Monday
Intimacy with Christ
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most (Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT).
The one who knows each of us intimately, Jesus Christ, walked this earth as a human, just like us. He was tempted by the same temptations we face but did not sin. We can't make that sinless claim.
Jesus came, lived, and died a sacrificial death for us. He was raised from the dead and is our great Redeemer. He has gone on before us to prepare a table (feast) in the presence of God. We are invited to that table.
My question is, Have you made your reservations? Do you know Jesus as your Savior?
Lord God, thank You for an open invitation to partake at Your table. Thank You for providing a way for us to enjoy that feast. Today, we give you all the praise and glory that You deserve, for You are worthy of all that we can give. We pray and give praise in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Tuesday
Struggling with Faith
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. (Ephesians 1:18 NLT)
For those of you that might read this that are struggling with accepting Christ and for those that are struggling in your faith or your ability to trust in the unseen God, I pray that each of you will just look around and see all that God has made. Look at a tree, a leaf or a blade of grass. It didn't just happen, God created it. Open your eyes, and let His light shine into your soul.
Jesus Christ died for each of us. God raised Him to new life so that we too might be raised to eternal life with Him. It is a glorious promise and fact from a loving God.
Dear Lord, bring Your sheep to You. I ask and pray in Your mighty name. Amen.
Wednesday
A Prayer Of King David
In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.
May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem.
May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings.
May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers.
Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power.
Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.
Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.
Give victory to our king, O Lord!
Answer our cry for help (Psalm 20:1-9 NLT).
My Prayer for each of you today – May our God, Yahweh, creator of all things, grant you comfort, peace and mercy in your times of need. Amen.
Thursday
No Other Name
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:1-5 NLT).
Jesus is the Word. He is the same today as he was yesterday and will be tomorrow. He is our King, Savior, Redeemer, and friend.
Thank you, Jesus, for loving each of us enough to sacrifice your life so that we might have a relationship with our heavenly Father. I praise your holy name. There is no other name like Jesus. Amen.
Friday
A New Life, A New Beginning
Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But –
When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life (Titus 3:3-7 NLT).
Our teaching pastor at my church did a great job in his sermon a few years ago. He finished with asking everyone to read and dwell on Titus 3:3-7 during this week. It just so happens that I've always taken this set of verses as my "personal" life verses. On that Sunday, it was really brought home to me that this is not only my life verses but the life verses for all of mankind.
We are so lost without Jesus. We sit back and talk about how this world is going to hell in a hand-basket and we wonder how it can be turned around?
It's so obvious, we are going down the slippery slope of destruction due to craving the evils of the world and not desiring Jesus. How do we turn this ship around? Prayer first then we must share Jesus and His love, mercy, and grace…everywhere we go.
Without Jesus, each of us and our world will die an ugly, violent and eternally tormenting death. With Jesus, we will live a life of abundance with the promise of an eternity in Heaven with Him.
Thank You God, Your perfect plan is not over. It is only the beginning. Lord, thank You for a new beginning. Amen.
Saturday
Good Stuff!
This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalms 118:24 NLT).
No matter what is going on in your life, look around. You have something that makes you smile. A little nugget of God's mercy, grace, and love. A smidgen of blessing. A touch of happiness.
Dear Lord, help us to put the bad stuff behind us and rejoice in the good stuff. We thank You Lord and pray in the mighty name of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
SUNDAY
Re-Live God's Grace, Daily
God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:20-21 NLT).
Every morning before our feet hit the floor, we should thank God for His amazing grace. Only by His grace might we be saved from an eternity of separation from Him and anything good. With His grace and by our faith, we are assured eternal freedom and total peace in Heaven with Him.
Dear Lord, thank You for loving us so much to come to earth and walking in our shoes. Lord, you know the temptations we face. You faced temptations and never gave in to them, we face temptation and fail daily. Lord thank You for knowing how flawed we are and are still willing to save us from ourselves. You come to us as we are but never leave us as we are. Thank you Jesus, and it's in Your mighty name and by the power of the Holy Spirit we pray and give thanks. Amen.
