Sunday, March 11th

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.  - James 4:1-3

Lord, every time I read this passage I want to say, "Really? It's that simple?"  But I know it is.  I cannot blame any fighting or discontent on all the people around me.  I have to admit it; I have desires that well up in me and they make me work hard and fast to get them met. But here you correct me.  You tell me that praying to you, oh God, ends fighting.  It replaces lust with trust and brings you back into every relationship.  I know this by experience.  When I have prayed for what love or blessing I want from others instead of fighting for it, you either moved them to give me what I need or you changed my heart to want to serve more than be served.  Prayer ends fights.  Lord, help me to remember to pray about things that bother me today more than I scheme on how to fix them. Then give me eyes to see when you answer my prayer tenfold.  AMEN

It's not what's happening or not happening outside of us that dictates our peace and joy.  It's what is happening or not happening within us.

 Additional Reading: Titus 3:3-11, Romans 7:23, Matthew 15:10-20, Ephesians 3:31-32, 1 John 3:15-24,

Saturday, March 10th

Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. - Psalm 51:6

Dear heavenly Father, you saw my need for your presence to keep me honest and humble even from my mother's womb.  You were teaching my heart the difference between truth and error even there.  Since then I have had so many voices teach me otherwise.  Sometimes, I get confused and cannot tell the difference between right and wrong.  But your word is light for my darkened soul.  Help me today to be honest enough with myself to consult your word and those who know it well, in order to guide my life into pleasing you.  I want to get as close to living like Jesus as I can, not for any prideful reason, but because that will be what is best for the people you have decided would see me today.  AMEN

Why would we work so hard to pretend that we are not all that sinful when Jesus' gospel says that the very reason he came was to redeem us from a boat load of sins?

 Additional Reading: Genesis 6:5-8, 9:12-17, John 4:1-26, Hebrews 4:12-13,

Friday, March 9th

The heavens declare the glory of God. The skies show the work of his hands.  - Psalm 19:1

Dear Lord, I see your creativity and amazing power in every sunrise and sunset. They remind me that you are there and that you govern everything happening under them.  It gives me peace to know that it is your gracious and forgiving hand that turns the world and paints the sky. I know how little I deserve your blessing, but I also know that I am loved as much as everyone else. I will dedicate myself to loving everyone today in the same way that you paint skies for the evil and the good. Amen

God loves each of us so much that he counts our hairs every morning, and paints us a picture in the skies every night.

Additional Reading: Psalm 50, Psalm 89, Isaiah 40:21-22, Acts 14:14-18, Romans 1:18-20

Thursday, March 8th

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:6

Dear Lord, if John 3:16 is the gospel in a nutshell, then this passage is the gospel in a matchbox. It actually is very comforting to be able to admit that I am a sheep that strays every day.  It gives me freedom from trying to be perfect in order to feel good about life.  Instead, I get to feel good about this; you have laid my iniquity on your Son.  Thank you for signing up to be my God and Savior. I realize it cost you everything. I gladly sign up to be your sheep.  I will do all I can to receive your grace with a grateful heart and will try to be good to all your other sheep for your glory and their good. AMEN

When you know who and what you are and stop trying to be something you're not, then you have made a giant stride in spiritual growth.

Additional Reading:  Psalm 130, 1 Peter 2:21-25, Romans 4:25 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Ephesians 4:32

Wednesday: WDJD - You have been returned.

Wednesday’s readings: Psalm 23, John 10, Hebrews 13

1 Peter 2:24-25 – 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.

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, God 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 find. Keep me close to you all the days of my life that I may be yours now and forever.  Amen.

Tuesday: WDJD - Christ left you an example.

Tuesday’s readings: Matthew 5:38-48, Romans 12:9-21

1 Peter 2:21-23 - 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.

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.

Monday: WDJD – Christ suffered for you.

Monday’s readings: Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, Psalm 88

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

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 me 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.

The Right Thing

Saturdays Readings: 1 John 1-5

1 Peter 2:19-20 - 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.

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 way. 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 that 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.

God's the Big Boss

Fridays Readings: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, Philemon

1 Peter 2:18 - Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.

Lord God, my callings in life constantly guide me and give me my place in this world. You have placed me in all kinds of relationships and teach me to submit within all of those relationships. You have put me in a workplace with bosses over me and people under me. They are my bosses and you call me to submit to them, even if they’re not that great of a boss. You have put me in a family relationship; there you call me to honor my parents, love my spouse, and submit to my husband. You tell me to do all this without giving any perspective to whether my boss is good or bad, whether my parents are good or bad. You tell me to fit into my place simply because you are the big boss. You, God, in your grace and mercy have put bosses over me at work, husbands over wives, parents over children. This is the way you have ordered things in my life for my good and for my benefit. As I go to work today, help me to remember that you are the big boss and that when I work for my boss, I’m working for you. Help me to do my job with all my might because you’re the big boss. Amen.

Fit in.

Thursdays Readings: Numbers 11-12, Numbers 16-17

1 Peter 2:17 - Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

Lord God, my place in this world has been given to me by you.  I know, by my callings, exactly where I fit.  I sit underneath the government; I am a citizen and I owe all my leaders whether I like them or not honor, respect and obedience.  I sit inside the family of believers; I am a member of that family and I owe each member of that body a love that makes them first.  I owe all people in this world respect, simply because they are created by you.  Most of all God, I owe you fear and respect, awe and wonder, because you are the great God of this universe and the Savior of the World.  You are truly worthy of awe and wonder.  Help me to know my place and to fit in just where you put me.  Keep me from longing to be outside of my place in my callings.  Keep me from fighting against the order that you have established in my life. Make it clear to me where I fit in and help me to fill my callings. Amen.

Audience of One

Wednesdays Readings: Colossians 3, Romans 13

1 Peter 2:16 - Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.

Lord God, as I walk out into this new day it’s so easy to forget who I am. I often I identify myself by my vocations. I identify myself by my callings in my life.  I’m a husband.  I’m a father.  I’m a worker.  I’m a friend.  And within those vocations, I often find myself seeking my own goals, desires, and pleasures.  It’s what’s I do.  But God, those are just my callings and not my identity. And I am certainly not to be seeking my own pleasures.  Forgive me and help me to see myself as you do.  Help me to see that my identity comes from you.  I am your child, holy and dearly loved.  I am redeemed by you and adopted into your family.  My life now is wholly directed to you.  You are the audience for whose applause I play.  You are the one I seek to serve.  As I walk out into this day, dear Lord, help me to remember who I am and live my life for you and you alone.  Amen.

Grace is not an excuse.

Tuesdays Readings: Numbers 10-13, Psalm 90

1 Peter 2:16 – Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves.

O God, it’s easy for me to use your grace and your forgiveness as an excuse to do whatever I want.  I can talk how I want because you’ll forgive me.  I can do what I want because you’ll forgive me.  There’s always more grace, I think to myself.  But God that’s sinful thinking.  That’s wicked thinking. Your grace is not an excuse for evil, for sin, for anything outside of your will. Your always new and never ending forgiveness is never an excuse for me to do what I want.  Lord God, keep me from using your grace as an excuse.  Instead, let your grace and your daily forgiveness drive and compel me to live for you. This is your day, help me to live in it as your child and your redeemed slave. Amen.

Actions > Words

Monday’s Readings: James 2-3

1 Peter 2:15 – For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 

Lord God, people are watching me live my life. People are listening to what I say, who I say it about, and even how I say it. People are observing how I behave. They are watching everything I do, everything. They are watching the way I speak about our leaders and how I submit to them. They are watching how I serve and what I do in my service. Lord God, let my life be a powerful and a loud witness to the God I serve. Let my whole life be set apart for you Lord. Make my life a witness and a testimony to you, Lord. By my life, silence their accusations about “those” Christians. Let my life give people around me no reason for complain or accusation. I know they’re watching, Lord. Help me to show them how good and great you are. Amen.

Now I submit

Numbers 3-5

And/or

Further up and further in: Acts 4, Acts 8, Romans 13

1 Peter 2:13-14 – Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority or to governors as those who punish those who do evil and praise those who do what is good.

Lord Jesus, this is hard one because I don’t always like my rulers.  I don’t always like what they’re doing.  I don’t always like what they stand for.  I don’t like it that they’re silent when I think they should speak up.  It makes it hard for me to submit to these rulers and leaders when I disagree with them, sometimes quite vehemently.  Yet, Lord, you tell me to submit. You tell me to obey them unless they tell me to disobey you. You even tell me to honor and respect them.  Your Word says this.  My heart says no. The way that I speak about these leaders betray my heart and show the disrespect that I have for them.  The way that I act toward my leaders betray my heart and show the disrespect that I have for them.  Oh Lord, these men and women sit in these positions because you put them there.  They rule in your place and are given by your for my good.  You’ve given these leaders to us for our good, because you love me.  Help me to honor them as your servants.  Help me to respect them as such. Help me do it because of you and because of your great love for me.  Amen.

Now because of God

 Leviticus 26 – Numbers 2

And/or

Further up and further in: 1 Peter 2:11 – 3:22

1 Peter 2:13 – Submit to every human authority because of the Lord.

Lord Jesus, it’s all because of you.  The reason I submit and obey anyone is because of you. You are my Lord.  I live under you in your kingdom and I serve you. You are the reason I live. You are the reason I breath. You are the reason I believe.  You are the reason for my whole life.  Let me see you on your throne when I walk out into this world.  Let me see you taking care of this country by the leaders whom you’ve put in charge.  Let me see you taking care of me by the job that you give me.  Let me see you keeping peace in our cities and peace in this world by the armies and the law enforcement you put in charge. Let me see you at work and ruling over all things as I walk out into this world.  Let me see it and then live because I see you at work everywhere. Amen.

Now I’m living Clean

Leviticus 23-25

And/or

Further up and Further in: Matthew 5:13-16, 1 John 1-3

1 Peter 2:12 – Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.

Lord God, people call Christians “hypocrites” and there’s some truth in it. I don’t live the way you call me to live as your holy child.  Christians have and do all kinds of horrific, hateful, mean things in the name of Jesus.  I’ve said and done mean and hateful things in your name.  I’ve used your name to justify things.  I’ve given this world all kinds of reasons to slander both me and you because I claim you as my Lord.  Lord God, forgive me!  Forgive me for dishonoring your name and leading people to curse your name instead of praising it. Forgive me and help me to live such a life in this world that people will see the life I live and praise you.  I want them to know how great and gracious you are.  I want them to know how saving you are.  Let me life show it and my words say it.  Amen.

Now I'm a warrior.

Leviticus 19-22

And/or

Further up and further in: Romans 7

1 Peter 2:11 – Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.

Lord God, I so badly want to have a life of peace and calm. I so badly want to just go along and get along because it’s more comfortable.  It’s so easy for me to sin and to say, “It’s just the way I am.”  It’s so easy for me to sin and say, “I couldn’t help it.”  It’s so easy for me to fall into any sort of sin and not realize what’s really happen.  But Peter’s telling me!  The desires of my sinful nature are warring against my soul.  The desires and the sins of my sinful nature are not small things that I can let remain.  These things want to kill my faith and my soul.  Help me, o God, to fight back.  Give me strength and power from your Spirit to fight back against the sin in my nature, to hate it as much as you do.  Give me power by my baptism to daily kill my sinful nature in me with all it’s evil and wicked desires.  Help me never sit back and let things go.  Make me a warrior to fight against all that is sin in me.  Amen.

Now I'm a stranger.

Leviticus 15-18

And/or

Further up and further in: 1 Peter 1-5

1 Peter 2:11 – Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires.

Lord God, you called me to be your child.  I am now, by your grace an heir of heaven and of eternity.   This place is not my home.  Heaven is my home.  It is the promised land for which my heart of faith longs. Lord, as your child I often fail to see what the real problem is in this world.  I often fail to see what the real problem with me is.  So often we point to the guns, to the training at home or in school.  We point to the attraction of certain things.  We point to external factors which can be like a lure to a fish.  We point to external factors which might influence behavior in positive or negative ways.  We think it can be stopped or at least curbed if we adopt the right disciplines or the right rules.  But the real problem with me is my sinful desires.  No rule can get rid of those sinful desires.  No discipline can kill those desires in me.  I am a stranger in my own my body.  I want to do what is right.  But my nature in me wants to do what is bad.  Help me, O God, recognize that my real problem is my nature in me.  And save me from it.  Cleanse me of it.  Kill it in me that I might stay away from all that that nature desires.  Amen.

Now I'm in.

Leviticus 11-14

And/or

Further up and further in: Hosea 1-3

1 Peter 2:10 – Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received God’s mercy, but now you have God’s mercy. 

Lord God, it is so good be your child and a member of your family. As your adopted child, I have access to all the good that you have for me.  You have opened the storeroom of your grace and mercy to me.  I am not on the outside looking in any more. I’m your child.  I’m your bride.  I’m yours!  You’ve been merciful to me.  Help me to live in the joy and freedom that comes because I am yours.  Amen.

He calls me out so that I can bring light to the darkness.

Leviticus 8-10

And/or

Further up and further in: Psalm 51, Psalm 89, Matthew 5:13-16

1 Peter 2:9-10 – But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Lord God, as I wander through life I wonder what the purpose of my life is.  I look at my skills and abilities and wonder to myself what I can do for you and how I can serve you.  I look at the ways that other people serve you and realize that I can’t serve you like they can.  I look at my own weaknesses and wonder what I can really offer you. But God, when I think like that I’m just despising who you made me to be.  I’m despising the gifts and abilities that you gave me.  Lord God, you gave me a perfect calling when you made me your royal priest.  And by your creative powers you made me just as you wanted me to be and still give me the gifts and strengths that you want me to have.  And all you ask of me is that I live my life for your glory.  All you ask is that I would be a light in this world.  All you ask is that I would be who you made me to be by my baptism, that by my life and by my words I would declare your praises.  Let me life’s song, O God, be for you.  Amen.