Monday, July 1st

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.  And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.  Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”  Matthew 12:30-32

Dear Jesus, Your words make me shudder.  I wonder if I have committed the unpardonable sin.  Then I remember that you are talking about a continual rejection of your Holy Spirit and his word.  The fear I have of sinning against him is your desired effect.  I do believe that I am a lost sinner without you.  I do accept you as my Lord and Savior.  I realize now that this is the mark of responding correctly to the Holy Spirit’s greatest work, creating and sustaining faith.  Now, since I am at peace with you, come and help me today to speak in ways that honor you and show love for others, to help those who are needing it and to be joyful in hope.  I am gathered with you on your team.  Help me to wear the uniform with pride.  Amen.

If you are afraid of committing the unpardonable sin, you haven’t. 

Saturday, June 29th

“So I gaze on you in the sanctuary, to see your strength and your glory.”  Psalm 63:2

Lord God, You are the shade at my right hand who shelters me from the hot, beating sun.  It will not harm me during the day; and the moon won’t harm me by night.  You are my sentry who stands guard day and night watching over me so that nothing and no one will harm me.  You do not slumber or sleep.  You never fall asleep while on duty.  Jesus, you are my salvation and my righteousness.  Father, you are my Creator and the giver of every good and perfect gift.  You have been and are working all things together for good.  Shield and guide me today!  Be my oasis and a place of refuge for me all day, no matter what it brings.  Amen.

In his sanctuary, there in his presence, you will find rest and relief from all the stresses that come with the day.  There you will find help with all the burdens that are laid on your shoulders.  There you will find an oasis in the desert drear.

Friday, June 28th

“Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor me.”  Psalm 50:15

Lord God, Teach me to pray first and act second.  I’m so quick to go to work and get to solving.  My first reaction is action.  But that puts me in the “god” position.  And that isn’t my role.  You are my God and I love you.  You are my Savior and you promise to rescue me.  Teach me to pray first and act second.  Amen.

Thursday, June 27th

“Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place.  A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.  He warned them not to tell others about him.  This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.  He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.  A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.  In his name the nations will put their hope.’”  Matthew 12:15-21

Dear Jesus, Your disciple, Matthew, helps us understand what you were doing by withdrawing from the synagogue where they wanted to kill you.  Droves and Jews and Gentiles followed you as you healed their diseases and showed them your grace for sinners.  You were staying on point to bring grace to troubled sinners instead of breaking them off or snuffing them out.  You were rescuing more people while you were avoiding getting caught too soon in the murderous plots of your enemies.  You were being the totally awesome Savior even in sticky situations.  I know you are still that totally awesome Savior in my sticky situations today.  Help me to focus on blessing others even while I deal with menacing, tenacious problems that won’t seem to let me go.  I want to live on point for you all the time through thick and thin.  Amen.

Don’t try to figure out if it’s a good time to proclaim Christ.  It’s always a good time to proclaim Christ. 

Wednesday, June 26th

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”  Psalm 46:1-3

Lord God, Help me to keep my eyes on you.  I think about all the things in my life that cause me to tremble and make me afraid.  The storms.  The threats of people.  The fear of troubles.  The terror of sickness.  The enemies abroad seem to make their way our direction.  The sicknesses.  Trouble and hardship.  All kinds of things make me afraid.  But you are bigger and stronger than all of these things.  Help me to keep my eyes on you and to remember how big and strong you are so that I do not become afraid no matter what.  Protect me and hide me in your arms.  There I am always safe no matter what.  Amen.

Tuesday, June 25th

Why am I depressed?  Why this turmoil within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior, and my God.”  Psalm 42:5

Lord God, I am so tempted to become discouraged and depressed as I look inwardly at the circumstances and conditions of my life.  Things aren’t going the way I thought they would.  They aren’t happening as quickly as I want them to.  Sometimes even when I am in a room full of people, I feel like I am on this journey and on this mission all by myself.  Turn me away from my inward thoughts and inward focus and toward you and your grace.  Help me see your plan and find hope in your promise.  You will not let me down.  You have a plan and a purpose for me; that plan is always good and your purpose for me is always the same-bring you glory!  Lord God, turn me toward yourself once again today that I might serve you with joy, with gladness, and with great, great hope.  Amen.

Monday, June 24th

“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

My heart overflows with gratitude.  On this national day of Thanksgiving, I am especially mindful of all that you provide me with-“clothing and shoes, food and drink, property and home, spouse and children, land, cattle, and all I own.”  Yet none of that would mean anything to me without the greatest gift of all, salvation through Jesus Christ.  May my gratitude overflow in deeds of love for you and others.  Amen.

Saturday, June 22nd

“Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there.  Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’ He said to them, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’  He said to them, ‘If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?  How much more valuable is a person than a sheep!  Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.’  Then he said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’  So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.  But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.”  Matthew 12:9-14

Dear Jesus, The Jewish leaders had just confronted you out of envy.  They overlooked your mercy.  They refused to recognize you as their Savior too.  You could have and should have walked the other way.  But you didn’t.  You went straight into their synagogue and relentlessly loved them and other people in front of them.  You healed that man’s hand without any work.  You reminded them that they would do the same if they were not beset by jealousy.  You kept on loving and you knew full well it was setting up your death.  They began to plot how to kill you.  I’m blown away by such bold love.  I want to have that love too.  I know I’m not the famous healer meeting resistance because of envy, but I have resistance to my ministry to others at times.  I’m prone to give up way too early.  Help me not do that.  Make me love beyond the limits set by the hard hearted sinners I’m trying to love.  Make me forgiving and giving toward them in your name and for your glory.  Amen.

Learn not to care if people criticize you for how much you care for them and you will live an impactful life. 

Friday, June 21st

“Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.”  Psalm 32:2

Lord God, I’m careful to guard my reputation in front of other people.  I let them see what I want them to see.  I let them know what I want them to know.  I work really hard to put my mouth and my life run through filters so they see the best possible version of me.  Foolishly, I do the same thing in front of you.  I try to pretend to live a life I don’t really live.  I try to hide from you the struggles of my heart.  I try to hide from you the deception and the lies of my life.  I filter my life before you too.  Help me to see that confession is a safe place for me to go.  Help me see that your cross, O Jesus, is a safe place to be real and honest and transparent.  I can bring me just as I am.  And there, there you change me.  There you cleanse me and send me away as a new person.  Help me be honest with you.  And then, change me through your blood.  Amen.

We come to Jesus just as we are, but he never leaves us that way. 

Thursday, June 20th

“At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath.  His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them.  When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, ‘Look!  Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.’   He answered, ‘Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?  He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread-which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.  Or haven’t you read of the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent?  I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.  If you have known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’, you would not have condemned the innocent.  For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.’”  Matthew 12:1-8

Dear Jesus, You and your heavenly Father created the Sabbath for people to find rest in you.  You never intended for it to prevent people from getting what they needed to sustain body and life.  In the same way you have blessed the rhythm of regular worship at local churches to sustain the souls of people.  You never intended that church attendance would be the measure of true righteousness.  Help me to see in the way you enlightened the Pharisees about their dead formalism, an insight for my own superficial judgements.  Give me a deeper understanding of how your statement regarding mercy, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” informs my thinking about everything done around my church.  Make all of us a grace filled, grace producing, grace relieving people.  Amen.

If you do not understand grace, you will never understand how to speak to people for God. 

Wednesday, June 19th

“At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.  Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.  ‘All things have been committed to me by my Father.  No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’”  Matthew 11:25-27

Dear Jesus, I love it that you have made the gospel so simple that every human being can grasp it.  You love us so much that you forgave us all.  You paid the debt that we owe.  You promise blessing in this life, the Holy Spirit to help us grow and heaven forever in body and soul.  People don’t have to be smart or special to receive this.  Thank you for choosing to reveal your truth to a plain sinner like me.  I love you for it.  I will seek to love you today by the way I live.  Amen.

God did not create the gospel for smart or good people alone.  He created it for all people. 

Tuesday, June 18th

“He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”  Psalm 18:19

Lord God, When I stop to think and remember how completely you kept God’s commands for me, it amazes me.  When I stop to think and remember how fully you obeyed your Father’s will for me, I am overwhelmed.  I so often live with this unspoken and hidden pressure to perform.  It’s a burden that hangs over my head and presses down on my shoulders.  Yet this truth is so freeing.  You kept God’s commands for me.  You obeyed the Father’s will for me.  There is nothing left for me to do.  It’s all been done for me.  There are only things that I get to do.  Help me, then dear Jesus, run all out in the path of your commands for you have truly set my heart free.  Amen.

So, what are you waiting for?  Open it up today and live freely in the complete salvation won for you by the obedience of Jesus. 

Monday, June 17th

“As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed swayed by the wind?  If not, what did you go out to see?  A man dressed in fine clothes?  No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.  Then what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  This is the one about whom it is written: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.” Matthew 11:7-10

Dear Jesus, Oh how you wanted to define who John the Baptist was!  You were not worried about his own sense of value.  But rather, you wanted to make sure that everyone knew he was God’s man preaching an unrelenting message.  You wanted them to see him as the fulfillment of Scripture.  Isaiah and Malachi both talked about him.  He was your messenger preparing your people to find you.  It had all been foretold.  People just needed to realize it.  It’s grace that made you so careful to define John and his ministry.  I feel stronger in faith knowing that John the Baptist and his ministry were foretold just as you were.  Thank you for prophesying about John and then for creating and sustaining him so that all people could be saved by you.  Help me to speak about you with more confidence because I know more about John’s ministry and its place in your heart.  Amen.

Jesus needed John the Baptist to help him save us.  Now he needs us to help him save others. 

Saturday, June 15th

“After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.  When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’  Jesus replied, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.  Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.’”  Matthew 11:1-6

Dear Jesus, It must have hurt your heart to have John the Baptist doubt about you while he was incarcerated for leading people to repentance.  Since he was a man who studied prophecy you tenderly answered by reminding him about all the prophecies about your healing miracles that you were fulfilling.  At one and the same time, John would be encouraged to trust in you and in your word.  His disciples would too.  How patiently and lovingly you shepherded those men.  I’m encouraged by your grace and patience.  At times I have doubts too, but you have always drawn me back to your word just like you did for John.  I’m intrigued by the way you drag each of us through difficult times knowing full well that it will test our faith.  You trust our faith will endure more than we do.  It’s because you know how you will sustain that faith with your mighty Holy Spirit.  Thank you for buoying up our faith with your Bible that works faith in miraculous ways for all people.  Help me to keep my nose in your Bible every day for the sake of my eternal welfare.  Amen.

Jesus will always be the Savior for all people, even when we are a hot mess in doubt. 

Friday, June 14th

“Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.  You set your glory in the heavens.”  Psalm 8:1

Lord God, As I look up in the night sky I hear the sun, the moon, and the stars singing about how great you are.  Father of the heavenly lights, as I see the sun dawn in the morning and run its daily course.  I hear a song about the good way you have ordered all things.  I can’t escape this majesty.  Help me to see it and marvel at the glory I see all around me.  Yes, sin has cursed it all.  And yet, your majesty still shines through.  Help me to marvel at it.  Amen.

Look up and ponder.  Look around and see.  God has painted his majesty in the sky.  God has shown his magnificence in the seas.  He has hung his glory in the sky for you to see.  But know this and marvel…it’s just the tip of the iceberg. 

Thursday, June 13th

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.  Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.  And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”  Matthew 10:40-42

Lord Jesus, Thank you for giving me supportive friends and family as I live on mission for you.  It’s comforting to know that you see their support and promise to reward them from grace for their faith filled involvement in gospel ministry.  I also realize that when I support any Christian as I would a blood relative, you smile with approval.  Help me to fight my natural inclination to isolate myself and act like a lone ranger in the fight to spread your faith in a sin darkened world.  It’s easy to forget that you intended for me to be interdependent with others.  Don’t let me rob the Christians sharing your planet with me of through me.  Help Christians everywhere to boldly serve one another as fellow spiritual family members.  Amen.

When the world makes you feel alone, it’s time for some spiritual family time. 

Wednesday, June 12th

“Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.”       Psalm 4:3

Lord God, It’s so easy to forget who I am as I walk through my days.  I get caught up in my activities and projects.  I get caught up in the things that I do.  I forget it when things go well and when they aren’t going as well.  Help me remember today that I am set apart for you and your purposes.  You set apart your Son for me that he might buy me for yourself.  Now, I am set apart for you.  I am your child.  Help me remember this and to hallow your name, that name you gave me, as I walk through this day.  Amen.

Tuesday, June 11th

“But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the one who lifts my head high.  I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain.”  Psalm 3:3-4

Lord God, Thank you for listening.  You pay attention to me and you protect me as if I were the only one in the world.  Like a parent hears their child in a crowded room, so you hear my prayer amid all the other people calling for your attention.  You hear me and you let me ascend your holy hill to call to you and talk to you about the challenges and struggles I face.  Thank you for listening!  Thank you for answering me in just the right way at just the right time.  Amen.

Monday, June 10th

“As you enter the home, give it your greeting.  If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.  If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.  Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”  Matthew 10:12-15

Dear Jesus, You told your disciples to infiltrate the world with your gospel and if they weren’t accepted to shake the dust off their shoes.  I know you wanted them to keep caring for the lost, but you didn’t want them to lose sleep over them.  Nor did you want them to lose time for finding others.  You would send more people behind them to once again reach out to the lost that had rejected them.  You give us all so many opportunities to come to faith.  Help me to be bold and also to refuse to tarry too long with people who just aren’t ready.  I want to make the most of my life and I realize it could be a waste to keep returning to some folks.  Thank you for giving me the freedom to move on without worrying that you might miss something.  Amen.

Let God decide how many opportunities to give people to come to faith.  Just keep preaching and keep moving. 

Tuesday, June 18th

“He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”  Psalm 18:19

Lord God, When I stop to think and remember how completely you kept God’s commands for me, it amazes me.  When I stop to think and remember how fully you obeyed your Father’s will for me, I am overwhelmed.  I so often live with this unspoken and hidden pressure to perform.  It’s a burden that hangs over my head and presses down on my shoulders.  Yet this truth is so freeing.  You kept God’s commands for me.  You obeyed the Father’s will for me.  There is nothing left for me to do.  It’s all been done for me.  There are only things that I get to do.  Help me, then dear Jesus, run all out in the path of your commands for you have truly set my heart free.  Amen.

So, what are you waiting for?  Open it up today and live freely in the complete salvation won for you by the obedience of Jesus.