Friday, July 11th

“Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good?  But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed.  Do not fear what they fear or be intimidated.”  1 Peter 3:13-14

Lord God, There are a lot of things in this life that scare me.  I’m scared about my future.  My health isn’t good and I’m afraid of what will happen to my body and life.  I’m scared about my finances.  Will I get that job?  Will I keep this job?  Will I have enough to take care of my family and pay my bills?  I’m scared about so many things.  I’m intimidated by people and what they think about me, even what they say about me.  Their words do wound me deeply.  But God, here with you I find my sanctuary.  Here with you I find my safety.  I am not afraid of my future when I am with you, because you hold and even control my future.  I am not worried about my finances when I am with you because you care for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, you promise to care for me too.  When I am with you, I am not afraid of what people say about me or what they’ll do to me, because you are with me, your rod and staff they comfort me.  Lord God, calm my heart and give me rest, even sanctuary in your presence.  O Lord, go before me today to lead the way.  O Lord, stay by my side today to assure me of my presence.  O God, go above me to watch over my footsteps.  O Savior, go behind me today to keep me from danger.  Stay by me, Lord God, and keep me I pray, for with you I have sanctuary.  Amen.

Thursday, July 10th

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”  1 Peter 3:12

O Lord, How good it is to know that you are near me when my burdens grow too great to bear.  O Lord, how good it is to know that you will hear me, when I call to you in prayer.  O Lord, how good it is to know that your eyes are watching and your ears are listening to my prayer.  Lord, I am not alone in this world as I seek your good.  I am not abandoned in this world as I chase peace.  I am not alone and I will not be forsaken.  Lord, let this truth rest in my heart--that when I call-you hear, when I cry out-you answer.  Lord, grant peace to my soul in this truth, that you are seeking and pursuing my good even while the people around me pursue their own ends and desires.  Lord, you are in this for me, that I might share and so also enjoy heaven with you.  How good it is to know this!  Amen.

Wednesday, July 9th

“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.  They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.”  1 Peter 3:10-11

Lord God, Heavenly Father, this world and many of the people are on a totally different path than I am.  Some people seek after wealth.  Others seek after acclaim and praise from people.  Still others chase what pleases them, what makes them happy.  In fact, that’s the very foundation of the American dream-” the pursuit of happiness.”  Lord God, you teach me a different way.  You teach me to pursue something different.  You teach me restraint and self-control.  You teach me to control my tongue, to watch what I say, to make sure only good and true things come out.  You teach me to flee from evil things and to pursue what is good.  You teach me to do whatever is in my power and under my control to have and keep peace.  This is the life you teach me to pursue.  You teach me to seek good and thus also to seek you, O God.  Make this my days purpose, yes, even my life’s purpose and goal.  Amen.

Tuesday, July 8th

“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”  Matthew 6:25-27

Dear Jesus, I cannot remember a day in my life that I have worried about eating or drinking like the people to whom you spoke these words.  I have always lived with a hundred times more wealth than them.  Yet, I am a master at worrying.  That’s why I love your words.  They remind me that you want me to live free of the burden of worry like the birds.  I trust that you will take care of me.  So, bless my efforts to earn a living under your grace.  Protect my assets.  Give me the joy of generosity to others and help me live lightheartedly under your goodness.  Amen.

Worry is taking responsibility away from God. 

Monday, July 7th

“The eye is the lamp of the body.  If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!  No one can serve two masters.  Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money.”  Matthew 6:22-24

Dear Jesus, Our eyes glimmer with hope when we sense we have plenty of money and possessions to satisfy our earthly cravings.  We can be so enamored with it, that we pursue it with all our hearts.  But if our possessions are our light, how great is the darkness!  “You own the cattle on a thousand hills.”  You made us and you give us all our blessings.  You are the God who sacrificed his own beloved Son for us and everything else you give us is from the same generous heart.  How could you not be our light all by yourself, because every blessing comes from your hand.  Oh Jesus, help me serve and love you above all things.  And make me generous like you.  Amen.

Love the giver and use the gift instead of loving the gift and using the giver. 

Saturday, July 5th

“Finally...not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.”  1 Peter 3:9

Lord Jesus, Not all who share space with me on this earth are part of the family of faith.  Not all who live here and wander on this earth are headed the same direction as I am.  That’s what makes me and all those of faith in Jesus aliens and strangers here.  Lord Jesus, teach me how to live with people who are my enemies.  Teach me how to show love when I am hated.  Help me to pour back love when I am insulted.  Compel me to give a blessing when I am cursed.  Lord Jesus, teach me how and empower me to show your love to those who do not wander with me, who are not of the family of faith.  They need my love because they do not know yours.  More than that, they need me to tell them about your love so that they would not be enemies anymore.  Help me to show deep love to my enemies so that, by your grace and the message, they might be friends forever.  Teach me and help to live with all in love.  Amen.

Friday, July 4th

Dear Lord, We pray not out of pride as we implore you to bless our nation.  We pray not for increased riches or superior military might.  We beg you to give our nation a humble spirit that acknowledges you are the one from whom all blessings flow.  We count our blessings of the past.  We thank you for giving them to this generation through the efforts of those who have walked before us.  We ask that you enable us to pass on such gifts to the next generation of Americans.  Your people value liberty, Savior God, because they have come to know freedom from the tyranny of sin, death, and the devil.  Keep us forever free.  We pray in the name of the one who gave up everything that we might have everything we need.  Lord God, please keep blessing America.  Amen.

Thursday, July 3rd

“Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble.”  1 Peter 3:8

Lord God, There is such depth and such unity in your church and among all who wander here in faith.  All who believe in you are wanderers.  All who follow you are strangers.  We’re all on this walk of faith toward even together.  You teach us how important it is for us to live life together.  Help me to come to the side of those who wander with me.  Join my heart and mind to theirs so that in love I might support and strengthen them on our journey together.  Make me one who sits with them to hear their heart’s complaint.  Make my one who suffers with them in deep sympathy to hear and help them in the depth of pain and sorrow.  Break my heart over what breaks theirs and make me a supporter.  Teach me to pray boldly and persistently for my fellow wanderers.  Help me come to their side to support them in their journey as I am surely supported in my journey by fellow wanderers.  Amen.

Wednesday, July 2nd

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Matthew 6:19-21

Dear Jesus, How tempting it is for me to collect things as if they constitute wealth.  It started when I was a child and I am still plagued with the desire today.  It can any number of things and sometimes it’s collections of memories that I seek.  It all revolves around this desire to abound in treasure, whatever that may mean for me.  I am even tempted to look at the treasures of others and artificially feel poor.  I believe there is an innate desire in all of us to want a full life.  You made us to fully experience life.  Our problem is that we forget how far we have fallen and how fast we will pass through this place.  Every collection on earth is temporary and only you know who will have it or disperse it after we are gone.  It’s worthless to us when we come to the edge of eternity.  Ah, but souls of people, those will last forever!  They are our truest treasure.  Help me crave and collect souls for you in heaven.  Your word and souls are the only thing that will last beyond this world.  Help me to treasure and collect both in my heart.  Amen.

God collects people for heaven, any other collection is rather worthless to him. 

Tuesday, July 1st

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting.  Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”  Matthew 6:16-18

Dear Jesus, I have fasted for you but I know very few people who have.  However, your insight and encouragement still have application for our lives.  You don’t want me to display my spiritual devotional habits for the praise and admiration of people.  You want me to be authentic in my devotion to you and to do things secretly just for you.  It shows real faith to practice a devoted life and not talk about it to others.  Oh Savior, extricate me from all     external-ism that craves the praise of people.  Look at my private devotion and reward me openly when and how you want.  I believe you won’t miss the slightest act of devotion.  I will spend time with you and make sacrifices for you without letting others know.  Amen.

God sees everything we do for him.  We don’t need anyone else to take notice.

Monday, June 30th

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”  Matthew 6:14-15

Dear Jesus, You are so serious about forgiveness.  Right after you gave us the Lord’s Prayer you reached back to tell us that if we do not forgive, you will not forgive us.  It’s like the end all, be all, in our relationship with you.  It’s all about grace.  We live by grace with you and that grace changes the way we treat everyone else.  There is no room for our resentment, anger, acidic criticism and chronic complaining.  You want us to forgive everyone of every sin or weakness, big or small.  Oh, Jesus, see how I get what you are saying?  Now practicing it is a whole different story.  It’s impossible for me to forgive like you without you and your Holy Spirit to help me.  So, I am praying that you would give me the power to live in forgiveness toward everyone.  I want to be grace filled and grace driven.  Amen.

Full and free forgiveness is the exclusive right and blessing of Jesus Christ.  No one else creates and sustains it like he does. 

Saturday, June 28th

“This, then, is how you should pray:  

    “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’“ Matthew 6:9-13

Dear Jesus, How could we ever improve on the prayer you gave us?  It shows us what kind of prayer you and the Father want from us.  Help me learn the meaning of every phrase and learn to pray it from my heart.  Amen.

The prayer Jesus gave us shows us how God wants us to think and talk to him. 

Friday, June 27th

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.  Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”  Matthew 6:5-8

Dear Jesus, I see two big points about prayer here.  They both convict me since I send out my prayer to you and to thousands of others every day.  You don’t want us to pray for show and you don’t want us to throw words up at you as if we are working our way into your favor through our prayers.  You see my heart.  That is a sobering realization.  You know my motives in every thought, whether it’s a prayer or just a thought I embrace.  Oh, Lord, let your kingdom come in my prayers, in my life, and in my space.  You know my needs, my wants and my plans.  Do what you need, want, and plan and thank you for being the author and preserver of my life.  Amen.

God loves authentic believing prayer that comes from a heart that gets him.

Thursday, June 26th

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.  if you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.  So, when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others.  Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”   Matthew 6:1-4

Dear Jesus, Spare me from the strong desire to receive affirmation from people that I am doing the good things in life.  Help me to be thoughtlessly thoughtful and carelessly generous.  Make me forget my good deeds the moment I finish them and focus the eyes of my heart on the welfare and needs of others.  Make me compassionate for them and happy for their successes.  Just help me get over myself and learn to be as in love with people as you are.  Amen.

Living for others is a great cure for boredom and unhappiness.

Wednesday, June 25th

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness.  By his wounds you have been healed.  For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”  1 Peter 2:24-25

Lord Jesus, You have done so much for me.  When I was lost and going astray, you turned me back by your gentle call and your loving staff.  By your redemption, you have adopted me into the family of God and I belong to you.  By your life, you have given me a perfect standing before God.  And now, you promise, that you are the Shepherd and Overseer of my soul.  No matter what things may happen to me, od you are watching over my soul.  You are shepherding me along every path.  Lord, help me to trust your guiding, your protecting and your planning.  I was lost, but now I’m found.  Keep me close to you all the days of my life that I may be yours now and forever.  Amen.

Tuesday, June 24th

“For you were called to this, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps.  He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; when he was insulted, he did not insult in return but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.”  1 Peter 2:21-23

Lord Jesus, When people hurt me, it is so easy for me to hurt back in the same way that they hurt me, even worse.  I want to get even with them.  I want to hurt them back.  But that’s not the kind of life that I learn from you.  You did the very opposite of what my nature would do.  Teach me to follow your example.  Help me learn from you.  Help me learn to be like you when people insult me and false say all kinds of evil against me.  Help me learn to keep my mouth closed, but instead find comfort and assurance in what you say about me.  Their words may sting.  Their words may ruin my reputation.  But, Lord God, eternally and before you in heaven their words have no standing.  Your word has the final say-so.  And Lord, when people hurt me, when they abuse me, teach me to trust you to handle things.  It is not my responsibility to get justice.  That belongs to you, Lord.  Help me to trust you to get justice in the right way at the right time.  You claim that right.  And it rightly belongs you.  Yes, Lord, justice does belong to you.  Teach me to follow the example that Christ left me.  Help me learn from him to keep my mouth closed and heart trusting you in the face of the harm that comes to me.  Amen.

Monday, June 23rd

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.  He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?  Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?  Do not even pagans do that?  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:43-48

Dear Jesus, You modeled love for your enemies perfectly.  I’m glad you did because your life covers mine.  It really clears the air to hear you say, “Even pagans love their own people and greet them.”  It’s not special Christian love to love those who love me first.  It’s special Christian love to show love to those who hate and mistreat me.  A few times in my life you have walked with me through this special kind of love.  It was a moving experience for me and the people you made me love.  Give me this over the top unconditional love for the sand paper people in my life.  Make me mature in love like you and your father are.  I cannot do this one on my own.  I will need your Spirit’s supernatural power.  Amen.

We weren’t lovable when God first loved us.  So, don’t expect people to earn your love before you give it.  Change them into someone lovable by how you treat them. 

Saturday, June 21st

“For you were called to this because Christ also suffered for you.”  1 Peter 2:21

Lord Jesus, It is such a marvel to watch you.  And it hits me that all this that you suffered at the hands of wicked men, all this injustice, all the false accusation, you did it for me.  It was for me that you suffered like this.  It was for me that you kept your mouth closed when you had every reason to retaliate.  It was for me that you were condemned so that I might be set free from condemnation.  It was all for me.  That’s what you did for me, dear Jesus.  Let your cross be a constant reminder to me of how deeply and how dearly you love me.  Let your cross tell me what you gave and what you did for me so that I could be yours.  And then, Lord Jesus, by your suffering and death, grant peace to my soul because all that you did, you did it for me.  Amen.

Friday, June 20th

“For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.  But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it?  But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.”  1 Peter 2:19-20

Dear Father, Peter places such an emphasis on the way that I live and especially on the way that I live within the relationships of my life.  He urges me to do the right thing no matter what. It’s easy when a boss is overbearing or when the government is unjust for us to think that it is justifiable to fight back, to rebel, and to push back against it.  Then, we wear the suffering that comes like a badge of honor when it was our sin that earned us that suffering.  I wonder to myself how much of the suffering in my life was earned because I acted in a way that was out of line with my calling, when I acted in a way that was unloving and disrespectful.  I look back at some of the suffering in my life and realize in repentance that I deserved that pain because I was out of line.  Lord God, help me to simply live in my callings and to fit into my place.  If suffering comes unjustly, I know, dear Lord, that you are watching me and you will reward me graciously with heaven and your loving commendation.  If suffering comes to me because of my own sin, lead me, dear Savior, to repent of my sin and to fit back into my place.  Help me, dear Lord, to do the right thing no matter what the consequences may be for my body and life.  Amen.

Thursday, June 19th

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’  But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all; either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.  And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.  All you need to say is simply ‘Yes” or “No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”  Matthew 5:33-37

Dear Jesus, How hard it must be for you to watch us puny little humans make promises and ask others to trust our ability to make things happen for them, when you know all along that your heavenly father holds our every breath in the palm of his hand.  Your father has complete control of my life.  I just want to be faithful to my word and let him take care of everything else.  Help my generation to quit flippantly saying, “I swear to God.’ as if your name is free for our slang.  Make us reverent and dependent on your father just as you were perfectly during your entire life.  Our lives are in his hands.  It gives us peace but it also makes us careful not to boast about ourselves and our ability to accomplish anything without him.  Amen.

If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.