beyond earthly boundaries, heaven-sent.

Jesus,

We do ask You and Your Holy Spirit to fill us with the deepest joy that only You provide. We pray for our hurting world and that You would come into the hearts and minds of those who do not yet know You. Let Your joy shine in our lives so others may see You.

Amen

 

Spiritual Joy

 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance> let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

     The verses above are a challenge to me. Consider it pure joy? The testing of our faith through trials and suffering? That perseverance James speaks of through times of suffering is often utterly impossible. The tears flow, the anxiety appears time and time again, as we fret and fume. We ache for relief. We pray for a miracle. We pray for peace. We long for comfort and hope. And somehow, we persevere. Some days are easier than others, as we place one unsteady foot in front of the other. The wisdom of God grows slowly but surely as we face our trials head on and persevere through the wait.

     God listens as we cry out to Him. These verses challenge us to place our focus on Jesus. To trust Him and believe we will get through this. There will be a purpose and a plan and He WILL work this for good and for His glory. Place your faith in Him and offer it all into His mighty hands, those mighty hands that hold the whole earth and watch as He continues to fight our battles and bring us to victory.

Father,

Please give comfort to those suffering right now. Surround them with a hedge of protection and give them comfort and hope in You. Fill us with that deep spiritual joy. It is ours through Jesus.

Amen

Spiritual Joy

 

     Sitting in the presence of the Lord brings joy and peace. Be still and know that He is God. (Psalm 46) Let His presence fill you with what the world is unable to fill. He protects and loves us. Listen to the words of the Psalmist.

But let all that take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. Psalm 5:11

You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Psalm 16:11

     The poetic words above are written to comfort you, to bring you joy, to recognize the eternal gifts of our God, so deeply felt as we sit in His presence and feel His joy.

Father,

Your words are beautiful to our ears and lift us up to the heavens. Let them sing in our hearts as we go through our day, recognizing who You are and all You have to offer those who love You. We take in the joy of Your presence and Your protection.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Spiritual Joy

 

     Joy. Have you experienced joy? Where do you find joy? Is it elusive and rare? Joy-filled times in my life are etched forever in my mind. A new bicycle. Dancing until the wee hours of the morning. Weekends with good friends. Long summer days. The times I still had my mom and dad around to love me unconditionally. The day I said, “I do.” The births of our daughters and watching them grow. Their weddings ond spending time with our grandkids. The list is endless, isn’t it? Joy-filled times are most often found as we share life with friends and family and with our true love, if we are lucky enough to have them.

     But Biblical joy goes deeper. Jesus-type joy is not rare or elusive. It is available every day. Deep-seeded joy grows in our life with Christ, as we are rooted in Him. If everything in life is falling apart, Jesus is there to help put it back together. He is here, there, everywhere. He is near. He is available and we will be with Him one day forever and ever. Let this joy give you strength. This is a favorite of mine:

“This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b

     You are walking on holy ground with Jesus. Let His kind of joy fill you with strength to take on the day. His joy is your strength.

Jesus,

Your joy is soul-deep and available each day. Fill us up with spiritual joy as we go about our tasks today and teach us to savor the moments of earthly joy as we travel through life.

Amen

His Wondrous Ways

 

     As we move into the holiday season, keep in mind what is most valuable, what is most treasured, what is most worthy of our time and focus. God is at work around us each minute of each day. Watch for His blessings. Savor moments with friends and family and watch for opportunities to shine His light.

     Our world is hurting in so many ways. Maybe your prayer list is long, as is mine. What a privilege to go to God for others. And what a gift it is to know others are praying for us. Our family is overwhelmed with gratitude at the continued prayers for our grandson, Gavin, as we continue to navigate this challenging journey with his epilepsy.

     Living life without Jesus is unimaginable to us. How about you? He soothes our soul and finds ways, through others, through His word, through time with Him in prayer, to gather us in His arms and take care of us.

     Wisdom can be gained within the waiting and the wondering.  His ways are good. Count on it. Count on Him.  I am praying for you this morning, that God will meet your needs today. Feel the love. Look for His wondrous ways.

You have multiplied, O Lord my God, Your wondrous deeds and Your thoughts toward us. I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. Psalm 40:5

Lord,

You are all-powerful, all-knowing, all-encompassing. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit today and make us aware of Your presence in everything we are experiencing.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Godly Sorrow

 

     Those living a comfortable or even prosperous life may be those living the farthest away from God. Those willingly running from God with anger, with an obstinate heart, those following a path of self-destruction or those protesting loudly, “There is no God!” may be the closest to finding Him.

When Jesus heard this, He told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17

     Let me explain. Think of all of the people sitting in church pews week after week. Many of those same people have not met Jesus. They listen half-heartedly, glance at their watches, waiting impatiently for the service to be over. What’s for lunch? What time is the game? Some believe they have fulfilled their obligation to God for the week, giving Him little or no further thought.

     The desperate heart, the angry young man, the addict, the prostitute, the atheist, are often the very ones, when they hear God’s words of grace, the true Gospel of salvation, to fall to their knees and ask for help. It takes Godly sorrow, a repentant heart, a humbling of soul, to seek the Savior.

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

     God uses the struggle, the pain and the transitions in our lives to reach out and find us, to give us hope and strength. Know someone in great pain? Know someone leading a desperate life? Know someone heading down a path of self-destruction? Wait, pray and watch. You may witness the miracle of a transformed heart.

Jesus,

We don’t understand the sorrow and pain in our lives and in the lives of others. We trust You with the answers and we pray for a miracle for those we love. We pray the test will become a testimony, the mess a message. With You, we believe it can happen.

Amen

 

The Sacrifice of Praise

 

     Are you struggling today? Some days it seems easier to give up, to stay in bed, to embrace defeat in our lives. There is pain, suffering, sickness, worry and stress. Let’s begin this morning by praising our God together. Recognize He shines with victory over our defeat. He is more powerful than our weakness. He is more loving than any other human being. Soak in His love and praise Him for every  blessing.

For everything God created is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy 4:4

     This next verse can change your heart and mind. Sometimes our praise is sacrificial. We certainly don’t feel like praising God when everything is falling apart. But God finds great joy in our praise, especially when it is difficult. Praise him for His goodness, His love and His light even when He seems far away. It will turn your attention to Him rather than on your troubles.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that openly profess His name. Hebrews 13:15

Jesus,

In our darkest hours, we praise You. In our defeat, we praise You. In our despair we praise You. The joy of our salvation is always with us. Open our hearts to the sacrifice of praise and we will be lifted up.

Amen

 

Renew Your Mind

 

     A fresh start. A new beginning. A transformed heart. A blessed hope.

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone. The new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

     Born again! All things have now changed. Let’s turn our thoughts to match what God believes about us. We no longer think and act like the world once we belong to Jesus.

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

     It may seem impossible to figure out God’s will. Does it help to know that His will is always best? His will for our lives is not only good. It is pleasing and perfect!  The words above explain how we get there. We renew our minds with God’s word. And then we ask the question. Is this in God’s will? Would God be pleased with this direction in my life? Does He want more, expect more, yearn for me to find more in life?

     He can change our direction, re-focus our mind, and start us on a fresh path. He is waiting for you and me to renew our minds and follow and trust. And it is good! It is pleasing! It is perfect!

Jesus,

Help us to discover the plans You have for us. We do get scared. We do lose our way. We do fall apart and there You are. Even when we don’t know what to do and we want to give up, You never do. You are the God of second chances and new beginnings. And here we are again.

Amen

With God We Can

 

     The transforming power of the Holy Spirit is not of this earth. As human beings, we struggle and strain, give up and try again. We want to prove ourselves to others. We are strong. We are invincible. And then life happens. We fall and try to do it on our own again. Beginning again in God’s strength takes a humble heart.

     What would it feel like to give everything to Him? What would change if you took the focus off of yourself and shifted your gaze to Jesus? With Him, all things are possible.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God. Mark 10:27

     God can conquer our fear and our hopelessness. With Him we are strong. With Jesus as our guide, the impossible finds hope.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

     Without God we can do nothing. But with the hope and the love of Christ we can do all things. With God, all things are possible. With God we are more than conquerors. With God, we can!

Jesus,

We humble ourselves before You today. We give You our lives. Forgive us for the times we have fallen and not turned to You. You can transform us from the inside out. Begin Your new work today.

Amen

Is it Time?

 

     Authentic, real, genuine, servant of God. Can we become fully His, living the lives He called us to live? Let that be our goal. Wouldn’t it be great to rest in living God’s way? We are all made in His image, yet there are no two alike. We have different colored eyes, various personality types, and we each have varied passions and values.

     God sees you as you are, and He sees who you will become with His gentle guidance and His love. He has called you. He has prepared work for you and only you. Has he placed a passion in your heart, a dream for the future? Remember, it took Moses 40 years in the desert, and at 80 years old led his people out of Israel. Abraham was almost 100 when he and Sarah had Isaac. Caleb was still healthy and strong, in his eighties, when he walked into the promised land.

     God’s purpose for us will never end, until we walk from this life into eternity with Him. The life with Jesus is real and true and lasting.There is so much that isn’t in the world around us. False pride, false eyelashes, false sincerity, and false hope surround us. Lies and greed, unforgiveness and rage abound. All of the falseness of the world and the schemes of Satan want to hold us back from living our genuine, authentic lives.

    Is this the perfect time for a real relationship with Jesus? He is calling you.

As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit-just as it has taught you, remain in Him.  1 John 2:27

    There’s the secret. Remain in Him. He will teach us. He is real and not counterfeit. His anointing, His call is waiting. Is it time?

Dear Jesus,

You promise to teach us all things through Your Holy Spirit. Show us how to live authentic lives filled with Your purpose for us, to live real lives of love and mercy. You show us how.

Amen

Ready to be Transformed?

 

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3:3

     Your spirit is born again. The Holy Spirit of Christ has come to live within you and you are eternity bound! He will never leave you. Let the prayer we closed with yesterday bring you great peace and joy as you begin anew. There are new beginnings ahead, and a new song in your heart.

     Things change when you become a believer. You may not have heard a thunderbolt or heard the angels sing. You see the same face in the mirror the next day, feel the same lure of temptation or go back to the same old habits. But you are changed. God now sees you through the image of Christ. Your heavenly Father sees no more sin. You are different and over time, Christ changes us a little at a time to be more like Him.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here.  2 Corinthians 5:17

     You have been renewed and transformed. You are in Christ! Believe that this morning and throughout the year. Renew your mind each day with His word. Listen for Him above all of the other noise around you and be changed!

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

     The things of the world will become less attractive as the Holy Spirit within you begins to guide your steps. Let David’s words from Psalm 51 be our prayer today in the renewing of our spirits and in taking the next step into a bright future filled with the light of Christ leading the way.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with Your free Spirit. Psalm 51:10-12

Need Jesus?

 

     I pray for hope and peace for each one of you. Is today the day to accept Him? There is something about Jesus. Something real. You have witnessed His love through others. You have seen the movie. Do you believe in the virgin birth, the sacrifice He suffered, the resurrection from the dead? Do you believe?

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live even though they die, and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”  John 11:25-26

     If so, and even if you already are a believer, read this prayer with me. That’s all it takes. A moment in time. A moment to be reborn into the kingdom of God, shifting all of your sin onto Him. It is not an even exchange. We receive His righteousness in exchange for all of our crud. He gives us everything we do not deserve and we have nothing to give Him back. All consuming, all-encompassing love. It is yours for the asking.

Dear Jesus,

I do believe you came to earth, born of a virgin. You lived as one of us, but had no sin. You died in my place. You suffered for me on the cross and by Your shed blood I am forgiven. Please forgive me for everything I have done against You and others. I give all of it to You now and my sins are wiped away as far as the East is from the West. You rose again on the third day and one day I will arrive in heaven to live with You forever. There will be no more tears or death. Thank You, Christ Jesus. I accept You as Savior. Take my life and use me to do Your will.

Amen

Need a New Beginning?

 

     When I was growing up, the year 2000 sounded eons away, like the end of the world. We pictured a world like the world of the Jetsons and I guess we weren’t too far off. As technology races ahead, as the earthquakes increase and terror and pandemics rage around the world, there is one thing that does not change and that is our God, our Creator. Nothing surprises Him and He told us of just exactly what would take place. The hands that created the universe are alive and well and those hands will bring all things to their final conclusion and, ultimately, to their new beginning.

     Are you ready for a new beginning? Is it time to release everything to the God who loves you? Give Him everything deep in your heart. Release any guilt, release any hurt, release any worries to Him. Coming to Him in humility, with our broken spirits is a great place to begin anew.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise. Psalm 51:17

     Jesus was there at the beginning. God had a plan. When the time was right, He sent His Son into the world. The perfect man, the perfect Lamb of God. He placed your guilt and mine, your sins and mine, all of the world’s disease, evil and hurt on His shoulders and suffered it all. He died and rose again. He is seated on the right hand of the Father. And He will come again. He loves you. Please believe it. He is real and He changes everything. All you need to do is believe.

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.  1 Corinthians 15:2-4

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

     This is the good news of the Gospel of Christ. For God so loved you. New beginnings. If you don’t know Him, get ready! He died for you. You are His and tomorrow we will confirm our faith in Him.

 Dear Father in Heaven,

Hear our prayers today. Take all of our hurt, all of our sin and wash us clean. Let there be new beginnings for all of us to know you in deeper ways, to be challenged to live for You,  to truly accept Jesus as Savior.

Amen

Need Rest?

 

     It is 5:00 a.m. and I have been awake for hours. My bedtime seems to move ever earlier and I wake up long before the dawn. It may have to do with increasing age, or that once my mind turns on, there is no turning it off. How about you? In the coming year, I want to sleep more, yes. But even more imperative is to find true rest for my soul.

     David went through so much in his life. He opens up his emotions to us in the book of Psalms, in sharing his own sleepless nights crying out to God, in finding forgiveness for his guilt and in looking ahead to heaven. Read through these next verses with me and maybe we can find rest for ourselves today.

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me, even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices, my body also will rest secure, because You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will You let Your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life. You will fill me with joy in Your presence with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.  Psalm 16:7-11

     Peter makes reference to these very same verses after the resurrection of Jesus, in the 2^nd chapter of Acts. David saw eternity and the one who was to come. Knowing that Jesus is with us during our sleepless nights and through our stressful days, even unto death and beyond to eternity, will give us true rest.

     In those sleepless moments, He will instruct our hearts. When we look to Him, we can praise Him when we don’t understand. We are secure and safe. He is our refuge at all times, in our wakeful moments or our dream-filled nights. Let Him give you rest in the days to come; rest for your soul, forevermore.

Dear Jesus,

With our focus on You, we find rest. Teach us and guide us into true rest in the year to come. We turn our eyes to You during our darkest nights and our brightest days. Instruct our hearts with Your counsel.

Amen