Don't be a donkey.

Proverbs 4:20-27, Psalm 32-33

Psalm 32:9 - Be not like a horse or mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

Lord God, sin is so deceptive and I am often deceived.  I am so deceiving and so often fall into the trap of covering up, denying, pretending, justifying, even hiding away from you and other people.  Foolishly I hide sin in my heart from you and sometimes even from my own sight because I’ve done such a great job of justifying it.  I push people away silently and sometimes loudly because they might see my sin and call me on it.  But God I am as much as in need of rebuke and correction as the next.  I am often blind to my own need.  I need a Nathan to come.  But more, I need you, dear Father, close behind.  I need your forgiveness and mercy. I am often as dumb as a donkey.  Forgive me for stubborn impenitence and pride that hides my sin and keeps it.  Forgive me, Lord, because your mercy and kindness is great. Forgive me, Lord, so that the crushing blow of sin may be removed.  Be a cleansing place to which I can always go for forgiving.  Be a hiding place in which I can always go to be safe.  Then I will be blessed because my sin covered, my debt is paid, and I am yours.  Amen.

Alive.

Galatians 2, Exodus 20-22

Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Dear Father, you loved me dearly and tenderly.  You gave your Son for me to deliver me from this present evil age and to bring us into your kingdom. You gave your Spirit to me so that in my baptism I was crucified with Christ.  Sin is dead to me.  Law is dead to me.  It cannot condemn me.  It cannot threaten me.  It cannot kill me.  I am alive, really alive, and now I live for you.  Help me, dear Father, live for your Son.  Put to death in me whatever is opposed to you and your will. Bring to life in me whatever is good, pleasing and pure.  I have a new life and am alive in Christ.  I want to live a new life for you and in you.  Your Son loves me and lives in me.  I want to do what pleases you.  Work it in me by your Spirit, O Father.  Amen.

The Body

Galatians 1, Exodus 17-19

Exodus 18:18 – You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.

Dear Father in heaven, you are so wise and so good.  You knew that it was not a good thing for Adam to be alone so you gave him Eve.  You knew that it was not good for children to be alone so you put them in families with parents.  You knew that it was not good for your people to live in isolation from each other and to be islands of faith, all alone in their walk of faith, so you put them in communities of faith. You knew that the work of caring for and leading these communities of faith was not a one-man job, so you wisely and lovingly provide what is need to care for and lead your people.  Moses couldn’t handle it and neither can my pastor.  You wisely gave good advice to Moses through Jethro, advice that still rings true today.  Father in heaven, be with my pastor.  Give him rest and refreshment in his labor.  Give him wisdom and insight as he leads, tends, and teaches his flock.  Help him help me. Father, I also ask, help me to find and fill my place in the body so that I can be one who holds up his arms and supports him in the work.  Help me find and fill my place in the body as one who also takes care of and tends the others you have gathered into the body.  You never intended that one would do all the work of leading, tending, and teaching the whole flock.  I have a part to fill.  Help my pastor help me.  Help me help my pastor. Amen.

Sing.

Romans 16, Exodus 15-16

Exodus 15:21 – And Miriam sang to them: Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously, the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.

Lord God you are mighty and powerful.  You are strong and glorious. You always do wonderful and marvelous things.  There is always something for me to sing about in my life.  And yet, too often, I find myself grumbling like the Israelites.  The water doesn’t taste right.  The food is mediocre at best.  I complain sometimes about the most miniscule things! Lead me to sing like Miriam and to hear her call to “Sing!”  If I take just a moment of my time, O Lord, I can begin to make a list of all the things for which I am thankful.  If I just ponder your goodness, I can see how gracious you have truly been to me.  You have given me life and limb. You have given me house and car.  You have given me family and friends. You have given me food, good food, delicious food, so that I can even pick and choose which food I want to eat for breakfast today.  And that’s just the stuff of this earth.  Lord God, you have been at work in my life since before I was born.  You were at work to bring me to faith. You have been at work to keep me in the faith.  You continue to love me even though I am not very loving or loveable.  You continue to love me even though I often care more about myself than I do about other people.  Yet, you Lord love me constantly and faithfully.  You love me fully and completely. You turn your face toward me in blesseing.  Thank you!  Lead me to sing! You have triumphed over all my enemies and the victory is won!  I have much to sing about it.  Therefore, I will praise you.  Amen.

Exodus.

Romans 15:14-33, Exodus 12-14

Exodus 13:9 – For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt.

Lord God, you are so strong and mighty. You were always at work to lead Israel out with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.  At times, however, it must have seemed that you were weak or that you didn’t really know what you were doing.  Deep down, that is often what I think.  When things don’t go well or when enemies attack, I wonder where you are or what you’re doing.  Sometimes I wonder this silently, subconsciously.  Sometimes, I wonder loudly like the Israelites.  But there you were and here you are.  You are always near with a mighty hand to rescue and redeem, to save and secure. You are – throughout my whole life – working by your mighty hand to bring me out.  You are working to bring me out not just out of troubles in this life, but also out of this place of sadness into eternity with you.  Stay close, Lord Jesus.  By your power and might bring me out.  Give me my own exodus.  You, Lord Jesus, have already gone ahead and prepared the way.  Bring me out on the way that you have already gone.  Amen.

God's Story Matters

Romans 14 – 15:13, Exodus 9-11

Romans 15:4 – For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

O God, the story of your people and your governance of them together with all the nations is not just a historical record.  You wrote down your history so that we might know the story of your people and more importantly the record of your work in the world.  And we learn so much!  We see your patience as you deal with your stubborn people and your power as you rescue from desperate situations.  We see your faithfulness even when there is tremendous faithlessness.  We see you carry your people as a father carries his son.  We see your ways and your works.  O God, this fills me with such hope!  Because you, O God, are still the same today. You are still at work in the same ways today.  You are still keeping your promises today.  Your ways are still the same.  Your faithfulness is still the same.  The circumstances, the dates, the places, and the people all change.  But you, O God, stay the same.  Fill me, O OGod, with joy and peace as I believe in you.  Pour out your Holy Spirit on me that I may overflow with hope by that same Spirit.  Your story gives me constant and hopeful expectation.  Give it to me more and more, O God.  Amen.

The More You Know

Proverbs 4:1-19, Psalm 28-31

Proverbs 4:18 – But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

Lord God, your Word is good.  It teaches me what is good, what is lovely, what is beautiful, what is pleasing in your sight.  It tells me what is true, what is pure, and what is right.  Your Holy Spirit makes all this plain to me.  Keep giving me your Spirit, I pray, that I may know more and more clearly, as if the sun were dawning on my path, what direction I ought to go and what wisdom would do.  Make my steps clearer and clearer to me.  Guard me from sin and keep me from evil.  Protect me from the wayward steps of my old man living inside of me.  Grant me wisdom from you. Help me know how to best to serve you.  Make every path clear to me as you pour out your Spirit one me and direct me on my path by your Word.  Guide me in straight and right paths, O God.  Amen.

God's Purpose

Romans 13, Exodus 6:13 -20, Exodus 7-8

Exodus 7:17 – Thus says the LORD, “By this you shall know that I am the LORD.”

Lord God, you are always at work with purpose and intention.  Nothing happens accidently or without careful thought and planning on your part.  You were at work through the plagues and through all the signs and wonders to show Egypt, to show your people, to show Pharaoh, yes, even to show Moses and Aaron that you were God. That was your purpose and intention.  You are still the same today, Lord.  You haven’t changed in your purpose and intention.  Though the people, the places, and the circumstances are different, you are not.  You still are at work in my life to remind me, to teach me, to show me, even to redirect me back.  You want me to know that you are God.  And not just that.  You want me to believe in you and trust you with all your heart.  When pain comes, you are working to chip away at my heart and destroy any idols there, anything that I trust more than you.  When blessing comes, you are working to lead me to rejoice in all your gifts to me.  O God, you are good. You never want me to forget that you are my God and my Savior.  I pray, keep working on me to accomplish your purpose in my heart and through my life.  Amen.

Transformed

Romans 12, Exodus 4-6:12

Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Lord God, as I walk through this day so many of thoughts, words, and actions happen by habit.  Habitually I think, I act, and I respond.  It’s thoughtless really. And that’s okay when my automatic response is good and matches your will and what is good.  But so many of my gut reactions are not where they should be nor do they reflect your will or what is good.  Lord God, I pray, transform me from the inside.  Transform my heart and my mind, my will and my desires, that I might test my responses and check them against what you say is good and pleasing.  Change me and so change my habits so that my responses more and more reflect you.  You, Lord God, have chosen me great mercy and kindness.  Don’t give up on me.  Transform me daily and conform me to your good ways. Amen.

God is not still.

Romans 11, Exodus 1-3

Exodus 2:23-25 – Their cry for rescue came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.  God saw the people of Israel – and God knew.

Lord God, when we are in the thick of things, it is hard to know that you have heard me.  When suffering comes and hardship sticks around for a while, it is hard to know that you care. I wonder how the Israelites felt when you seemed to have been so silent for so long in their terrible suffering.  It must have been aweful to be ruthlessly enslaved with no end in sight.  It must have been gut-wrenching to watch their babies thrown into the Nile with no help on the horizon.  But God, you were not silent and you were not still.  You heard their cry and you cared deeply and compassionately for them.  You remember the promise that you had made to Abraham, the promise to bring them out of slavery, the promise to give them the Land of Promise, to make them into a great nation.  You saw their suffering and you knew what you had to do.  Lord God, in my suffering and in my trouble, help me remember how you have felt in the past and what you have done.  Even when it seems like you are silent and still, you are not. You hear my groaning and crying.  You remember all your promises; not one of them will fall to the ground.  And even when I don’t know which way to turn, you always know and you always accomplish that which needs to be done. You are not still.  You are not silent. Still my troubled heart with your presence and with your promise that you are not silent or still.  You are active and compassionate for me.  Amen.

I want you, and you, and you.

Romans 10, Isaiah 64-66

Romans 10:1 – Brothers, my hearts and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.

Lord God, you want all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  You want them all.  You want the self-righteous and those who think they can save themselves.  You want the broken hearted who have tried to be righteous but have realized that they can’t. You want those of every color and creed in this world to turn to you and be saved.  And because so many are on their way to hell, your heart breaks in sadness.  I pray, Lord, break my heart with what breaks yours.  I’ll admit, dear Father, that I play a little bit of favoritism in the people that I love and care deeply about.  I don’t love all people equally as I ought.  Make my heart more and more like yours, dear God.  Make my heart break because of the self-righteous who proudly claims that they are good enough for you.  I tend to rail against them in my heart, rather than love them.  Break my heart for them in their blindness.  Make my heart break for the broken-hearted, who knows that they aren’t good enough for you but still think they have to be. Break my heart for them in their brokenness.  Make my heart break for those of every creed and color, even if they are my earthly enemies.  Lord God, I pray, defeat their plans on earth by turning their hearts toward you.  Lord God, I want every person on the face of this earth to know you and be saved.  Use me, this day, to reach as many as you would have me reach. Open my eyes to see what you see.  Break my heart with what breaks yours.  Make me just like you.  Amen. 

Good to be loved

Romans 9, Isaiah 59-63

Isaiah 62:5 – For as a bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

Lord God, the images that come to mind as I read this verse are so encouraging and cause me great joy and excitement.  I remember the day I was married and the joy and excitement I felt as my bride walked down the aisle.  I remember the joy welling up in my heart.  I remember the delight I had in her in every single way.  This is the way that you describe your joy and delight over me.  You forgive all my flaws, all my failures, all my sins.  And when you see me, your heart skips a beat and a smile covers your face from ear to ear.  Joy.  Delight. Gladness.  These are words you use to describe how you feel about me!  That’s is astounding.  Especially since I know what goes on in my heart.  Especially since I know how I have failed to be who you want me to be.  Especially since I know how I have sinned against you.  But forgive my sins and clothes me with garments of splendor and put a crown of glory on my head and you take delight in me as a groom for his bride.  God, it is good to be loved by you. Amen.

Inside Scoop

Proverbs 3:27-35, Psalm 24-27

Psalm 25:14 – The secret counsel of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes to them his covenant.

Lord God, you have laid out your Word clearly and explicitly for the world to hear, to read, to learn, and to be saved.  Yet, to many it remains a closed book.  The things in it are not comprehensible to them or believable by them.  I pray, Lord, open their ears and hearts that they may hear, understand, believe and so be saved. Use me, Lord God, to bring your Word to them and to make it plain to them so that by your Spirit they may believe.  I pray also, Lord God, continue to make your Word clear to me.  Give me insight, understanding, and most of all faith.  Open my ears that when I read and study your Word I may hear your voice.  Open my heart that when I hear your voice I might believe and live.  You have given your Word to me. You have made it clear to me.  Continue to do this for me that I may remain a child of God for all eternity.  Amen.

Mindset.

Romans 8, Isaiah 55-58

Romans 8:5 – For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

O Holy Spirit, thank you for a new beginning today.  As I remember the day I was baptized, I find new life in the water of my baptism where you drowned my flesh and killed him to death.  Today, I rise up new to live before you as a new person – holy and filled with power from you.  Set my mind on those things that are pleasing to you. Fill my heart and mind with truths that come from you alone so that all my feeling, all my thinking, and all my doing comes from you and is guided by you and your clear truth.  I know, however, that this is going to be a war.  My sinful flesh loves to rise up in me to seek what pleases me instead of what pleases you.  Kill him to death again and again, O Holy Spirit, that I may live for you and you alone, O God.  Today is a new day of your grace.  Help me to live by your Spirit all day long.  Amen.

No longer bound.

Romans 6-7, Isaiah 50-54.

Romans 7:4 – Therefore, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.

Lord God, this is an amazing truth that you reveal here.  The law no longer holds me captive.  It can no longer threaten me since you died for me, Jesus.  I died there on the cross when you died.  The law no longer has any hold over me.  Lord God, take all fear of the law out of my heart.  It cannot condemn me.  Hell cannot have me.  I belong to you now.  Lord God, remove all guilt and all guilty feelings from me.  That is long gone too.  Anything that the law might hold over my head is gone and dead.  It has no hold on me.  Lord God, take away the pressure of the law to perform.  That’s like to run with a parachute.  You have set me free from the pressure and expectation of the law so that I can run in the path of your commands without any hindrances.  I am free!  Amen.

In Vain?

Romans 5, Isaiah 46-49

Isaiah 49:4 – But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense is with my God.”

Lord God, I don’t know how many times I whisper these words at the end of the day when I seemed to hit wall after wall.  I don’t know how often I have wondered these words when I have poured myself out.  It often feels like much of my effort is a spitting into the wind.  But Lord, you called me to work.  At this time.  In this place.  In this calling.  You set me apart like a polished arrow in your quiver for just the right time.  You will bring from my work the fruit that you desire.  More than that you assure me that none of my work is in vain since your Son rose.  No work done for you and your glory is a spitting into the wind.  Help me to give myself fully to your work because you will not let it be for nothing.  Amen.

God is Able.

Romans 4, Isaiah 43-45

Romans 4:20-21 – He grew strong in his faith… fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

O God, you are able to do all things, yes, to do anything.  You created the heavens and the earth. You called things that were not into existence.  You stretched out the sky and stopped the water at the shoreline.  You even gave Abraham in his old age a son.  You can do anything.  And yet, we can be so dumb; I can be so dumb.  I look to myself as the one who can handle and accomplish things.  I turn to created things as my hope and my confidence instead of you, the one who created all things.  I can be so dumb.  Forgive me.  You are the only One who can do what you promise. You are the only One who can do what you promise.  You are the only One who can create.  Give me a faith like Abraham’s so that I will trust you even though it seems impossible or unlikely.  And when all seems hopeless, remind me that it is not.  You are the God who calls life out of death, who makes things exist that didn’t exist before. You only are God and you alone can do it.  Amen.

Renewed

Romans 3, Isaiah 40-42

Isaiah 40:30-31 – Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men stumble and fall; but they who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint.

Lord God, this is such a rich and inspiring verse and is so much fuller when I ponder how great and strong you are.  The reason for my renewal, my hope, and my persistence is not because of some inner resilience.  I quickly find my emotional reserves drained dry.  I find my energy flagging pretty quickly.  Everything about me stumbles and falls.  Everything about me gets weak and limps along.  But you, there is no like you.  There is no one else like you who calls out the stars by name and by your strength makes sure none of them goes missing.  There is no one like you who never grows weary or tired.  There is none like you who has understanding and wisdom unlike none other.  Oh God, your strength is my strength and my song; you are my salvation.  Oh, God your strength and your power rises up beneath me and renews me for another week, another day, another hour of service to you. Renew me, O God, and grant me strength to serve you.  Amen.

The Best Way to Live

Proverbs 3:13-26, Psalm 21-23

Proverbs 3:21-22 – “My son, do not lose sight of these – keep sound wisdom and discretion; and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.”

Lord God, wisdom is such a wonderful gift and from it comes great blessing and responsibility.  Make me one who pursues it.  Make me one who listens carefully for it.  Make me one who will spend everything to get it.  I need to hear these verses, however, because I am not always seeking to grow in faith and in wisdom.  I am not always eager and willing to keep on working at this.  Make me a student of your Word, learning from and listening to those who would instruct me in your Word.  You have given me pastors and teachers to give me wisdom from you.  Make me a student to listen and to learn.  Be with them as they prepare to share God’s Word with me.  You promise me that when I get wisdom from you that this is the best way for me to live.  From it and from you comes the best way to live.  Amen.

I'm alive!

Romans 2, Isaiah 37-39

Isaiah 38:19 – The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do to this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness.

Lord God, Hezekiah sure had some reasons to praise you.  You had delivered him and his whole city by sending your angel to decimate the Assyrian army.  You changed your plans for his life.  You gave him 15 more years after you had just told him that he needed to get his affairs in order.  In dramatic fashion you extended his time on this earth.  It’s not surprising that he praised you after such near death experiences.  Lord God, my life is just as much a gift.  In you and because of you I live and move and have my being.  There may be no near misses on my life, at least, none that I am of which I am aware.  And yet, my life is an amazing, astounding, and dramatic gift of your grace. You, O Lord, keep my light burning. You, Lord, turn my darkness into light.  This day is a gift of your grace.  Help me to live with the joy of Hezekiah, who had a brand new lease on life and burst out with thanks and praise. That’s what today is.  Help me to live like an organ transplant recipient – I’m alive because of your grace.  Help me to live like a car crash survivor – I’m alive because of your protection.  This day and my life is a gift of your grace.  Thank you!  Now, I can make you known to my kids and to many other people in my life.  Amen.