Wednesday, October 31st

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." - Isaiah 26:3

Dear God, there is so much I do not understand about my life.  I have thrown all my theology at it, I have thrown all of my experience at it and nothing sticks.  Some things just can't be filtered through.  I am learning to trust you not because of great insights and emotional breakthroughs but just because you promise to make everything new. Today, I am going to take a vacation from trying to link my faith to my understanding of the meaning of my life apart from being redeemed.  It is enough to be your child and to have the promise of being with you in person, forever.  The rest can go out with the trash and it won't change my destiny.  My mind is stayed on you.  Please, free me from my lust for sorting out the details as if I have to know how each piece fits in order to be at peace. AMEN

"We don't trust God because he makes perfect sense to us.  We trust him because he is God and we are not."

Tuesday, October 30th

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." - John 10:14

 Dear Jesus, too often I feel alone with my thoughts and emotions just wandering through life looking for pasture.  But I feel the most loved and settled and at peace when I fix my thoughts on you and think hard about your words and what they mean for me personally.  I can tell when people speak whether or not their thoughts are in line with your words.  Your words are simple, clear truth and they comfort me.  They give truth and they give grace.  You are the good shepherd of my soul.  I am not a wandering sheep.  I am a lamb in your pasture. I will feed on your words and I will work hard at not needing any other approval other than what you gave at your cross for me. AMEN

"There is nothing more peaceful than believing that you are perfectly known and yet dearly loved by God."

Monday, October 29th

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. - Psalm 136:1

 Dear Lord, I remember rattling off this verse as the after dinner prayer every evening in my parents’ home.  It became almost as hard to think about while saying it as the precious prayer you gave us.  But WOW, when I think of what it really means, it is the foundation of my life.  I have never known any love from any person like the love that you show me.  Everyone has a limit.  Everyone becomes conditional sooner or later.  Everyone can wear out.  Even I don't love anyone as much as I long to be loved.  But ... your love for me endures forever.  How can you do that?  How can you be that? How can you love me when I am selfish or act out as much as when I am docile and good?  I trust your love when I look at the cross and when I hear your word.  It was your love that got me through the night and it is your love that will get me through this day.  "I am loved by God!"  This will be my strength today. Amen

"God's love is the single most stunning reality in the life of a believer." - Paul David Tripp

Sunday, October 28th

"All things have been created through him and for him." - Colossians 1:16

 Dear Lord Jesus, I know I do it every day.  I wake up and act like all things have been created for me.  This basic attitude is the source of all my self-made dreams, my irritations and my conflicts.  I naturally think the world revolves around me.  As stuck as I am, I am also ashamed of being this way.  I am thankful for the sake of everyone else that I am wrong too.  All things were created through you and for you.  And you are the only One to be trusted with them all.  You make all things work out for everyone's good.  So, I step into your world today, for your purposes to accomplish your dreams.  It feels so much more better to serve your much bigger plan than it did to serve myself.  Thank you for rescuing me by your grace and resetting my dials. AMEN

 "It is much more peaceful and satisfying to serve God than it is to serve ourselves."

Saturday, Octobeer 27th

"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you." - Romans 8:11

Dear Lord, every day I try to do well in serving you.  I know you like to see me try.  But you also know how I fall short.  I am thankful that you forgive and don't dwell on my shortcomings.  I don't want to dwell on them either. But I have a request, by your Spirit who lives in me, help me get it right more often for my good and your glory.  By your Spirit change my desires.  Give me keen discernment.  Make me see exactly what is going on around me and help me figure out what to do about the complicated messes that get thrown at me.  I want to press redeeming grace into the corner of the world around me.  I need you every minute of today in order to do this.  So, walk with me and give spiritual life to this dead head.  AMEN

"If it were not for air I'd be gone.  If it were not for God's Spirit I would be the walking dead."

Friday, October 26th

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. - Hebrews 11:6 - "Faith is a gift of God not by works" - Ephesians 2:9

Dear Lord, you have given me faith which I have never been able to produce on my own.  By myself I would have never believed in a God that I cannot see, hear or feel, but who has made some grand promises in an old book that so many people misuse and abuse.  Without your gift of faith, I pretty much just trust myself and even that trust is a little thin. Furthermore, you surprise me with so many situations that I cannot logically see any wholesome outcome at first. But I have seen you bring amazing good out of what I viewed as a train wreck.  The cross of your Son is the best example.  But you have done this millions of times since and thousands of times right before my eyes.  Because I have your promises and your gift of faith in them, and because I have experienced your redeeming love changing situations and lives, I boldly step into a new day believing that you are near me and will be the captain of my ship through calm and troubled waters.  I am nervous about my day, but I am not paralyzed, because I believe in you.  AMEN

"Believing in Christ is not a Sunday walk in the park.  It is a 24/7 dependence on Christ who is your life." - Daniel Duetschlander

Thursday, October 25th

They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?” - Mark 11:27-28

Jesus, when you cleansed the temple on that holy Monday so many years ago, the leaders of visible Israel were enraged. You had upset their little kingdom that they thought was dedicated to your Father but blindly it had been a religious world that had themselves at the center.  You knocked them off the throne and they hated it.  We always at first hate it when you do that to us.  You come into our circumstances and change everything and it makes us cry out for answers. "What gives you authority to run my life instead of me?"  Oh, Jesus, I want my life to be a temple dedicated to you and not my own plans and dreams.  I know by what authority you have come and changed things for me - it is by the authority of your love.  Your love for me drives you to knock me off my feet so you can pick me up and carry me.  Lord Jesus, carry me through all of my present struggles and cleanse my temple anytime it needs it.  AMEN

"God knocks us down from our self-sufficiency so he can pick us up and carry us."

Wednesday, October 24th

After teaching and healing people all day on Tuesday of his last week, ...41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. - Mark 12:41-42

Dear Jesus, "It takes one to know one."  You were giving your whole life that week and you saw a poor widow who was rich in faith giving her all too.  Between you and her, I am confronted with amazing love and dedication.  When I compare you to my life I tremble.  It is too easy for me to give from my stash rather to give all I am and have to you.  I do want to give it all to you.  How that looks in my life right now is hard for me to tell.  If I give it one way here, then I cannot give it another way there.  But in my heart I want to give it.  So, give me the strength to let go of anything and everything for you and give me the wisdom to know what that looks like.  And also, please bring many people all over the world to your houses of worship this Easter weekend and strengthen the men and women who are preparing messages for them to speak the sure hope and true peace of your resurrection from the dead.  AMEN

 "We cannot afford not to give that which we cannot keep." - Jim Elliot

Tuesday, Oct 23rd

"We fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." - Hebrews 12:2-3

Dear Jesus, on this day in your final week you rested quietly out at Bethany.  Oh, how that day must have been filled with contemplation of the betrayal of a friend, the denial of your chosen leader and the filthy hate that would be heaped upon you by lost souls.  But I am guessing that what the passage says above was also there; for the joy set before you of redeeming me you were comforted and peacefully happy.  That blows my mind.  But it also fills my soul with hope in the joy of heaven with you.  I may suffer but I have a joy that stands beyond the darkness.  I will run the race because I know you are there at the end smiling with a redeeming grin. AMEN

 "I can face my life today because I will be with Christ tomorrow."

Monday, October 22nd

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” - Luke 22:19

Dear Jesus, we all want to be remembered after we are gone.  But when I think about it, I want to be remembered for selfish reasons.  I am insecure about my life and want to know that I was significant enough to be remembered.  But you gave us this great supper so we would remember you for our own benefit.  How easily we forget that our spiritual connection is totally dependent on your sacrifice and grace.  With this regular meal we are drawn back to redeeming grace and our appreciation of your undying love is rekindled and then we believe in divine love again.  What an ingenious gift you left for us - a tangible way to remember grace!  Thank you for Maundy Thursday and what it gives all of us.  AMEN

 "The Lord's Supper is made with love, for love and to love."

Sunday, October 21st

"When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.  “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” - John 18:22-23

Dear Jesus, on this day of all days, you endured three trials.  The first was in the wee hours of the morning, before Annas who was no longer the high priest.  When you tried to get him and his friends to see the error of their ways they struck you.  And you asked why?  "Why did you strike me?"  - I know why he struck you.  It was the hand of justice against my sin that struck you all day long until you shouted "It is finished."  You had to go this road alone.  None of us could walk it for you or for us;  You alone saved me.  And for that I owe you my love and my heart.  I will observe your great gift today by remembering you between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm.  It was those six hours that you endured the cross for me.  The only good that came out of that day was the only good that will last forever for me - I am redeemed.  Thank you Lord Jesus.  Help me reflect my love for you by giving me the strength to absorb the sins of others the way you have mine.  AMEN

"On this day, he did it all."

Saturday, October 20th

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” - Luke 24:25-27, 32

Dear Jesus, as the resurrected Lord you gently chided your disciples for being depressed and then opened the Scriptures to them so they could see that your living word had promised all of your suffering would end with resurrection to life.   Their hearts burned with joy as they learned from you.  My heart burns with joy too.  Every year Easter brings my life into sharp perspective.  I am saved.  I am loved.  I am going to live past the death experience and my body will be reborn without fault in the resurrection on the last day.  This gives me sure hope to live by.  How can I live with dead end thoughts about my life when I know what happened at Easter?  Make your Easter message last in my heart for the rest of my life.  You are risen and I will live forever.  Thank you for patiently teaching and re-teaching me the reality of salvation.  AMEN

 "In Christ we have a sure hope that gives us a lifetime of "Spring-like "optimism."

Friday, October 19th

The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. - Isaiah 32:17

Dear Jesus, I love the peace that knowing you have fully accepted me in grace brings to my soul.  The people around me have proved that they do not want to be my personal Messiah.  They have no interest of bearing the burden of holding my personal identity in their hands.  Also, I cannot consistently be good enough to keep earning their praise and encouragement.  I mess up too frequently.  But near you I sense redeeming grace and mercy.  When you discipline I know you still love me.  Your righteousness covers me.  I have room to breath and grow now.  Thank you for being my personal Savior.  My personality has a chance to bloom under the fine mist of your love.  AMEN

"If you have been freed from needing success or praise to feel good about yourself, you know grace has visited you," - Paul David Tripp

Thursday, October 18th

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Romans 15:5

 Dear God, I love how this verse calls you the God of endurance.  You are the one who endures through all of time, through all sinner's foibles, through the wickedness and the good of all humanity - as each generation passes you remain back and keep plugging along with a new one.  I, on the other hand easily quit and take breaks from serving.  Thank you for enduring for me.  I remember when I was a child how if my father or mother would help me with anything I seemed to have renewed endurance.  Please come and help me today so that I endure my situations with strong faith and love because I know you are there helping me. AMEN

 "God calls you to persevere by faith and he stays right there with you to give you the help you need."

Wednesday, October 17th

Jacob stole his brother's blessing and then ran for his life.  This is what happened next: " Jacob had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Dear God, who are you that you would give such pure unilateral promises to such a scoundrel like Jacob.  Why was there no scolding, no threats if he did not change, no "time outs"?  Who are you that you bless a sinner like him with such profound gifts in this life, in history and in heaven.  How do you expect us to respect your justice when you freely forgive and bless a guy like that?  Your prodigal love is too much to process.  If I were God, do you know what I would do?  I would .... I would ... uh .... I would make a mess out of everything because I would eventually judge all people to hell including myself.  Oh, God, you are the most incredible God of grace, who keeps his promises when we are not keeping ours.  I will let you be God and I will let you love me and the other stinkers around me.  I plead with you, make us as gracious and constant as you are.  Restore our relationships and renew our hearts in your purposeful life changing love.  AMEN  

"There is no power like God's love given freely to my heart when I least deserve it."

Tuesday, October 16th

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? - Luke 12:22-26

Lord Jesus, you ask me why I worry about my money, my possessions, my health and my life? It is because I easily fall into the temptation that it all depends on me.  I cannot see you and hear your voice.  But the bills keep coming.  The doctor's reports are real hard data.   My AC still breaks and my transmission goes out costing me unexpected 1000's.  I still have relationship challenges, no, I mean problems.  The birds live with all kinds of challenges too but they cannot think ahead like I can.  They just live for today.  I get your truth; you take care of us both.  The birds cannot see or hear you either but they don't worry and enjoy their lives more than I do.  My problem is that I know too much and I think too much.  But it is also that I know too little and think too little - I think too little about your love, your promises to provide, your absolute control of all things.  Help me to live in the peace that you are taking care of me and mine so that I live in joy as a bright light of what you can do when you free a heart from worry.  AMEN

 "God will take care of you.  So, care less about everything."

Monday, October 15th

Be patient, bearing with one another in love." - Ephesians 4:2

Dear heavenly Father, you have been so patient for me to come to faith and then to change in this or that area. At any moment you could walk away from me but you haven't. That makes me want to be patient with everyone else like you are with me. Fill me with your love for the people closest to me, so when they think for me they wonder how I can be so patient them instead of wondering how I could so easily get upset. Help me to fill their empty tank with my overflowing patience. AMEN

 "Patience gives people more time than they deserve to correct their mistakes." - Stephen Kendrick

Sunday, October 14th

“In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. - 1 Corinthians 11:18-19

Dear Jesus, this passage has both comforted and confronted me since the day I met it.  In the midst of decrying that his people were arguing, Paul admitted that the virtue of church debates is that they reveal who is really walking by truth, faith and love.  I wonder every time I'm caught in a conflict whether you see me acting in truth and love or selfish ambition and stubbornness.  It makes me stop and think, evaluate and then pray.  Thank you so much for this verse.  It changes everything about the debates that encircle me. And it reminds me of your stabilizing presence and oversight in every situation. AMEN

 "Winning the argument is not near as important as loving God and your adversary in the fray."

Saturday, October 13th

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:13-18

Dear heavenly Father, I want that wisdom that produces good things, that changes bad situations to blessings, that helps me and others get along together and not walk away from each other as winners and losers.  I want that wisdom that makes us all laugh at past hang ups and irritations.  I want that wisdom that makes me forget past hurts and that turns enemies into trusted friends.  I want all this wisdom but on my own I do not possess it.  I am begging you for it.  By your cross, you turned me from enemy to friend now give me that power to love others back to you and me.  AMEN

"Shepherd me oh God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, beyond my complaints, from death into life." - John Michael Talbot

Friday, October 12th

Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on what the Spirit desires." Romans 8:5

Dear Holy Spirit, help me to want what you want and to do what you do. I am weary if having my own way. Amen

"It is much more fulfilling to follow the Holy Spirit than to follow yourself."