Thursday, April 12th

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32

Dear heavenly Father, some people make it so easy for me to be kind and loving toward them.  Others make it really hard. But you challenge me here in this verse to love, forgive, and show kindness to everyone even the "hard to love" people, because of you and not because of them.  It is all a matter of which "BECAUSE" drives me.  I am begging you to help me love those who have made life uncomfortable for me, to reach out to those who have stiff armed me, to forgive those who have hurt me even before they dare to apologize. I want to love people indiscriminately BECAUSE you love me that way.  AMEN

Unconditional love is supernatural.  You can only get it at one place, from one person.  No one else has it to give.  It is not for sale.  It's free for those who believe that all they must do is ask God for it.

Additional Reading: Matthew 6:9-15, Matthew 18:21-35, 1 Peter 3:1-17, Colossians 3:12-17

Wednesday, April 11th

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  - Psalm 139:16

Dear heavenly Father, it’s calming and encouraging to know that this day in my life was ordained by you.  This day has meaning, purpose, and hope; because it is the day you wanted me to have right now.  Protect me from the temptation to disdain today because it has work, or challenges, or doctor's visits, or tough conversations, or mundane activities.  Help me not to define today based on what I see with my eyes or think I see with my heart. Help me to accomplish your goals and not worry if all my goals are realized.  Help me to value today as a gift from you, my author and Savior.  Open my heart to see some new way to make a blessing for another person today that will last in their lives for years.  Help me say the type of things that bless and encourage and enlighten.  Give me the ability to chain any stinking thinking to the floor of the deepest room in my heart so it does not get out to hurt or tempt anyone else.  I receive today as your gift with a thankful heart and I commit myself to use it to your glory.  Finally, I look forward to heaven when you will sift through each day with me, including this one, and will show me the immense value of even the smallest word that occurred today.  AMEN

Every single day of our lives is a very well thought out gift from God.  Show him how much you value it by living it thoughtfully, humbly, and lovingly for him.

Additional Reading: Psalm 19, Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 13

Tuesday, April 10th

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. - Isaiah 26:3

Dear Jesus, I want to be in perfect peace today.  So, pull my chin away from staring at the things that bug me.  And make me look squarely at your loving smile that promises that I am loved, forgiven, and that I have you turning what looks like a bad thing into a great thing for my life.  I trust you to use those people that I do not trust to make a blessing come to my life.  I know that you promise to make every event no matter how big or small, positive or negative, to be part of the grand story of redemption that you are working into my life.  Give me the perfect peace you promise, by helping me keep these truths in mind by your Holy Spirit.   AMEN

Jesus can be trusted with your entire life story, even if you must live it out with untrustworthy people.

Additional Reading: Psalm 127, Isaiah 9:2-7, 1 Chronicles 5:20, Romans 8:26-36

Monday, April 9th

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. - 2 Corinthians 12:7

Dear Lord Jesus, the Apostle Paul realized that his thorn in his flesh (a physical ailment) was a gift from you to keep him from being conceited.  I have to confess that I rarely think that my wrinkles and medical problems are a gift from you to keep me from being conceited.  But I believe now that you are using them that way for me. My physical problems prove to me that I am fragile and in great need of a God to sustain and deliver me. Everyone else sees that I am weak and needy but I delude myself into thinking that I am strong and need no help.  Frankly, my medical problems make me beg for help because I cannot fix them on my own.  Dear Lord, I do not want to be so arrogant as to live as if I do not have any weaknesses or to live like I don't need you who made me. I need you every hour.  I need you to help me.  Please, give me the self-discipline to take care of my body.  Give me the healing I need in order to continue as a servant for you. Bring answers to my unanswered questions.  Help me to have the humility to ask for help when I need it.  AMEN

Our problem is not our weakness.  It's our delusions of strength that keep us from seeking the grace that strengthens us in our weaknesses. 

Additional Reading: Matthew 4:1-5, 1 Corinthians 2, Philippians 4:4-13
 

Sunday, April 8th

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. - 2 Corinthians 9:10-11

Dear Lord Jesus, there is a lie that harasses me that goes like this: "If I give too much I will not have enough for myself." When I hear your promise in the passage above it blows that lie out of the water. I cannot out give you.  You will continue to give to me all that I need to have more than enough so I can enjoy being generous all of my life.  I want to be a powerful giver causing people to be thankful to God by what you move me to give.  Oh God, make me a careless giver.  Make me care less about myself and more about the needs of others, just like your Son cared less for himself when he gave it all for me.  AMEN

 Generosity is acting out of faith that you cannot out give God. 

Additional Reading: Isaiah 55:6-13, Proverbs 11:24, Ecclesiastes 11:1-6, Malachi 3:6-12,  

Saturday, April 7th

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. - Psalm 18:30

Dear Father in heaven, I do not want to keep begging in the same old mundane way, "Lord, please do this or that because I know what I need."  Instead, I want to honestly pray, "Thank you for perfectly ordering my life and for leaving behind your word to guide me through the dark forest."  I want a trusting, thankful heart, not a heart that always gives you advice.  Change me Lord and make me like your Son who trusted you even when you made his life a guilt offering for others. AMEN

Peace is learning to trust God more than advise him.

Additional Reading: Deuteronomy 32:1-4, Psalm 139, Romans 11:33-36, Revelations 15:3-4, Proverbs 3:5-6, Proverbs 30:1-9.

Friday, April 6th

Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few. - 1 Samuel 14:7

Dear Jesus, you put these words in Jonathan's mouth when he was about to face a whole army of Philistines with only his armor bearer and his sword.  With a supernatural faith he firmly trusted in you to deliver him. I want that supernatural faith.  All I know to do is to beg for it.  I cannot manufacture it in this broken heart of mine.  There are too many broken parts.  Please give me the faith of Jonathan to trust that you will deliver me in every situation.  Free me, dear Lord, of all worry that so easily preoccupies my mind and makes me unfruitful for others.  Give me peace that you are holding me and protecting me from my enemies, whether they are health problems, wild gunman, economic challenges or friends turned to critics.  I want to trust you with a clear conscience.  AMEN

God helps those who cannot help themselves. 

Additional Reading:  1 Samuel 14:1-14, Exodus 14:1-31, Hebrews 13:5-6
 

Thursday, April 5th

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 Heavenly Father, forgive me for patting myself on the back so often when you move me to do something generous for someone else.  And forgive me for telling my family what I have done in order to remind them that I am so good to them.  I beg you to free me from the need for affirmation and recognition from any human being.  Help me to do ten times more good things for others but to do them in secret before you so that my life is a reflection of your constant unnoticeable love that holds us up every day behind the scenes.  I want to be like you, loving freely without needing recognition.  AMEN

 Godly generosity has amnesia about what it has done. 

 Additional Reading: Colossians 3:23-24, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15,

Wednesday, April 4th

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. - Romans 12:14-15

Dear Heavenly Father, I see in your word that you want me to be an active, interdependent part of the larger body of Christ at my church; but in my heart, there is another force that drives me to keep things on the surface, to only see my church as a place to attend and not a community to bless and be blessed by.  Your word above is very clear. The picture of harmonizing shows how closely you want me to be connected to my family of believers so that I rejoice in the good things happening in their lives and I grieve with them when they are grieving.  You want me to be caught deeply in the web of Christian relationships.  Oh Father, help me to be more vulnerable to the people at my church and give me the opportunity and ability to become more of a close friend to the people there.  AMEN

Being connected to a church family is vastly more than simply attending a Sunday service that we like.

Additional Reading: Matthew 5:43-48, Job 30:25, 1 Corinthians 12:4-27

Tuesday, April 3rd

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  - Colossians 2:6-7

Dear Lord, almost daily I check to see if my life is "good" by some human measurement.  Like, "Is it good because of my financial position?"  Or "Is it good because of my position in my work?"  Or "Is it good because I have control of my weight?" Or "Is it good because I have my way in key relationships?"  Or "Is it good because I have the favor of others?" Or "Is it good because my church is growing and going?"  Or "Is it good because I get to live where I want to?" Or "Is it good because the weather is cool and refreshing and sunny?"  All of these questions leave me empty whether I answer "yes" or "no" to them. My life is good because I have you as my Lord and Savior. I have your love, your promise to be with me, your commitment to work everything for my eternal good, and your guarantee of a home in heaven.  Oh Jesus, help me live thankfully in the good life you have given me just by saving me and calling me your own.  AMEN

Jesus promised that he would give us an abundant life along with eternal life.  If we don’t feel that we are getting the abundant life, we are most likely missing the point.

Additional Reading:  Psalm 145, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24-27, John 10:1-18, Colossians 1:3-13

Monday, April 2nd

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  - Colossians 2:6-7

Dear Lord, almost daily I check to see if my life is "good" by some human measurement.  Like, "Is it good because of my financial position?"  Or "Is it good because of my position in my work?"  Or "Is it good because I have control of my weight?" Or "Is it good because I have my way in key relationships?"  Or "Is it good because I have the favor of others?" Or "Is it good because my church is growing and going?"  Or "Is it good because I get to live where I want to?" Or "Is it good because the weather is cool and refreshing and sunny?"  All of these questions leave me empty whether I answer "yes" or "no" to them. My life is good because I have you as my Lord and Savior. I have your love, your promise to be with me, your commitment to work everything for my eternal good, and your guarantee of a home in heaven.  Oh Jesus, help me live thankfully in the good life you have given me just by saving me and calling me your own.  AMEN

Jesus promised that he would give us an abundant life along with eternal life.  If we don’t feel that we are getting the abundant life, we are most likely missing the point.

Additional Reading:  Psalm 145, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24-27, John 10:1-18, Colossians 1:3-13

Sunday, April 1st

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.  - James 3:13-16

Oh God, give me wisdom that is not afraid to ask for help, not too proud of its own opinion, more bent on unity than being right, more concerned about mercy than justice. Give me the kind of wisdom that makes others want to play in the sand box with me for the good of all. Help me to hide my opinion much longer than feels comfortable while I learn to listen to others to try to understand not only their opinion but the context from which they have formed it.  Give me the wisdom that comes from love for you and people instead of that so called “wisdom” that comes from pride and ambition.  Make me a servant with my experience rather than a blind “know it all.”   AMEN

Wisdom from God makes us uniquely love all people, even those that oppose us.

Additional Reading: Philippians 2:1-11, James 1:19-20, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10  

Saturday, March 31st

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ ‘But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ ‘I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.  - Luke 18:9-14

 Dear Jesus, with this simple story of a spiritual giant (the tax collector), and a religious dwarf (the Pharisee), you put holy fear in me of becoming self-righteous.  I fear because I not only have looked down on people who have repetitive public sins, but I have also looked down on the Pharisee, because I am sure I have not looked down on others as much as he. Oh Jesus, if I am honest with myself, I look down on everyone for one reason or another at different times.  I struggle with the damning sin of self-righteousness.  Oh, please forgive my sin and purify my heart from thinking I am any different than the rest of fallen humanity.  Be my Savior and light the way out of my dark and lonely cave of self-righteousness.  Help me to truly esteem all others better than myself.  AMEN

The one sin I am proud to have never committed is the sin of looking down on others, or so I thought!

Additional Reading: Philippians 2:1-11, James 1:27, Jeremiah 31:16-20  

Friday, March 30th

Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.  Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  - Psalm 51:9-10

Lord, my natal spiritual defect is that I have a corrupted heart.  From that heart I have erred in too many ways to count.  I know I am forgiven.  But what I ask today is that you create a new heart in me for today.  Use the new morning mercy you promise to change who I am today.  I am dependent on your daily medicine.  Oh, God I do not want the placebo that the world offers to cheer my soul.  I want the real thing, pure grace.  Make me a new, selfless, happy, and generous person today - all because I know I am forgiven and loved by you.  Take away my judgmental, unhappy heart and give me the steroid that helps me walk three feet above who I would be today without you. AMEN

The human soul is the epicenter where grace works.  All good human operations come from the changes that happen inside and not outside of that holy room. 

Additional Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-10, Genesis 50:20-21, Matthew 5:1-12

Thursday, March 29th

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord?    Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.  - Romans 11:33-36

Dear Lord, thank you for never hiring me to plan and execute the big things in my life.  Although, I have doubted you too many times to count; I always like the end you write for each chapter of my life.  I do get stuck too often begging for you to show me your ways and your plans before I dare step forward with a willing heart.  I am so sorry for being so stubborn.  But now I ask, please graciously keep writing my story for Jesus' sake.  And don't tell me how it ends.  I want to wait until I get there where I will have to hold on tightly to your right hand lest I slip into the unhappy ending that you have prepared for demons and not for people.  AMEN

It's your choice:  Either write your own story and force God to write an unhappy ending.  Or let God write your story and look forward to an amazing finish.

Additional Reading: Psalm 73, Psalm 139, Esther, Ruth, Ecclesiastes 8:16-17, Ephesians 1:11, Revelation 5

Wednesday, March 28th

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  - Colossians 3:15

Dear Jesus, I love how the words, "be thankful" just creep into grand passages about peace from our relationship with you. I try to imagine descriptors of you when you walked the earth and I think one would be that you were always thankful. I cannot see you complaining about a messy house or a messy roommate. I cannot see you stressing everyone out by what you cannot get accomplished. I don't think you ever complained when you were small because your mom cut the sandwich into triangles instead of squares. You never complained and always thanked your Father and people genuinely. I on the other hand am a "chronic complainer." I know it even when no one else notices because I complain in my heart. In fact, I complain so much that I get bored by my own complaining.   Jesus, make me a thankful person like you.  More importantly, thank you for forgiving my ungrateful heart. I want to live a thankful life because you accept me with a gracious heart. When I do live a thankful life, I feel the peace you talk about too.  AMEN

Complaint is really an identity issue. If you see yourself as blessed without merit you will not complain about much. Until God changes how you look at yourself, you won't stop being unhappy with everyone and everything.

Additional Reading: John 14:27, Romans 1:21, Philippians 2:14-18

Tuesday, March 27th

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  - Deuteronomy 31:6

Lord, I love this promise you gave Israel through Moses.  It reminds me that all of the concerns I have about our country, my church, my finances, my health, and the welfare of my loved ones, every one of them is overwhelmed with this one thought; You are with me.  With your power and love right by my side, I cannot give way to fear.  I am going to be okay and so will everyone else.  You are with me. And even if I die, I will then see you in all your glory instead of only experiencing you through words.  Oh God, help me live today with a comforted heart. AMEN

Finding peace in God frees us to enjoy the blessings of each day.

Additional Reading: Joshua 1:5-11, Matthew 28:18-20, Isaiah 41:17, Hebrews 13:4-8, 2 Chronicles 16:9

Monday, March 26th

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  - Matthew 6:27

Dear Jesus, with this little sentence you both comfort and confront me.  I am comforted that my life does not depend on my own or anyone else's decisions.  I am confronted that I waste way too much time worrying as if it does.  Help me find the balance between responsible stewardship of my body and life and careless faith that makes me sleep well and not live with stress every day.  You had a relatively short life on earth compared to mine and you did not waste one ounce of energy worrying.  Come and rescue me from the same.  AMEN

Peace about our future comes when we trust who holds it. Don’t strain to see the future.  Strain to see who is holding it.

Additional Reading: Psalm 39, Psalm 90, Psalm 104, Acts 17:22-31

Sunday, March 25th

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests. - Proverbs 14:4

Dear Lord, I know that a neat and tidy home, yard, and office make me more efficient and communicate to you and others that I appreciate everything you have given me.  But I also know how neatness can make my possessions become idols that I coddle and protect.  I can even make messes of other people's emotions if they make a mess out of my tidy things. Help me to appreciate that a home that is slightly messy is lived in by people I love, that a disheveled desk means I have productive work that makes my life matter, and that a yard that needs mowing is a healthy yard with growing things.  Give me enough of life to keep it a little messy and enough thankfulness to take proper care of everything you loan to me.  Above all, help me truly value people more than things.  AMEN

The goal is productive, thankful living, not becoming a curator of my own private, tidy museum.

Additional Reading:  Psalm 144, Malachi 3:6-12, 2 Corinthians 9:1-12-15

Saturday, March 24th

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.  - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

 Dear Lord, I did not ask to live in this time and place.  You placed me here right where you want me.  But ever since I got here, I have tried to control time and place.  It always sets me up for frustration and makes me lose the joy of the moment no matter what "time" it is.  Help me to savor the time you have given while I have it, to use it for good and to do what is appropriate for each "time." Give me wisdom to know when to save and when to toss, when to tear down and when to build up, when to stay put and when to move.  Help my family and friends with this same challenge.  I cannot stop time from passing, but I can stop just passing through time.  I want to worship throughout my entire time on earth and make every second count.  AMEN

 Time cannot be created, stopped, saved, or exploited.  It runs its course for everyone and no one can keep it forever.  It cannot help or hurt you by itself.   In heaven, the anxiety caused by time will be forever forgotten. 

Additional Readings: Acts 17:22-31, Ephesians 1:3-23