Wednesday, April 25th

A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. - Proverbs 14:30

Dear Jesus, you gave yourself so little of everything on this planet when you were here.  You only lived 33 years.  You never owned a home or had a wife or children.  You had no bank account, no fancy toys, and not much of a vacation ever.  And yet, you were the most contented and tranquil person we will ever know. Thank you for not ever giving way to envy.  I have all those things you did not afford yourself and I struggle with a continual lust for more.  Be my Savior from the power of envy and give me the tranquility that comes from abiding faith in the goodness of your Father.  AMEN

Envy will pack her bags and catch the first flight out of your heart when you invite Jesus over for a visit.

 Additional Reading: 1 Kings 21 and 22, Proverbs 17:22, Luke 12:13-21, Philippians 4:10-13

Thursday, April 19th

I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. - Colossians 2:4-5

Dear Jesus, please give me a discerning heart so that I am not easily duped into thinking and believing ideas that ultimately lead away from you.  It is so easy to slip into dead end thinking that leaves me a victim of self-indulgence or self-actualization.  You, Jesus, are the fullness of love and truth.  Help me to grow in your love and truth so I am a reflection of your love to myself and others.  AMEN

To know Christ more is far better than to know oneself more.

Additional Reading:  1 Corinthians 15:20-28, 2 Corinthians 10:3-8, Galatians 1:6-10, Colossians 2 

43

Wednesday, April 18th

So, Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. - Hebrews 9:28

Dear Jesus, you must really look forward to the day that you get to come back and take us to glory to be with you.  I think of how a man buys an engagement ring and cannot wait to give it to his girl.  I look forward to that day, too.  We meet in my prayers in the anticipation room.  I know I will be rescued from every difficult and frustrating relationship when you come back. So, my today will be filled with hope.  In that hope I will step out with an excited smile because I am confidence that you are watching over me.  AMEN

Nothing can separate us from God's loving plans to rescue us from every trouble.

Additional Reading: Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 21:27-28, Philippians 3:20-21, Revelation 7:1-8, Revelation 20:1-5

Tuesday, April 17th

I pray that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.  - Ephesians 3:17-19

Dear Jesus, the Apostle Paul prayed that you and your unconditional love would dwell in our hearts and that we would grow more and more to know how pervasive your love really is.  Please do this for me and my closest friends and family so we love purely without giving up an inch of the truth. Help me comprehend how full and big your love really is.  Help me to view all people through your love.  By doing this, we will help others see their need for grace without personally judging them.  I will relax in your love whenever we recall the many failures with which we have plagued you.  Make your love the driver of my soul.  AMEN

Christ’s love is bigger than the universe.  No one can begin to exhaust the lessons it will teach him.

Additional Reading:, John 13:35, Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 13, 1 John 4:7-21  

Monday, April 16th

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments. - Habakkuk 3:19

Dear Jesus, I have seen deer jump this way and that to get up narrow winding mountain paths along cliffs.  It is amazing to watch. It is just as amazing to think of all the ways you have brought me through the narrowest escapes.  In my car, battling health problems, even at sporting events, you have rescued me from near death experiences. Each time it happens, I think of how you must love me.  You will make my feet like that of a deer.  It is a very comforting thought.  I trust you today, tomorrow, and beyond to protect my life until my job is done here on earth. Thank you for giving me peace the world cannot produce. AMEN

God never stops looking into our crib to see that we are breathing.

Additional Reading: Deuteronomy 33:26-29, Psalm 46, Psalm 146, I Peter 5:8-11
 

Sunday, April 15th

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” - Psalm 122:1

Dear Lord, for many, many, years I thought it was a shallow and confusing encouragement when parents and grandparents hounded their kids and grandkids with the question, "Did you go to church?"  But the older I get, the more I see how you do great things for the soul in corporate worship.  Too many times to count, I have dragged myself to church grudgingly only to leave ecstatic that I somehow found my way there.  What you gave me in the message, the songs, and the prayers purified my soul, comforted my heart, and gave me meaning and purpose that I had lost out there on my own.  Now, I'm that parent saying, "Did you go to church?"  Oh, God help my children and grandchildren get to your house of worship to have their souls saved and resaved. AMEN

Corporate worship forces us to storm our minds to take sinful thoughts captive and throw them out into the cold. 

Additional Reading: 1 Chronicles 29:10-20, Nehemiah 8, Revelation 7: 9-17

Saturday, April 14th

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him.  - Lamentations 3:22-24

Dear Jesus, it is a great privilege for a sinner to awaken every morning.  It means that your mercy is still enveloping our lives.  I know how very deeply I have hurt you and yet I do not know the full extent of your disappointment.  Your mercy makes it hard to tarry long at the pool of guilt.  Instead, it moves me quickly to the living, moving waters of forgiveness. When I jump into your forgiveness river, it carries me swiftly past the guilt of my past.  I love jumping in this river to swim for you every morning.  Oh, Lord, keep me in the river flowing with your grace.  AMEN

Guilt is a stagnant pond of self-made scum.  Grace is a living river that’s pure enough for a soul to drink. 

Additional Reading: Exodus 34:6-7, Psalm 103, Psalm 130, Hosea 11:9, Malachi 3:6-7, Luke 23:45-49.

Friday, April 13th

But now listen, Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen. This is what the Lord says— he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, (the upright one) whom I have chosen. Isaiah 44:1-2

Dear Heavenly Father, I wish I could say that I always live in the peace of knowing that you are nearby watching over my life with a father's heart.  But frankly, I struggle with fear as if I am alone against the world.  It shows in how anxious I get in so many situations.  Your word shoves the truth of your fatherly presence back into my mind.  It calms and reminds me of your ownership, help, and grace. Your word does not ask how many times I have forgotten you or if I want to hear its voice.  It just speaks to my childlike heart. "Do not be afraid.  I am your God.  I will work out your life to a blessed end."  Dear Father, I acknowledge your presence here at the beginning of my day.  Help me to live in the strength of your presence all day.  Guide me to the places and people you want me to touch and make my life more than a selfish earthly pursuit. AMEN

God is with us every moment even when we forget that we are with him.   

Additional Reading: Genesis 16:1-16, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Corinthians 4:16-15:1-10

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