Wednesday, April 22nd

“Who is this King of glory?  The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.”  Psalms 24:8

Lord God, The questions that David asks lead me to ponder more fully and more deeply who you are.  Who is the King of glory who comes?  Ah, Lord, you are strong and mighty.  You are the God who created the earth, the world and everything in it.  You are the God who laid the foundation for this world and all who in live in it.  You are the God to whom everything belongs.  Jesus, you are the Savior who tames the seas and commands the demons and sends them to the place where they belong.  You are the Savior who sets prisoners free, who gives sight to the blind, who gives hearing to the deaf, and speech to the mute.  You are the Savior who gave his life to redeem me and the whole world.  Who is this King of glory?  You are the God who rises up to defeat all of my enemies for me.  You are mighty in battle.  You are a warrior god who fights for me, for my salvation, for my safety, for my course in life.  You are a warrior God who fights and wins.  Thank you, Father, for these inspired questions that lead me to meditate on you and your greatness.  Help me to rise up today to greet you.  Amen.

Our King is a mighty, warrior King who rises up to defeat our enemies, who fights for our salvation, for our safety.  Our King is the almighty God who owns and rules all things for his people. 

Tuesday, April 21st

“The goat will carry on itself sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.”  Leviticus 16:22

Dear Jesus, There are times when I read through the book of Leviticus and am completely overwhelmed by all the details and confused by the acts, the rites and rituals that God wanted his people to do.  But this much I understand.  You, God, are holy!  And unholy people and unholy things can’t just waltz into your presence.  You made it abundantly clear to Aaron in this chapter that he couldn’t just come in.  Atonement had to be made.  Blood had to be shed.  Sins had to be removed and sent away.  These things were not optional if Aaron and the people wanted to be able to approach God.  Jesus, you have done the same for me.  There was and is nothing that I can do that will make the way for me to enter God’s presence.  But you have made atonement for me and shed your blood to remove my guilt.  You, dearest Jesus, have taken my sin on yourself and have taken it into the wilderness, as far away from me as the east is from the west.  And now, because of you alone, I can enter God’s presence.  Now, because of you, I can approach you.  Thank you.  Thank you for the joy of coming close to you.  Thank you for the privilege of approaching you in prayer.  I can come all the way into your most holy presence because my sins and guilt are removed.  Amen.

God makes it absolutely clear that sin separates us from him.  He makes it just as clear that sin is removed by the blood of Jesus alone.  It is for this reason alone that Jesus came into this world at Christmas: to shed his blood for me, for you, for all. 

Monday, April 20th

“How Long Lord?  Will you forget me forever?  How long will you hide your face from me?  How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?  How long will my enemy triumph over me?”  Psalm 13:1-2

Dear Heavenly Father, I can feel all alone when I’m suffering from health problems or some situation outside of my control.  I pray and pray and never hear a sound from you.  I know you love me along with everyone else but I still often feel it would be more loving for you to audibly comfort and guide me.  It’s comforting to meet David in this psalm and see he had the same frustration while suffering.  You promise to speak to my soul through your word.  Help me find your voice there and to trust your unfailing love no matter how long I must wait for answers or rescue.  I trust you as my Savior and I will wait patiently for your help and rescue.  Amen.

God is worthy of our love and trust even when we cannot make any sense out of our lives under his heaven.

Saturday, April 18th

“They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.”  John 16:2

Dear Jesus, Thanks for letting us know that sometimes we will even suffer at the hands of those who think they are doing you a favor.  It plays a dirty trick on my mind to have someone mark me as evil and think they represent you when they are criticizing or persecuting me.  Help Christians everywhere listen to your words of comfort.  We cannot get our clarity from what others are saying, especially those who are persecuting us.  We have to listen to you.  It seems impossible for a person who hates out of “faith” to have the ability to be converted.  But nothing is impossible for you.  So, help me to love, forgive and actively serve even those who hurt me in the name of God.  My righteousness comes from you.  I will wait patiently for you to work everything out.  Amen.

Always get your affirmation from the promises of God and not the acceptance or rejection of mere mortals. 

Friday, April 17th

“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius.  So, when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more.  But each one of them also received a denarius.  When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.  ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’  But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend.  Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?  Take your pay and go.  I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you.  Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money?  Or are you envious because I am generous?’  So, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”  Matthew 20:9-16

Dear Jesus, You worked really hard to teach us that you have a grace-based relationship with every single soul.  I am prone to want grace for me, but when it comes to others, I want it all to be about fairness and justice.  So, I tend to compare how you bless me with how you bless them.  It always gets me into mental trouble.  You are a loving and gracious God.  You want all people to be saved.  So, make me that way too.  Help me not to separate myself from others in my mind as if I deserved more.  I don’t.  What I have in life is because you are gracious.  What others have rides on that same grace.  Help me be a champion of that grace and to teach it freely to everyone around me.  Amen.

No one is blessed by God for living right.  It’s all because he has mind blowing patience and grace with all sinners. 

Thursday, April 16th

“Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘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

Dear Jesus, It seems so counter intuitive that you would not encourage us to think about food and clothing.  They are such basic necessities.  But what a free life you have called us to?  You want us to be concerned with faith, relationships, truth, salvation, love and hope.  I believe you when you say we can actually live like the ravens and not be concerned of earthly sustenance.  Help me to live in the freedom of being cared for like the ravens.  I find it fascinating that you point to that scavenger bird as a model of faith that we should look up to and emulate.  Give me the faith to follow your promises into the free life of total dependence on you, even while I work and seek education to better myself in this life.  Amen.

Check the owner's manual.  We were not designed to worry, only live and serve.

Wednesday, April 15th

“Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.  So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.”  John 12:9-11

Dear Jesus, It was only a few days before you would die for us.  You knew the time was near.  You had raised from the dead your dear friend, Lazarus.  It should have been a happy time without flaw.  But it wasn’t.  It was still planet earth where jealousies and fear drive people and disease invades homes and lives.  The Jewish leaders with their hard hearts responded by wanting to kill Lazarus.  I wonder when it was that Lazarus regretted being brought back to this mess.  But as dark as the time was, it was still holy, and set apart for our salvation.  I know this dark time on our planet is still a holy time even though there’s a virus competing for the spotlight among diseases that kill.  It’s a time for all of us to purge our minds and hearts, to reconnect with what’s real and important and spiritual.  It’s our time to grow out of pain and suffering and stress.  The people around you after you raised Lazarus put their faith in you even though they were in hard times.  I will put my faith in you too.  Our present situation does not define the meaning of life for me.  You do.  My life is about resurrection and hope.  Help me reflect that hope and grace to the ones stuck at home with me.  Amen.

Going over to Jesus in a chaotic world is the best way to shelter at home!  

Tuesday, April 14th

“As for man, his days are like grass-he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known.  But from eternity to eternity the LORD’S faithful love is toward those who fear him…His kingdom rules over all.  Psalm 103:15-17, 19

Dear Father, I often forget how temporary and fleeting my life and all the things in it are.  I often forget and get quite worked up about how things are going in my life and in my work.  I get frustrated and upset when things don’t go my way.  I get consumed by the pursuit of things in my life.  But in this, Father, I forget how temporary those things are.  They are here for a moment, but as soon as I get the newest thing it begins to decay and soon it is old, worn, and useless or forgotten to me.  And it’s the same thing with me.  The things that do matter in the moment, but after that moment passes the wind blows over the spot where I was and the place where I worked and I am forgotten.  I say this, Father, not with a sense of despairing fatalism, but with a sense of clear focus.  It is important for me to work and to work well while I can.  It is important for me to make smart decisions in this world.  But it is just as important to remember that my impact and importance in this world is only small and is only temporary.  It is even more important that I remember that your kingdom endures forever and that your kingdom is over all.  When I am all worked up because of the course of my life, remind me that you, Lord, are King.  When I am concerned about things outside of my control or beyond my time, remind me that you, Lord, are King over all.  The wind will never blow over your spot and remove all remembrance of you from the earth.  The ripples of your impact in this world will never stop going out into this world.  And your impact includes me and my life!  You are concerned for my life and are compassionate for me!  Help me to remember this, dear Father, as I live my life.  Give me a godly perspective on my life and a deep hope in your compassion and rule.  You, Lord, are King!  And your kingdom endures forever.  Amen.

My life is short and my impact is limited.  But the impact of King Jesus is eternal.  His kingdom and his rule extends over all-even me! 

Tuesday, April 14th

“One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike.  Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.  Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.”  Romans 14:5-6

Dear Jesus, For all my life Easter has been a big deal.  You put me in a family and church that celebrates your death and resurrection as the high point of all earthly events.  Our Easter Sunday experience has always been unrivaled on our church family’s calendar.  And this year, you allowed a nasty virus to disperse us to our homes.  There was no hoopla in the community, no breakfast in the church, no fanfare.  At first glance it seems unfair and surreal.  But it really does have a purifying effect on me.  I’m left to ask, not, “What do those people say Easter means?” to “What do I say it means.”  When I give this some serious thought I have to admit that Easter really is a big deal to me.  Yes, Jesus, it really is a big deal to me that you rose from the dead and I acknowledged Holy Week and Easter Sunday as I always have.  Only this year it was more solitary, and personal for me.  You have seen to that.  I am fully convinced in my own mind that on Easter I celebrated that day as the day you conquered death for us.  And I will do my best to encourage anyone in the sphere of my influence that they meaning of the day was not lost on a seclusion caused by a virus.  Help me Lord Jesus.  Amen.

Faith and godly reflection are a fiercely personal matter as much as they are a community celebration. 

Monday, April 13th

“So the Lord God said…” Genesis 3:14, 16, 17

God Almighty, Your word is full of so much power.  It was your Word that brought this world into existence.  You spoke and things simply came to be.  You spoke and commanded Adam and Eve as to how they should live with you and within the garden.  You spoke clearly with both promise and threat so that they knew how they should live in this world with you.  But the devil led them to question your Word and led them into all sorts of sins.  And that’s his game in my heart and life.  The devil would have me question your word and your ways.  He would have me go my own way.  He would lead me to question your Word in so many different ways-to doubt the promise of your forgiveness and mercy, to doubt the promise of my standing with you, to doubt your will in my life.  The devil wants me to begin to say in my heart, “Did God really say that?”  Then he’s got me.  But Lord, your voice rises up to defend me.  Your word both brings into effect the curse of the Devil and the promise for your people.  You spoke and the Devil stood cursed.  Even though the snake crusher had not come, the devil was as good as cursed.  And also for Adam and Eve.  You spoke and the Word rescued.  Even though the Rescuer had not yet come, they were as good as rescued.  This is the power of your Word, O God.  Lead me to trust your Word.  It is my rescue.  It is my hope.  It is my strength.  Amen.

The Word of God effects both curse of the devil and our cure.  His Word makes those things happen.

Saturday, April 11th

“He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit, in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison.”  1 Peter 3:18-19

Lord Jesus, Hell didn’t stand a chance.  Satan didn’t stand a chance.  The demons of darkness didn’t stand a chance.  Oh, they thought they did.  Satan laughed when Eve ate that fruit, and then God spoke of his downfall.  Hell smirked when the world of Noah’s day was so evil, and then God saved Noah and his family through water.  Satan must have danced a jig on your grave Jesus, but he didn’t stand a chance.  Yes, Lord Jesus, you were put to death in the body and it must have seemed to everyone that all was lost.  But it wasn’t!  Your Spirit came and made you alive and then all hell knew-they had lost!  You won victory over sin, over death, over hell and then you went to hell.  There and then you let them know that they had lost.  Yes, Lord Jesus, hell didn’t stand a chance.  Satan didn’t have a chance.  There are no sins now that can condemn me.  There is no death that can scare me.  Satan cannot taunt me because you, Lord Jesus, have won and have overcome.  You hold the keys of death and hell.  You lock the devil and his demons there.  And you keep me close to you now and forever.  Help me revel in your victory tomorrow as we remember how you rode into Jerusalem acclaimed as the king you really are.  Amen.

Friday, April 10th, Good Friday

“Then the servant girl who was the doorkeep said to Peter, ‘You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?’  ‘I am not,’ he said.” John 18:17

Dear Jesus, When the soldiers came up and declared that “Jesus” was the one whom they wanted, you stepped forward and said, “I am he.”   When a little servant girl, who was just a doorkeeper, asked if Peter knew who you were, without hesitation he said, “I am not.” O, Jesus I see myself in Peter.  I see myself in Peter as I deny you in my fleeting thoughts, the wicked ones that come and then go, but I can’t stop them.  I see myself in Peter as I deny you in my lingering thoughts; the ones that enter and then remain and I don’t even try to move on past them.  I see myself in Peter as I deny you in all my sin.  But there you are stepping forward to take my place. Christ, you step in and take my place.  You take on my sin.  You suffer for me.  You die for me.  And I go free.   Amen.

Thousand, thousand thanks to thee, dearest Lamb of Calvary. 

Friday, April 10th, Good Friday

“Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will.’”  Matthew 26:39

Dear Heavenly Father, I was taught to fold my hands when I pray.  With these folded hands I’m humbly and confidently telling you, “It’s all up to you.  You answer as you think best.”  I don’t know about Jesus’ hands the night he prayed in Gethsemane.  I do, however, know how extreme anguish drove him face down into the dirt.  Before him stood a cup filled to the brim with the poison of the whole world’s sins.  Its every drop would be bitter right down to the dregs.  This horrendous cup was his to drink if he would save mankind’s souls.  And he would have to empty it alone.  No wonder he fell with his face to the ground in prayer that night.  Jesus’ deeply felt sin’s weight but did not refuse to bear it.  He prayed earnestly with tears but did not turn away from your will.  “It’s up to you,” he was humbly telling you.  He also was confidently telling you, “You answer as you think best.”  He trusted a Father who loved him.  How could Jesus do it?  The answer has to be divine love.  Out of love for you he came to this ball of mud where I live.  Out of love for me, a sinner, he stained Calvary’s dirt with his precious blood.  Because of your saving work, I can fold my hands in humble, confident prayer to you.  Even more so, I can live with you forever in your eternal home.  Amen.

Lord, teach me to pray. 

Thursday, April 9th

“At that Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword away!  Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given me?”  John 18:11

Lord Jesus, You were completely willing and totally devoted to going through with this.  Even though there was a group of soldiers who would fight to arrest you, your disciples wanted to fight for you too.  You could have even called a host of angels to your defense.  But you told Peter to put his sword away.  You did not call for that host of angels.  You wanted to save!  You wanted to drink this cup that the Father had given you.  This is that for which you were sent.  This is the cup you were given to drink.  And you willingly drank it for me, for my salvation; for the world, for their salvation.  Amen.

Thousand, thousand thanks to thee, dearest Lamb of Calvary.    

Thursday, April 9th, Maundy Thursday

“After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”  John 1:3-5

Dear Heavenly Father, We use our hands to express love.  With them I caress my spouse, hold my children, comfort my loved ones in distress.  What would I do if I couldn’t touch those nearest and dearest to me?  Jesus also used his hands to express love.  In the upper room at Jerusalem the night before his death, his hands picked up the basin of water and proceeded to wash his disciples’ feet.  Shouldn’t it have been the other way  around?  Shouldn’t they have been washing the feet of their Lord?  He who came to seek and save the lost, now stoops to the work of the lowest slave.  Why?  To give me an example of humble service, of course.  He wants to remind me that he gave me hands to wipe away tears, watch over a soul, forgive a fault, bear with an injustice, invite a sinner, and encourage a saint.  Loving hands change diapers, scrub floors, prepare meals, do homework, bring home the paycheck, fill offering envelopes.  Even more, he wants me to remember how deep his love for me really is.  That night his hands washed feet with water.  The next day they washed souls with his blood on Calvary’s cross.  This night the Savior in love handled the disciples’ feet.  Tomorrow, in a far greater display of love, he handled the world’s sins.  From such wondrous love comes wonderful cleansing for my soul.  Amen.

Lord, help me, the sinner, to pray daily, “Wash me, Savior, or I die.”

Wednesday, April 8th

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10

Dear Jesus, The older I get the more I face situations I seem to handle less confidently.  I think you are purging me of my self-confidence so it will give way to “god Confidence”.  I remember my dad’s tight grip on my little hand when we walked across busy streets.  I am comforted to know you hold my hand in every situation.  I can be small while you are big.  Give me the peace that you won’t let me go even when I am jerking my hand around while saying, “Let me handle this.”  Don’t listen to me.  Listen to this prayer and hold to me forever. Amen.

God won’t let go of his child anymore than you’d let go of a screaming toddler near a busy intersection.

Tuesday, April 7th

“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story-those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.”  Psalms 107:2-3

Dear Father, Throughout history you have shown yourself to be a God who turns tables and changes fortunes.  When your people were wandering in the wilderness, you changed their fortunes and brought them into a land flowing with milk and honey.  When your people were surrounded by their enemies and seemed destined for defeat, you turned the tables on their enemies and swallowed their enemies in the sea.  This is the story of your rescue throughout the Bible.  A story of intervention in the pride and arrogant ways of your people to turn them back to you.  A story of turning tables on their enemies.  A story of changing their fortunes.  A story of restoring this wilderness of a world into a wondrous paradise.  This is the story of your own work in my life, dear Lord.  You have rescued me!  You brought me to your side.  And when in pride and arrogance I began to go my own way, you intervened to rescue me, to redeem me, to turn me back.  Sometimes you brought me low so that you could lift me up.  Sometimes you turn the tables on those who wanted to hurt me.  Sometimes I don’t even know what you have done in my life to work, to save, and to redeem.  But Father, I know what kind of God you are.  You are a God who turns tables and changes fortunes.  Help me to tell your story today and every day.  Let my whole life sing this story.  Let my mouth tell it loudly and proudly.  Amen.

Our God is a God who turns the tables and changes fortunes!

Monday, April 6th

“As for man, his days are like grass-he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known.  But from eternity to eternity the LORD’S faithful love is toward those who fear him…His kingdom rules over all.  Psalm 103:15-17, 19

Dear Father, I often forget how temporary and fleeting my life and all the things in it are.  I often forget and get quite worked up about how things are going in my life and in my work.  I get frustrated and upset when things don’t go my way.  I get consumed by the pursuit of things in my life.  But in this, Father, I forget how temporary those things are.  They are here for a moment, but as soon as I get the newest thing it begins to decay and soon it is old, worn, and useless or forgotten to me.  And it’s the same thing with me.  The things that do matter in the moment, but after that moment passes the wind blows over the spot where I was and the place where I worked and I am forgotten.  I say this, Father, not with a sense of despairing fatalism, but with a sense of clear focus.  It is important for me to work and to work well while I can.  It is important for me to make smart decisions in this world.  But it is just as important to remember that my impact and importance in this world is only small and is only temporary.  It is even more important that I remember that your kingdom endures forever and that your kingdom is over all.  When I am all worked up because of the course of my life, remind me that you, Lord, are King.  When I am concerned about things outside of my control or beyond my time, remind me that you, Lord, are King over all.  The wind will never blow over your spot and remove all remembrance of you from the earth.  The ripples of your impact in this world will never stop going out into this world.  And your impact includes me and my life!  You are concerned for my life and are compassionate for me!  Help me to remember this, dear Father, as I live my life.  Give me a godly perspective on my life and a deep hope in your compassion and rule.  You, Lord, are King!  And your kingdom endures forever.  Amen.

My life is short and my impact is limited.  But the impact of King Jesus is eternal.  His kingdom and his rule extends over all-even me! 

Sunday, April 5th, Palm Sunday

“For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteousness, that he might bring you to God.”  1 Peter 3:18

Lord Jesus, Such freedom and joy is mine.  You suffered for all my sins, all of them.  All of the sins of this week, all of the sins of my past, even for all the sins of my future.  You suffered for all of my sins just once.  And you did it all righteously and innocently.  You didn’t deserve a single lick that you got from your enemies.  You didn’t deserve a single stroke of the justice that your Father doled out to you.  And yet you suffered all of that for me.  You suffered all of that so that you might bring me to God.  You have opened the way for me into God’s presence so that I might see him, live with him, and come to him.  This next week, dearest Jesus, as I see you make your way into Jerusalem to suffer for all of our sins, help me to see what you’re doing.  You’re going into Jerusalem to take away my sins.  You’re going there to die for all of my sins.  You’re going there to bring me to God.  Lord Jesus, thank you for this your deepest passion.  It is my salvation.  It is my entry into God’s presence.  Amen.

Saturday, April 4th

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28

Dear Jesus, What a wonderful verse for this week when we are all hearing about a virus that could sweep the world and kill millions, and when we hear reports out of Nigeria and Pakistan of people killing Christians in brutal attacks.  You gave these words to your Apostle in a day when no one knew what germs were, and the Romans slung people around like rag dolls.  You spoke into their hearts, “I am working well even when you think everything is bad.”  Help me to remember this insight as reports trickle out about new cases of the flu and people running for their lives.  Give me a peace than can be felt by those around me.  Teach me how to be cautious but not fearful, kind but not careless, and obedient but not rigid.  Guide us through these crazy times with the light of your grace and truth.  Amen.

God wants us to work as it depends on us but trust that it really depends on him.