Monday April 11th

“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 9th

“When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.”  Acts 4:13

Dear Lord God, You called, trained, and then used fisherman to be your disciples, to be your apostles and even to lay the foundation for the church through the Spirit-inspired teaching, preaching and writing.  Father, you have called me to be your child.  You have made me holy by your Son’s blood and by the Spirit’s work.  Use me, just as I am, just as you have created me, to serve you this year.  Equip and disciple me this year for every work that you have prepared in advance for me to walk in it. Inspire and set me on fire to follow you with devotion and dedication this year.  This is your year and the life you have given me to live.  Help me dedicate all that I do to you and to your glory.  Amen.

Friday April 8th

“But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”  Galatians 5:13

Dear Jesus, I heard in the news last week about a man who had just been released from prison who went on a rampage and killed several people.  I thought to myself, “How sad that he used his freedom to continue wreaking havoc.”  Then I remembered how many times I had felt bold to sin because I knew you would forgive me.  In my more quiet moments the guilt of such exploitative behavior haunts me.  How could I do that to you?  I’m begging you to build me up in your Spirit to use my freedom under grace to serve others freely from a loving heart.  Take away the puny strength of the law and replace it with gospel appreciation.  Make me a willing and faithful servant of all.  Amen.

There is nothing in all the universe more liberating than divine love. 

Thursday April 7th

“Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”  Romans 15:2

Dear Lord Jesus, I will never know perfectly what it’s like to live 100% for others and their welfare.  That’s why this passage and its cousins in Scripture will always resonate with me.  I naturally want to please myself and not people around me.  By your Holy Spirit, cleanse out of my heart today the new selfish motives that have precipitated there.  Give me a deep love for others and their welfare at every level so I do and say what is best for them.  I want to spread the good news and be the good news for everyone I meet.  Amen.

Make someone’s day today and you will create a memory for them that keeps on giving long after today is forgotten.

Thursday April 7th

“After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Galilee.  He revealed himself in this way.”  John 21:1

Dear Lord Jesus, This one word captures my heart: “again.” For three years you essentially taught your disciples the same truths always taking them further up and further into your Word. For three years you appeared to them again and again, taught them again and again. And even after your resurrection when one appearance should have proved the point, you appeared to them repeatedly to make it overwhelmingly clear to them. Again and again. Jesus don’t give up on me. Don’t give up on this world. Keep coming to me by your and sacrament to prove to me convincingly that you are who you say you are. Keep sending your people into this world to show yourself again and again to those who do not yet know you are alive. Don’t give up on me and don’t give up on the world. Send your Spirit and come to gather people to yourself. Amen

Wednesday April 6th

“When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, what about him?’  ‘If I want him to remain until I come,’ Jesus answered, ‘what is that to you?  As for you, follow me.’  John 21:21-22

Lord Jesus, sometimes as I take up my cross to follow you, I look around at other Christ-followers and start comparing crosses.  I start wondering why their cross doesn’t look like mine.  I start wondering why their following doesn’t look like mine.  That’s what I see Peter doing here.  But you have such wisdom for Peter, “You, follow me.  Don’t worry about what his cross will look like.  You do you.  Worry about the cross you will carry as you follow me.  He will do the same.”  Lord Jesus, forgive me comparing my crosses with the crosses of other Christians.  Forgive me for boasting about my crosses when I look at theirs.  Set me free to only carry my cross and help others carry their crosses.  You have called me to follow you, Jesus.  Give me strength and courage to do it.  Amen. 

Tuesday April 5th

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”  1 Corinthians 1:10

Dear Jesus, Unity is in the center of your will.  You want to see people united in love, faith and holiness.  The devil knows this and works hard to whisper doubt and distrust into each of our minds.  He makes us foolishly scheme to fulfill our ambitions and to overcome our fears.  He loves it when we isolate, hate and distrust.  He wants us to be surly loners.  He loves party spirits and negative press campaigns.  Forgive me Lord Jesus for succumbing to all of these at one time or another.  Wash away my guilt and restore me to being an honest, grace filled lover of souls.  Make me a champion for unity and unconditional love even with people who have hurt me.  Use your word to bind us all together.  Amen.

Any fool can separate from others.  Wisdom and love unite people around God and his word.

Monday April 4th

“This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.”  John 21:14

Dear Lord Jesus, You don’t want to leave me in any sort of doubt, none at all.  You didn’t want that for your disciples either.  You kept on showing them in multiple and miraculous ways that you truly were alive and that you truly are Lord of life.  I find doubts rising up inside me.  My ind whispers about your resurrection, “What if it’s not true?  Is it really true?  How could it really be?”  My heart whispers about my purpose and meaning in life, “What are you really accomplishing here?”  All kinds of doubts and questions about who you are and about who I am rise up in my heart and life.  Yet, Jesus, you do not want me to leave me there in doubt and despair.  You keep showing me in the Scripture who you are and what your promises are.  You keep coming to me and proving to me who you are and who I am because of your death and resurrection.  When doubt and despair, skepticism and questions, wash over me, come to me again and again to make it clear to me who you are.  Amen.

Saturday April 2nd

“He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God.  After saying this, he told him, ‘Follow me.’”  John 21:19

Dear Lord Jesus, You have such love for Peter.After all that he did to you and against you, you came and you restored him.You welcomed him back with open arms and a glad heart.And then you called him to work for you.You didn’t just restore him, you invite him, called him, and even commanded him to work with you for the care of souls.You called and commanded him to follow you and to go where you led him.Lord Jesus, I can hardly comprehend this kind of love that you’ve also shown to me.You have restored me and welcomed me with open hands and a glad heart.You do not push me away, but instead draw me close.And more than that, you invite, call and command me work with you and for you to bring glory to God.Help me to follow where you lead.Help me to deny myself and take up my cross after you.You have done all this for me.Help me to live my life for you.Amen

Friday April 1st

“By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.”  Hebrews 11:21 

Dear Heavenly Father, The blessings of Joseph on his sons came true because you were speaking through him.  I don’t have special blessings that you have given me to speak over my grandchildren but I do have blessings from you that are for all people including them.  I can learn to speak those blessings to them and over them.  Too many people don’t ever talk about you in their families and homes.  They hear about you at church but then it seems you are put in a box during the week as we go about our personal lives.  Help me to get your promises out of my heart over my lips and into the minds and hearts of my children and grandchildren.  Help me give them the positive destiny and identity that you have promised them.  They are heirs of heaven.  They are your own children that you watch over and encourage and lead.  They are a blessing to many others and their lies matter.  Even hardships in their lives are a way you prepare them for greater impact.  I can tell them these things and give their lives your divine blessing and perspective.  Thank you for giving me so much to give them.  By faith I will bless my family like Jacob did.  Amen.

The promises of God are low hanging fruit to pluck and bless your family .

Thursday March 31st

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.  He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’  Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.”  “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.  He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’  Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.”  Hebrews 11:17-19

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for graciously revealing here in the New Testament what was in Abraham’s heart in the Old Testament story where he was completely committed to sacrificing his Son for you.  He believed that you would raise him from the dead.  Since this happened on the same mountain where you really did sacrifice your Son for me,  I can see that you too were comforted that you would raise Jesus from the dead after he died for me.  It’s the perfect win/win situation.  I get saved by that one supreme sacrifice and you get your Son back along with me and all believers.  Everybody wins in your grace.  Only you could pull it off.  Because I have already won your grace, I will lose my life on earth in Christian service.  You can give me ten thousand times more than I ever would need when I get to heaven.  It all makes senses when I consider that heaven is waiting for me. 

The greatest test on earth is the test to give up your best “bird in the hand” for God’s best “two in the bush.”

Wednesday March 30th

“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: ‘He could not be found, because God had taken him away.’  For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God, and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  Hebrews 11:5-6

Dear Heavenly Father, I am still blown away that Enoch did not have to die.  What mercy you showed your child by allowing him to escape the horrors of losing his breath.  I find it equally intriguing to know that without faith in you, I cannot please you.  It is, and always will be, a matter of the heart.  What do I think about you, Oh God?  I believe that you created me and all beings.  I believe you are merciful and gracious to all you have made, I believe you have redeemed me in your son.  And I believe you have a purpose for my life today.  To fulfill that purpose, I will love and serve the people you put near me today.  If you have more specific things for me to do, make it perfectly clear to my otherwise dimwitted soul.  Amen.

Faith recognizes that one’s very existence on God’s green earth is an act of mercy on his part. 

Tuesday March 29th

“How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!

My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord;

My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young-a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.”  Psalm 84:1-4

Dear Lord, You have given me many special moments resting in peace in your church with your people hearing about your love and truth.  In your church I find rest for my soul.  I also find hope, faith and love.  My heart aches for the people who have decided that being with you and your people at their church is troublesome or boring.  They are missing out on the gift you have waiting for them there.  Please help them by your Holy Spirit to come back to the gathering of the flock.  Rekindle in them the fires that once burned in their hearts for worship, encouragement and praise.  The Old Testament priest who wrote this song found that his life made sense when he was in your temple.  I find that my life makes sense when I am in your church hearing your word.  As a leader help me to do everything I can to make the Sunday morning or evening experience at church an attractive spiritual blessing so your people look forward to being there.  Amen.

Gathering with people who love the word of God and speak it into our hearts, is a wonderful privilege not to be taken for granted. 

Monday March 29th

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it all of you.  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’”  Matthew 26:26-27

Dear Jesus, How personal your love is!  You wrapped it in a meal and told us your body and blood are there with it.  You want us to taste and see that your whole life and death were your offering for our spiritual sustenance.  You laid all on the line for us and you want us to be comforted by it.  You want us to worship in light of it and to love each other because of it.  Your death and your sacrament, they bind us together in sacrificial love.  They enlighten, empower and motivate us to forgive, to be patient, to accept, to encourage and to love.  We are united in you, because of you and for you.  Help us be true worshipers as we walk to the cross with you this spring.  Amen.

He gave us himself.  What more could he give?

Wednesday March 23rd

“‘I’m going fishing,’ Simon Peter said to them.  ‘We’re coming with you,’ they told him.  They went out into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”  John 21:3

Dear Lord Jesus, It wasn’t long after your resurrection that the disciples had gone back to life as normal.  They were going back to their fishing nets.  They had gone back to the regular lives.  But here you came and disrupted their normal lives to send them on to something extraordinary.  It’s so easy in these days after Easter to get back to life as normal.  The resurrection fades to the back our minds again; the joy and the excitement of Easter dawn dissipates as life drags on.  Lord Jesus, keep coming to me by your Word and remind me that it is not life as normal.  Keep coming to me to convince and show me and remind me of your divine power and heavenly help.  I cannot live life as normal because you have been raised from the dead.  I cannot carry on as I did before.  Your resurrection fills me with divine power and heavenly hope.  Lord Jesus, keep this truth on the front of my mind as I make my way through this day that I might live all out and all in for you.  Amen.

Tuesday March 22nd

“Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord!’  And she told them what he had said to her.” John 20:18

Dear Lord Jesus, When the women and the disciples first went to the tomb they came with trudging feet and fearful hearts. The disciples ran to the tomb because they were afraid, and then they went home confused and still afraid. But once they knew that Jesus was alive, everything changed .Mary’s tears were dried and she couldn’t wait to tell the disciples and announce to them what she had seen and believed. Lord Jesus grant the same to me. Overflow my heart with resurrection confidence and courage to face this day. Grant me love and wisdom as I interact with people so that we can maintain the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace. Grant me courage and confidence to live and to serve today. Amen

Monday March 21st

“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.  In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-for he grants sleep to those he loves.”  Psalm 127:1-2

Dear Heavenly Father, I love this simple profession of faith.  Unless you bless and protect all my endeavors they are doomed to fail.  I do fall into the temptation of believing it all depends on me.  But actually it all depends on you.  And you have shown yourself to be my provider and protector so many times.  Help me to sleep in your arms and to lead a quiet life of sublime trust that you are there to take care of all my needs.  Give me the work you want me to do and bless that work the way you wish.  Just as you came and took care of my salvation, I know you will be there for me every day to take care of my preservation.  As you keep me in mind that you are always near to help me, use my gentle confidence to encourage others to trust you to be their God and Savior too.  Amen.

Good earthly parents are a reflection of our perfect heavenly Father. 

Saturday March 19th

“How long will you lie there, you sluggard?  When will you get up from your sleep?  A little sleep a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.”  Proverbs 6:9-10

Dear Jesus, Protect me from thoughts that make me lazy.  Give me a strong desire to be productive and helpful in every situation.  I know every day is a gift from you.  I want to get the most out of every day too.  Help me to be industrious and to save for myself and those who depend on me.  But give me a holy abandon from worry and strife over money and possessions.  Help me to apply myself to lifelong learning and make me a blessing to all without any self-righteousness.  Not only do I ask you to keep poverty far from me, but help me alleviate the effects of poverty on others too.  You met earthly needs for the full length of your ministry.  Give me that same servant mindset.  All this I ask because your love consumes me.  Amen.

Love compels us to meet the needs of bodies and souls all around us.

Friday March 18th

“The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.’ He told her, ‘Go, call your husband and come back.’ ‘I have no husband,’ she replied.  Jesus said to her, ‘You are right when you say you have no husband.  The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband.  What you have just said is quite true.’”  John 4:15-18

Dear Jesus, Sometimes I picture myself sitting there by that well with you and no one is around.  I wonder what question you would ask me to show me that you can see right through my soul with your holy eyes.  The truth is, I have plenty of sins for you to choose from.  I know that full well.  But since you own me through your sacrifice, you have every right to ask me about them.  I know you prod and pry in order to cleanse and purify.  I know you come to rescue not condemn.  So, take me just as I am.  I trust your love enough to answer you.  Yes, I’m the one in need of grace.  Please be merciful to me and grant me grace to cover all my sins and then give me the humility and wisdom to share that same grace with those who have hurt me.  Use your confronting love to cut away the chains of selfishness and sin from my life.  Amen.

Jesus is the perfect soul doctor; first diagnosing, then explaining, then applying his remedy

Thursday March 17th

“ ’Sir’ the woman said, ‘I can see that you are a prophet.  Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.’  ‘Woman,’ Jesus replied, ‘believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.  You Samaritans worship what you do not now; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.’”  John 4:19-24

Dear Jesus, Sometimes I’m like that woman.  I want to focus on outward forms instead of inner worship.  I know you want me to really worship you out of a heart made grateful for the love and grace you brought to us.  You want me to joyfully live, pray, and work out of a deep held faith that you made me, saved me, and walk beside me all of my life.  You want me to go to church because I want to, to speak about you because I’m proud of you, to love even the unlovable because I truly love them.  I cannot be that inside-out person unless you fill my insides with your Spirit.  So, Jesus, crowd your Spirit into my heart so I live out his spiritual fullness.  Make me the person you always wanted me to be.  Thank you for redeeming my life and creating something new out of what you first met by the wayside.  Amen.

Jesus comes in from the outside to change us from the inside out.