Tuesday, July 2nd

“Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.” 1 Peter 2:16

Lord God, As I walk out into this new day it’s so easy to forget who I am. I often identify myself by my vocations. I identify myself by my callings in my life. I’m a husband, I’m a wife, I’m a mother, I’m a father, I’m a worker, I’m a friend. And within those vocations. I often find myself seeking my own goals, desires, and pleasures. It’s what’s I do. But God, those are just my calling sand not my identity. And I am certainly not to be seeking my own pleasures. Forgive me and help me to see myself as you do. Help me to see that my identity comes from you. I am your child, holy and dearly loved. I am redeemed by you and adopted into your family. My life now is wholly directed to you. You are the audience for whose applause I play. You are the one I seek to serve. As I walk out into this day, dear Lord, help me to remember who I am and live my life for you and you alone. Amen.

Monday, august 1st

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” Matthew 5:27-30

Dear Jesus, In this uncommitted culture I easily remove myself from the law about marriage. I have never committed adultery so I feel smugly righteous. But then, you drive a spear in my heart. You tell me I have committed adultery in my heart more times than I could count. Help me take my thoughts as seriously as you do. Help me fight for a pure heart that refuses to objectivize people. Give me the discipline and love to focus on helping and encouraging others instead of exploiting them in my heart. Make me a grace driven, truth sharing, love showing, saint. I want to help others see your intentions for marriage by the way I hold all marriages sacred, starting with my own. Amen. Marriage is one of God’s most cherished possessions. Don’t do anything to mess it up.

Saturday, July 30th

“Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves.” 1 Peter 2:16

O God, It’s easy for me to use your grace and your forgiveness as an excuse to do whatever I want. I can talk how I want because you’ll forgive me. I can do what I want because you’ll forgive me. There’s always more grace, I think to myself. But God, that’s sinful thinking. That’s wicked thinking. Your grace is not an excuse for evil, for sin, for anything outside of your will. Your always new and never-ending forgiveness is never an excuse for me to do what I want. Lord God, keep me from using your grace as an excuse. Instead, let your grace and your daily forgiveness drive and compel me to live for you. This is your day, help me to live in it as your child and your redeemed slave. Amen

Friday, July 29th

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” Matthew 5:23-26

Dear Jesus, I live among a people that are addicted to litigation. Every car wreck and every mishap in the hospital is punctuated by law suits. It bleeds down to our personal relationships where we seem to be more interested in getting even or ahead than reconciled. Our marriages are ravaged, our friendships shattered and neighbors live in cool tension with one another. Give me the spirit of your word here, that leads me to resolve conflict with forgiveness, compromise and peace-loving friendship. Help me see the value in winning the mover rather than winning over my enemies. Amen.

Conflict is an opportunity to unleash the gospel at street level. Don’t mess it up by trying to win

Thursday, July 28th

“For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.” 1 Peter 2:15

Lord God, People are watching my live my life. People are listening to what I say, who I say it about, and even how I say it. People are observing how I behave. They are watching everything I do, everything. They are watching the way I speak about our leaders and how I submit to them. They are watching how I serve and what I do in my service. Lord God, let my life be a powerful and a loud witness to the God I serve. Let my whole life be set apart for you Lord. Make my life a witness and a testimony to you, Lord. By my life, silence their accusations about “those” Christians. Let my life give people around me no reason to complain or accuse. I know they’re watching, Lord. Help me to show them how good and great you are. Amen.

Wednesday, July 27th

“Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.” 1 Peter 2:12

Lord God, People call Christians “hypocrites” and there's some truth in it. I don’t live the way you call me to live as your holy child. Christians have and do all kinds of horrific, hateful, mean things in the name of Jesus. I’ve said and done mean and hateful things in your name. I’ve used your name to justify things. I’ve given this world all kinds of reasons to slander both me and you because I claim you as my Lord. Lord God, forgive me! Forgive me for dishonoring your name and leading people to curse your name instead of praising it. Forgive me and help me to live such a life in this world that people will see the life I live and praise you. I want them to know how great and gracious you are. I want them to know how saving you are. Let me life show it and my words say it. Amen.

Saturday, July 23rd

“You yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5

Lord God, There area lot of things that amaze me. It amazes me that you even want me to be a stone in your spiritual house, especially since I keep on sinning even after I know better. And yet, God, you still cleanse me by your Spirit and build me into your house, as a stone mason would. This amazes me! But what astounds me just as much, sometimes even more is this: You want me to serve you and you love what I do in faith. You love the way that I take care of my family. You love the way that I serve at my church. You love the way that I neighbor the people who live around me. Whatever I do in faith, you love it and it smells good to you. The sacrifice of my life smells good to you. Help me, O God, to realize this awesome privilege and continue to offer up spiritual sacrifices, a life that pleases you. Amen.

Friday, July 22nd

“Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17

Dear Heavenly Father, When I look at the beautiful clouds of many fantastic shapes and sizes, when I hear the thunder and feel the smack of lightening, when I get caught in a wind storm or watch a placid lake rise up in a tumult,-I think, ”God you are awesome and powerful, more mighty than anything I have ever imagined.” I love how Jeremiah, thousands of years ago, allowed his observation of your power in creation to give him the confidence that nothing was too hard for you. If you can make and govern all of creation, what are our problems to you. You can handle all our needs and take care of all our sorrows. So, Oh God of nature, I give to you all my concerns. Watch over them and work them out just like you watch over this planet you have invented. Amen. God made everything, why would he not also carry everything for us when we need him to

Thursday, July 21st

“A friend loves at all times and brother was born for a time of adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending help through people to share the joys and sorrows of life with me. In your mercy you have chosen both friends and family to walk with me through this difficult life. We are not perfect. We often muddle through being the support the other person needs. But as imperfect as we are, we are still your gift to each other. Your invention of community is wonderful and makes long roads shorter. Give me the wisdom to be the encouragement, support and help that friends and family in my life need. Make me like your Son who met needs at the corner of every moment. Amen.

People are like car parts. They sit useless in a box on a shelf until they are connected to others

Wednesday, July 20th

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were nota people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

Lord God, I was once on the outside looking in. I was once not your people. I was once not loved. I was once not yours. But in your love for me, you chose me to be yours. In mercy, you made me to be a royal priest in your house. In care and concern, you made me your own and called me, along with all who believe in you, “the people of God.” Lord God, you treasure me and hold me dear. Help me to treasure this identity and stay close to you in it. You are telling me, through Peter, who I am to you. Help me to live out this identity in my life today. I am yours. Lord, let your name be made holy by my words, actions. Yes, let your name behallowed through my whole life today. Amen

Tuesday, July 19th

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were nota people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

Lord God, I was once on the outside looking in. I was once not your people. I was once not loved. I was once not yours. But in your love for me, you chose me to be yours. In mercy, you made me to be a royal priest in your house. In care and concern, you made me your own and called me, along with all who believe in you, “the people of God.” Lord God, you treasure me and hold me dear. Help me to treasure this identity and stay close to you in it. You are telling me, through Peter, who I am to you. Help me to live out this identity in my life today. I am yours. Lord, let your name be made holy by my words, actions. Yes, let your name behallowed through my whole life today. Amen.

Monday, July 18th

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’” Matthew 5:1-12

Dear Jesus, What you taught on that mountain is counter-intuitive to how we are hard-wired. In our fallen state we are hardwired to believe “A match don’t burn twice” and “Look out for number one” and “If it feels good, do it” and “You gotta believe in yourself.” But you say “be humble, poor in spirit, a peacemaker, merciful, pure in heart, hungry for righteousness, happy to be persecuted for doing the right thing.” That’s not my default document. That supernatural spiritual truth was meant to raise me up into the man you always wanted me to be. I can’t do it without your help. So, I’m begging you now, please fill me with your Holy Spirit and bring to mind your empowering words so I can live the blessed life that you and all of heaven know is right. Make these beatitudes my attitude and give me the ability to swim upstream past the petty spiritual perjuries of my times. Amen.

Christ's love compels to us to bring him with us to help us die for our generation like he did for his.

Saturday, July 16th

“Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires which wage war against your soul.” 1 Peter 2:11

Lord God, You called me to be your child. I am now, by your grace, an heir of heaven and of eternity. This place is not my home. Heaven is my home. It is the promised land for which my heart of faith longs. Lord, as your child I often fail to see what the real problem is in this world. I often fail to see what the real problem with me is. So often we point to the guns, to the training at home or in school. We point to the attraction of certain things. We point to external factors which can be like a lure to a fish. We point to external factors which might influence behavior in positive or negative ways. We think it can be stopped or at least curbed if we adopt the right disciplines or the right rules. But the real problem with me is my sinful desires. No rule can get rid of those sinful desires. No discipline can kill those desires in me. I am a stranger in my own body. I want to do what is right. But my nature in me wants to do what is bad. Help me, O God, recognize that my real problem is my nature in me. And save me from it. Cleanse me of it. Kill it in me that I might stay away from all that nature desires. Amen.

Friday, July 15th

“Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received God’s mercy, but now you have God’s mercy.” 1 Peter 2:10

Lord God, It is so good to be your child and a member of your family. As your adopted child, I have access to all the good that you have for me. You have opened the storeroom of your grace and mercy to me. I am not on the outside looking in any more. I’m your child. I’m your bride. I’m yours! You’ve been merciful to me. Help me to live in the joy and freedom that comes because I am yours. Amen.

Thursday, July 14th

My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.” Psalm 31: 15-16

Dear Heavenly Father, It’s good for a weak and weary soul like mine to be reminded that my times are in your hands and nobody else’s. I can spend way too much time worrying about how my life will go. Your unfailing love covers me. You bought me because you wanted me. You own my life. You have a plan on how you want it to go. You fit me into your masterpiece. I am content to be your child and servant. Help me let go of fear, worry and doubt and to enjoy the moments you have granted me. Give me a good word to share with others today that will make their burden a little lighter. Amen.

God has an exclusive one on one grip on each of us

Wednesday, July 13th

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were nota people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10

Lord God, As I wander through life, I wonder what the purpose of my life is. I look at my skills and abilities and wonder to myself what I can do for you and how I can serve you. I look at the ways that other people serve you and realize that I can’t serve you like they can. I look at my own weaknesses and wonder what I can really offer you. But God, when I think like that, I’m despising the gifts and abilities that you gave me. Lord God, you gave me a perfect calling when you made me your royal priest. And by your creative powers you made me just as you wanted me to be and still give me the gifts and strengths that you want me to have. And all you ask of me is that I live my life for your glory. All you ask is that I would be a light in this world. All you ask is that I would be who you made me to be by my baptism, that by my life and by my words I would declare your praises. Let my life’s song, O God, be for you. Amen

Tuesday, July 12th

“For it stands in Scripture: See I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 1 Peter 2:6

Lord Jesus, you are the cornerstone of my salvation, my faith and my life. If I base my life and my confidence on anything else, I am left shaking; I am afraid; I am stressed. I’m foolish to do it. I’m so foolish to base my confidence and my hope on anything else. It will all let me down. My accomplishments won’t last. My works aren’t ever enough. When I base my confidence on anything but you, I am always let down. You, Lord Jesus, are the only one who will never let me down. Turn my heart and my faith to you alone. Then and in you alone, I will never be let down. I will never be ashamed or embarrassed because you are my Savior and my cornerstone. Amen.

Monday, July 11th

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message.” Colossians 4:2-3

Dear Jesus, You call me to be devoted to prayer with watchfulness and thankfulness. I confess that I am not as devoted to prayer as you want. But I’m talking to you now. I want to be watchful in prayer. I think you mean that you want me to bathe all my moments with prayer asking for your help, direction, rescue and love. That sounds a lot better than mindless listening to the radio or mulling over my life with worry and stress. I like just praying it through. I think to be thankful in prayer means you want me to come to you not with a scolding overtone because I am annoyed about something. Instead, you want me to be thankful that you mercifully listen to each of my requests with a father’s love. I’m thankful that you have opened the door for prayer tome. I can ask anything and you will do it if it’s best for others and me. If not, you will lead me to where you want me to be. Now Jesus, spread your good news everywhere so more people learn they can pray to you and really be heard. Amen.

Thankful prayer flows from a trusting heart.

Saturday. July 8th

“Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.” Colossians 4:7-9

Dear Jesus, I love hearing Paul talk about his friends and fellow workers in your vineyard. I have friends who go the extra mile with me for you. I trust them and their love for you and your mission. I trust they care about your people as much or more than I do. I trust they are consistently working for unity and avoid whispering behind my back and yours. I trust them to think more about the good than the bad, about grace more than judgement, about love more than hate, about peace mor3e than strife. You know who they are, Lord. Today give them a special blessing from your grace. Strengthen their hands and knees to be bold in kindness toward others and swift to advance your word to dark places. Amen. There is no one as close as a fellow believer who has picked up the mantle to love Christ’s word and his flock like you have

Friday, July 7th

“So, honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving. The stone the builders rejected-this one has become the cornerstone; and a stone to stumble over. They stumble because they disobey the message; they were destined for this.” 1 Peter 2:7-8

Lord God, Keep me from this. You’re the only one who can. I look back at the history of people who believed on you and so many of them turned from you and stumbled all over you. The Jewish leaders in your day-they had the Bible, they had the prophets, but they stumbled all over you. I see it in the Scriptures again and again. Keep me from this. I’m in your Word regularly. I’m in church regularly. Keep me from stumbling over you. Keep me from a Christless Christianity, a Christianity that shows up for church but doesn’t really believe. By your Spirit, help me to build my faith on you so that I am not one of those who stands outside of heaving, wanting to be let in, but turned aside because you don’t know more. Lord God, build me into your church and build my faith on your Son. Keep me always believing in your Son so that I do not stumble on him, but instead always believe in him. Amen.