Patience in Prayer

 

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

     This is a great verse to memorize. It is packed with wisdom and short enough to easily carry in our hearts and pull out when we need it. With Christ there is always hope. Even at the very end of our time on earth, it is just the beginning of forever. There is no end. Hope can be found. Hope that can give us the lasting joy of Jesus.

     Patience is not an easy concept in a fast-paced world. Even waiting for our morning coffee or sitting at a traffic light can be frustrating. Two women I know have faced battles against cancer. Both lost their hair. Both have suffered greatly, one with sickness and nausea. One is dealing with a slow recovery. Patience in affliction? During those long days and nights, when there seems to be no end in sight, hope and patience and even the ability to pray are nowhere to be found.

     I’m finding difficulty finding peace with the aftermath of the shootings in our area. We have friends impacted through these shootings and hope, peace and joy seem far off. During those times of suffering, hopes can be shattered, patience goes out the window, we lash out at those closest to us and what about prayer? Who has the energy? During those dark days, we count on others to pray for us, to give hope when there seems to be none, to be faithful to us even when we don’t have an ounce of faith left. And when all is said and done, Jesus is still there, with joy and hope, with patience to deal with us once again, always faithful. He never gives up.

Dar Lord,

Be our hope when there appears to be none. Be patient with us when we don’t have it in us to wait. Lead us in prayer when we don’t feel Your presence and when others are suffering, lead us to be the Jesus in their lives, bringing strength, hope and love. Give us the ability to share joy, patience and faithfulness when affliction comes.

Amen

Help Us, Lord

 

 Our hearts are broken around our state, throughout our country, as yet another shooter has taken the lives of our children.  The senseless acts of a young man with no sense of the value of life, with hate and murder in his heart. I’m thankful for prayer. I’m thankful for the Holy Spirit. I’m thankful these beautiful children are with Jesus. I’m thankful I heard the story of one of the 5^th graders hiding in a pre-school room. She and her friend prayed the entire time and she felt a guardian angel with them.  We don’t know why. But God will, somehow, change lives through this evil act and He will offer comfort and He will grieve with those precious children and families. Please pray.

     If you are reading this, know you have been prayed for this morning. I love the fact that we are connected through the Holy Spirit. God tells us we are of one mind and of one spirit living as the body of Christ.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called. Ephesians 4:4

     Let’s continue to hold each other up, to pray for each other, to recognize the power living within us, to have confidence during these chaotic days, to trust Jesus above the highs and lows of life. He is the risen Lord. Be of one mind and be at peace. And keep praying for our country.

Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Philippians 2:2

Jesus,

Hold these families close, as we continue to grieve with them and pray for them. We belong to You. Let that be enough for us each day. Your grace is enough. We thank You for the connection between us. Keep us united in spirit and in peace and in prayer.

Amen

 

Accepting Love

 

     Human love is imperfect. Do we deserve the love of God? How do we accept it for ourselves? We won’t accept it fully, trying to be perfect and follow the rules. Our guilt may keep us from receiving His unconditional love. It might be difficult to believe that His kind of love even exists.

     His love is there for each of us, no strings attached. His free gift of eternity and a forever love comes from accepting the birth, death and resurrection of the only perfect man, Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man. He died for all of us, no matter our past, no matter our weaknesses and frailties, no matter our race.

     Accept His love and be cleansed forever, sins forgiven, and a loving Father, friend, Savior, shepherd, teacher and guide to get us through this crazy life. You will see others in a new light. You will long to change hearts, to share the best news ever given, to show Jesus and His glory, the glory of the Son.

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, sent from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1 :14

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

     His unmerited favor and grace will find you wherever you are. See His glory. Accept His light and love. He is your Savior.

Father,

Help us to receive Your unending love deep into our hearts, never to be lost again. Guide us into more and more love and change this dark and violent world with Your grace and mercy.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Searching for Love

 

     Feeling the need to be loved? Why not seek out God? Ask Him for His love. Seek that love with all your heart and soul. Believe He has been waiting for you with open arms, waiting to fill the empty spaces and love you as His own, never to leave you again.  Listen to the yearning is these words from Psalm 42.  Maybe they echo the words of your heart right now.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul, how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One, with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:1-5

     Maybe, like David, you are discouraged, wondering where to find God. David is lost and disturbed. Where is God? And yet in verse 5, He still praises Him. He reaches out to Him. He loves Him.  He seeks Him even when He does not feel His presence.

     How is your soul? Find rest as you pant for God as a deer pants for water. Seek Him with all your heart and He will be there with you. Seek Him and have faith and He will reward you with His presence.

And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Lord,

We seek and need Your presence right now. Lift up our downcast spirits as we continue to praise You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Longing for Love

 

     The abused child. The betrayed man or woman. The neglected family. All of us, all of humanity, craves love. If we don’t receive it naturally and think of ourselves as valuable and worthy to be loved, we lash out, we numb the pain, we blame or turn inward.

     God loves each of us. With all of the pain and suffering in the world, man finds this tough, if not impossible, to believe and understand. God continually seeks us and gives us opportunities to find Him, to know Him, to receive love from Him.

     We can’t work our way there. There is not enough “good” we can do for others to earn that love, no certain amount of prayer, no sacrifice worthy enough.

We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

But God demonstrated His love for us in this; that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

     God’s love for you is beyond this earth. He died for you and me. Let Him  lavish love on you and fill you with the kind of love we long  to receive. It is there for the asking and the love of Christ will transform you forever.

Lord,

So many are hurting and lashing out. Love them. See them. Let them hear Your everlasting voice declaring unconditional love. The one who saves. It is Jesus.

Amen

Keys to the Kingdom

 

     God gave us Jesus, His Son, to show us who He is. The death and resurrection of Christ opened up the door to heaven for us, now and as we leave this earth. How wonderful to be heirs of the kingdom of heaven.

     Just as our parents leave us with an inheritance, of genes, of family wisdom, of love and character and of their worldly possessions, we inherit even more from our Father in heaven. He has given us the keys to His kingdom through Jesus!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. Ephesians 1:3=5

     Missing your earthly father? Missing ever having a loving father? Let our Father fill in any gaps in your life with His unending love. Your belief in Jesus brings about every spiritual blessing, a home in heaven, and a loving Father and Son to walk with you every step of the way. Their love is unconditional, their Spirit alive and well within you, along with arms of comfort to calm the storms around you. The keys to the kingdom are available to all! Open the door of your heart today and call out, “Abba” Father, our daddy.

Father,

You remind us again and again of our spiritual heritage. Help us to hear Your voice in a stronger way in the days ahead, to trust in You completely and to allow You to feed and nourish our spirits until they are whole.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Discipline

 

     God is more interested in our character than in our comfort. He trains us and disciplines us. Discipline is never easy, but it is necessary. If you are a parent, or are involved in the lives of children, you know how important it is to set boundaries, to work for their good, even when it is hard for everyone.

     God’s discipline is always, always filled with love. The tough love we give our children and that God gives us, will build our character, will make us into people that resemble Jesus. As God gives us opportunities to build our character and build us up in the fruit of the Spirit, He will build in us a strong sense of self-discipline.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

     True and loving discipline brings peace to our children and to our families.

Discipline your children, and they will give you peace. They will bring you the delights you desire. Proverbs 29:17

     If God is working on an attribute of your character, He will bring you through some difficult situations to build you up. It isn’t easy, for us or for our children, but the end result is worth it.

They discipline us for a little while as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:10-11

Father,

Thank You for Your example in raising our children. Your Word is filled with wisdom and knowledge as we raise our families and as we learn from You. Continue to discipline us when necessary to grow in our faith and in our righteousness. You are a loving Father.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Our Shepherd

 

     The job of a shepherd is similar to that of a father. Sheep recognize their shepherd’s voice. The shepherd keeps them from wandering, brings them safely back when they are lost, feeds them and gives them a soft place to land.

     You may be familiar with Psalm 23, which tells us that our Father is our Shepherd. Our Father tends to our needs in all ways, and we build our trust in Him, just as the sheep learn to trust the one in charge of them.

     Today place your trust in our good Shepherd. Listen for His voice. It is unlike any other.

“I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me.” John 10:14

My sheep listen to My voice. I know them and they know Me. John 10:27

     Do you recognize the voice of our Shepherd? He knows you inside and out. Listen for Him. Allow Him to guide you.

Lord,

You are a gracious Father and Shepherd. You guide us and teach us and work for the good in us. Transform us with Your precious voice that is always available.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Our Protector

 

     As we come to our Lord as children, it is important to remember to teach our young children to do the same. Our grandchildren have the best dads in the world. They are  ready to ease their frustration, to hold them in the middle of the night, to take care of them when they are sick.

      Sometimes our earthly dads are away at work, or have gone on to heaven, or aren’t there in the middle of the night. We can all come to our heavenly Father when we are scared or need a shoulder to cry on. He is always there, inside us, and surrounding us.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

     Psalm 91 is a beautiful Psalm of God’s protection over us. Remind your children and grandchildren that God will provide angels to surround them when they are afraid.

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11

Father God,

We praise You for Your protection, for the angels that surround us and for being our comfort and our strength.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Like a Child

Our Father God is our “daddy.” If you grew up with a loving dad, you knew you were loved unconditionally. You understood he was there to protect you, to guide you and to discipline you. Our Father God does the same for us.

     When parents brought their children to Jesus to be blessed, His disciples tried to shoo them away, knowing he was busy and worn down. Here is His response.

When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:14

     Even as an almost 70-year-old, I can be a child in God’s eyes. What a marvelous thought. I still miss my parents so much and how blessed am I, (are we) to be able to come to our Father in heaven for our deepest needs.

     Three verses in Scripture use the term, “Abba, Father.” It’s meaning is to place full confidence in and have deep affection for a father. In our language, it can be interpreted as “daddy.”  Jesus used the term in the Garden of Gethsemane, when He was in anguish before His journey to the cross, and called out to His Father.

     In Romans we are reminded that the Spirit of God has allowed us to be adopted as children and we can call out “Abba!” to Him. Here is the third verse in which the term “Abba” is used.

Because you are His sons and daughters, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,” Father. Galatians 4;6

     Cry out to your Father in heaven when you feel the need for a daddy, who is closer to you than your own father.

Lord,

How can we thank You for adopting us as Your beloved children? We cry out to You with our needs as You comfort us and protect us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Just a Wisp

 

     Remember, God’s work always continues in us. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. The Bible tells us our lives are but a vapor, a mist, a wisp.

Why, you don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a while and then vanishes. James 4:14

     I am grateful for each day of life. As we continue to live out our very short lives, keep Jesus front and center. The true blessings in our lives will flow from that love, His love for us and our love for Him and others in return.

     If we look for ways to bring glory to His name, we will continue to be filled to the brim with His love, His joy, His peace. Not easy, is it?

     There are days of frustration and worry, days of health concerns and days of being too busy. The days move on, sometimes decades move on, just as James told us, as a wisp. But God loves us, not because of what we do or don’t do, but because of who He is. Live each day fully. Watch for miracles. Don’t compare your life to others. God loves you, just as you are right this minute. You are His.

“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

Jesus,

We thank You for this precious life of ours. Continue Your work in us with Your love, even when we don’t feel it or see what You are doing. We place our trust in You.

Amen

Pure and Lovely

 

     Feeling inspired yet? There are days I doubt I am doing anything for God. Seasons of life change us and Jesus works with us in ways we can’t imagine. Our suffering becomes a gift of compassion for others. Our weakness shows His strength. Our age (hopefully) brings more Godly wisdom. Our experiences draw us into a more intimate relationship with our Lord.

      As we fix our hearts and minds, our eyes and our thoughts on Christ, we can become more like Him in this world. Here is what He asks us to think about. These words are in sharp contrast to what we see happening around us in the world.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable, and right and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8

     Keeping our thoughts on what is pure and lovely, excellent and admirable, may mean turning off the nightly news and listening to a sermon, or reading through Scripture, or making time for a Bible study with friends. When our thoughts match up with the character of Christ, we begin to change. Some of my pure and lovely activities include watching Hallmark movies and eating chocolate! How about you?

     The peace of Christ can continually flow within us as we gain confidence in Jesus. Let’s take these words of Paul as a prayer for us as we venture out into the world.

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation-the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ-for this will bring much praise and glory to God. Philippians 1:9-11

Amen!

 

 

 

Here I Am

 

     Are you available for Jesus? What is He calling you to do? Where is He asking you to serve? Who will He place in your life today? We just have to be ready when He calls. When God called Abraham, he said, “Here I am.” (Genesis 22). When He called out to Jacob, he replied, “Here I am.” (Genesis 46) When He called out to Moses, he answered, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3) When He called Samuel, he replied, “Here I am.” (1 Samuel 3)

     Just as Jesus said to God, “Here I am…” (Hebrews 10) we, too, can do the will of God. Here are the words to a favorite hymn:

I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save

I, who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart

I, the Lord of snow and rain
I have borne my people's pain
I have wept for love of them
They turn away

I will break their hearts of stone
Give them hearts for love alone
Who will speak my word to them
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart

I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save

Finest bread I will provide
'Til their hearts be satisfied
I will give my life to them
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart

      Is our Lord calling to you in the night? Is He calling to you right now? How will we answer? Let’s try it together, “Here I am, Lord!”

Father,

Give us your confidence. It is always Christ in us, nothing of ourselves. Give us the confidence of King David and the wisdom of Solomon, the bravery of Gideon and the help of others around us as we serve.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

 

Weak and Foolish Things

 

     God chose you and me to represent Him in this dark and crazy world. He meets us where we are and He saves us and makes us brand new. His gift of salvation is pure and loving. He doesn’t need us to perform His work and to fulfill His purposes. After all, He created us and our planet! And yet, He chooses to bless us as we learn to follow Him. Somehow, miraculously, He uses these weak human vessels to complete His work.

But God chose the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27

     Moses stuttered. Gideon was the smallest man from the weakest tribe. King David was the youngest and weakest of his family. The apostle Paul was named Saul before he met Christ and persecuted and looked for ways to kill the Christ-followers.

     Something happens when these weak and foolish humans understand our need for a Savior. We are faced with a pure and loving God and understand the sin within us. What a gift it is to be humbled before a righteous God. And imagine what He did with Moses and David, with Gideon and Paul. His disciples were from the poorest communities, many fishermen by trade.

     And they would have the privilege of beginning the church that moved around the world. All but one of them was martyred for their faith. They had seen the risen Lord and understood the joy of salvation. Give your weaknesses to Him and watch His strength kill the giants in your life!

     None of the Israelites wanted to fight against the Philistine, Goliath, no one except one small shepherd boy. When he offered to face the giant, others tried to dress him in armor, but he was not used to it and removed it. His confidence in God was so strong, his weapon of choice was a rock and a slingshot.

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands. 1 Samuel 17:45-46a

     You know the story. The great giant would topple over and die from the rock. What giants are you facing? What obstacles are in your way? Let God remove them and continue glorifying Him. God works through the weak and foolish things of this world to make His name known. How will He use us today?

Father,

Thank You for reminding us that with You we are strong. With You we can face anything. With You, we confound the wise and the strong. Let others find You and may we be strong in You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Create In Me A Clean Heart

 

     Let’s get inspired this week. Inspired to stay humble. Inspired to trust God. Inspired to allow Him to work in us. Inspired to find joy and peace. There is no better inspiration found in God’s word than the example of King David.

     David was the youngest and weakest of his family. His brothers (all seven of them) were stronger and a bit more majestic. David tended to the sheep, the boy instructed to bring lunch to his brothers out in the battlefield. God understood David and understood his great heart. He would be the one chosen to be King of Israel.

     In return, David understood the faithfulness of God, even in the most trying of times. The Psalms are filled with emotion, with regret, with deep suffering and grief, with fear for his very life, with longing and anguish and always, deep and abiding trust and joy. How are you feeling today? Look into the writings of King David and find understanding and compassion.

     The following words are worth remembering. They may be familiar to you from a doxology often used in Sunday services. I remember singing these words week after week in the Lutheran church where I grew up in South Minneapolis.

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

     Such beautiful words. God, through salvation in Jesus, makes our hearts clean. His Holy Spirit is given to us freely each day. The joy of our salvation and access to the throne of heaven can be constant throughout our lives. Let God uphold you and inspire you.

Father,

Thank You for Your word that comforts, guides, inspires and reminds us of all You have to offer. Create pure hearts in us as we continue this journey with You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

All Your Heart

 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5

     Knowing this and reading those words are completely different than living them. Luckily for us, the Holy Spirit continues to work in us, growing us in faith over time, until Jesus becomes a continual presence in our lives. The Spirit guides us in our speech, our thoughts and our actions. Allow The Spirit to fill you to the brim.

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

     God is working on our hearts and souls. Listen for His voice. Dig into Scripture and take good time to pray and the image of Christ will work on you and through you. It is an amazing gift of God.

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

     He provides the deepest joy in this life and He promises us eternal joy in the next. Hang on and be renewed.

     If you don’t know Jesus, turn to Him and believe and be refreshed.

Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19

Dear Lord,

The best place to be is in Your presence. You give joy and love to the soul. We draw near to You today to seek Your purpose, to live in Your love, to praise Your holy name.

Amen

God Is Enough

 

     Jesus satisfies our needs, not our wants. God is not Santa Claus. He is enough for our situations today. He provides, just as He did for the Israelites, day-by-day. Seek Him for daily nourishment, just as you do for food and water.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God. Psalm 42:1

     Never stray far from His word, from praising Him, from seeking Him in prayer, and He will be enough. Enough for right now. Let Him renew your strength and be grateful.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall. But they who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29

     When my husband suffered a mild stroke in 2009, a friend gave us the verse above. This verse gave us hope when we were scared. We held on to the promises of our God. The verse that precedes the one above, states that God does not grow tired or weary. He is there now and forever, ready to replenish those who are weary and empty. Let Him renew your strength until you are ready to fly again.

Jesus,

Please renew our strength. Be with those feeling tired and alone, fearful and discouraged, those who are mourning, those who are ill.  Lift them up once again in Your mighty strength.

Amen

 

Enduring Love

 

     The need for safety, security and love run deep within us. Unfortunately, not everyone grows up with their essential needs being met. The lost and lonely of the world need unconditional love from our Savior. God can fill the emptiness in our souls. He can be the parent, the husband, the One of our hearts.

I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. John 14:18

     God promises to be our loving Father. He calls Himself our bridegroom. He offers protection, hope and love forevermore.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

     If you need comfort, if you are tired, if you are lonely, turn to Jesus.

“Come to me, all  you who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Father,

You are good. You love us forever and ever. Ease our burdens. You love the orphan and the widow and widower, the single man and woman, the poor and needy. You love me. Your love endures forever. Offer hope and security today and help us bring others to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Time to Replenish

 

     Times of refreshing are essential for us, for our mind, for our body and for our spirit. I don’t know about you, but there are days I feel drained. Times I am worried or sleepless, times of doubt, times with no energy. There will be moments of unanswered questions, times of grief and uncertainty.

     Let Jesus refresh your soul today with His love. He can satisfy the weariest spirit, the grieving heart, the uncertain future, the worried mind. Let Him be enough today.

“For I will satisfy the weary soul and every languishing soul, I will replenish.” Jeremiah 31:25

     Times of replenishing are necessary as we allow God to satisfy our needs. I find myself even more grateful for friends and family as I age.  Seeing high school friends, attending celebrations with family or taking a walk with my husband are treasured moments. And the grandkids? They brighten up everything with joy and laughter. Call a friend. Go for a walk. Open your heart to someone you love.

    For they refreshed my spirit as well as yours.  Give recognition to such men and women. 1 Corinthians 16:18

     Share a hug. Refresh others or let them replenish you.

Father,

We are grateful for our much-needed time with our friends and family. Teach us how to refresh and rejuvenate those with weary souls around us. Fill them with Your kind of love.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Refreshed and Confident

 

     What if we try to take the week off from worry, anxiety and doubt? What would it be like to relax in confident trust? Let’s give each other a break this week from comparing our lives with others, from believing we aren’t enough, aren’t doing everything right, aren’t measuring up. In our Father’s eyes, we are seen through the image of Christ.

     How amazing is that?! He no longer views our sinful hearts or our weaknesses and failures. He sees us seated in heaven, cleansed and pure, righteous and holy. Relax in your heavenly Father’s care. He loves you so much He sent His one and only Son to die for you. What more do we need?

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 1 John 4:9

     When we take in God’s word, our minds will be transformed and refreshed.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

Lord,

Keep us refreshed and confident in You this week. We look to You to keep us on track, to fill us with Your promises and love and to offer hope when we need it most.

Amen

Worthy of Praise

 

     Look through the Psalms for words of comfort, for words of encouragement, for words of understanding, for words of forgiveness, for words of hope and praise. The Psalms lead us to the character of God. We can continue to praise Him. He is worthy of our praise.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise. His greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3

The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom and their tongues speak what is just. The law of their God is in their hearts. Their feet do not slip. Psalm 37:29-31

     We are only made righteous through Jesus. It is Jesus that wipes the slate clean. It is Jesus that gives us wisdom and justice, Jesus that keeps us from slipping. His word keeps Satan away. His word gives us strength and always, always, hope.

Hope in the Lord and keep His way. He will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are destroyed, you will see it. Psalm 37:34

     King David went through many dark nights of the soul. He cried out to God, time and time again, as we will, too. David’s heart always returned to trust and honor. Here is one example.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5

     David repeats these phrases again and again in Psalm 42 and 43. It’s as if he is trying to convince himself to turn back to God. We may have to remind ourselves as well. Looking to God is the answer. I will yet praise Him.

Lord,

Thank You for the Psalms that reflect our lives and bring us back to praise and honor You. You are worthy of praise.

In Jesus name,

Amen