Possibilities

 

     As we look ahead this week to trusting God and seeking His protection, we can look to new possibilities in life led by the Spirit. Can we finally and forever find our souls at rest in Him and His protective arms? Over years of relationship with Jesus, miracles begin to take place.

          Be confident in Jesus and His Spirit that lives within each and every believer. He is willing and able to take the reins of our lives. Turn to Him as you wake each morning and ask for His guidance, for His words, for His peace to be upon you throughout the day.

     As our constant companion, we can lose fear and worry. When the tough times return, we know He never sleeps. His promises are eternal and they are for our lives right now.

     Our lives are in His capable hands. Living in step with Jesus brings about great blessings and our greatest desire will be to please Him, rather than ourselves and others. All of His promises are true His Word is truth and He will continually sanctify us, moving us closer and closer to Him.

Now O Lord God, You are God and Your words are truth and You have promised this good thing to Your servant. 2 Samuel 7:28

Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17

     Listen for His voice. Hear His promises. Let Him take the lead and you will be filled.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

Lord,

Keep us in step with You throughout the days ahead. Don’t let us get too far ahead, or too far behind Your lead. Your promises are true and we trust You. We trust Your protection, Your presence and Your promise of peace. Fill our thoughts with You. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

See you Monday!  Have a great weekend!

Be Still

 

     In a busy world, we often find it difficult, if not impossible to find stillness, as we move, as we work, as we plan, as we plug in, as we fill schedules, as we care for our families, as we perform household chores. Life moves along as God calls us to be still

     Knowing Him takes time. Learning to trust Him takes experience. Finding intimacy takes stillness. Even when we are in the midst of something frightening, we can be still and watch Him work.

The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

     Are you waiting and watching for answers to prayer? God asks us, once again, to be still.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Hm. Psalm 37:7a

     To understand just who He is, we are asked to be still.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10a

     God is in control. If you are in the midst of a storm, remember, Jesus can calm the waves. He gives us peace.

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mark 4:19

     Be still. Know that He is God. Let Him calm the storms within your spirit. Let Him fight the battle that is raging around you. Be still and wait patiently. When we know Him and His ways, we can rest.

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, “Come away with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31

Lord,

Your promises sooth our weary souls. We trust You to handle it all. Being still before You brings us calm.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Our Protector

 

     As we learn to trust our God in every situation, we can seek refuge in Him. He is our protector. Caring for our grandkids reminds me of their need for protection. They need and rely on their parents and those who love them, to feed them, to understand when they need sleep, to care for them when they are scared or sick. We are there as they sleep and when they rise, ready to nurture, to love, to comfort, to sustain them through their days.

     What a privilege to watch them grow, to celebrate with them as they learn, to see their spirit, their minds, their bodies growing day-by-day. Yet, even this deep love pales in comparison to the love our Father in heaven has for us.

     He, too, loves to nurture us, to protect us, to watch over us from morning ‘til night. He never sleeps. He is available to His children. Count on Him, just as our grandkids count on others to care for them. And best of all, they have a heavenly Father to protect them along the way.

     Psalm 121 is a song of comfort, of the knowledge of our God watching over us, of the deep love and availability of God. The entire Psalm is 8 verses. Take in these wonderful words of Scripture as we praise our protector.

I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-He who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you-the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm-He will watch over your life. The Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore. Psalm 121

     He is watching over you, whether you rise or whether you sleep, both now and forevermore. Such promises allow us to feel protected, secure and loved. Your heavenly Father loves you.

Lord,

We come to You today knowing you will protect us. You watch over us and give us all we need. Teach us to love with that same sacrificial love as we care for one another.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Trust in Him

 

     God loves it when we reach out to Him. Whether we are busy, or struggling, dealing with pain, or just getting through our ordinary days, He longs to be a part of it, all of it We end up worrying, fretting, moving through the days, trying to figure everything out on our own.

     He is there. Ask for help and guidance. It can be a simple prayer on the way to work, “God I can’t see the way. Help me,” or “Jesus, give me peace right in this situation,” or, “Give me the right words.”

     As we release our burdens to Him, and ask for His guidance, we CAN trust Him to work. He is working ahead of us, making a plan, finding people, finding answers, getting us through the pain with His love and His word, giving comfort and compassion.

     When the dark clouds are hovering nearby, seek His light and His hope beyond it all. His light WILL reappear, often in the most unexpected ways. His love will wash away any fear. He has conquered everything for us and He understands.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet He did not sin. Hebrews 4:15

     The one and only sinless man, tempted in every way, the one who suffered all of those temptations, the trials, the horrors of evil on His very own shoulders for you and me. He gets it. He is above all else and He can and will figure it all out, all of it, because He understands. Trust Him.

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8

Surely God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord Himself is my strength and my defense. He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2

Father,

Give us the ability to trust You with every fiber of our being, no matter what. Even when we can’t see the road ahead, we look to You as You make a new way for us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

A Listening Heart

 

     It’s safe and easy to stick with the usual, surface conversations. When we first see someone or connect on the phone, it’s an automatic, “How are you?” And we don’t necessarily want to hear the truth. The recommended and common answers? “I’m fine.” “I’m good,” “I’m well.” And, “How are you?” The expected conversation typically involves, kids, vacations, cars, grandkids, food and the like.

     Those surface conversations are important and necessary. When life is running along smoothly, those conversations come naturally. Thankfully there are relationships where we can go deeper. We can be honest with our hurts, our worries, our fears and truly listen to one another as we make time, sit patiently, nod and comfort and offer encouragement. Let’s be the Christ-centered, compassionate believers that stop to do just that. Life is too short to live on the surface. We can go deeper. I am so thankful for those who have listened to me over the years through life’s deepest hurts. We all have those times in our lives.

     God goes deep with us. When we don’t have a listening ear, He is always ready with an open heart to ease our burdens. But as the little boy said when his mom told him Jesus is always there. “I know, mom, but sometimes I need someone with skin on.” Let the compassion you have received from God flow through you out to others. God’s Holy Spirit will show us the deep and miraculous ways of God so that we can be available to others around us.

However, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”-the things God has prepared for those who love Him-these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.  1 Corinthians 2:9-10

Jesus,

Thank you for going deeper with us and leading us to the Spirit-filled life available to us. Help us to bring those deep things of God to others. You give us so much. We cannot conceive of everything you have planned for us and the abundant life available for us to live.

Amen

 

Blessed to be a Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

     We are called to be a blessing to others, because of the way God has blessed us. Living in a free country, having food on the table, having loving family and friends and being loved by Jesus. Saying the words, “The Lord bless you and keep you,” can mean the world to someone. Praying for God’s blessings for the people you love and reaching out to others in love are a privilege. We are blessed; therefore, it becomes our calling to be a blessing.

I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you. I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:2

     As God continues to bless us through His Son, Jesus, He will cause us to be a blessing to others. Today, may the Lord bless and keep you.

Lord,

Your blessings abound. Our thanksgiving for You and Your great gifts to us overflow in worship and praise. Use us today to bless others.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Gift of Faith

 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

     Our faith in Jesus has substance and our hope in Him is real. Even though we have not seen Christ, we believe! 

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

     Faith is all He asks of us. Faith in His name, in His shed blood on the cross, in His death and resurrection, in eternity to come. It is only through faith that we are saved.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and it is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

     Only through the grace of God do we find faith. Even our faith is not of ourselves. It is a gift from our loving God. Have you seen the evidence of His love in your life? Have you believed in the substance of your faith in Him? It is real. He is real. Hope is alive. We know we are saved. Believe!

Jesus,

Thank You for the gift of faith and the substance of everything You offer. The evidence of Your love is real. Help our unbelief. Give us opportunities to share our faith today.

Amen

Hope

 

     Waiting is not easy. Long lines, heavy traffic, waiting for the doctor, waiting for an answer, waiting for God to work. How do we trust God when we don’t understand? How do we keep hope alive when we are stuck in the dark? Where do we go when we ask “why?”

     The older we get, the more we look back and see His hand and His ways over the long, agonizing months and even years when there was no answer. Wisdom gained, strength uncovered, grief overcome, blessing anew. Wait…He is there.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4

     Perseverance, character, hope.  Hope does not disappoint. God brings hope to the most-dire circumstances, to the end of one story with a fresh start, to the need that grips us for years, to the person we have prayed for over time, at our life’s end. Hope beyond measure. God may be asking you to persevere. Your character is gaining strength. Your trust is growing deeper. And hope abides.

Lord,

You are the blessed hope, our assurance in the midst of turmoil and confusion. Develop in us a lasting trust. You never disappoint. We hope in You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Wait Patiently

 

     Over and over again, God tells us not to worry. He offers to carry our burdens, to guide us to the next step, to care for our loved ones. We know worry does us no good, robbing us of today’s joy as we fret about what may (and probably won’t) happen tomorrow.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him, do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7

     As we watch and witness the evil around the world, do not fret. God is in control. Evil will have its day and will soon be gone forever. Wait patiently before the Lord.

But the wicked will perish. Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed. They will go up in smoke. Psalm 37:20

Father,

May hearts be open to You now, before Your return to the earth. We speak boldly for You as we wait patiently for Your purpose to be fulfilled.

In Jesus name,

Amen

New Light

 

      My sweet neighbor, Phyllis, went home to Jesus last week at the age of 91.  Her faith-filled life has been an inspiration to me for twenty-five years, as she has been surrogate mom, sister and blessed friend all rolled into one. We giggled like school girls at the silliest jokes, studied the Bible in-depth together at her kitchen table each week and at our Tuesday morning Bible study at church for decades.

     How blessed I have been to experience her shining light in my life. A prayer request would be met with her literally on her knees, completely trusting in Jesus. She went through a lot in her life including losing her husband at a young age with four daughters to raise.

     An incredible legacy and we praise God for her and we grieve with the blessed assurance of heaven.

Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are growing day by day. For out light and momentary troubles are achieving for us a 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 is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Jesus,

Thank you for those in our lives that continually shine your light with hope and trust. Now You are the eternal light of heaven, with no more night, no more tears, no more pain. I praise you for this wonderful woman who lived among us for such a time as this. She is home with You.

Amen

 

New Peace

 

     With a brand-new beautiful granddaughter around, hope arises anew! There is a spring in our step, a perpetual smile on our faces and a joy unspeakable. I pray you have something to smile about today. If you know Jesus, you do!

     He is there, deep in your soul, ready to give you His eternal peace. His peace is unlike any other. When turmoil and strife surround you, there can be peace.

“Peace I leave you. My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14;27

     Inner peace. Ahh! Sounds wonderful. How I wish it would last every minute of every day. As human beings, we flounder. We fall. We are anxious. We want to fix things, to control our lives. We live in a fallen world, a temporal world.

     Jesus is there. He is ours. He will bring the peace back, once again, over and over again. He is the God of new beginnings and second chances, waiting with open arms. He will hold you. He has the words of eternal life. Where else would we go?

Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68

Jesus,

  New life is found in You. Renew our peace in You today. Our souls are born again as we believe in You. Death is vanquished and You promise us peace and hope as we live life here. Bring renewed hope to us today. Guide those who have not yet met You, to seek You, to believe in You, to accept You as Savior, the creator of new life!

Amen

 

New Confidence

 

     It helps me to remember; even when I feel weak in faith, discouraged in life, or worried and anxious, God continues His work in me.

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

     When you lose your confidence in yourself, in life, in others, be confident in Christ. When you lose your way, remember He has the path ahead all figured out. When you are about to give up, He will bring the right words, the perfect people, the Scripture you can hold onto for dear life, or the hope of heaven.

     At the end of this life, there is a new place, our perfect home, the beginning of forever. This is not our true home. We are visitors.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord, Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20

     God is working in your life right now. Trust in Him. He will never let you go. Wait eagerly for His coming. In the meantime, take His hand and He will show you the way to new life.

Jesus,

You are the way, the truth and the life. Our lives here will count for You as we allow Your work in us to continue. Give us renewed strength today. Bring the right words to our hearts and the right people to our paths.

Amen

New Strength

 

     A brand-new believer in Jesus is often filled with new hope and joy and peace. As humans, that euphoria can wear off as life continues to unfold with its hardships and struggles. But deep within, there remains an eternal perspective, the truth and hope of our heavenly home. The Bible tells us eternity is in our hearts.

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

     We will not understand all that goes on in our earthly lives. But God knows the end from the beginning.

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

     Allow these words to bring peace to your heart. God knows the end from the beginning. We will not understand all of His ways until the end of our time on earth. His purposes will come to pass, in His timing, in His way, in your life and in mine.

     Keep eternity in your heart. All of this is temporal. Allow the blessings of the new life in Christ to give you renewed strength today.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

Father,

When we begin to move away from You, renew our strength. We do not want to grow faint and weary in our faith. Keep the peace and hope of eternity in our hearts as we walk out our faith and our new life in Christ.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

New Life

 

     What if we decide to let our faith grow,to spring ahead with new enthusiasm for Jesus, to burst with new joy at the hope He brings? How about if we have a new passion for life, filled with the very Spirit that gives us peace?

     Let’s start anew with Jesus.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

      Let God speak these words into your heart with an exclamation point. “See, I am doing a new thing!”  A new thing in your heart, in your soul, in your path, in your life. See! There it is! Right in front of you. Step into a new life in Christ. This new life is not about our physical life, the comforts of the body, but it is filled with the Spirit, the Spirit of God. The Bible gives us the very Words of the Spirit.

The Spirit gives life. The flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you-they are full of the Spirit and life. John 6:63

Jesus,

We pray for Your words and Your Spirit to give us new life. Begin a new thing in our hearts this year. Increase our enthusiasm and passion for You, so that we may show the world.

Amen