Wednesday, June 24th

“Do not be deceived:  God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.  Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”   Galatians 6:7-8

Dear Jesus, Sometimes your word is painfully honest with me.  Here it blows away the lie that I can live for my selfish instincts and get away with it.  It’s the lie that I could be careless with the feelings of others, greedy, lustful and selfishly ambitious and think that I could still live without being lonely, guilty or filled with shame.  I am deeply thankful that you have given me a great “other choice.”  By your Spirit you have confronted my selfishness and through forgiveness you made an escape for me that I can survive.  I want to live by your Holy Spirit who drives me with love, who leads me with grace, and who comforts me with peace.  Help me to follow your Spirit into a life that sows seeds of goodness all around.  Amen.

The life of sowing and reaping is a great game changer for everyone. 

Tuesday, June 23rd

“Therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.  These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.  Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you.  Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.  They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.”      Colossians 2:16-19

Dear Jesus, I often live my life and feel a pressure on my day to get things done.  Even my daily time with you in prayer and meditation often place a pressure on me to get this done.  I carry a burden of certain attitudes that I should have, of certain things I need to do to be a good person at work, at home and in my community.  I have a list of things that I should be doing and I’m burdened and pressured to check things off of that list.  But Jesus, you have done everything God required already!  You have already completed the check-list of God’s expectations and demands for me.  Which means-I can hardly say it because it astounds me so.  Which means that I’m already done with my check-list.  All things that you required of me are already completed for me by you!  Help me to live my life set free from the check-list that has already been completed.  Help me to live with joy that comes out of this freedom you have accomplished for me.  Amen.

Here is good news with which to start the day.  All the things on God’s checklist given to you have already been checked off by Jesus.

Monday, June 22nd

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”  Colossians 2:13-15

Dear Jesus, Sometimes I feel as though I don’t even have control of myself.  Words come out of my mouth that I am ashamed of.  Thoughts fly through my mind that I want to get rid of.  Guilt and shame weigh me down.  I hear voices of accusation and condemnation in my ears, in my thoughts, and weighing down my conscience.  I can’t seem to escape it.  Sometimes I’d rather stay in bed than to get up and face the day.  But Jesus, here you remind me that there is nothing against me.  All the sins that were against me are not against me anymore.  All the things that condemned me in the past condemn me no longer.  All the forces of evil that seek to destroy can’t destroy me anymore because they are destroyed.  Jesus you have taken my sins to the cross and have put my enemies under your feet.  You have made a public spectacle of all of your enemies.  Help me to live this day in the confidence that comes because you have put all my enemies under your feet.  There is nothing that can condemn or destroy me.  You have won for me.  Amen.

The powers of Satan have no power over your life.  They have no power over your eternity.  You are God’s and God is yours. 

Saturday, June 20th

“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.  They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.”  Psalm 127:3-5

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the children you have granted us.  Each one presents their unique challenges while they grow up and each one brings unique blessings too.  I see the wisdom in your words about the blessing that comes from a full quiver of children.  They have made us wealthy in ways that can’t be measured by dollars or degrees.  They encourage our faith, help us solve problems and give us strength to face the world.  For all those parents who still have children at home and feel the burden of rearing them on the right path, give them the faith to see the blessing that comes in time.  Help them to speak to their kids in ways that reflect how much they cherish them as a gift from you.  Help them discipline with love and guide with patience.  Give them your divine wisdom to know when to back off and when to stick their nose in it.  And most of all, help parents give your Son to their children for eternal life.  Amen. 

Our children are a divine opportunity to leave a much bigger footprint than our own lives can create by themselves. 

Friday, June 19th

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.  For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.  He is the head over every power and authority.  In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands.  Your whole self, ruled by the flesh, was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.”  Colossians 2:8-12

Dear Jesus, I find myself craving bytes of wisdom and insight for my life.  I find myself looking for ways to improve my productivity.  I find myself looking for ways to improve my self-control and my discipline.  I find myself looking for ways to improve my marriage and my spirituality.  I find myself seeking bytes of wisdom for my life.  I just want to get better.  But these things ultimately let me down.  Not only don’t I have the power to follow through on what they teach, but these things don’t have the power to improve or transform me.  Jesus, show me what I have in you!  Show me in your Word that I am new in you, that I am complete in you, that I am resurrected in you.  Transform me by your Word and by your Spirit and make me new.  Fill me with your power for a disciplined and controlled life.  You alone can do for me what these books promise to do.  You alone can transform me as these methods promise to do.  Work in my heart and in my life.  Yes, work in every part of my body and transform me into your likeness.  Amen.

“Self-help books” and “five-easy steps” promise something that they cannot deliver.  Jesus fully and completely delivers what he promises. 

Thursday, June 18th

“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.  And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.  Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.”  Acts 17:24-27

Dear Jesus, As the author of my life you placed me right where you want me in your epic world story.  I will be featured for a while and then I will pass from the earthly story, never to return.  These words from your servant, Paul, help me understand your loving purpose for placing me in the stresses of my particular spot in the saga.  You want me to seek for you every moment and find you.  I sense that pressure to seek you every day.  But I do not always find you.  In fact, it’s often very lonely and frustrating that I do not find you where I look.  But this I know, in my soul where the eyes of faith see without fleshly corneas, there in my heart I have often found you in your word that was once written and has since been spoken many times by teachers and preachers.  There in my soul, I get answers from you through your word.  These answers satisfy my deepest desires for resolution of the stresses that plague me.  They also make me feel close to you and your gracious friendship with your creation.  Thank you for the stresses and the Scriptures.  They blend together to give your meaning to my life story.  Together they make me spiritually whole again and they help me find my way home to you.  Amen.

Two things God wants every person to know:  1) We are naturally lost.  2)  We get found by finding his Word!

Wednesday, June 17th

“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 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!  You have done it!  All that ever needed to be done for my salvation-you have done it!  Father, you laid out a plan for my salvation, not just at the cross of Jesus, but at the crossroads of my life.  You put people in my life so that I might know and believe in him; that they might bring me to the font; that they might bring me to the word and even bring the word to me.  And then you poured your Holy Spirit out on me.  You gave your Holy Spirit to me in all his fullness and all his glory and all his greatness.  He resurrected life and faith in me and I believed in you, dear Jesus.  I saw you as you really are.  True God.  Performing miracles.  Working wonders.  Raising the dead.  And true man.  Sleeping.  Eating.  Weeping.  Most importantly dying.  You have done it!  All that needed to be done for my salvation you have done it.  You have set me free from sin and death, from hell and all its evil.  You have set me free for a life ruled by your power and governed by your grace.  Help me to stay right here, Father.  Keep me rooted in you and strengthened by your Spirit.  Rule over me with mercy and overwhelm me with thanksgiving.  Amen.

Our Savior God-Father, Son and Holy Spirit-has arranged, orchestrated and accomplished our salvation in time and for eternity.  Root and ground yourselves in what he has done and do not leave this behind.  Any other root for the tree of your life in unsure and uncertain. 

Tuesday, June 16th

“By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.”  Proverbs 16:6

Dear Heavenly Father, I love the foundational truths in this word from Solomon.  My guilt over my bad choices is erased by your steadfast love.  That takes the burden off my shoulders and gives me the freedom of grace.  It’s what makes me love you so much.  I should have had to pay for my own mistakes but you knew I couldn’t survive our justice, so in your steadfast love, you redeemed me by giving your Son.  That blows my mind.  It also makes me have deep respect (fear) of you.  I would not ever want to offend you and your love.  Your verse shows me that this respect because of your love is the highest motivation.  It makes me choose to do good and avoid evil from the deepest part of my soul.  You did and do all this for me, when I don’t deserve even a glance from your throne.  You are my amazing God.  Amen.

God is the always the bigger giver in our relationship with him.

Monday, June 15th

“I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.  My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  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 2:1-5

Lord Jesus, you have done all things in my life so that I might know you.  There was no thing that was off limits for you when you came to save me.  You did the same thing in my life.  You did everything so that I would know you.  Direct my heart and my life with the same thing that guides your heart.  Give me a heart of service that will bend over backwards for the people around me, always seeking what is good for them, always doing what leads them to you, Jesus.  Give me a heart overflowing with love and mercy for those I meet.  Help me to see things with missionary glasses so that I am always looking for opportunities to share the faith with the people I meet.  Every person is a soul who matters to you.  Every person is a soul who needs to hear, to know, and to believe.  Help me to work hard today with these goals in mind to serve people and to say what you have done.  Amen.

As followers of Jesus we want to do whatever it takes so that people will know the love and mercy of our Savior God.  God help us to do it. 

Saturday, June 13th

“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”  Proverbs 15:28

Dear Heavenly Father, How many times I have said let my selfish, evil thoughts slip out of my mouth unchecked!  I love this verse that reminds me that it’s a mark of righteousness by faith to lovingly wait before speaking to see if the thought I’m having is worth sharing.  Teach me O Lord, to slow down and filter my thoughts through the sieve of your word to see if my words would be in line with truth and love.  Words are so cheap and yet their power lingers long after they are said.  I respect the power of words so much that I don’t want to use that power to hurt or destroy.  Instead, I want them to build people up and encourage them.  Help me hit the pause button and think through what I am about to say.  Amen.

Words are like seeds; their true effect is felt long after they are planted. 

Friday, June 12th

“The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.”  Proverbs 14:10

Dear Heavenly Father, This has been a long time favorite passage for me.  It confirms from your perspective that all of us humans walk alone before you to some extent.  Our closest family and friends cannot fully experience our greatest joys or sorrows.  To know this helps me not have such high expectations for people.  I can be more patient when they just don’t get how I feel.  I rest quietly knowing that you understand and you will meet my need for inner resolution in your good time.  Your son, as the perfect human knew the deepest depth of loneliness.  He understands me when no one else does.  Give me the strong desire to not so much be understood but to understand, not so much to have my feelings saved but to save others.  Amen.

Our feelings are part of our special uniqueness.  Don’t try to make them familiar to everyone else. 

Thursday, June 11th

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.  This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”  Colossians 1:21-23

Lord Jesus, keep me firm in the faith.  There are so many things that seek to move me from this foundation.  I see the busyness of life and the distractions of this life taking my eyes off of you.  It is not something that happens to me consciously, but it is so hard for me to still my mind and focus my heart on you.  As soon as I sit down to meditate, to pray, or to study your word 1000 other things flood my mind.  My phone rings.  My email inbox fills up.  My schedule fills up.  These things alone take me off of the solid foundation of your Word.  In my busy and hectic life, keep me grounded, founded and rooted in your finished work for me.  I have a perfect standing in God’s sight because of you.  Nothing happening on earth can make that standing more sure.  Nothing happening on earth can make that standing less sure.  Keep me standing here and do not let anything move me from it.  Amen.

Nothing happening on earth can make my standing with God more sure.  Nothing happening on earth can make my standing with God less sure.  Christ has made my standing fully sure and guaranteed. 

Wednesday, June 10th

“The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat.”  Proverbs 13:8

Dear Heavenly Father, It’s easy for me to fall into the belief that to have more is to live more.  But it’s not, with wealth comes new stresses and threats.  There are vulnerabilities at all economic levels.  This world will be a hard place no matter what my status.  If I were dirt poor, there would be no threat to lose anything.  That’s why it’s better to have a life detached from my possessions.  You are true wealth.  With you is life, freedom, generosity, eternity and so much more.  Whatever I have or don’t have is passing away.  You are constant.  Give me the power to live separate from my things.  I don’t want them to own me.  I want to be a free-spirited steward who cannot lose what he has already given over to you.  As your steward, direct me to use whatever I have to enjoy blessing others.  Amen.

Wealth and poverty are two impostures, boasting to take the place of God in our lives.  Don’t give in!

Tuesday, June 9th

“And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.”  Isaiah 32:17

Dear Heavenly Father, I cannot get my sense of self-worth from my successes or from the praise of others.  No one on earth is interested in being my personal messiah to fill my need for acceptance and value.  I ultimately let them all down and they lose interest in sustaining my need for praise.  But you have established for me a perfect value.  You have dedicated yourself to redeeming me 100%.  You gave it all for me and you tell me every day that you love and accept me.  When I realize how bad I’ve been or think I’ve been particularly good, you treat me the same.  It’s always unconditional love.  That’s a righteousness that brings peace and quietness inside me.  It makes me less agitated with others too.  I don’t expect so much from them, which was always too big of a burden to lay on them anyway.  Thank you for freeing me from my pursuit of praise and worth, to become a friend of sinners and a contented person who has a peaceful heart.  Amen.

There’s nothing quite like the peace of knowing God has promised to keep you as his child. 

Monday, June 8th

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”                Matthew 6:19-21

Dear Lord, Don’t let me waist my life by trying to lay up treasures that are destined to be ruined.  Give me the insight and courage to lay up as heavenly treasures as many people as possible by teaching them about you and your love for them.  Help me guide lost souls home to you.  I pray also for all of my Christian friends.  Help them work hard to fit into the global effort of saving souls.  Give them the desire to find how they fit in to help the cause.  Make them work together with other Christians and help them mutually encourage one another to pool their resources to spread the knowledge of your great power to save to all people.  Help young and old alike to recognize that it’s never too early or late to bump sinners around them back on the path that leads to eternal life.  Amen.

From heaven's perspective, people are the smartest investment. 

Friday, June 5th

“Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so, the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said.  Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”  Amos 5:14-15

Dear Heavenly Father, You have created and saved me by your unconditional grace.  It’s the foundation of my life.  I am safe in your love and therefore I have faith in you and your goodness.  But I see in your word here and I believe it in my heart that your righteous expectation for me is that I would honor you and your grace by championing morality, goodness, loyalty, friendship, generosity and justice.  You want me to be all those things in my family, my work, my church, my community and my world.  When I respond to your grace with a grace- influenced living, you are free to bless without embarrassing your justice.  What a wonderful thought your word puts forth!  You bless me so I will bless others and that frees you to bless me more as a testimony to your goodness.  Amen.

God is gracious and just and he blesses us with both. 

Thursday, June 4th

“Those whom God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those whom he predestined, he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30

Dear Jesus, This blows my mind; that you had me in your mind from all eternity, that you predestined me to be a believer, that you work tirelessly to make me like yourself, that you would call me your brother after all the ways I have failed you, that your declare me to be innocent so I can live from the power of perfection granted until I shine next to you in heaven.  This all blows my mind but I believe it and so I live in hope and not despair.  Amen.

Knowing our origin changes our destiny. 

Wednesday, June 3rd

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”  Colossians 1:13-14

Dear Lord Jesus, Thank you for all that you have done to rescue me from darkness and to bring me into your kingdom.  Thank you for redeeming me and giving me the full forgiveness of all my sins.  I know and believe that these things are already mine.  Help me to live today in the freedom that forgiveness gives; not taking advantage of this forgiveness, but striving to live in a new way because of it.  Help me to live today with the strength that your grace gives; striving with all the might you provide to serve and to bear fruit in every way.  Help me to walk as a child of your kingdom, worthy of that kingdom I have received already.  Dear Father, I am yours!  Help me to live as your child today and every day.  Amen.

The “already” of God’s kingdom and his forgiveness changes the way we live in the “not yet.” 

Tuesday June 2nd

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  1 Peter 1:13

Dear Jesus, What Peter tells us to do here takes great concentration.  Our lives here on earth are so full and fun.  Sometimes they are full of trouble.  Fun or trouble, they are full.  It’s not easy to set my heart fully on the grace that will be revealed when we all get to heaven with you.  I’m stuck in the here and now and the not yet.  But I hear Peter’s words and they get me thinking in your direction.  Help me to be more fully dedicated to waiting for glory than pursuing earthly glory here.  Make me heavenly minded.  Give me the wisdom to quit trying to make my family, my job, my church and my community a heaven on earth.  Just help me to love people more sincerely.  I know love and faith will give me peace in all circumstances.  To know I am destined for heaven by pure undeserved love is like having the biggest, fattest savings account.  Amen.

Eternal Trillionaires.   That’s what we are!    

Monday, June 1st

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you.  We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”  Colossians 1:9-12

Lord Jesus, Pour out your Holy Spirit on us.  I don’t always understand your Word or your will fully or perfectly.  And even if I have all the information, I don’t always understand how it all fits together.  Sometimes I feel that the saints of the Old Testament had all the pieces to the puzzle of your coming but didn’t know the times or places that the Holy Spirit was talking about.  There is so much about your Word, about your will, about my life, and about my living that I haven’t even begun to understand.  Fill me with an understanding of your will and a deep wisdom to be able to put that will to practice as I live my life and make sense of the path my life takes.  Pour out your Holy Spirit on me so that I can know you and your will better and more fully.  Amen.

While on earth we never get to the point where we understand perfectly or fully.  Come, Holy Spirit, and fill us with wisdom, with knowledge, and with understanding.