Tuesday, May 27th

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

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

Monday, May 26th

Lord of the Nations, We lift our eyes to the heavens in thanksgiving for those who have answered the call to defend our nation.  We pray that you fill the hearts of those who mourn the loss of the fallen with the realization that there is no God but you, no hope without you, and no loss with you.  Remind us of your protecting hand as we remember those who have sacrificed for our freedom.  Amen.

Saturday, May 24th

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

Dear Jesus, I love hearing Paul talk about his friends and fellow workers in your vineyard.  I have friends who go the extra mile with me for you.  I trust them and their love for you and your mission.  I trust they care about your people as much or more than I do.  I trust they are consistently working for unity and avoid whispering behind my back and yours.  I trust them to think more about the good than the bad, about grace more than judgement, about love more than hate, about peace mor3e than strife.  You know who they are, Lord.  Today give them a special blessing from your grace.  Strengthen their hands and knees to be bold in kindness toward others and swift to advance your word to dark places.  Amen.

There is no one as close as a fellow believer who has picked up the mantle to love Christ’s word and his flock like you have.

Friday, May 23rd

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

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

Thursday, May 22nd

“As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”   Psalm 18:30

Dear Heavenly Father, It’s so easy to make my prayer an arm twisting routine.  I twist your arm to get you to run my life the way I think it should go.  The psalmist puts me in the right frame of mind.  Your way is perfect.  Your word is flawless and you just want me to take refuge in you without thinking I have to tell you what you are missing down here.  Oh, Lord you have worked out so many problems in my life and made them turn out for my good.  You have blessed me on top of blessings.  I will take refuge in you and look for the ways you will bless me through anything coming my way whether it looks bad or good at the beginning.  Give me the optimism that faith brings.  Hold me behind your shield and take care of all people.  Amen.

God did make our hearts big enough to handle the burden of worry.  But they are big enough to handle the burden of faith.

Wednesday, May 21st

“As you come to him, a living stone-rejected by people but chosen and honored by God...” 1 Peter 2:4

Dear Lord Jesus, There is such a range of reactions to you.  There is no hot or cold.  You are either loved or hated.  People either hate you and push your salvation off to the side because they want to do it themselves.  Or, people love you because you have done all the work of saving them.  And that’s why you’re so precious God.  In fact, that’s why God chose you and set you apart.  God chose you and set you apart to be the world’s Savior.  Keep me, O Jesus, from being indifferent and uncaring about your salvation.  Keep me from becoming lukewarm to you and your cross.  Keep me from a “meh” feeling about you.  You are precious to God and so your salvation is precious to me.  Warm my heart by your love to me that my faith and my life might be built on your work for me.  Amen.

Tuesday, May 20th

“Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that you may grow up in your salvation.”  1 Peter 2:2

Lord God, You never want to leave me in the same place in my walk of faith.  You take me just as I am, but you never leave me that way.  While my salvation is full and complete, my sanctification and walk of faith is incomplete and ongoing.  Give me the same craving, yearning and longing for the good food of your word that a new-born baby has.  When they’re hungry, they’re hungry and only food will quiet their rumbling stomach.  Give me the same craving and yearning that a newborn baby has so that every day, every week, every Sunday, I might long for the food of your word.  And by that Word, dear Lord, grow me in my faith just as you do with little children.  Grow me up and keep growing me up in my faith until my final breath.  Amen.

Monday, May 19th

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and all slander.”  1 Peter 2:1

Lord God, When you came in to my life, you were ruthless in your clean-up efforts.  In fact, you utterly killed and destroyed the old me and by the power of your Word raised up a brand new me, holy and clean.  This wasn’t just a house refurb project; this was a total rebuild from the foundation up.  You were utterly ruthless in getting rid of sin in me; you got rid of it all, forgiving me wholly and completely.  Lord God, give me the same zeal and ruthlessness in my life to thoroughly root out of my life all kinds of sin.  It’s too easy for me to become complacent and even blind to sins in my life.  Get rid of this complacency in my heart and life and make me zealous to thoroughly root out sin and live for you.  Amen.

Saturday, May 17th

“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.  ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’  But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.  For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.  For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.”  1 Peter 3:13-18

Dear Jesus, I clap my hands and praise you for loving the people who were torturing you, but then I shrink in fear and nurse a grudge when you let me suffer the slightest insult from another.  I wonder what great damage their words and actions will cause me and it fills my mind with anxiety.  This word from your Apostle Peter calms my worried soul.  He tells me to commit myself to doing good, to speak graciously, and act lovingly toward even my enemies.  Nothing can make me a victim unless I let it.  I always am the protagonist when I am armed with your love.  I always have something I can do.  I can speak kindly to my persecutors, speak well of your name and leave lasting memories in their hearts to work on their repentance.  I can use their sin against me to bring them to your Father, just like you did.  Oh, Jesus, make me a champion of grace in the face of suffering for doing the right thing.  Amen.

Even the greatest injustice can be turned into the greatest good when you follow Jesus’ lead.

Friday, May 16th

“For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like a flower of the grass.  The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”  1 Peter 1:24-25

Dear Lord God, When I was first born into this world, I was born to die.  From the moment I first took a breath, I was on my way to the grave.  From a buggy with wheels to a wheel chair, that’s the trajectory of my life.  I’m just like a flower, God, here today and tomorrow thrown into the fire.  But God, when your Word entered my life, everything changed.  Your Word breathed new life into my soul.  Your Word, which endures forever and never fades away gave me new life and now I am eternal.  Now, I will live forever because your Word has given me its eternal character.  Now, I will endure forever in heaven with you because your Word has given me this life.  Thank you, God, for sending your Word into my life that I might be yours forever.  Amen.

Thursday, May 15th

“Because you have been born again-not of perishable seed but of imperishable-through the living and eternal word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23

Lord Jesus, I should be different in this world.  I should stand out in this world of lovelessness. I should stand out in this world of selfishness.  Without me even saying a word people should know that I’m yours and you’re mine.  But do they?  Can they see that I’m different?  Do I stand out in this world?  Sadly, they often can’t tell that I’m yours.  In fact, when I tell them they might even be surprised because of the way that I talk and the way that I act.  Lord Jesus, forgive me.  Remind me that I have been born again of the imperishable seed of God’s Word.  I am different.  My rebirth by your Word makes me different.  Forgive me and help me to stand out as a light in this dark world.  Amen. 

Wednesday, May 14th

“Since you purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love to each other, from a pure heart, love one another constantly.”  1 Peter 1:22

Lord God, We live in a world that doesn’t know how to love, not purely, not selflessly.  And I’m not much different.  We love other people because of what we get from them.  We love other people because of the way that this relationship benefits us.  When it doesn't benefit us in some way, the relationship often quickly dissolves because it doesn’t serve my ends or my goals anymore.  Lord God, if this was the way pure love was, would you love me?  What in the world do you get out of me and out of a relationship with me?  If I’m honest, Lord God, you get nothing from me but sin and rebellion.  Lord God, but you love me anyway and have purified me by your son Jesus.  Give me a heart of selfless, pure love for the people around me.  Make me selfless in my love.  Make my love for them enduring and never ending.  By your love, inspire me to love them even when and especially when I get no love in return.  This is how you loved me.  Teach me to love you the same.  Amen.

Tuesday, May 13th

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?  ‘I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.’”  Jeremiah 17:9-10

Dear Heavenly Father, I hear so many voices telling me to follow my heart.  To me that sounds pretty good, until I consider that my heart has often led to me to seek revenge, use sarcasm, gossip, lust and a few hundred other vices.  Oh, how often I have deceived myself!  You O Lord, see every twisted thought in my heart and you understand its origin and motive.  In this passage I hear your pure and frightening law.  If it were not that I knew your grace also I would run from its light like a cockroach hiding from your presence.  I am very thankful that you deal both honestly and graciously with me.  You reserve the right to deal with me as my deeds deserve.  That humbles and scares me.  But you have chosen to make your law get in line behind your grace.  You gave Jesus what my deeds deserved.  Then you use your law to discipline and tame me.  But your gospel is what enlivens and saves me.  You are like my loving earthly father who always had a place for me in his heart and home but if I needed it, he would correct me, even sometimes severely.  He would help me be honest with myself and everyone else.  Help me see what you see about the deceit in my heart so I can be honest with myself, repent of it and live in the light of truth and grace.  Amen.

When we are honest with God and ourselves, everyone around us will be refreshed. 

Monday, May 12th

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”          1 Thessalonians 5:11

Dear Jesus, Thank you for this clear, rubber meets the road, insight on what you want from me today.  You want me to encourage people and build them up.  I get that.  Thanks for noticing too that I am doing it already.  But I know I can do better.  Help me deal with the negative thoughts and criticisms when they come.  They seem so provoking and they are so unfruitful.  Show me the strengths of others, even the little things the folks around me are doing right and then give me the selflessness to take time to text or tell them “Great job.”  Amen.

Complimenting someone costs nothing and yields great rewards for both of you.

Saturday, May 10th

“He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”  Acts 17:27

Lord God, You have carefully arranged all my days to carry out your plans for me.  Nothing is outside of your control or your guiding.  You put me when I am, in this particular time of history.  You put me where I am, in this family in this community, in this church.  You even put particular people in my life to impact me and so that I might impact them.  Lord Jesus, help me to see your hand in all of this.  Use me when and where you will so that others might be made holy by your Son, Jesus, through faith.  Use them when and where you will, so that I will be found in Jesus and be saved by him.  Most of all, Father, I am thankful for your plan that has brought to this day in the faith.  Thank you for the people that you put in my path, who have told me about Jesus.  Thank you for the people, whom you place in my path that I can tell them about Jesus.  Keep on working in my life and through my life so that many more people might be saved.  Amen.

Friday, May 9th

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

Lord Jesus, It’s really hard not to fit in.  It’s hard not to belong.  And I don’t think I really understand how real the struggle is.  I’ve never been the outsider.  I’ve hardly ever been in the minority.  I’ve never been an alien in a strange new country, a refugee forced to flee from my home.  But, Jesus, that’s what it is to be a Christian.  it means that I am a stranger here because heaven is my home.  It means that my values are radically different than the values of the world.  It means that my priorities in life are radically different than everyone else.  Lord God, help to resist fitting in.  Lead me to live as your child, an alien and a stranger in this world.  Amen. 

Thursday, May 8th

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”  Ephesians 3:17-19

Dear Jesus, I join Paul in praying that your people, especially the ones I know, would set aside their busy activity and rest quietly contemplating your love for them.  Help them to realize your complete and full forgiveness that was purchased with your very life.  Give them the power to let go of every single bad decision and moral failure they have ever committed.  Help them realize that their troubles do not mean you are indifferent or cold toward them.  Let them see that in every blessing there is a hug from you, a confirmation that you love them.  When they step out to face the world, make them confident because they know you have their back without condemnation.  Make them secure and peace filled because they are wrapped in your love.  Amen.

God’s love empowers people to live life to the fullest. 

Wednesday, May 7th

“But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”  1 Peter 1:15-16

Lord God, You have called me to this new life.  You have made me holy by the blood of your Son, Jesus.  You have dressed me in the finest clothes.  And yet, like a child wearing their Sunday best who goes to play in the muck and dirt, my mind, my thoughts, and my life gravitates toward the dirty and the sinful.  I find myself dirty in sin!  Lord Jesus, help me to remember who I am as your holy child, who is dearly loved.  Help me to keep my life, my thoughts, my words, yes, help me to keep myself clean.  You, Lord God, are holy and you have called me to be holy in my whole life.  Help me to do this, dear Father in heaven.  Amen. 

Tuesday, May 6th

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.  I am the Lord.”  Leviticus 19:18

Dear Jesus, I am too coy to outwardly seek revenge against someone.  Mine is more subversive.  I can turn the cold shoulder, ignore their needs, make them suffer alone, simply because I’m put out with them.  Your Spirit convicts me that this is wrong.  Open my heart to love my enemies and to avoid making family and friends pay for their neglect or coarse behavior.  Instead make me honest, loving, committed to generosity and forgiving.  Help me get over myself and my endless need to be coddled by sinners.  Help me give them lots of room for mistakes so I show them what grace is like.  Amen.

Letting go of anothers fault is profoundly Christlike. 

Monday, May 5th

“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who continues to hear the word and understands it.  This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”           Matthew 13:23

Dear Jesus, I want to continue hearing your word and understanding it for myself and others.  I want to be able to speak it with meaning to my spouse, children, and friends.  I want my friends to learn your word from conversations with me.  I want to react better to situations and let my light shine instead of spread the byproducts of my sinful nature.  I want the peace, hope and love that the gospel releases to emanate from my life.  Make this happen by your Holy Spirit so I produce seeds that will produce more seeds many years after I’m gone.  Make my life count for you, oh Jesus.  Amen.

God’s word produces good things whenever it lands in a heart softened by grace and truth.