Life and Change

 

     Life brings change. We age. We move. We have children. We suffer through changes in love, health and finances. Are you working through a change in your life, whether self-directed or one thrown at you with no warning? God can be the steady hand, the firm foundation, the voice in the wilderness. He is there as your guide, your leader, your peace in the chaos.

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

     The voice of God brings peace and confidence. As you pray, as you adjust to change, as you stand at the crossroads waiting for direction, follow peace. God will let you know how to walk in His ways. Follow peace.

Peace I leave with 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

     Fear and doubt creep in so easily, don’t they? Trust God over your emotions today. He offers a new perspective, a fresh start, a change in direction, with peace and love. Do not be afraid.

Father,

We trust Your word. We will follow peace. Keep us calm in the midst of changes in our lives. You promise to be our peace and to guide our ways.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Joy Forevermore

 

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 onto me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with Your free Spirit.  Psalm 51: 11-13

     You may have sung these words on a Sunday morning. These words are in a traditional church hymn sung through the ages. What beautiful words to sing to our God. Not feeling joy-filled at the present moment? The joy of our salvation wanes and weaves from our hearts and minds as we live out our lives. But God will restore that joy to you as you continue to ask Him for His holy presence in your life.

     God’s presence is not always a tangible, emotional feeling. But believe it; He is ever-present! It takes faith and trust in a God who is more than able and available. He watches over your life.

The Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:8

     A reason to rejoice! Your salvation in Christ brings great joy. His ever-present guidance is available right now this very minute. Ask Him to restore your joy and be filled with His free and willing Holy Spirit.

Jesus,

We ask for Your complete joy to fill us today. Thank You for watching over us all the time. Remind us of the heaven to come.

Amen

Rejoice in God's Love

 

     King David was called, “a man after God’s own heart.” But, like us, he messed up time after time. His beautiful songs and emotions fill the pages of the Psalms. We witness his sorrow, his fear, his deep shame and his continued desire to come back to God.

     Even when we mess up, God is there. He loves us always, never less, never more, because of our behavior. His unconditional love is beyond our human understanding. Wherever you are today, rejoice in His love for you.

I will be glad and rejoice in Your unfailing love, for You have seen my troubles, and You care about the anguish of my soul.  Psalm 31:7

Then I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be glad because He rescues me. Psalm 35:9

     Notice in the last verse above, the word “rescues.” It is not past-tense or future-oriented. It is a perpetual rescue, past, present and future. He will rescue us. He has rescued us. He rescues us over and over again.

Lord,

We rejoice in Your ever-present love for us even when we mess up and turn away from You. Thank You for never leaving us alone. All we need to do is turn to You again and again.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Rejoice Always

 

     Paul suffered greatly in his life. Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus propelled him forward no matter the circumstances.  You can read through a list of some of the trials Paul suffered beginning with verse 24 of 2 Corinthians 11.  Paul wrote many of his last letters from a prison in Rome where he was chained to a Roman guard.

     How then could he write these words from the dank, smelly cavern of a prison cell?

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again-rejoice! Philippians 4:4

     A tall order to “always” be full of joy in the Lord. Remind yourself of all you have in Jesus. His Spirit resides within you. He is ready to teach and guide you throughout the rest of your life. He has a plan and a purpose for you. He has an eternal home waiting for you. Let’s say it again!  Rejoice!

Jesus,

We do rejoice in You! Keep the deep joy bubbling up within us until it shows beyond ourselves to the world around us. Your transforming love needs to be shared with the world.

Amen

 

Sealed With Joy

 

     The deep joy of Jesus, even facing the agony to come, can be embedded deep within our souls. The Holy Spirit seals us when we first believe and comes to reside within us. The deep peace and joy of our blessed assurance in eternity provides our souls with an abiding rest.

     When our human emotions, struggles and trials begin to take over, as they will time and time again, we can choose to focus on Jesus. Fix your eyes on Him and on hope. Joy, complete and eternal, is waiting for us.

For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5

What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Psalm 84:5

Jesus,

You are the joy of our hearts. Place our hearts and minds above the earth to You today. Remind us continually of the joy to come.

Amen

 

For The Joy

 

     Imagine the Creator of the universe, the Word of the infinite God, the One with thousands of angels under His authority, offering to live as one of us and experience humanity in all of its forms. Jesus wept. The Son of God became angry. The Messiah felt weariness and was tempted in every way. Our Savior prayed continually for guidance from our Father in heaven. The good Shepherd sweat drops of blood agonizing over the death to come.

     He did it willingly. In fact, He did if for the coming joy.

For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2b

     If we could only imagine the joys of heaven. Jesus knew the end of the story. The agonizing darkness on Friday would become a glorious Sunday filled with light and hope. Death had no power over Him. And it has no power over you, because of Him. He did it for you and me. He suffered every sin we would commit, every disease that we experience, every grief that robs hope from the soul. He overcame it all for the glorious joy of resurrection and redemption. He did it for you. He did it for me.

Jesus,

There are no words. The plan of salvation was written before time began. You counted it joy and You are worthy to be praised from now ‘til forevermore.

Amen

Do Good Seek Peace

 

     Jesus uses His believers to do His work on the earth. Isn’t that incredible? Obviously, He can do all things, is in all things, and all things were made for Him.  He chooses us. He chooses us to pray for those around us. He chooses us to plant seeds of kindness and love in His name. He chooses us to grow in our faith so that others notice something different. And somehow, miraculously, He uses our lives, the good, the bad and the ugly to shine His glory.

     He sanctifies us as the years go by as His children, to be His witnesses and to represent Him in a dark and ever-increasing violent earth.

We are, therefore, Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. 2 Corinthians 5:20a

     We won’t be able to remain strong in our faith and in our witness apart from Christ. Connect with Him today. Praise Him. Read about Him. Get to know His character, what He sees as evil and what He considers good. Do good in His name.

Turn from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14

Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Psalm 37:3

I know there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. Ecclesiastes 3:12

Jesus,

Show us how to do good while we live. You will protect us and keep us safe as Your beloved children. Keep us connected to Your love and to grow into Your likeness.

Amen

 

The Peace of Christ

 

     The Bible tells us to, “seek peace and pursue it.” The peace of God is an inner peace. We long for world peace, for peace in our divided country, for war to cease. But Jesus tells us conflict will continue to grow as the end draws ever closer. We may pray for that type of peace, but pursuing God’s peace is a work of the soul.

     Knowing and trusting God, leaving our cares with Him, letting go of anxiety and turmoil is no easy task for us as humans. With the help of our God, sitting still and knowing He is God (Psalm 46), and believing He can handle whatever life throws our way, brings peace.

They must turn from evil and do good. They must seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:11

     As we seek the peace of the Lord, Jesus promises us:

Peace I leave with 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

Jesus,

Give us the inner peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4) as we trust You with everything. We pursue Your peace today as we seek You. We claim Your promises for us.

Amen

 

The Word of God For You

 

     Pick a verse and proclaim it out loud. The word of God carries with it the power of our God. It is His word and it lives and breathes. It teaches and confronts. It guides and nourishes. It is to be trusted. What’s on your mind? Look up a verse to speak out loud back to God. This is what You told me Father. This is Your promise to me today.

     Here is my verse. This is a prayer and I have changed the ‘you” to “me” and the “we” to “my.”  Put in your own name and personalize some Scripture just for you.

I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen (me) with power through His Spirit in (my) inner being, so that Christ may dwell in (my) heart through faith. And I pray that (I), being rooted and established, in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people to grasp how wide and long, and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:16-18

Let the word of God dwell in you richly today as He speaks His words to you.(Colossians 3:16)

Amen

 

He Will Provide

 

     When we are weak He is strong. When we are guilty, He offers mercy. When we fear, He protects. When we doubt, He provides faith. When we weep, He comforts. When we are lost, He shows the way. When we pray, He listens. When we worry, He gives peace. When we mourn, He finds joy.

     Wherever you are, whatever you need, whenever you ask, whoever you are, He will provide.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3

      He gives us everything we need. He meets us wherever we are. Count on Jesus today. This morning He provides rain! After so many weeks of drought, He provides.

Dear Father,

You provide what we need, when we need it. We trust You in the darkest of days and in the glorious days of joy. How can anyone survive without You? Our greatest hope is for others to rely on You, to accept Jesus as Lord and to live a faith-filled life in Your mighty power.

In Jesus powerful name,

Amen

God-breathed

 

     Exhausted? Feeling like it’s tough to go on? Remember the fishermen had been up all night with nothing to show for it when Jesus told them to go out and try once more. Floundering with nothing to hang on to? Peter lost his focus and began to sink when Jesus reached out His mighty hand to lift him up. The woman at the well didn’t realize how thirsty she was for the life-quenching, soul-satisfying love of a Savior.

     Jesus will be with you wherever you are, every day, each minute, forevermore. He may answer our prayers immediately. Most often, He walks us through the grief, pain and fear. And sometimes He takes us right up to the throne room of heaven for eternity. Whatever the circumstances, He is there.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2

     Savor and meditate on the living words of our God. Scripture will give you answers. The living water and bread of Jesus is available. A Scripture you have read over and over again may open up in a new way. A word you have never seen will suddenly appear just for you, at the moment you need it most.

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

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

     God-breathed and alive. The Bible was written just for us through the Holy Spirit of our God. Take a deep breath and nourish your soul, and you will be thoroughly equipped to take on the deep waters of this life.

Father,

Thank You for the words that lead to eternal life. Keep us fed until we overflow with the abundant life you offer. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus who will lead us home.

Amen

 

 

Rushing Waters

 

     Within the poetry of the Psalms, David takes us with him on the emotional ride of life. He moves from praise to anguish, fear to self-doubt and confession. As the Israelites flee from Jerusalem, he is hungry and thirsty for God. Our fear moves us from faith into the “what ifs” and “why me” questions that surround us. Listen to his words in Psalm 42.

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?  Psalm 42:1-2

     Have you longed to meet with God and He just seems too far away? I know I have felt that way many times. David is feeling swept away in fear. His voice echoes ours as we finally meet with God and once again, feel His overwhelming love.

Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls, all Your waves and breakers have swept over me. Psalm 42:7

     God’s voice in the Bible is described as rushing water, the sound of a waterfall. (Ezekial 43, Revelation 1). David calls out in his deep distress to the depths of God until he is swept away. Feel God’s mighty presence. He wants to fill our lives with abundance and hope.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 (NLT)

     The amplified Bible goes even further. Jesus offers us an abundant life filled until overflowing.

     The deep waters can overtake us, but Jesus meets us right there. Allow Him to save you again from wherever you find yourself today. Hear His words to you. He is with you now and forever.

Lord,

We call out from the deep. Overwhelm us with Your love until we are filled to the brim and have enough to give away.

Amen

Living Water

 

     Are you thirsty? Dry and parched? We feel a deep thirst after a daily jog or workout or after a long-night’s sleep. Is your soul thirsty and begging for more? The abundant love and peace of God can fade into the background of our busy days, as the urgent takes precedence over the more important. Work, computers, drive time and social gatherings leave us little time for drinking the living water to fill our emotional, physical and spiritual needs.

     The Samaritan woman met Jesus at the well during the hottest part of the day. Little did she know she was looking at the Savior of her dry and parched soul.

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  John 4:13-14

     Soul-thirsty answers, life-quenching truth, free-flowing living water, are available for the taking. Are you thirsty? How do we receive this unending spring of water reaching to eternity?

“Whoever believes in Me as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38

     The gift is offered and we believe. Our tear-stained questions, our pits of shame, our deep longings are refreshed and satisfied with the living bread and water of Christ. Ready to dip in and take a sip? The living water will well up within us and allow us to refresh others, even to eternity.

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall lead them, and shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.  Revelation 7:17

Jesus,

Walk us beside the still, cool waters of Your saving grace. Fill us to the brim with the living water of Your word. Refresh our souls. We come to the well today.

Amen

Jump In!

 

     The disciples were ordinary folks just like us. Their personalities were varied, like ours. Peter was impetuous and spontaneous, often acting and speaking before thinking. Did you know he took a leap of faith and jumped right out of the boat when he saw Jesus’ walking on the water? Peter spotted Jesus and asked Him to let him come to Him on the water. How did Jesus respond?

“Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:29

     When Peter heard the command of Jesus, he obeyed immediately with no hesitation and the power of Christ was with him. What happens next, is a lesson to all of us, as we jump in to obey the calling of Christ.

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14:30

     When we find ourselves in situations of fear and doubt, of fear and questions, we long to remain fixed on Jesus, keeping our minds and hearts focused in trust and faith. Often, we take our eyes off of Him and feel ourselves sinking. What does Jesus say to us?

Immediately, Jesus reached out His hand and caught him “You of little faith,” he said. “Why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Matthew 14;31-32

     When Peter began to flounder and sink in fear, did Jesus leave him? No, immediately Jesus reached out His hand to save him. When you are heading to the deep waters of fear and doubt, cry out to your Savior for help. His hand is reaching out to you, to comfort, to bring peace, to find hope and a new beginning. Wait for Him to calm the storm. When He says, “Come” jump out of the boat and turn back to Him.

Lord,

Thank You for the reminders today. We turn our eyes away sometimes when life gets too hard. You are always there with a steady hand to calm us and to reach down and save us again.

Amen