Tuesday, April 1st

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance.”  1 Peter 1:14

Dear Lord God, As I live my life in this world it is so easy to get caught up in the way that the world lives.  It is so much easier to go with the stream than to swim against it.  The world says that sinful behaviors are acceptable and I quickly fall into thinking that they are.  My community says that sinful ways of thinking are normal and I start to think that way.  The world lures me and wants to press me into their way of thinking, their way of feeling, and their way of living.  My own sinful flesh wants to conform me and press me into its way of thinking.  Everything is against me.  It is so easy to sit back and not fight.  It is so easy to go with the flow.  Lord God, you redeemed me from this life.  You called me to be yours.  You made me to stand out in this world, simply because I am your child and your heir.  Help me to fight against all that would conform me.  Rather, Lord God, transform me daily to have your thoughts, your feelings, and to live your way.  Daily, Lord Jesus, transform me into your likeness.  Amen. 

Monday, March 31st

“Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings.  He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”  Colossians 4:12

Dear Jesus, I love it that Paul tells us about a man who wrestled for the Colossians in prayer.  What love!  What dedication!  It’s the opposite of Cain, who said, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  I am thinking of many different loved ones and Christian friends that I hope will stand firm against temptation, who will triumph over themselves to love their family and friends with a Christ-like love, who will live in hope and not doubt, who will stand firm against the onslaughts of naysayers and worldly critics.  I pray for them but I want to wrestle for them in prayer.  Lord, help them give them spiritual discernment.  Make them prosper even in the dry desert times of their lives.  Show yourself strong in their behalf.  Give them grace to cover their guilt and grace to strengthen them when they are weak.  Help them find the good in everything too.  Make them a shining light like yourself.  Amen.

A friend gets your back by kneeling their behind you in prayer for you. 

Saturday, March 29th

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated.”  1 Peter 1:10

Lord God, These prophets were so careful about the words that they preached, the message that they heard.  They searched it carefully.  They worked hard to understand exactly what their message was about.  Lord God, your Word is such a treasure trove of instruction for my soul.  It teaches me how to direct my life.  It guides my thinking and even my feeling.  Your Word touches every moment of my days here on earth.  Help me to treat like the prophets did.  Help me to diligently dig in.  Help me to see it as the treasure that it is for me, for my salvation, and for my life.  There is nothing like it.  Amen.

Friday, March 28th

“They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.” 1 Peter 1:11

Lord Jesus, The whole Old Testament tells the story of your plan and the carrying out of that plan.  It points us to Jesus, to his sufferings and to his glory, like a bright and flashing neon sign would.  It tells the story of your suffering all of it.  It also tells me of your ultimate victory and glory, even of your resurrection of the dead.  When the prophets preached these sermons, they didn’t get it.  But I do!  I see you, Jesus!  I see that you are the Servant whom Isaiah talked about.  I see that you are the one who would suffer just like David said.  I see that you are the one who does reign triumphantly.  I see you, Jesus, that you are the One about whom all the Scriptures spoke.  Lord Jesus, pour out your Spirit on me that I may continue to believe in you all the days of my life.  Amen.

Thursday, March 27th

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.”  Ephesians 5:25-26.

Dear Jesus, When I was a young man (hate to admit it) I loved my wife largely for what I got from her that is; love attention, romance, help and support.  But you define the love you want me to have.  It’s a love that gives and gives it all.  This is a love that makes us die to ourselves and sacrifice our desires to make our wives lives holy and happy.  It’s a love that makes us patiently teach our wives the word of God, a love that forgives and blesses even when it’s being hurt.  It’s the love you give us in your grace and the blessed sacraments.  Oh Jesus fill me with yourself and love my wife and family through me.  Amen.

Love that gives never wonders what it has received in return. 

Wednesday, March 26th

“These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven-angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.”  1 Peter 1:12

Dear Lord God, I am so thankful for your angels.  I can hardly believe how much you care for me and about me.  You, God, sit on your throne in heaven and you watch over, guide, and even direct my footsteps.  You make the place where I set my feet secure.  And, as if that were not enough, you assign angels to me.  You give directions and commands to your angels that they would serve me, support me, and help me in my walk of faith forward.  God, you are so interested in my salvation that you serve me and support me every step of the way.  Your angels were so interested and excited about my salvation that they were peering into the Scriptures, trying to understand what the prophets were talking about.  The angels you charge to watch over me are as interested in my salvation, God, as you are!  Thank you, Lord God, for your angels who serve me and support me on my way toward my heavenly home.  Amen.

Tuesday, March 25th

“Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  1 Peter 1:13

Holy Spirit, Your Word is so practical.  It’s never just words on a page that I’m meant to know intellectually, like my math facts, figures and formulas.  it’s never just useless knowledge.  There is always a “therefore.”  There is always a very practical application of the truths that your Word unveils for me.  The promises and the truths that your Spirit has unveiled give me such hope and excitement for my future life on this earth and an even greater anticipation for the glories that you have stored up in heaven for me.  More than that with my heart filled with hope, these truths and promises give me a boldness and confidence to live my life for you.  Lord continue to strengthen and embolden my spirit that I may live for you.  Continue to compel and move me by these truths to spend myself for you.  Amen.

Monday, March 24th

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  John 10:10

Dear Jesus, How hard it must be for you to see us people tempted to think that our lives are full only when we have accumulated lots of things, accomplishments memories and money.  All these are like cotton candy.  They satisfy for a moment and then we just want more.  You give a fullness deep in our souls.  It’s free and it doesn’t disappoint.  It brings contentment, peace, self-control, courage and adequacy.  It’s created by the grace that gives love undeserved and makes me feel at home being on a journey to my final destination.  It speaks to me in my soul in every circumstance.  “This is not your home.  Yours is better.”  Protect me Lord Jesus from attractive, shiny worldly things that would steal peace, hope and contentment from my soul.  Amen.

When we are rich in heart, our outward wealth or poverty is irrelevant. 

Saturday, March 22nd

“Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.”  Psalm 139:16

Dear Father in heaven, As I look ahead at the year that is in front of me, I like to think that I have a grasp on what this year will bring.  This year is full of hopes and dreams for me.  It is also full of uncertainties that creep into my heart and are bringing fear into my heart.  It sometimes feels like all the balls of my life are thrown into the air all at once and I am left dashing back and forth trying to keep them from hitting the ground.  Father, I can’t handle that.  It’s too much.  What hope you give me when you tell me that you knew me before I was born, that you have written the story of my life before it began!  It’s amazing that you would care so much about me that you would lay out a plan for my life, that you would use everything in my life for my eternal good.  Lord, thank you for writing my story and for including me in your story of salvation.  Set my heart at rest knowing that you have good plans for me, plans to save me, to give me hope and a future.  Amen.

Friday, March 21st

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.”  Ephesians 1:4

Dearest Lord Jesus, I can’t believe it.  It seems to be good too good to be true.  I know well my failures and my flaws.  I know well how I have sinned against you and against so many other people.  But you chose me to be yours.  You redeemed me with your own blood.  You made me holy and blameless through your blood and perfect life.  You picked and chose me to be yours.  What a precious choosing!  Lord Jesus, now I pray, keep me in this faith to which you have called me.  Keep me from falling away from this grace you gave me.  Keep me from wandering away after my own devices.  Lord Jesus, just as you chose me in love to be yours, so in love keep me safe in the faith until I reach eternity with you.  Amen.

Thursday, March 20th

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will e revealed in us.”  Romans 8:18

Dearest Jesus, Thank you for giving me the freedom not to try to make sense out of my suffering but rather to carry my mind away with thoughts about heaven.  Sometimes my problems seem so big that they fill every corner of my heart.  Use my thoughts about heaven to crowd out my useless mulling over unresolved issues.  Help me smile and be happy and content over what is going to be rather than sad over what is.  And thank you for giving me the hope of going to heaven through grace without any merit of my own.  Amen.

Heaven gives us something to look forward to for our whole lives. 

Wednesday, March 19th

“How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers!  Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.  He is like a tree planted besides flowing streams that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither.  Whatever he does prospers.”  Psalm 1:1-3

Dearest Lord, one thing is needful; Lord, this treasure, teach me highly to regard.  All else, though it first gives pleasure, is a yoke that presses hard.  Beneath it my heart is still fretting and striving, no true, lasting happiness ever deriving.  This one thing is needful; all others are vain-I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain.  Amen.

Tuesday, March 18th

“You have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.  Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”  Colossians 3:10-11

Dear Jesus, You have changed my identity.  I don’t have to look at myself based on my race, gender, accomplishments, failures or sins.  I get to look at myself as a Christian washed clean and made acceptable in your sight.  It gives me loving, confident independence from my own critique and the critique of others.  Finally, I am free from performance-based living.  I’m also free to love people without measuring whether they pass or fail in my book.  I can forgive, give, help, and comfort even the most storied person.  I am not defined by the tragedies, illness or problems that chase me either.  I am defined by you.  I have your righteousness and your destiny.  In you I have a new start every morning.  So, I will live this day in my new self, a blood bought, Christ empowered soul who has a life to give for this world.  Amen.

Jesus reshapes every life he touches into a life-giving stream. 

Monday, March 17th

“So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.”  Ephesians 2:19-20

Lord Jesus, You have given me such a foundation on which to build my faith and to lead my life.  You have inspired them to write your Words for me and for my salvation.  They aren’t making stuff up out from their own imaginations.  It’s not coming from a smoke-filled room.  Their words are your words, and they are perfect, good in every way.  Every word of the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit.  Help me to open my ears and my hearts to listen carefully to every Word that you have given.  Teach me to lead my life and build my faith on the sure and certain foundation of your Word.  Amen.

Saturday, March 15th

“We are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”  Acts 4:20

“Dear Lord Jesus, when you conquered death and appeared to your disciples, when you poured out your Holy Spirit on your disciples, they lived and preached with a whole new boldness and confidence.  Where they were previously timid and afraid, now they were unafraid and unabashed in their preaching and ministry.  Lord Jesus, let your resurrection fill me with the same confidence.  Let your Spirit give me the same boldness.  I am yours!  You bought me and I belong to you.  I cannot lose since you conquered death and defeated all my enemies.  Your message is true and powerful whether people believe it or not.  It will never return to you empty or void, but is like the rain that pours down from heaven.  Set me on fire with resurrection and Spirit-given swagger to keep on living.  Let these words of Peter be mine: “I can’t stop speaking about what I believe!”  Amen.

Friday, March 14th

“In God I trust and am not afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?”  Psalm 56:4

Dear Heavenly Father, So many things make me nervous.  Because I hear on the news about home invasions and every now and then I catch a show about crime, I spend too much time thinking about what could happen if someone came to rob my house or harm my family and me.  I know you put angels all around me and you are not fearful of anyone you have made.  I choose to trust that you are protecting me in every circumstance.  With that peace I will spend my energy loving people instead of pulling in to my shell like a frightened tortoise.  Amen.

God wants us to spend energy on loving others not preserving ourselves.

Thursday, March 13th

“After saying this, he told him, “’Follow me.’”  John 21:19

Dear Jesus, After all the ways in which Peter betrayed, abandoned and failed you, these last words you speak to him are amazing to hear.  Even after all the ways in which he had abandoned you, you never abandoned him.  In fact, even after all the ways in which he had failed you, you still wanted to use him for the kingdom; you even touched my faith and life by his writing and his teaching!  God, this inspires so much hope in me.  Your compassion and mercies are new for me each day.  This day, Lord, forgive me as this day begins.  Cleanse me and create in me a new heart, O God.  Your calling to follow you is new this day too, Lord Jesus.  Help me to follow you as my Lord and God, today.  Wonder of wonders, you still call me to follow and you still desire to use me.  Help me make the most of my moments today.  Amen.

Wednesday, March 12th

“I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  John 15:5

Dear Jesus, Apart from you I can’t be spiritual, I can’t do the right things for the right reasons, I can’t cope with the tragedies that strike me.  But when I am with you my attitude changes and I can do wonderful things for the right reasons.  Then I can cope with tragedy because you promise to turn everything for my good.  You and your word are the spiritual blood in my spiritual vascular system, giving strength, life and meaning to everything I my life.  Help me stay connected to you today by reminding me of your words when I need them to bring spiritual sap to my heart.  Amen.

God designed us to run our lives off his power and not our own.

Tuesday, March 11th

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24

Lord Jesus, I recently thought about your words, “Why do you worry about your life?  You cannot make it one hour longer by worrying.”  These words from Paul are similar.  It’s misguided energy to worry about my life and illness and how long I have left before heaven.  Our best way to spend our lives is to employ our hands, feet, tongue and teeth, money and time spreading the wonderful good news that you have saved sinners from the dead end they have created for themselves.  Help me find new ways to teach people your spiritual word for their eternal benefit and help me order my life better around making disciples for you, even in my family relationships.  Amen.

Our lives will be spent no matter what we choose to do with them.  We have the choice to make them a waste or an investment for eternal rewards. 

Monday, March 10th

“Jesus did this, the first of his signs; in Cana of Galilee.  He revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him.”  John 2:11

Lord God, The Bible is full of accounts from your ministry and life that demonstrate your power and your glory, your grace and mercy, your compassion.  Each story presents you to me as my Savior.  Each story shows me what you are like and how deeply and dearly you care about me.  Each story drives me to believe in you and put my trust in you.  As I follow you this year, and dive into your Word, show me who you are that I may believe in you and be saved by you.  Amen.