Monday
God's Provision
Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us... (Luke 1:78 NLT).
God shows up and shows out when we are in our greatest time of need. When we don't even ask for help, He is there, laying out a perfect plan. Then He amazes us with His mighty presence in the midst of our troubles.
God is one step ahead of all our needs. Sometimes that step is not as close as we would like, but His timing is perfect where His glory will shine through what we feel is a dimly lit situation.
Thank you, Lord, for your love. You love us when we really don't even like ourselves. We praise your mighty name today and always. Amen.
Tuesday
Endurance
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world (1 Peter 1:7 NLT).
In life, we will be tested – bad days, sickness, personal loss, or financial loss. We will be lied about, we will be vilified. This is part of this broken world we live in. It is a part of life.
So, how do we handle these trials? It's our choice how we cope with this junk. I attest to the fact that, not by our power but by the power of Jesus Christ, we can handle all of these life-changing situations. Is it fun? No, but the power of God gives us the ability to endure. Not only will we endure, but we will claim many victories over the challenges of life.
So how do we endure and claim these victories? We must fight the fight and run the race, not giving up. But, most importantly, we have to trust in God and lay our problems at the foot of Calvary's Cross.
Lord, when we are beaten down by this world, remind us to look up and give our problems to you. Help us to fight the good fight and run the race to the finish. Help us finish strong, Lord. Amen.
Wednesday
Rightful Praise
That is why I can never stop praising you;
I declare your glory all day long (Psalm 71:8 NLT).
All the praise to our God who continues to bless us far more than we deserve. Thanks be to God. Praise Him all day long!
Dear Father, lead us and direct us today so we might understand how blessed we are by you. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Thursday
God's Power
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you! (Jeremiah 32:17 NLT).
Don't underestimate the power of God. His love, mercy, and grace cover His children like a warm blanket on a cold night.
Thanks be to God!
Dear Lord, your will; nothing more; nothing less; nothing else. Amen.
Friday
Joy or Gloom
You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever (Psalm 16:11 NLT).
Are you living with the joy that God wants you to have? It's your choice to have joy in Christ or the gloom of this world. You will never be more blessed than when you live in the light, love, grace, and mercy of God.
Lord God, help your lost children see Christ's light shine so that the same light might shine out of their souls for others to see. Amen.
Saturday
Mercy, Grace, Love, and Faith
Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law (Galatians 2:16 NLT)
I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die (Galatians 2:21 NLT).
We are saved by God's mercy and grace by faith in Christ. While you were still a sinner, Jesus Christ died for you.
Dear Lord, thank you! Amen.
Sunday
Are We Calling Out For God?
As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind. Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” “Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them. But they only shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” (Matthew 20:29-31 NLT).
As a nation and as individuals, we need to be calling out for Jesus to have mercy on us like the two blind men in today’s Scripture. We have abandoned God. As a nation, we can't seem to get God out of all our schools, government, public facilities, etc., fast enough. As an individual, I'm seeing the god of political correctness rule and ruin the lives of wonderful people. They are being deceived by the lies and can't see the “forest for the trees.” I pray daily for those who are blinded by the deception of this evil and vile world.
So, how do we escape the brokenness of this evil transformation of our nation and ourselves?
We escape by filtering everything through God's Holy Word. Give the world’s idea of what is right a “truth-check” with God's Word. If the world says this is wrong, check it by God's Word. We must use the only true guidebook for life that we have.
Also, we need to do like the two blind men do in today's Scripture, scream out for Jesus to have mercy. We must get on our knees and cry out for God to direct our nation, our leaders, and ourselves to a life worth living. Scream at the top of your lungs or whisper in solitude, but pray for God to lead us and direct us in all we do. Prayer and supplication are key means of making changes so we might follow God's way and His path.
We might have left God, but God has not left us. He is waiting on us to return to Him so He might bless us as a nation and as individuals. Please pray. Prayer is an open line of communication to the God of the Universe.
Thank you, Lord God. Let us remember you and who you are from your Word:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come – the Almighty One” (Revelation 1:8 NLT).
Amen.
(Editor's Note: "God Has a Gift for You" is the good news that restores the broken relationship we have with God because of our sin.)