Saturday, September 2nd

“He asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying?  Who is it you are looking for?’  Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’  Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’  She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’  (which means ‘Teacher’).”     John 20:15-16

Dear Savior, You know the sound of my voice.  It doesn’t matter how weak it is.  It doesn’t matter how doubting my cries are.  It doesn’t matter how fearful or troubled my prayers are.  It doesn’t matter how upset or frustrated I am.  You hear my voice and you come to me.  Every time.  That’s the way it is with my prayers.  Your ears are tuned to my voice.  As soon as I begin to speak to you, you turn your ears to listen.  I can be sure of this as well.  You will come to me.  You will come to me just as I need your peace, to restore my confidence.  You will come to me.  You will not leave me alone.  Amen.

Friday, September 1st

“When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, ‘Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.’  ‘How do you know me?’ Nathanael asked.  Jesus answered, ‘I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.’  Then Nathanael declared, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.’  Jesus said, ‘You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree.  You will see greater things than that.’  He then added, ‘Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’” John 1:47-51

Dear Jesus, You saw how ardently Nathanael pursued a relationship with God, your father, as he meditated on truth and honestly tried to deal with his sin.  He must have been exhausted by his concentrated effort.  But then he heard the words of grace as you reminded him that you were the gracious God who forgave Jacob of his deceit.  Nathaniel was introduced to grace, the only path to your father.  He called you the Son of God.  You called yourself the Son of Man.  You revealed your two natures and your saving work, all in a dialogue with a soul.  You have done the same for my soul.  I believe you are God and man come to give me grace.  But I also want to be good, to honor your gift not earn it.  Thank you for being gracious to all of us.  Amen.

God’s angels surround all who trust in him.  Don’t forget to live with that confidence. 

Thursday, August 31st

“Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.”  John 1:16

Dear Jesus, I have always let this verse live in the shadow of verse 14 that comes before it.  (“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.)  But today this verse stands out to me.  From your fullness I have received grace in place of grace.  I looked up an older translation and it reads, “one blessing after another.”  Both translations remind me that I’m receiving countless blessings from you without deserving any of them.  I have had so many people love, share with me, forgive me, bless me, encourage me, thank me, and build me up.  You have provided for me in embarrassing abundance.  I have enjoyed the peace of grace and faith in my heart for decades because you taught me your word as a child.  I have lived under promises like an umbrella during a rain storm.  I have hope in heaven that crowns every day.  From you, Jesus, I have received grace upon grace.  I am overwhelmed with thankfulness when I pause to think of the grace you have given me.  I cannot help but love you all day long.  Amen.

What we realize what God has given us is a fraction of what he really has. 

Wednesday, August 30th

“Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.”  Proverbs 14:10

Dear Heavenly Father, There are times when I experience deep feelings of disappointment toward people I had hoped would walk close to me in life but who seemed out of touch with my emotions and even uninterested in trying to figure me out.  Here you tell me that it’s the way of life on earth.  I have an “alone” road to walk.  Knowing that you see this, understand this, and love me through this, helps me immensely.  In one way, I get to have a unique experience that no one can invade.  You created me and you know all my thoughts.  You “get me” even when I don’t get myself.  I know your Son, Jesus, understands this alone-ness because he felt alone as your perfect Son when he walked here with us.  So, I have him also as an understanding friend.  I repent of expecting too much from people.  I forgive them for not being with me in every feeling and emotion I have.  And I commit myself to being the best friend I can be for them.  Thank you for giving me a path to walk that is uniquely mine.  I will work hard to make the best out of it, trusting that you graciously accept my efforts.  Amen.

 Alone-ness will only be loneliness if you make it so.   

Tuesday, August 29th

“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.  They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’”  Luke 24:30-32

Dear Jesus, Ever since Adam and Eve hid from you when you came to walk with them, you have longed to restore your friendship with humanity.  Once you had removed the wall of guilt between us you went for a walk with people.  It’s what you love to do with us.  Those two fellows had the time of their life with you on that walk to Emmaus.  But you had a great time too.  You got to open their hearts to meet you and your Father in the word.  I love hearing about them “getting it.”  “Did not our hearts burn within us?” they asked.  I want that warm feeling every day.  I want to have fellowship with you by having you speak to me through your word.  Bring to mind Scriptures today that you want me to have.  Help me understand them, to believe them and to let them change my life.  Walk with me today, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

Take a walk with God in the word today.  You won’t regret the time. 

Monday, August 28th

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10

Dear Jesus, The older I get the more I face situations I seem to handle less confidently.  I think you are purging me of my self-confidence so it will give way to “God confidence.”  I remember my dad’s tight grip on my little hand when we walked across busy streets.  I am comforted to know you hold my hand in every situation.  I can be small while you are big.  Give me the peace that you won’t let me go even when I am jerking my hand around while saying, “Let me handle this.”  Don’t listen to me.  Listen to this prayer and hold to me forever.  Amen.

God won’t let go of his child any more than you’d let go of a screaming toddler near a busy intersection. 

Saturday, August 26th

“Jesus answered, ‘You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.  Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.’”  John 19:11

Dear Jesus, It seems to me that in my life I am being swept along as a rag-doll caught up in the rapids, beaten against the rocks, pressed down under the waves, helpless against it.  But I can be sure of this, that you are at the helm and I am safe with you in the boat.  You will not let me be thrown overboard.  You will not let me be lost.  You are on the throne.  I am yours and you are mine.  Amen.

Friday, August 25th

“Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.  Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves.  Then he said to it, ‘May you never bear fruit again!’  Immediately the tree withered.  When the disciples saw this, they were amazed.  ‘How did the fig tree wither so quickly?’ they asked.  Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.’”   Matthew 21:18-22

Dear Jesus, While you were living perfectly on a mission for me, you prayed that a fruitless fig tree would die and it did.  When your disciples marveled, you reminded them that when we are living out our lives we can pray in faith expecting to be answered.  It was only one point you were making about prayer.  In other places you told us as long as it was the Father’s will, we’d be answered how we wished and that you wanted us to seek the kingdom of grace above all things.  Still, this promise that I could pray for amazing things and would see them happen is intriguing to me.  You know the desires I have for so many things to happen for people I know and love.  I’m praying for them now.  I want to see them change and grow and come to faith.  I have faith and I don’t want to doubt.  So, hear my prayers and do what you promised.  Make them come true for the benefit of those I pray for and for all those who know them.  Amen.

God is serious when he asks us to pray for his help.  It’s not a game for him.  It’s real life. 

Thursday, August 24th

“Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world.  If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders.  But now my kingdom is from another place.’  ‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate.  Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king.  In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.  Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’”  John 18:36-37

Dear Heavenly Father, As we seek to make sense of your life, as we seek to understand your rule, as we look for direction, as we seek out peace and hope and joy and freedom, we need to seek it in the one place where it is to be found: your Word.  You haven’t spoken in secret so that we don’t know what you’ve said.  You spoke openly to us through the Scriptures so we and all the world will know truth.  In all things, let us seek your Word.  Help us to listen to your Voice.  And let truth rule over our heart and life.  Amen.

Jesus is a king, yet his kingdom is not of this world.  He is a king who came to testify to the truth.  His kingdom is a spiritual kingdom and he rules over it by his truth.

Wednesday, August 23rd

“Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem.  On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law.  They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified.  On the third day he will be raised to life!’”  Matthew 20:17-19

Dear Jesus, You knew that in only two or three weeks your earthly life would come to an end.  But you didn’t let the stress of knowing the road ahead render you ineffective.  No, the love and spiritual perfection you possessed made you live one moment at a time to the fullest.  So, you loved and taught and served in the moment, even though the end was near.  Help me to live the moment today too.  They are saying we have to stay at home for a month and that we will have gloomy, rainy weather for a week.  All this during the highest season of the church as me bummed.  I want to sulk about it, but then I see you were living to the fullest when you had death on the horizon, I am goaded to live today to the fullest like you.  Walk with me and help me use this seclusion under a cloud for the good of my fellow humans and for your glory.  Amen.

Nothing yesterday or tomorrow can affect today unless you let it. 

Tuesday, August 22nd

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.  Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.  Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.”  Isaiah 53:3-4

Dear Jesus, One of the most irksome things in life is being accused of something that someone else did.  It drives me crazy to think about it.  And here I see in this passage that for thousands of years before you were accused of everything I did, you were contemplating it.  You laid it all out in prophetic scripture.  You weren’t just accused, you were convicted and punished for my crimes.  How deeply you embraced the unjust suffering that brought my justice.  It’s like it was already done.  You even talked about it in past tense.  I know you see my sins.  I know you took them on yourself.  I know you want this to settle my guilt once and for all.  Frankly, it’s the most intimate act of love I could ever imagine.  You are the truest friend for every soul.  Thank you for taking the wrap for me.  Help me to be grace-filled to everyone in my life as my way of showing my gratitude to you.  Amen.

The greatest sign that we believe in grace is that we share it others. 

Monday, August 21st

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.  Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”  Proverbs 31:8-9

Dear Heavenly Father, Give me that altruistic heart that sees the human rights of the destitute, that defends the less fortunate, that networks with other privileged people to get help to those in need.  Make me take the time to see those who need a friend who can change their lives by the help he brings.  Keep me from a judgmental heart that forgets how your grace has carried me over troubled waters that I had created for myself.  Make me a helper but not an enabler.  Give me your heart that values every soul, even the most simple or pitiful ones.  Make me a lover of people who does what he can to help.  Then, also help me to sleep well at night trusting that I cannot fix everything for everyone.  Give me the humility to leave room for you to bring help from other places.  Finally, thank you for rescuing all of use by divesting yourself of everything, even your breath in order to bring us life forever with you.  Amen.

Investing in the welfare of others reflects the heart of God in our own souls. 

Saturday, August 19th

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”  James 1:5

Dear Heavenly Father, I am so flawed and the knowledge of my failures is a constant unwanted companion.  It affects my prayers too.  I think, “If I were God I wouldn’t listen to me.  I’m such a failure.  I don’t deserve his help.”  It makes the way I think about you and myself.  It makes me trust your grace.  You could find fault but you don’t.  You love me that much.  So, I need your help God.  The problems this pandemic has caused are too complex for me.  Give me wisdom on how to carry out my responsibilities to family, job, church and my community.  Help me to adequately allay fears and meet needs.  I will use your wisdom to bless others as best as I can.  But I need your supernatural help to be wise enough to know how.  Amen.

Guilt isolates people and drives them crazy.  God’s grace unlocks the cell and lets you out.

Friday, August 18th

“But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses.  They said, ‘Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?’  Then Moses cried out to the Lord, ‘What am I to do with these people?  They are almost ready to stone me.’”  Exodus 17:3-4

Dear Heavenly Father, During times when your people are under stress they do not always treat your leaders well.  They grumble and criticize because they are needy and they expect leaders to provide.  I know that many government, corporate and church leaders have to get exasperated just like Moses did.  I’m glad he had your attention.  You spoke to him audibly and came through in miraculous ways to help him lead your people.  Help leaders today during these present crises.  Give them patience and creativity to lead your people and to take care of their needs.  And help your people not to use pressure but prayer to get what they need to make it through.  You always provide.  So, provide for our leaders too.  Amen.

Leadership is a rare gift to be honored and appreciated by its beneficiaries. 

Thursday, August 17th

“Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead, be filled with the spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.  Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Ephesians 5:15-20

Dear Jesus, What it must be like as the eternal God who gave himself only 33 years on earth to watch us waste our time as if we will be here forever.  Help us to redeem our time by finding ways to grow in your word and to serve others instead of mindless binge watching shows on our televisions where others act out make-believe stories spun in the human mind.  The real life drama you have placed right in front of us, is a great opportunity for us to grow internally and have a greater impact on human life.  You designed your word and music to be a powerful combination to make your truths stick in our hearts.  So, give us the creativity to use technology, our voices, musical instruments, and Christian songs to lift each other up and give hope to those who are discouraged.  Help us to replace our penchant for partying with a deep desire to practice sincere Christian joy.  Amen.

A day can’t be saved but it can be invested for a better day tomorrow.

Wednesday, August 16th

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.  Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”  Psalm 119:103-104

Dear Heavenly Father, I long for direction and comfort in my life.  Of all the messages I receive every day, I have never found anything as pure and enlightening as your holy scripture.  It always seems to speak to me in my inner most being.  It always takes into consideration what I already know by natural knowledge, that there is a God, that he is you, the creator of all things.  Your word helps me be honest with myself and it gives me the one solution for guilt that no other script has ever done.  It helps me know right from wrong and gives me a desire to chase after the right.  It makes me want to pick myself up when I fall and it makes me want to love my family, my friends and even my enemies.  Your word is spiritual power that drives my life from deep within my soul.  Thank you for giving us a book that ignites fire in the soul of all who read it.  Give me a desire to know your word that makes me prioritize reading it from a quiet place every day.  Amen.

The word of God is living and powerful.  That’s no empty claim.

Tuesday, August 15th

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”  Hebrews 13:5

Dear Heavenly Father, These are good times for my generation and me.  The shutdown of our economy makes us stop and reflect on where our help really comes from.  I find myself more worried about widespread financial strain for my friends and me than I do about getting the deadly virus.  Then I have to wonder where my anxiety really comes from.  I think it comes from a subliminal false idea that my economic welfare depends on me and the definable fiscal world in which I reside.  I also think it comes from my lack of experience with widespread economic catastrophe.  Most of the world lives in poverty and disease.  You graciously let me be born into the land of prosperity and opportunities.  So, I’m not very practiced at meditating on truth to get through the hard times.  That’s why this verse is important to me.  It reminds me that you are with me.  I know you will take care of me.  Help me get rid of the very thought that depends on a “what I can see and hear” mentality.  Give me peace and generosity to share with those around me during these tough times.  Make yourself known to every troubled heart.  Calm their fears too and give them friendliness in the stores and along the roads.  Amen.

Worry over finances is the back side of covetousness.  Trust in God and start living free to share.   

Monday, August 14th

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28

Dear Jesus, What a wonderful verse for this week when we are all hearing about a virus that could sweep the world and kill millions, and when we hear reports out of Nigeria and Pakistan of people killing Christians in brutal attacks.  You gave these words to your Apostle in a day when no one knew what germs were, and the Romans slung people around like rag dolls.  You spoke into their hearts, “I am working well even when you think everything is bad.”  Help me to remember this insight as reports trickle out about new cases of the flu and people running for their lives.  Give me a peace than can be felt by those around me.  Teach me how to be cautious but not fearful, kind but not careless, and obedient but not rigid.  Guide us through these crazy times with the light of your grace and truth.  Amen.

God wants us to work as it depends on us but trust that it really depends on him. 

Saturday, August 12th

“Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.”  Proverbs 12:16

Dear Heavenly Father, Help me to wink at criticism and to stuff my clatter about pet-peeves.  I don’t need to be so egocentric as to believe that everyone needs to know what gripes me.  And often the person that’s annoying me needs my love and patience more than my frustration.  Give me the peaceful strength to avoid venting frustration without repressing it.  Help me to pray my frustrations to you and then to find in your Word the solutions for my angst.  When I do overlook an insult, use that one act of self-control to strengthen the bonds between the one insulting and me.  Oh God, give me the power and wisdom to step out of the downward spiral of disintegrating relationships.  Amen.

Friends that can take a punch are trusted companions in hard times. 

Friday, August 11th

“Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away.”  Matthew 24:35

“God’s Word is our great heritage and shall be ours forever; to spread its light from age to age shall be our chief endeavor.  Through life it guides our way, in death it is our stay.  Lord, grant, while worlds endure, we keep its teachings pure.  Throughout all generations. “ Amen.

You can trust this Book!  And not just the Book.  You can count on the God of this Book.  He has spoken and he will not change his mind.  His Word will not disappear.