Tuesday, April 6th

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.”  Proverbs 20:5

Lord God, As I sit here today I realize that my thoughts, feelings, words and actions do not align with your word or with reality.  Sometimes I think and feel things that are simply not legitimate.  Other times I think and feel things that are downright wicked and sinful.  Forgive me, I pray, I want to do better.  I do not always know where those things come from in my life; my heart is a deep sea and it is corrupt and sinful.  I pray, help me to take stock of my thoughts and feelings that rise up from my heart.  Help me to fully grasp why these things rise up in me.  Grant me wisdom to see what is going on in my heart and help me, then, to align my heart with your Word and with what you say is good and pleasing.  Strengthen me by your Spirit to put down and put away all sinful thoughts and wicked feelings.  Strengthen me by your Spirit to live a life that is fully aligned with your Word from the depths of my heart to the steps that I take.  Help me, I pray.  Amen.

We want to align our hearts and our thinking and then also our actions with God’s good wisdom and his good guidance.

Monday, April 5th

“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. 

Saturday, April 3rd

“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 1st

“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 13:5

Dear Heavenly Father, We use our hands to express love.  With them I caress my spouse, hold my children, and 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, March 31st

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission .  Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”  Hebrews 5:7-9

Dear Jesus, It’s Wednesday of Holy Week.  We don’t have anything recorded in the Gospel accounts about what you did on Wednesday of that last week just two days before you died for us.  We only know that on Thursday you came back into Jerusalem from Bethany.  I think you spent the day in prayer.  You had been contemplating the great sacrifice you were about to make for millennia.  You talked about it in detail as if it had already happened in Old Testament times.  (Isaiah 49, 50, 53, Psalm 2, 22, 69, 110, Zechariah 3).  You had been telling your disciples this was coming.  You even said this was your last trip to Jerusalem.  So, I think you spent the day wrestling with God in prayer.  Your verse in Hebrews describes how in your earthly life you had fervent prayers, cries and tears to your father who could save you from death.  You prayed not in defiant anger but in broken hearted obedience.  You perfected obedience by doing the unthinkable for the Father and for me.  You were fully engaged and fully aware of what it cost.  It took perfect faith that God the Father would accept the sacrifice for all humans and raise you from the dead.  Today as I spend Wednesday, help me to learn how to obey from the heart and how to suffer all the painful circumstances of my life with faith, hope and love.  Make me a man of God in all circumstances.  Amen.

Jesus was fully engaged his whole life right to the end so that we might have a reason to fully engage with him.

Tuesday, March 30th

“’Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.’  When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.  They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.”  Matthew 21:44-45

Dear Jesus, You pulled out all the stops on Tuesday of Holy Week.  You preached pointed words in an effort to give the Jewish leaders what many others were receiving.  You wanted them in heaven with you but they would not admit to themselves their need for grace.  You called yourself the stone that they (the builders) had rejected.  And you said if they would not let you break their pride into pieces then you would crush them in judgment.  It’s judgment now while we can be forgiven or it’s judgment on the last day when it will be too late.  You don’t care what we have wasted when it comes to salvation.  You just want us to be honest and admit our need for you.  I know my sins.  I am broken by your law.  I need your grace.  Forgive me and heal my heart from guilt and shame.  Give me a pure heart that does not pride itself in anything.  But also give me a pure heart that believes it is truly forgiven.  Finally, help me reflect this humble but liberated posture to those with whom I live and move today.  Amen.

Nothing compares to a soul cleansed of self-made pride or guilt. 

Monday, March 29th

“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.”  Proverbs 25:21-22

Dear Lord, My natural inclination is to get even or to reject people that rub me the wrong way.  I am challenged by your word here to love them boldly.  I understand that if I was an ancient person it would be like giving my evil neighbor a full jar of coals for his fire if he came by and asked for them to warm his house and cook his food.  It would be a testimony to your unconditional love living in my heart.  I do want people to meet you.  Help them to meet you in me.  I trust you will bless me as I love others hugely in your name.  Amen.

Strive to say with Jesus, “If you have seen me you have seen the Father.”

Saturday, March 27th

“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.

Friday, March 26th

“Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.  Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.  The poor are shunned by all their relatives-how much more do their friends avoid them!  Though the poor pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.”  Proverbs 19:4, 6-7

Lord Jesus, When I consider true friendship as Solomon teaches me, I’m tempted to identify people in my life who are my truest friends and those who are not.  But that isn’t Solomon’s intent.  He isn’t teaching me whom to avoid.  He is teaching me how I might befriend people.  He calls me to be a true friend even when there is nothing in it for me, but only something in it for them.  He teaches me to be present especially when something is needed from me.  I pray, Lord Jesus, give me these kinds of friends to walk with me in life and toward eternity so that I might live with you forever.  Make me this kind of friend and put me in people’s lives so that I can walk with them toward eternity.  And, most of all, be this kind of friend for me.  Stay close to me Jesus and walk with me until I live with you forever.  Amen.

Jesus is this kind of friend to you.  He has promised that he himself will be with you always to the very end of the age.  He has promised that he will be with you through the valley of the shadow of death.  He has promised to send you the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who will teach and remind you of everything God has spoken.  He will not abandon you.  And he will send you the little “f” friends that you need to support and strengthen you.  He has not let you down yet and he isn’t about to start.

Thursday, March 25th

“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.  Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.”  Proverbs 23:4-5

Dear Heavenly Father, When I read your proverbs, I sense that you are guiding me in the middle road between two disastrous ditches.  The one ditch is laziness and the other is selfish ambition.  Here you are helping me with the latter.  It’s so easy to get out of balance.  Sometimes I can make seizing opportunities the only thing.  That’s when I start to work too many hours and tend to neglect relationships.  It’s not long before I’m tired, cranky and feeling isolated.  I love how you demote the accumulation of wealth to its proper place in my heart.  I love your word, Lord.  That line, “Don’t wear yourself out to get rich” says it all.  My health and relationships are more valuable than wealth.  Oh God, help me to live a balanced life as you have so graciously taught me.  I want to be industrious but balanced.  Your wisdom for your finite creatures is worth more than all the gold in the world.  Amen.

Don’t let time, your most valuable possession, be wasted will you try too hard to accumulate more stuff.

Wednesday, March 24th

“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.  The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.  One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”  Proverbs 18:10-11, 24

Lord Jesus, I am tempted to put up walls in my heart and life just to stay safe.  I bury things in my heart so that people don’t really know me.  I live in fear that people might learn these things about me.  I live in fear that people would stay away from me if they really knew me.  I also set up safeguards in other parts of my life too, walls to keep me safe.  I trust my saving, my security system, in short, I trust all sorts of things in my life to keep me safe.  But those walls crumble and fall.  And in the end, I am still scared even when the walls are standing tall.  Help me, dear Savior, to run to you in every fear.  Help me, dear Savior, to find my true and complete security and safety in you alone.  Surround me with friends who will lead me to trust in you and to run to you in every trouble.  You alone keep me safe in time and for all eternity.  Amen.

I have true security in Christ.  He is the true friend who sticks closer than a brother (v. 24).  With him I am not fearful, with him I am confident and will face life with courage and confidence. 

Tuesday, March 23rd

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.”  Proverbs 20:5

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you that you have used your words over many years to draw out of the deep places of my heart what are my motives and purposes.  For a lifetime you have revealed, forgiven and redirected my patiently.  Also, thank you for the wise people you sent to draw out the deep waters that run within me.  Thank you for giving me the pleasure of learning how to draw deep waters out of others too.  Please, please, please, continue to give me people who can draw out of my heart what I need to see in order to stay emotionally and spiritually mature and on the right path in life.  Help me to live in the truth about both you and me today.  Amen.

Hang out with people who are honest about God and you and leave the happy fools to their own folly.

Monday, March 22nd

“To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.  All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.  Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.  The Lord works out everything to its proper end-even the wicked for a day of disaster.”  Proverbs 16:1-4

Lord, Thank you for your wise rule and your good purpose.  I’m trying really hard to figure out my life, to lay out a plan for it, and then to carry it out.  But the longer I live here the more I realize that my plans are not that great and my ability to carry them out is so limited.  I want to make plans that are good.  I want to lay out an agenda for my day and weak that seeks to serve you and your kingdom.  So, Lord, make me wise by your Spirit to lay out wise plans for my day and for my life.  Then, teach me to commit my plans to you, to hand them over to you, for your editing and for your guiding.  I trust that you will re-write my plan to serve your saving purpose.  And when you do, Lord, hope me to submit to and accept the purpose you have ordained.  You are wise in your rule and good in your purpose.  Carry it out today through me.  Amen.

Saturday, March 20th

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails.”  Proverbs 19:21

Dear Lord, I have had many plans just like you said.  Only a few really panned out the way I had hoped.  You used your almighty power and omnipotent intelligence to twist even the smallest of events to work for my salvation, spiritual growth, or ability to bless others.  You have moved and positioned me for better living, stopped me from terrible mistakes and have used mistakes for my learning.  Looking back I can see the road that led to you and for you.  It gives me peace to face the rest of my life with confidence.  I will work my plans today trusting that your purposes will make them useful however you wish.  Amen.

God loves to work our plans into his purposes. 

Friday, March 19th

“A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”  Proverbs 15:1

Lord God, I recognize that the words from my mouth have a tremendous power to savew or to kill, to heal or to destroy, to stir up trouble or to bring calm to the trouble.  I also see how my mouth has caused me and others tremendous pain.  Forgive me for a sinful, hurtful and hateful words.  And then, work in my heart, Lord, so that my heart might be wise.  Help me to think carefully about ky words.  Help me to control the words that come out of my heart so that I stop words that should not be said.  Control my tongue by your Spirit so that my words are pleasing in your sight and helpful, yes, even saving for those to whom I say them.  Amen.

There is such power in the tongue, in the words that we use, in the words that we choose, in the words that we don’t say.  There is such power in the tongue to serve and to save. 

Thursday, March 18th

“A person’s riches may ransom their life, but their poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.”        Proverbs 13:8

Dear Heavenly Father, Even in this ancient text you remind people that you give everyone an opportunity to make profit from their efforts and to save money.  Keep me from being self-righteously poor in my own perspective of myself.  Give me the wisdom to find the balance between saving and sharing.  Help me to keep away from wasteful spending that prevents me from being positioned to help myself and others later.  Make me money-wise in a faith-based way.  All I have comes from you.  Don’t let me waste any of it.  Amen.

Managing possessions is a privilege and responsibility.

Wednesday, March 17th

“Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways….The wise fear the Lord and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure….Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress and for their children it will be a refuge.  The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death….A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.  Whoever oppresses e poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.  When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.”  Proverbs 14:2, 16, 26-27, 30-32

Lord, Sometimes as I make decision during the day I make them without giving much thought to you.  Sometimes my thoughts run wild in my heart and mind and I do not take the time to take those thoughts captive to you, O Christ.  There are times when I find myself chasing and pursuing things that are not you.  Forgive me for this, O Savior.  And help me to live my life today in view of what you give me, in view of the purpose you have poured into my life, and in complete view of your rule for me.  You have given me all good things, even heaven.  You have given me a purpose for my life.  You rule over all things for my good and for your eternal purposes.  As I live with my eyes on you, give me a content heart.  As I live with you today, give me generous hands.  As walk in this world today, keep me safe from all evil.  As I walk out my life today, keep my feet on your path as you guide me by your Spirit.  Amen.

The one who lives their life in view of the Lord lives an entirely different life and lives for an entirely different reason.

Tuesday, March 16th

“Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.”  Proverbs 18:3

Dear Heavenly Father, Give me the desire to gain understanding that is so strong that I don’t even form an opinion about matters until I’ve heard every possible angle.  I want to be done with quick judgments and strong early opinions.  I want to let you teach me through your word and through the people around me.  I want to fully understand what is going on in the lives of the people I love.  Open my ears and my heart to compassionately listen and respond.  Shut my mouth until I am totally sure that what I am going to say will bless people and not hurt them.  Amen.

It takes great strength and love to listen to another with an open heart. 

Monday, March 15th

“A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.  From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.  Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”  Proverbs 13:1-3

Lord God, I pray that you would help me to crucify my sinful nature this morning.  It wants to control me.  It wants to kill me.  It wants to lead me astray.  It wants to lead me to lose control of my tongue, to lose control of my thoughts, to lose control of my actions so that I serve sin and not you.  God, this would kill me.  So I pray this morning, Father, crucify my sinful nature in me by the blood of your son Jesus, and raise up in me a new man, a new person who is eager and willing to serve you.  Holy Spirit, control me, live inside me and work powerfully by the resurrection of Jesus so that I might live for you all day long.  Lord, I’m yours.  Lead me, guide me, and control me so that everything I think, say and do is moved and worked by you.  Amen.

Who is ruling you?  Today is a new day to wake up and crucify the sinful nature that lives in you.  To kill the sinful desires that rule in your heart.  To repent.  And then to rise up in the forgiveness and mercy of Jesus.  I am ruled by Christ.  I am powered by the Holy Spirit. 

Saturday, March 13th

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.  Good people obtain favor from the Lord, but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.  No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.”  Proverbs 12:1-3

Lord God, As I live my life in this world there are times when I feel an abundance of pressure on my shoulders.  I feel pressure to measure up in your side.  I have a deep desire to avoid pain and suffering.  I worry and am concerned about many things in my life.  I even carry the weight of my sin in my heart, even trying to cover it up and hide it from people and from you.  But, Lord, you do not want me to carry any of this weight.  You sent your Son to bear away the guilt of all my sin.  You always promise to forgive me.  In addition, you also promise to handle all the things that I am worried about.  I am worried, but God I know that you are not.  You not only know how it will all work out in the end, but you are also actively in charge of everything in my life.  When pain enters my life, you are actively working to shape, mold and model me after your likeness.  It’s all good for me!  So, Lord, help me to live freely, unburdened, and untethered from all that would weigh me down today.  Help me to rise up and live freely in your grace and mercy.  You Lord are good and your love for me endures forever.  Amen.

The wicked are constantly conniving, scheming, etc. to accomplish what they desire on their own.  There is no diligence.  There is no integrity.  There is blustery, destructive, lying and deceptive speech.  When discipline comes they seek to escape it.  There is so much more pressure here because the wicked are trying to accomplish what they want apart from God and apart from what is wise and good.  There is no foundation for the stupid.  They will be uprooted.  The righteous, on the other hand, will be more deeply rooted and will never be uprooted.