Thursday, November 3rd

“Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

Dear Jesus, It’s so easy to follow the crowd even in faith matters.  But just because a lot of people believe it, that doesn’t make it true.  Help me to stay on the narrow path of trusting in you alone for my salvation.  There is no way I can work, pray or think my way to heaven.  That’s what world religions tell me to do.  Instead it all rode on your shoulders and following you in repentance and faith are the only way.  Give me the faith, power and love to follow you down the road of life rejecting sin and trusting in grace alone.  Help me do the right things for the right reasons.  Amen.

The narrow path is wide enough for one soul at a time.

Wednesday, November 2nd

“In it a few-that is, eight people-were saved through water.  Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you.”  1 Peter 3:20-21

Lord Jesus, I wonder what Noah and his family were thinking when God closed the doors of the ark and the waters started raining down.  I wonder what they thought when their boat, planted right in the middle of a plain, started to rock back and forth as the waters raised them up above the destruction of the flood.  God was saving them through that water.  He was lifting them above the destruction of the flood.  He was preserving them by his grace and mercy.  Jesus, I don’t think often enough about the saving grace of my own baptismal flood.  Though I deserved to sink down beneath your angry frown, though I deserved to be flooded beneath the cup of your wrath, my baptismal flood lifted me above your anger and your wrath.  My baptism lifted me up and saved me from the judgment that should have been mine.  You saved me there in my baptism.  O Spirit, remind me daily about the salvation that is mine through baptism.  Remind me every day that my baptism is a life-saving buoy that was given to me once, many years ago.  It is still something to which I can cling every day and not drown beneath your judgment.  Help me to treasure it and hold it every day of my life.  Amen.

Tuesday, November 1st, All Saints Day

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12:1-3

Dear Lord Jesus, On this All Saints Day we remember all of the Christians that have finished their race and rest in heaven with you.  I’m thinking not only of the saints you have told us about in your word, but also the saints who have become great in my life.  The life these saints have led for all of us to see, will encourage me to run my race with deep faith rooted commitment.  They soldiered on in the face of unprecedented adversity.  They looked forward to their place in heaven, declaring themselves lifelong pilgrims.  Give me the spiritual insight to forbid myself to look for a permanent home on earth.  Thank you for promising to be at the end of my track to greet me with your merciful praise.  Amen.

It’s always easier to run the faith race when you know God and every Christian before you is watching eagerly to see you finish. 

Monday, October 31st (Reformation Day)

Lord God, I praise you for making me a partaker of the blessings of the Reformation.  Without any merit or worthiness on my part, you sent your Holy Spirit into my heart and brought me to faith in your dear son, Jesus Christ.  You made it known to me the worthlessness of my own good deeds and the perfect merit of Christ.  You have directed my faith away from the commandments of men and caused me to rest my hope only on the great and precious promises of your Gospel.  You have revealed the beauty of your grace, which rescued me from a just condemnation and assured me of certain salvation in Christ.  Grant me your grace that I may receive your forgiveness with thanksgiving and reflect your mercy in thanks-living.  Use me as your witness in bringing the message of pardon in Christ to my neighbors everywhere.  Amen.

Saturday, October 29, 2022

“When God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared.  In it a few-that is, eight people were saved through water.”  1 Peter 3:20

Lord God, Your patience with the wickedness of this world blows me away.  I see it all around me.  The wicked and the unbelieving seem to get away with it.  The injustice on our streets.  The perversion online and behind closed doors.  The creeping immorality of our society that even gets legalized.  If it makes me sickened and sad, I cannot imagine how you feel about it from your heavenly throne.  And yet, you are so patient with this world and all the people in it, even me.  You give us day after day to repent and to turn back to you, just like you did in the days of Noah.  You give us life and breath, day after day.  You give us all a time of grace.  You give it to each person: the pedophile and the rapist, the murderer and the racist, the slanderer and those who think evil thoughts about other people.  I pray, Lord Jesus, keep leading me to repentance.  But more than that O Spirit, lead more and more people in this world-yes, all of them!-to repentance and faith so that they might be saved from judgment and destruction.  You saved Noah and his family.  And you desire the same for me and for all.  Lord God, I pray, work through your Spirit and through your Word to bring faith and life to this dying world.  Bring about a revival in our day.  O Spirit, come, and save us all.  Amen.

Friday, October 28,2022

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”  Matthew 7:9-11

Dear Jesus, You have given us a wonderful promise.  Our prayers are heard!  We are not speaking into the thin air.  Help me to remember to pray when I have needs or godly aspirations and to remember that it’s not all up to me.  Relieve me of the stress of thinking I am all alone to face the world.  I will pray more specifically going forward.  I love the illustration about parents.  I’m happy to give good things to my children.  How much more are you happy to give good things to me since I am your child.  I can see that prayer is a forgotten treasure in many of our lives.  Amen.

Prayer makes God happy because through it we show him we trust he cares.

Thursday, October 27, 2022

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.  If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”  Matthew 7:6

Dear Jesus, You stood in silence before Herod because he had no intentions of listening with an open heart to anything you would have said.  Your respect for the living word would not allow you to let it be trampled in mockery.  I want to revere the word that much too.  But I cannot read hearts like you.  I have to learn by experience.  Please help me to discern when to speak and when to keep silent and give me the courage to do both.  And when I choose to speak, make the words stick in the heart so the person I touch is forever changed.  Amen.

Silence can speak louder than words when used wisely. 

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

"Do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.”  1 Peter 3:16

Lord God, So often when I’m giving a testimony of my faith, I feel so much pressure.  I feel pressure to convince them.  I feel pressure to convert them.  Sometimes I even feel pressure from them.  Sometimes when people ask me about my faith, I feel as if I’m under attack from them, like they’re pinning me to the wall.  In those situations, Lord, I respond like one under attack.  I get out my sword and I argumentatively and aggressively come after them with whatever I have on the tip of my tongue and the front of my mind.  That’s hardly the gentleness and respect that Peter urges here.  Lord, when I’m asked for an answer, help me to remember that your Spirit is the one who fights, convinces and converts.  I’m just a witness on the stand.  I’m just telling the story.  Your Spirit, Lord Jesus, is the one who will convince and convert.  And when I’m attacked, help me to remember that I am just a messenger.  It is your Word and your Kingdom.  And no one enemy can stand against that.  You will defend your Word; you will defend your church.  All you ask me to do is let your Word loose like a lion from its cage.  I don’t need to defend you or your Word; you will do that.  Lord, then, make my answer gentle and respectful as one simply telling a story of salvation and giving the reason for the hope I have.  Amen.

185.

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

“But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”  1 Peter 3:15

Lord Jesus, Life runs by me at such a pace.  There is so much going on.  I’ve my kids to get to school, get to sports, get back home for homework and bed.  Then we do it all again.  I’ve got my own stuff too.  I go to work, fix some dinner, pack some lunches, do some chores, and maybe even tackle a honey-do or two.  There is so much going on, that I hardly have time or attention to pay attention to the people around me.  I’m so worried about my own stuff that I don’t pause to be present with the people.  Lord, make me attentive and ready to give an answer about the hope that is in me.  You’re not asking me to convince them.  You’re not asking me to prove anything to them.  You’re just asking me to give my confession of faith.  You’re just asking me to tell them why I believe what I believe.  Make me ready to always tell them.  Make me attentive to the people around me so that I notice them, care about them, and look for an opportunity to tell them what you’ve done and what I believe.  Make me ready to give that answer, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

Monday, October 24,2022

“But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”  1 Peter 3:15

Lord Jesus, You are my Lord and my Savior.  You have given your life for me as a ransom, as the redemption to make me yours.  You have made me yours by my baptism into your saving name.  Your cross marks my head and my heart; I am yours!  You are mine, my Lord, my God, my Savior!  You are the Lord for my life.  Help me to trust that you are guiding everything in this world for me and for my eternal good.  You are Lord over my life.  Help me to fall into your arms, safe with you and safe under your care.  Help me, then, dear Jesus, to live under you in your kingdom.  Help me to follow you with my words and my actions.  Teach me to obey you as my Lord and my God. Help me to serve you daily.  You are my Lord and my God.  Help me to follow you as Lord so that people see the life that I’m living for you and might wonder who you are.  And when they ask, give me words and answer so that I might tell them what a good Lord you really are.  Amen. 

Saturday, October 22, 2022

“Do not judge, or you too will be judge.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”  Matthew 7:1-5

Dear Jesus, I hate to admit it that I have been that guy pointing out the faults of others and crying their sins and weaknesses when all the while I had similar sins going on in my own heart and life.  It’s humbling but it’s true.  How hard it must be for you, the perfect Son of God, to watch us get mad at others while we are still failing in so many ways ourselves.  Oh, the patience and the pointed power I see in your words here.  If I will go through the painful process of repentance and apology myself, then I will see how to gently and clearly lead others out of their sins.  Help to let your Holy Spirit do his surgery on my heart.  Give me the insight and power to deal with my own sins first before trying to correct others.  Amen.

A wise person will let himself be corrected even though it comes with sharp pain.

Friday, October 21, 2022

“Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good?  But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed.  Do not fear what they fear or be intimidated.”  1 Peter 3:13-14

Lord God, There are a lot of things in this life that scare me.  I’m scared about my future.  My health isn’t good and I’m afraid of what will happen to my body and life.  I’m scared about my finances.  Will I get that job?  Will I keep this job?  Will I have enough to take care of my family and pay my bills?  I’m scared about so many things.  I’m intimidated by people and what they think about me, even what they say about me.  Their words do wound me deeply.  But God, here with you I find my sanctuary.  Here with you I find my safety.  I am not afraid of my future when I am with you, because you hold and even control my future.  I am not worried about my finances when I am with you because you care for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, you promise to care for me too.  When I am with you, I am not afraid of what people say about me or what they’ll do to me, because you are with me, your rod and staff they comfort me.  Lord God, calm my heart and give me rest, even sanctuary in your presence.  O Lord, go before me today to lead the way.  O Lord, stay by my side today to assure me of my presence.  O God, go above me to watch over my footsteps.  O Savior, go behind me today to keep me from danger.  Stay by me, Lord God, and keep me I pray, for with you I have sanctuary.  Amen.

Thursday, October 20, 2022

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”  1 Peter 3:12

O Lord, How good it is to know that you are near me when my burdens grow too great to bear.  O Lord, how good it is to know that you will hear me, when I call to you in prayer.  O Lord, how good it is to know that your eyes are watching and your ears are listening to my prayer.  Lord, I am not alone in this world as I seek your good.  I am not abandoned in this world as I chase peace.  I am not alone and I will not be forsaken.  Lord, let this truth rest in my heart--that when I call-you hear, when I cry out-you answer.  Lord, grant peace to my soul in this truth, that you are seeking and pursuing my good even while the people around me pursue their own ends and desires.  Lord, you are in this for me, that I might share and so also enjoy heaven with you.  How good it is to know this!  Amen.

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.  They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.”  1 Peter 3:10-11

Lord God, Heavenly Father, this world and many of the people are on a totally different path than I am.  Some people seek after wealth.  Others seek after acclaim and praise from people.  Still others chase what pleases them, what makes them happy.  In fact, that’s the very foundation of the American dream-” the pursuit of happiness.”  Lord God, you teach me a different way.  You teach me to pursue something different.  You teach me restraint and self-control.  You teach me to control my tongue, to watch what I say, to make sure only good and true things come out.  You teach me to flee from evil things and to pursue what is good.  You teach me to do whatever is in my power and under my control to have and keep peace.  This is the life you teach me to pursue.  You teach me to seek good and thus also to seek you, O God.  Make this my day’s purpose, yes, even my life’s purpose and goal.  Amen.

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”  Matthew 6:25-27

Dear Jesus, I cannot remember a day in my life that I have worried about eating or drinking like the people to whom you spoke these words.  I have always lived with a hundred times more wealth than them.  Yet, I am a master at worrying.  That’s why I love your words.  They remind me that you want me to live free of the burden of worry like the birds.  I trust that you will take care of me.  So, bless my efforts to earn a living under your grace.  Protect my assets.  Give me the joy of generosity to others and help me live lightheartedly under your goodness.  Amen.

Worry is taking responsibility away from God. 

Monday, October 17, 2022

“The eye is the lamp of the body.  If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!  No one can serve two masters.  Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money.”  Matthew 6:22-24

Dear Jesus, Our eyes glimmer with hope when we sense we have plenty of money and possessions to satisfy our earthly cravings.  We can be so enamored with it, that we pursue it with all our hearts.  But if our possessions are our light, how great is the darkness!  “You own the cattle on a thousand hills.”  You made us and you give us all our blessings.  You are the God who sacrificed his own beloved Son for us and everything else you give us is from the same generous heart.  How could you not be our light all by yourself, because every blessing comes from your hand.  Oh Jesus, help me serve and love you above all things.  And make me generous like you.  Amen.

Love the giver and use the gift instead of loving the gift and using the giver. 

Saturday, September 24th

“Finally...not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9

Lord Jesus, Not all who share space with me on this earth are part of the family of faith. Not all who live here and wander on this earth are headed the same direction as I am. That’s what makes me and all those of faith in Jesus aliens and strangers here. Lord Jesus, teach me how to live with people who are my enemies. Teach me how to show love when I am hated. Help me to pour back love when I am insulted. Compel me to give a blessing when I am cursed. Lord Jesus, teach me how and empower me to show your love to those who do not wander with me, who are not of the family of faith. They need my love because they do not know yours. More than that, they need me to tell them about your love so that they would not be enemies anymore. Help me to show deep love to my enemies so that, by your grace and the message, they might be friends forever. Teach me and help to live with all in love. Amen.

Friday, September 23rd

“Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8

Lord God, There is such depth and such unity in your church and among all who wander here in faith. All who believe in you are wanderers. All who follow you are strangers. We’re all on this walk of faith toward even together. You teach us how important it is for us to live life together. Help me to come to the side of those who wander with me. Join my heart and mind to theirs so that in love I might support and strengthen them on our journey together. Make me one who sits with them to hear their heart’s complaint. Make my one who suffers with them in deep sympathy to hear and help them in the depth of pain and sorrow. Break my heart over what breaks theirs and make me a supporter. Teach me to pray boldly and persistently for my fellow wanderers. Help me come to their side to support them in their journey as I am surely supported in my journey by fellow wanderers. Amen.

Thursday, September 22nd

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, 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 Jesus, How tempting it is for me to collect things as if they constitute wealth. It started when I was a child and I am still plagued with the desire today. It can any number of things and sometimes it’s collections of memories that I seek. It all revolves around this desire to abound in treasure, whatever that may mean for me. I am even tempted to look at the treasures of others and artificially feel poor. I believe there is an innate desire in all of us to want a full life. You made us to fully experience life. Our problem is that we forget how far we have fallen and how fast we will pass through this place. Every collection on earth is temporary and only you know who will have it or disperse it after we are gone. It’s worthless to us when we come to the edge of eternity. Ah, but souls of people, those will last forever! They are our truest treasure. Help me crave and collect souls for you in heaven. Your word and souls are the only thing that will last beyond this world. Help me to treasure and collect both in my heart. Amen.

God collects people for heaven, any other collection is rather worthless to him.

Wednesday, September 21st

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:16-18

Dear Jesus, I have fasted for you but I know very few people who have. However, your insight and encouragement still have application for our lives. You don’t want me to display my spiritual devotional habits for the praise and admiration of people. You want me to be authentic in my devotion to you and to do things secretly just for you. It shows real faith to practice a devoted life and not talk about it to others. Oh Savior, extricate me from all external-ism that craves the praise of people. Look at my private devotion and reward me openly when and how you want. I believe you won’t miss the slightest act of devotion. I will spend time with you and make sacrifices for you without letting others know. Amen.

God sees everything we do for him. We don’t need anyone else to take notice