Wednesday, March 6th

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“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31

Dear Jesus, As I get to know the story of Joshua (which means “The Lord saves”), I see you in it. As I follow the story of Moses, I see myself in it. I see a man who desperately wanted to follow you, but struggled mightily to do it. You called and he resisted. He obeyed and then he disobeyed As I look at Moses, I see a man who couldn’t finish what you sent him to do. He could bring Israel right up to the edge of the Promised Land but he couldn’t bring them in. I find the same struggle in myself. Lord, I need the better Joshua. For the people of Israel he did what Moses couldn’t. He brought the people of Israel across the Jordan and into the Promised Land. He didn’t just wander with the people, he gave the people what you had promised them. You, Lord Jesus, have done that for me. You don’t just wander with me in the wilderness of this life, but you will bring me into the Promised Land in heaven. You do for me what no other person can do for me. You do for me what I could never do for myself. Lord Jesus, I see you in the story of Joshua. You are my Savior, Lord Jesus. Lead me and bring into the Land you have promised me, the sweet land of heaven, where I will rest securely with you. Amen.

Tuesday, March 5th

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“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9

Dear Heavenly Father, How you must smile when you watch me plan. You know what you will do with each one. Your way is always better even if I do not acknowledge it right away. I have seen how you bring failure into my plans so you can turn them into your own successes. Thanks for letting me make plans. It’s fun. But thanks also for puzzling me with your interruptions. Your control over my life keeps me connected to you in prayer and it makes me cognizant of your tender guidance. Amen.

If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.

Monday, March 4th

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“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8

Lord God, You have spoken clearly in your Word. You have made it very clear who you are and what your will is. You are the God who has redeemed us from slavery to sin. You are the God who has promised us an eternity with you. You are the God who teaches us how to live our lives as your children in this world. You have spoken clearly to us. Put these words on my mouth and heart all day and all night. Keep sending your Spirit to remind me of all that you have spoken. Make me diligent to hear, read, study, and meditate on all that you have said to me. Forgive me, dear Lord, because I know all too well how I have despised your Word and haven’t given it the attention it is due. I have set it on the shelf and let it get too dusty. I have treated it as an answer key to life’s problems, instead of a book that gives life and breath to my soul. Lord God, your Word is good, better than any wisdom that this world has to offer. From it, you give your Son to us and make him known to us. From it, you give life and eternity to me. Lord God, help me to keep it always near me, in my heart, on my lips, so that I am careful to believe and to do all that it says. Amen.

Sunday, March 3rd

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“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the lord.” Romans 14:8

Dear Jesus, Now that you are my Savior I live for you and only you. You have made me, saved me and you will get me to heaven. I live and die for you. This makes every day more simple, more meaningful and more peaceful. I dedicate this day to your honor. Make it a good day for both of us. Amen.

Only one fan matters most and he will never stop rooting for you.

Saturday, March 2nd

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“Do not let anyone despise you.” Titus 2:15

Dear Jesus, What a powerful little phrase you gave the young pastor, Titus. I find confidence in these verses. I’m easily intimidated by the critique of others. Everyone wants to be liked including me. But your grace and love have strengthened me so I don’t need to work at being liked. Instead, I’m free to love others even if it means I do or say something that earns their rejection. I hear your fatherly voice. Don’t let anyone despise me. In other words, keep their rejection on the outside of my heart. Only your love and promise to bless are allowed to enter the throne-room of my feelings. They can criticize me but I won’t let their negativity become my own. It can be theirs but not mine. My acceptance of myself is based on your perfect grace. Amen.

When you know who you are to God, you care less about who you are to others.

Friday, March 1st

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“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his vey own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:11-14

I want to think and do the right things for the right reasons. You have given me a new lease on life. But even though I long to do better, I notice that worldly passions are right there with me to tempt me to indulge instead of serve. My downfall happens in my heart long before it is seen in my life. But deep in my heart I appreciate your grace and mercy so much that I will not give up this fight to be eager to do what is good for you. Thank you for being patient with me.

Living for God is like loving your best friend, it comes easy when you remember their love.

Thursday, February 28th

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“Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.’ ” Joshua 6:2

Father In Heaven, Your plans and your direction for my life are so simple and clear. The battle plan that you lay out for me is so directive. You haven’t given me a scheduled agenda for each day, but you have told me what you want me to do in the callings of my life. You want me to parent, to be a husband/wife, even as a single adult, to work hard and to be a kind and loving neighbor. The directions to me are simple and clear. Help me, Lord, to order my life by the simple instructions you give me in those callings. As a father/mother, help me to lead my family in God’s Word and to raise my children up to know you. As a husband/wife, help me to love my spouse as you love me. As a single person, lead me to know you through your Word.. Make me a wise and faithful manager of all the gifts you’ve given me for the good of my neighbor, starting with y own family. Lord God, your plans and your direction for my life are so simple and clear. Help me to follow through on those battle plans, simply trusting you to do what you will do in my life and for my salvation. Amen.

Jesus isn’t afraid of nothing; don’t be afraid to let him lead you!

Wednesday, February 27th

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“When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your unfailing lover, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Psalm 94:18-19

Dear Heavenly Father, I’ve often called to you from the quicksand of trouble and begged for relief and help. I recall so many times that you have come to my rescue. You sent someone to help me or console me. You gave me answers and cures and help from various places. You quieted my anxious heart with your promise to save. Here I am living thousands of years later than the psalmist and I feel what he is saying. You are there for your children. But I need this word because I can’t see you, hear you or touch you with my senses. It’s spiritual, deep in my soul. But there the word, restores my inner peace. You love being my God and Savior. I know one day you will send angels to gather me to yourself. My end here will be my beginning there with you. I cling to that promise in my most fearful moments. If it’s not too much to ask, please Lord, right before you take me to glory, let me see your angels that come for me so in that most epic moment I won’t be alone to face the leap over the canyon between earth to heaven. Amen.

God always delivers his people one way or another. He cannot abandon his own.

Tuesday, February 26th

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I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. - Ephesians 3:17-18

Dear Jesus,

Today, I willingly lay aside all my requests that you fix this or that in my life or in the lives of those I love.  Instead, according to your word above, I ask with Paul, one thing: enlarge your love and power in my heart, so that I grasp more than ever before, how real and powerful that love is to make me secure, to give me peace and hope, to enable me to want to be there for other people, even those who irritate me, and to fill me to overflowing with love for everyone.  

AMEN

You don’t have what it takes to know the depth and breadth of God’s love. This you must receive as a gift from Him who loves everyone incomprehensibly.

Monday, February 25th

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Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. - Romans 12:19

Dear Jesus,

You modeled this word from the Holy Spirit perfectly.  In grace you kept going back to get your wayward disciples without rejecting them.  From the cross you forgave those murdering you.  But me?  I stumble and struggle.  A big part of me wants to see all bullies fall into grave trouble.  The pain they cause magnifies my sense of justice.  I naturally want them to pay for their wrongs.   But your love and redemption is sublimely more powerful, putting justice back in its cage.  Fill me with your supernatural love so completely that I forgive those who have hurt or ignored me.  Make me not wish any negative experience on them.  But instead, help me seek to bless their lives in creative ways.  I am yours.  Change me into the peaceful, redemptive person that you are. AMEN

Christ forgave everyone living with him when he walked the earth.  Now, through us, he wants to forgive everyone living today. 

Sunday, February 24th

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"We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which He prepared in advance for us to do." - Ephesians 2:10

 Dear Jesus, Open my eyes to every opportunity to do good, for You have created me in Christ Jesus to do good works and have appointed in advance that I should walk in them. Give me a faithful heart for every task set before me, and grant me grace to serve all people as I would serve You my Lord. Help me to live this day as though you died yesterday, rose today and are coming back tomorrow. Make your cross be my glory and crown and make the thought of your return not intimidate me but stimulate me to earnest attention to my faith life toward you. AMEN

 "To be serve God and others is medicine for our souls.”

Saturday, February 23rd

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"O Lord and God, you deserve to receive glory, honor, and power because you created everything and by your will they are created and have their being." - Revelation 4:11

Dear heavenly Father, I exist because you invented me in your creative mind from eternity. You chose my gender, my parents, my siblings, my DNA, height, hair and eye color, even my raw intelligence was slotted by you. Thank you for thinking of me and then putting me into my place in your vast creation. I am sad too that I joined humanity in rebellion toward you and yet you redeemed me in your Son. Help me to live in thankfulness and praise today just as the creatures in heaven are praising you as I see from the Revelation passage above. I want to glorify you for the gift of life today in the way I live. Show me how to do that. AMEN

 "Thankfulness is a product of true faith."

Friday, February 22nd

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"How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer and these things and then enter into his glory?" - Luke 24:25-26

 Dear Jesus, don't let me be slow of heart to believe that what you did in your single solitary life was the fulfillment of all that the Old Testament prophets had foretold as well as the answer to all of my fears and sorrows. You suffered to win for me freedom from my guilt, freedom from my fear of death, freedom from my inability to forgive others. Melt my stony heart and replace it with your powerful love fulfilled by your very life. Give me what I cannot produce on my own, faith, hope and love. Make me the person you always intended for me to be. AMEN

"Christ in us is the hope of glory."

Thursday, February 21st

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"Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." - Peter in Matthew 26:23

Dear Jesus, Peter sums up the way I feel about my personal commitment to you. I know you are my friend and Savior and I feel like I will never fall away from you no matter what happens. But I know that Peter felt the same way and then he did fall away. He denied knowing you three times that very same night. And I see myself fall into sin the very same day I voice my devotion to you. We people are so weak and fickle. We are so easily distracted by our own sinful hearts or the devil. If it were not for you and your constant love I would fall away and never come back. Please keep me close by your Holy Spirit and be the power that saves my soul. I cannot save myself my own commitment. It is too weak. Help me to glorify you this weekend. AMEN

Strength is holding onto something strong.

Wednesday, February 20th

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"You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off the old self, which is being corrupted by its sinful desires, to be renewed in your minds; and to put on the new self created to be like God." - Ephesians 4:22-24

 Dear Heavenly Father, I know that I now have a new self in Christ. My old way of thinking and doing no longer has to be mine. Help me remember to put on the new self every day. You created that new self in me by teaching me your love and truth. I can unconditionally love everyone I meet and I can stay away from selfish and unhealthy desires. I know that I can decide to follow you now that I have your Holy Spirit driving my heart. So, help me to be decisive and disciplined to live according to the grace you give. I want to shine today so others will know you through me. Help all my brothers and sisters in you to do the same today, so that we are a shining army conquering the world's darkness with the sword of light in your love and truth. AMEN

"Imagine our city luminated by hundreds of moving lights blinding those who live in darkness and showing them there is an alternative to their stumbling!

Tuesday, February 19th

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Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. – 1 Peter 4:1-2

Dear Jesus, you denied yourself all selfish desires and you could discern good and evil on a highly refined level.  That made you keen to do everything God wanted you to do.  You didn’t miss one opportunity to serve others and you knew before anyone else that serving God meant dying early in a very tortuous way.  I am so grateful for your perfect life and innocent death.  Now, I need your help.  I need you to help me arm myself with the same attitude that says, “I will serve God and others above myself.”  It’s a real game changer, making me argue less and bless more.  Oh Jesus, make me live for our Father’s will more than anything else. AMEN

When we decide to serve God before our day starts, then we know it will finish well. 

 

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Monday, February 18th

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"Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness" Ephesians 4:24

 Dear Jesus, help me to face the week with my new clothes of your righteousness donned over my life. Help me to show the world what love and faith look like. When the temptations come to dress my heart like the world does, help me to say "no" to my old self and "yes" to my new spiritual self. And when I get it right, don't let be deceived by my pride that would creep in the back door of my heart. I love the peace from grace that you have given me. Help me to never lose it. AMEN

"Peace is knowing all things have been made right by someone who can keep it that way."

Sunday, February 17th

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"We thank God continually because, when you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the Word of God, which is at work in you who believe." - 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Dear Jesus, you have sent so many people into my life to teach me your thoughts.  When I let my mind drift back to my childhood, I think of all the Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teachers - they were all volunteers sent by you to teach my soul about who you are and how much you love me.  I think of the faithful pastors, teachers in my schools, my parents and many friends who spoke up and out to me when I needed it the most.  Help me always to regard the messages you send through others as your very words.  And give me a desire to heed them and make them my anchor and guide.  I would have never found you without these faithful missionaries for my soul.  AMEN

"Thankfulness is the fruit of faith, dropping from a tree well watered by the Master Gardener."

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Saturday, February 16th

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"He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored." Proverbs 27:18

Dear heavenly Father, in this little proverb you are reminding me to take care of two very important things. I see you promise me that if I will 1) take care of the blessings you give me then I will enjoy the fruit of them the way you intended and 2) if I will honor and take care of those whom you sent to lead me (i.e. parents, bosses, pastors/elders and government leaders) then you will see to it that I am blessed to the max through them - How easily I stray from these simple little/big tasks and run after my own dreams. Please forgive me and help me to mind the business you have sent my way, all for Jesus' name's sake. AMEN

 "Good works flow from faith and show themselves in everyday life."



Friday, February 15th

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"If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." - 1 John 1:7

Dear Jesus, I long to have close personal fellowship with the people around me. But sometimes it seems so hard to achieve. Yet, you promise that as I learn to walk in the light of your truth and love, - and the people around me do too, - then I will have rich personal fellowship with them, the way you always intended people to have. Help us to walk in your light so we can enjoy close relationships. Help us live honestly, humbly and comforted by grace that covers all sins. Drive out all criticism and judgmental-ness so I welcome people with open arms. All of this so we can be close to you and one another and enjoy what the world hasn't got a clue about. AMEN

"Being close to God and others is an achievement of grace and not rules."