Saturday, November 16th

“Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, And princes will rule with justice.  A man will be as a hiding place from the wind, And a cover from the tempest, As rivers of water in a dry place, As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.  The eyes of those who see will not be dim, And the ears of those will listen.  Also the heart of the [b]rash will understand knowledge, And the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly.”  Isaiah 32:1-4

 Dear Jesus, Isaiah foretold how when you came you would create shelters out of your followers.  Each one of us has enough spiritual blessings from you dripping from your gospel promises to be shelters for others, even our enemies, even those who take care of our earthly needs.  We can be a shelter of grace and forgiveness for those hurting in shame and guilt.  We can be a shelter of truth and guidance for those darkened by the world’s counsel.  We can be a shelter for security and love for those who have been shattered by abuse and neglect.  We love to be shelters just as you were.  We are your hands and feet.  Guide your church, dear Jesus, to engage the world and people on her edges into the wonderful gospel truths that have made her who she is.  Make me a shelter today for someone new also.  Amen.

Gospel greatness resides in the heart of every Christian.  Don’t put a cover over yours. 

Friday, November 15th

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  John 3:16-17

Dear Heavenly Father, What intentionality!  You made us, watched us fall and then intentionally sent your Son not to judge us but to save us.  You intentionally sent Jesus to his own people when you knew that they would reject him and have him killed.  You intentionally sent him to die for us.  You prompted him morning by morning to go out and find people to tell them he was here for them.  You sent him day after day to reach out to his disciples and restore them time and again.  You intentionally sent your Holy Spirit to enliven and enlighten the twelve apostles to start the church through preaching, teaching and writing.  You forced your good news into a world that twistedly had learned to love darkness.  Your love and grace are so intentional!  Make me intentional too with love and grace to reach out to others with the offer of a real relationship bathed in grace and held up by truth.  I want to live with intentional love toward everyone whether I know them well or not, whether they treat me well or not, whether I feel like it or not.  Amen.

Few things in life are more impactful than being intentionally loved by another human being. 

Thursday, November 14th

“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”  2 Thessalonians 3:5

Dear Heavenly Father, I love Paul’s prayer.  It touches on two of the biggest needs I have.  I need love and perseverance.  Both come from you.  They do not originate with me but I need them oh so desperately.  If I follow my heart there is a good chance I will end up in a black hole.  I need to follow you as you lead my heart.  Then I read that you will lead it into love and perseverance.  You know those whom I struggle to love.  You know how prone I am to avoid, criticize and blame.  You know how discouraged I get.  You see every nook and cranny in my soul.  Come Lord and Savior and lead me out of my dark corner into the bright light of forgiving and given love.  Lead me away from debilitating self-pity into an open transparent optimism based on your gospel of life now and life eternal!  Amen.

If your heart is running sluggish, check the fluids: grace, faith, hope and love.  With these filled back up you’ll be good to go!

Wednesday, November 13th

“I want to know Christ-yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11

Dear Jesus, These are some of the most thought provoking words in your whole Bible.  I kind of just want to sit near them and think with my mouth shut and my hands off the keyboard.  The power of your resurrection has to be about living with joy even in hard times because we know we will survive and be raised up at the last day.  But then Paul follows with “I want to know the participation in his (yours) sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”  Now, that’s a mind-bender.  I don’t wake up any morning wanting to fellowship in your sufferings, at least not by nature.  But that’s what he said.  He said he wanted to participate in your sufferings!  I know that you will put us through suffering just like you had.  But I don’t see how I can want to have you do that!  If I sit quietly and meditate on it, I believe your Holy Spirit will lead me to understand and embrace it.  Help me to want to suffer anything and everything in order to serve humanity the way you did.  Help me want to do it!  I won’t if you don’t.  Amen.

When the Sacrificial Christ lives in your heart, he makes you suffer willingly to serve people like he did. 

Tuesday, November 12th

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?  ‘I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind.’”  Jeremiah 17:9-10a

Dear Heavenly Father, You are so patient that you would put up with the deception that lurks in all of our hearts.  You knew that we would fall into deep self-conception when Adam and Eve fell.  Yet, you were so optimistic in your grace that you refused to scrap the human project.  Instead, you forged forward to fill the earth with human beings who had a marred image compared to what you had planned.  You knew you would have to patiently deal with each one of us to help us come to our senses about our own fallen-ness and need for redemption, divine change and restoration.  I love how you announce it here through your prophet.  “I the Lord search the heart and mind!”  It’s not an order to find a reason to destroy us.  No!  It’s to help us self-realize our great need for honesty, forgiveness and change.  Thank you for searching my heart and using circumstances and people to be the mirror that reveals the blemishes there.  I will watch for how you arrange my life today through events and people to help me purge myself of all self-deception.  Give me the humility and wisdom to embrace the pressure washer you use on my soul.  Amen.

When God “pressure washes” your soul, don’t run and hide.  Make sure he gets every nook and cranny. 

Monday, November 11th

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  John 15:13

Dear Jesus, I know there are droves of men and women who join the armed services as mercenaries who live to fight.  But as many more joined up out of the same motives you had when you came to earth and spoke these words the night before you laid it all on the battlefield for us.  They served in the military of the United States of America to protect their family, friends and fellow Americans from tyrants and the enemies of justice and freedom.  On this special day I thank you for creating and sustaining people like this who have secured for my family and me a peaceful and tranquil life where I can worship freely, preach energetically, travel without interruption and pursue opportunities not known in most of your world.  These folks are a gift from you.  Today help veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much for so many, to feel their worth and comprehend the gratitude that the rest of us have for them.  Give them the honor they are due that will combat their feelings of chaos and worthlessness that war can ravage on a soul.  Make them understand that their sacrifices are not spent in vain on us who respect their heartfelt gift.  Protect their hearts from foolish despair.  Amen.

If your biggest earthly concerns today are your job, family, education and faith, you have a veteran to thank for the freedom and safety that allows for it. 

Saturday, November 9th

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.”  Romans 1:18-23

Dear Heavenly Father, You want to be known and understood by the wonders of creation we behold every day.  In every sunset and sunrise we see your artistic prowess.  In the intricacies of a flower we see your creative wisdom.  In the symbiotic relationships between all living things we see your designer’s strength.  We see your love, your justice and your mercy in the animal kingdom.  We also see the chaos and death caused by sin.  Help us to worship you for who you are when we experience the wonders of creation.  Even though your nature teaches us volumes about you, it cannot tell us about your Son.  Your word has to do that.  When we are paging through your word, help us to marvel at the love that you show us through the cross of your Son.  With these two: nature and the cross, lead our hearts to worship and commune with you in ways that satisfy both you and us.  I want to be your revelation in nature and the word to become like Abraham, the friend of God!  Amen.

If staring down the throat of a hibiscus does not lead you to praise the Lord of heaven, then get on your knees and stare at the cross of Christ. 

Friday, November 8th

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.  Isaiah 40:1-2

Dear Heavenly Father, Who does that?  Who gives double blessing to people who have hurt, forgotten and disdained them?  No one human naturally does it.  We all spend so much time that we misrepresent your incomprehensible love to one another.  Instead we teach everyone all about law, retribution and justice.  Grace is foreign, mysterious and seemingly beyond our grasp.  I’m thankful you have given and have taught your grace to all of us.  We can receive it and share it.  Help me to do both today.  Amen.

The height of godliness is to truly forgive and hang in there with people. 

Thursday, November 7th

“Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Ephesians 5:20

Dear Jesus, Having met you in my soul I am a changed person.  I used to think I was “hot stuff” by myself.  Sometimes I also used to think I was a loser.  I was always bouncing between the two.  Now, I know I’m a “special edition,” creation of your father, a child of God who has the “Supreme Being” watching his every move and has a destiny that is out of this world.  I am settled, purposed and fulfilled.  Therefore, I live in a constant state of thankfulness all because of you.  You rescued me from the land of the lost and helped me immigrate to the land of peace, faith, love and hope.  Help me to live in this gratitude mindset always.  I want to live out the joy of salvation even in the most challenging moments.  I cannot do it without you.  Amen.

When you know who you are and where you are going in Christ, your life has an undercurrent of thankfulness. 

Wednesday, November 6th

“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, You have shown your attributes in nature in thousands of ways.  You have put your moral law in our hearts.  These two are ample enough evidence to give us faith that you exist and that you can be pursued.  Then you laid out in your word your miraculous plan to save and to reveal your undeserved love for all people.  You have made sure that it’s spoken in every language and printed in most.  You have given us all we need to believe in you.  Enoch had very little if none of the written word to go on.  Yet, he walked with you every day being constant in prayer and godly living.  I want to walk with you every day and especially this entire day.  I believe that you exist and that you show up to answer my prayers.  So, I will turn all my worries into prayers before I try to turn them into schemes for me to manipulate and control results.  Lord, hear my prayers and show up on my behalf.  When you think it better to make me wait, give me the faith to keep walking with you even though you seem silent.  Amen.

Walk with God in prayer and Bible study and you will get through the day a whole lot quicker. 

Tuesday, November 5th

“This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.  Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.  I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.  My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent.  It is the Lord who judges me.  Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.  He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart.  At that time each will receive their praise from God.”  1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Dear Jesus, Criticism is ubiquitous.  We all receive it.  No one escapes.  When I was younger you watched as I let criticism drive me crazy.  I wanted to please everyone.  I tried desperately to manage my own reputation.  I watched my peers get into fights and arguments as they tried to manage theirs.  It is futile.  No one is spoken well of by everyone all the time.  I love how Paul says, “I care very little if I am judged by you.”  I have clung to that verse since the day I first read it.  It’s my goal to care very little what people think, not because I don’t care about them but because I don’t care so much about me.  Since you have justified me through your cross, I can endure criticism, admit my faults and mistakes, apologize to those I hurt and move on knowing that with you it’s settled.  With them, well, that’s up to them.  I cannot control their thoughts, their tongue or their actions.  What freedom the gospel brings to my everyday life.  I look forward to judgment day, not because I have been so good but because your grace has been so powerful.  It is the spiritual wonder cleanser.  My motives have been changed by the adoption and cleansing you have given me.  May my life be a thank offering, a tribute to your grace and mercy today.  Amen.

When God arrests you and brings you to his court for justification, you care less about what people outside are thinking and saying. 

Monday, November 4th

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in.  So his father went out and pleaded with him.  But he answered his father, ‘Look!  All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.  Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.  But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’  “’My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”  Luke 15:28-32

Dear Lord Jesus, Help me to forget everything I have ever done for you or anyone else.  Instead, give me the eyes to stare at all the blessings you give me out of sheer mercy and grace.  Free me up from myself so I join you at the party for sinners you have forgiven of grievous errors.  I want to welcome home your children with you.  If you have someone you want me to go find for you, give me the motivation and the wisdom to go get them for you.  In days when I’m weary and selfish and unconcerned for the lost, please come out of the party and call me back in the way you had the father come out to plead with the older brother in your parable.  I love being in your family and I pray more people will come to understand that I want them there too.  Amen.

There’s room in God’s family for people not like you. 

Saturday, November 2nd

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”  Philippians 2:12-13

Dear Jesus, Thank you for working in me both the right desire and the ability to live a godly life for your glory and the benefit of others.  As I am challenged today by everything from health problems to uncooperative people, give me the consistent desire and ability to bring goodness to the situation, so that I shine like your star and people are encouraged to seek you because they see your supernatural work of grace in me.  When my life feels so much more mundane than this, keep me in the right attitude so I shine for you even if it’s for no other person at all.  Amen.

If you live for God and God alone, you’ll be the greatest blessing for yourself and others. 

Friday, November 1st

“But the LORD said, ‘You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow.  It sprang up overnight and died overnight.  And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left-and also many animals?”  Jonah 4:10-11

Dear Heavenly Father, Your concern and compassion for all people and even for all the animals is the foundation of our entire existence.  It’s your love that made us and it’s your love that forgives us when we fall.  Not one of us lives outside your mercy and yet we so often want justice more than mercy.  Give me your heart, which loves all people, even all creation with compassion and grace.  Make me long for the restoration of all people more than I do for the satisfaction of justice.  Help me find in your cross the payment for sins so I am free to love people as much as you are.  Amen.

We live inside of God’s love.  In here there is no room for suffocating anger and criticism. 

Thursday, October 31st

O God, our refuge and strength, we thank you that you have made clear to us the unconditional gospel of forgiveness of sins through faith alone in Jesus Christ.  Keep us steadfast in your Word, defend us against all of our enemies, and bestow on the Church your saving peace.  Move us by your grace alone to be your witnesses across the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Wednesday, October 30th

“My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Luke 15:31-32

Dear Jesus, Like Jonah, I have struggled with how gracious and forgiving you are with all people.  I somehow think I am more deserving than others.  Those thoughts are what make me undeserving of your mercy.  Mercy is pure grace and never earned.  Help to quit separating myself from other sinners as if my kind of sin is more pleasing in your sight than theirs.  We are all recipients of your adopting grace.  I love being your child.  Help me love all other people as children in the making for you.  Amen.

Mercy is wanting God’s grace for others as much as you want it for yourself. 

Tuesday, October 29th

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’”  Luke 16:25-26

Dear Jesus, You told this parable to help all of us realize how short and fleeting earthly life is.  Our wealth and possessions are irrelevant to eternal life.  None of our personal circumstances will last.  This is both a comfort and a confrontation.  It makes me wake up and listen to you and whatever you have to say about the meaning of life and the salvation you bring.  What you had Abraham saying to the rich man who was in hell, echoes in my mind, “In your lifetime you had good things but now you are in agony.”  I don’t want to get caught up living for this life and all that passes away.  Help me to enjoy your blessings but to use them for the good of others and to your glory.  Help me to hold them loosely in my heart so I don’t get dislocated when you pull them out of my grasp.  Make me a free, powerful, force for gospel goodness in this life.  Amen.

If you feel discombobulated when God wrenches a blessing from your life, it’s a sure sign that it was not as good for you as you had once thought. 

Monday, October 28th

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.  But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”  1 Corinthians 15:19-20

Dear Jesus, Being genuinely tied to what I can experience with my five senses makes me long for the help that you give me for today more than for help you promise when I die.  Like the old song says, “Everyone wants to go to heaven but just not right now!”  But your faithful Apostle brings me back home to the core of your message.  You came to win the battle against sin and death, not just to win over temporal problems.  My day will come when you say “No” to every request for earthly rescue.  You will let the worst calamity take my body and put it to rest.  If I only hope for this life, I am the most pitiable preacher.  But in fact, that’s not me.  I do have hope that I will cheat death.  My soul will never die!  My body will rise again on the last day, just like yours did on Easter.  Your Easter story foreshadows my own life story.  Oh Savior, make me truly trust this good news and so live in hope that people can see, even when I face my own mudslide to the grave.  Amen.

Every earthly accomplishment will one day appear like a plastic little league trophy compared to the glories of heaven. 

Saturday, October 26th

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”  Psalm 119:11

Dear Heavenly Father, You have given your word to us as medicine, food and as a weapon.  Forgive me for so often thinking I had what I needed within myself to fight temptation on my own.  I need you and your word to be my light in the darkness and my power to say “no” when I am tempted.  Whenever I read or even commit to memorizing your words, I sense it’s power over everything from worry to lust.  Thank you for graciously giving us powerful words to hide in our souls to counter the myriad of evil thoughts that plague us every day.  And remind me by your Holy Spirit to tap into your word when I am tempted so I don’t sin against you or anyone else.  Amen.

When you pray “lead us not into temptation” do it with the word of God ion your heart and be ready to wield it when prompted. 

Friday, October 25th

“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia.  We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.  Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death.  But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.  He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again.  On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.  Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.”  Corinthians 1:8-11

Oh God, These are the perfect passages for any Christian who has had a near death experience.  We don’t talk among ourselves enough about it, but when we stare death straight in the face it’s a horrifying and totally defeating experience.  I’m learning from this passage that you allow us to come near the edge of death many times before you pull us into heaven.  Each time you deepen our understanding of the power of the gospel of eternal life and resurrection to come.  Each time you make us value our remaining days more.  Each time you increases our gratitude and faith.  Health problems or threats from the outside are your servants sent to refine the faith and hope in the hearts of your children.  Help us to talk to each other more about the way you draw us near and fill us up with the good news, when we find ourselves in near-death experiences.  Help us to live near death but also near you and your good news all our days.  Amen.

Live near death and near Jesus and you will get and give the most out of life.