Monday
Wisdom
The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple (Psalms 19:7 NLT).
You will never find Godly wisdom down a forbidden path.
Lord, help us to keep our eyes fixed on You. Help us to stay on the path that You have chosen for us, not deviating from Your moral compass. Give us the wisdom to seek Your will in all that we do. We ask in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Tuesday
Jesus' Life, Death, and Resurrection Paved the Way
We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life (1 John 1:1 NLT).
God incarnate, Jesus Christ! The Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.
John proclaims a personal relationship with Jesus. John saw Jesus after the resurrection. His testimony is real, true, and factual. Jesus came so that we might have a relationship with God. Without Christ, we cannot approach God, because of the sin in our lives. On the cross, Jesus satisfied our sin debt. Thank you, Jesus, for saving us from ourselves.
Dear Lord, thank You for loving us more than we deserve. We are such an undeserving people, but You claimed us as being worthy, through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us praise Your name. To all the glory of Christ, we pray. Amen.
Wednesday
In Times of Peril
The psalmist wrote, “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters,” (Psalm 18:16 NIV).
Lord, we lift our hands high to Your Throne. We are in dire need of You. Many don't know you. Many have turned from You. Lord, I ask that you not forget Your righteous few. Lord, save us from this evil and destructive world. Come, Lord, take our hands. Amen.
Thursday
Life Is Short
How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone (James 4:14 NLT).
Now is the time to think about your life and your eternal life. What are you going to do with today's gift of life? What difference will you make? Who will you help? Who will you hurt? It's your choice to be a blessing or to be a curse to others. What will you choose?
Eternally, where will you spend eternity? Again, it's your choice. Will you choose Jesus Christ or will you choose to spend eternity in hell? God doesn't send anyone to hell, it's our choice. I pray that you will choose wisely.
Each day of life is a pure gift. We are broken people and live in a broken world. The human body is just that, broken. It is prone to illness and eventually death. We are not meant to live forever in this world. When we are born, we can be sure that we will die. That is life. I'm not writing this to be pessimistic or to be a "downer.” I am writing this to remind each of us that life is a pure blessing.
Enjoy today, use it to glorify God and to serve others. Be the person that God designed you to be.
Father God, lead us and direct us to live a life that glorifies You. Help us to understand how precious life is and remind us that life is a true gift. Help each of us to grow closer to You through Your Son, Jesus Christ. We pray this in His mighty and matchless name. Amen.
Friday
God's Will Not Ours
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing (Psalms 143:10 NLT).
Boy, how I get off in the weeds so many times. I start chasing my will instead of waiting and relying on God's. I'm sure that I'm not the only one that does this. I either want to run out in front of God, lag behind Him or sometimes just ignore Him.
Today, the prayer below comes to mind. It is the prayer of a second baseman in Major League Baseball and a most valuable player (MVP), Bobby Richardson. I pray this prayer on a regular basis. Please join me today in praying this and letting God's will reign in your lives.
Dear Lord, Your will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Amen.
Saturday
Resisting The Lures of This World
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world (James 4:7-8 NLT).
The devil is a liar and a thief. God is a loving father, but a just father. God's love for us is greater than any of us can imagine. He hates what destroys us, but loves us enough to let us make our own choices. Basically, we have two choices, God's way or Satan’s way.
Father God, we pray that everyone searches their heart and determines who it belongs to, does it belong to You or the Devil? Lord, help them to see that if it belongs to the Devil, they will have a life of destruction and turmoil and an eternity in hell. Father, bring the lost sheep back into Your fold. I know that You wish no one to perish in their sin. Lead and direct all of us today, so that we might lead a life that is pleasing to You. Help us to be the best, representative of Christ that we can be. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Sunday
The Answer is Jesus
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT).
Are you tired? Is your plate full of problems, anxiety, and sadness? Have you just about given up? Is work demanding more than you can give? Are you struggling financially or in relationships?
You know folks, this is part of the world we live in. Sometimes it's hard. It seems many times that the best we can do just isn't good enough. There is an answer and that answer is to bring all your troubles, frustrations, problems, needs and uneasiness to Jesus. When we lay our brokenness at the foot of the Cross, we can find relief from the problems in life, focusing on The One that is the answer, The Comforter and our King.
Lord, thank You for healing our brokenness. Thank You for being our comforter and redeemer. We praise Your mighty name. Amen.
