Wednesday, September 10th

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and offering and sacrifice to God.”  Ephesians 5:1-2

Dear Jesus, I have spent my whole life following mentors.  It’s so much easier to emulate someone than to invent my own path.  And whenever I’m facing a difficult situation and cannot think of someone to follow, all I need to do is ask myself what you would do.  That’s when stories from your word about your life, spring into my mind.  My path forward becomes much clearer.  I love these words, “walk in the way of love.”  That picture of walking in love helps me avoid the trap of getting even and of playing the victim when I’m hurt.  Now even the hurts from others are an opportunity for me to show your love.  I cling to the promise that even though it doesn’t always seem to work to change the person immediately, you see it and it’s a fragrant offering to you.  I know I am pleasing you by imitating your love.  You are my audience.  Not the world.  Amen.

God smiles at our every kindness, especially the kindness shown to an enemy.

Tuesday, September 9th

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  Ephesians 4:29-32

Dear Jesus, You have changed me by your love so that I have learned to use my words to build others up.  But I so easily fall back into criticism.  It’s easy to be the old me.  It takes concentration to bridle the mouth when I am disappointed or feel that someone is not respecting me or my needs.  In a weird twisted way, I can fall into thinking that talking about them to others will somehow make my life better.  That’s why your words here from Paul are so helpful for me.  They set a clear direction for my heart and my mouth.  They tell me that your Holy Spirit is regularly reminding me in my heart to be loving, kind, compassionate and forgiving to everyone.  I cannot forget these words once I have read them.  So, be with me today and help me speak wholesome words that leave a blessing in the memories of others.  Amen.

Words are the seeds of the soul, growing whatever was planted whether good or bad.

Monday, September 8th

“Paul, an apostle-not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead...”  Galatians 1:1

Dear Father, The apostle Paul was a great man.  I learn so much and get great encouragement from him.  He was a founder, a leader, and a pastor over so many different churches.  And yet, when he comes to the Galatians, I notice the humility and the authority with which he comes.  He could have come to them on the basis of his role in the church.  He could have come to them on the basis of his reputation and his authority.  But instead, he came on the basis of the authority and call of Jesus.  He was an apostle, yes.  But not because of him or because of anyone else; simply because of the call of Jesus.  The same is true for me too, dear Father.  You’ve called me into your kingdom.  You’ve graciously given me a role in your kingdom.  And you’ve put your words on my lips.  As I go out to share your words, keep from being a lord over others with my words or my being a lord over others with my words or my approach or my role.  Help me to remember that all that authority is from you and through you.  You are the Lord!  Lead me to come to people with your love in my heart and your words on my mouth.  I come as your representative; you are the authority.  Fill me with this humility and this confidence as I go about your work today.  Amen.

I am who I am because of Jesus.  I am not a self-made person.  I am not a man-made person.  I am who I am because of the forgiveness of God.  I am who I am because of the call of the Holy Spirit.  I am who I am because of the power of Jesus living in me. 

Saturday, September 6th

"Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.”  Psalm 141:3

Dear Jesus, It’s so easy for me to remember to guard what I say when I talk with the general public or when I know what I say will have direct consequences on my job or a significant relationship.  But then when I am with my closest kin, I can get sloppy and say things I shouldn’t.  I also don’t always watch my tone either.  I know it hurts them and makes their days harder to bear.  Help me put a guard over my lips out of love, so my words and tone build people up and make their lives richer in faith, hope and love.  Make me an encourager to the closest and farthest friends and family.  Amen.

Love treat indiscriminately blesses the friends and enemies alike. 

Friday, September 5th

“Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself.”  2 Corinthians 12:7

Dear Father, You know what I need.  You know what is good for my soul.  You know what is good in my life so that I will spend my eternity with you.  You also know what other people need for their faith and for their eternity.  You know how my life and their lives interact.  I don’t.  I pray, work in my heart and life like you did for Paul.  You gave him a thorn in flesh so that he would stay humble, so that he would lean on you, so that he would depend on your strength.  You gave him exactly what he needed for his salvation and his faith.  I pray, dear Father, do the same in my life.  Do whatever it takes in my life so that I stay true to you and to your Word my whole life.  Do whatever it takes in my life so that I might be an instrument of your mercy and grace.  You alone know what is good for me and for others.  And when your work is unpleasant and even painful give me your Holy Spirit so that I remember and trust your loving and saving purposes.  Help me to see what you are doing and to find strength in you.  Amen.

I do not always understand what God is doing or why.  But I do know that his “so that” for my life is for my good and my salvation.  His purposes are always saving. 

Thursday, September 4th

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  2 Corinthians 9:8

Dear Father, What a promise this is!  What a statement this is!  You not only speak about your ability to care for me in an over-the-top way, but you also promise to give me exactly what I need when you want me to do it.  So many times, as I go about my day, I think that I’m short on time, short on money, short on gifts, short on all kinds of things.  So often I feel like I’m missing what I need to do.  But that’s not what you tell me here!  Here you tell me that you have for me exactly what I need to have for the work you want me to do.  I have exactly enough time to do what you want me to do-O Spirit, help me make good use of my time.  I have exactly enough money to do what you want me to do-O Spirit, make me a good manager of the financial resources you’ve given me.  I have exactly the gifts, skills and abilities that you want me to have-O Spirit, empower me to use them for your glory.  Father, you have given me and will give me exactly what I need when you want me to do it.  Give me a contented and joyful heart about what you have given me.  And then, give me wisdom and strength to carry it out.  Amen.

I am not lacking any gift.  God, my Father, has given me exactly what he wants me to have to do what he wants me to do. 

Wednesday, September 3rd

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”  Matthew 20:16

Dear Jesus, This pithy little sentence levels the playing field for all humans.  You spoke it at the end of your parable of the vineyard where people worked different hours but all got paid the same.  Salvation depends on your decision not ours.  It’s yours to give to whomever you wish and you offer it to all.  The value of every soul has already been established.  It’s worth your life.  You bought each one.  So, you do not consider it a waste to watch someone squander all their days but turn to you in the end.  You aren’t happy with their wasted life.  But you still want to save their soul.  You will save even the latest to convert, just like you did the thief on the cross.  Help me to value souls the same way and to not write anyone off as a lost cause.  If their heart is beating, they still can be saved.  So, make me respect everyone enough to give them an opportunity to hear your race presented clearly.  You gave it all to make the most difference in their lives.  Don’t let me get in the way of that with my silence.  Amen. 

A wasted life cannot disqualify a redeemed soul. 

Tuesday, September 2nd

“Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”  James 3:13

Dear Jesus, Your brother James helps separate the fake from the real.  It’s easy to be high minded, critical of others and convinced that I am right about things.  But if I am truly wise, it will show in how humble I am and how I seek to produce goodness for everyone around me.  Give me the honesty and love to focus solely on serving you and others instead of trying to be right all the time.  Help me seek more to understand than to be understood and more to love than to be loved.  Help me forget the disappointments others have caused me, so I hang in there with them through all their ups and downs.  You never give up on serving us and I want to be the same in the few days I have left on earth.  Amen.

Seek not so much to be rightly understood but to rightly love others. 

Monday, September 1st

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”  Colossians 3:23

Lord Jesus, On this Labor Day, we remember that you were a carpenter’s son and worked with your hands.  You know the joys and sorrows of a working person.  Your Word encourages our honest work yet also invites us to rest from our labors.  Inspire my faith by your life-saving, sin-forgiving work for me.  Overcome my worries with your promise to provide for all my needs.  When I fall short in my work, forgive and help me to be faithful.  Grant me grace to joyfully work for you until the day I enjoy eternal rest with you.  Amen.

Saturday, August 30th

“Then Jesus told them this parable: ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.’” Luke 15: 3-7

Dear Jesus, How you love to see people brought home to you by coming to faith in your truth and love. How you long for each lost soul to realize they are lost and recognize you have come to rescue them. Teach me the supernatural value of every human soul so I stop smugly judging people and instead I reach out to them with truth and love. I want to rejoice with you over their return to grace like you and your angels. The lingering disappointment I have with their failures and mine often hampers me from joining the heavenly party. Oh Jesus, make me a champion of grace and not law. Amen.

It’s hard to judge people that you long to see in heaven with you.

Friday, August 29th

“But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name.”      1 Peter 4:16

Lord Jesus, I wear your name, loudly and proudly.  You called me to be yours at my baptism.  You marked me as your child and proudly announce to the world that I am yours.  You are not ashamed of me.  You are not ashamed to call me your child.  I pray, fill my heart with confidence and boldness to call you my God and my Father.  You have done gracious and merciful things for me, more than I can count or number.  Make me proud and even joyful to bear your name into this world.  Amen.

Thursday, August 28th

“I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  John 15:5

Dear Jesus, If I don’t stay connected to you by the word of God and prayer I will soon wither under the drought of my times.  There is so much to suck the energy and interest out of my soul.  I need to hear from your word every day.  I need to know you are with me, sustaining me, teaching me and loving me.  I need daily forgiveness and peace.  I need you to be the God of my soul.  These words really grab me, “apart from me you can do nothing.”  They sweep away my stubborn independence.  I need you to produce in me the blessed life that blesses others or else I will become a useless self-serving creature.  Oh Jesus, keep me connected to you and do not let me go.  Amen.

We were made to receive spiritual power from God not the other way around. 

Wednesday, August 27th

Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.”  1 Peter 4:15

Lord Jesus, Sometimes when I suffer, my pain is justly and rightly deserved.  I often suffer with the consequences of my sin.  And sometimes other people mistreat me because I’ve been a jerk, because I haven’t been kind and gentle.  Sometimes I suffer their unkind words because I’ve been unkind to them.  Lord Jesus, when suffering comes, help me to repent of my sin where it is revealed to me.  Keep me humble and gentle to receive correction when it is given.  Suffering because I’ve been sinful is nothing to rejoice in.  Suffering because of sin is a time to repent and find relief and refreshment in your forgiveness.  Lord Jesus, keep me from sinning that my light for you might shine brightly.  Yet, when I do sin, dear Savior, lead me to quickly repent of my sin to find solace in you alone.  Amen.

Tuesday, August 26th

Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.”  Proverbs 10:17

Dear Jesus, Help me oh God, to open my heart to correction and teaching that guides my otherwise misguided ways.  I want to be led so I can lead others by example.  But I must let you teach me.  It’s easy to fall into a smug self-gratifying thought that I have arrived and am above instruction.  Forgive me for that blind pride that makes me feel like I have little to learn.  Help me to reduce my entertainment and busyness enough to sit and listen to your word and learn from the people you have put in my life to teach me.  I know that I am a forgiven child of God and my prayer is that knowing this will give me the humility to keep learning from others every day.  Amen.

Monday, August 25th

If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”  1 Peter 4:14

Lord Jesus, I am not always content with the circumstances and conditions of my life.  It seems I can always find something to complain about, something about my life that doesn’t make me happy.  Lord Jesus, since that’s true, how in the world am I going to find contentment and blessing when I’m laughed at for being your follower!?!  Lord Jesus, when suffering comes to me because of your name and because I’m confessing you, help me to realize what this means.  Help me to remember that I’m suffering because I’m yours.  The devil can’t stand to see me in your grasp and will make my life full of trouble to drive me out of your arms.  I’m suffering because he’s after me.  Help me to remember that I’m suffering because the world as a whole does not love you.  I’m suffering because I stand out as your follower in this sin-darkened world.  Help me to remember who I am.  And then, dear Lord, help me to realize and remember the blessedness of resting in your mercy and grace.  Help me to find joy in suffering for you.  Amen.

Saturday, August 23rd

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”       Proverbs 10:9

Dear Heavenly Father, I know you see the chasm between what I am and what I think I am.  Help me to bring those two together through honest reflection, repentance and reformation.  I want to have integrity but it’s painful to admit my failings.  Sometimes, I catch myself thinking falsely about things and it scares me.  Don’t let me lie to myself, to you or to anybody.  You want people to worship you in spirit and in truth (John 4) and I love you so much.  I want to be someone whom you can trust.  Thank you for being my rock when I am wavering.  Now, guide me to live honestly, good, and righteous in my dealings with everyone.  Amen.

Honesty is painful, pure and refreshing all at the same time. 

Friday, August 22nd

“Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13

Lord God, I am often surprised when hardship and trouble comes to me. I am often caught off guard by the reaction that people have to me as a Christian. But I shouldn’t be. If people reacted to you, and even hated you, Lord Jesus, why would it be any different for me, a simple follower? If people turned on you and even crucified you, why would I expect that they would all love me and receive me with welcome arms? If they rejected your message, they will often reject mine. If they turned on you, they will often turn on me. Lord Jesus, when suffering and rejection comes to me because of your name give me joy because I’m suffering with you. More than that, Lord Jesus, help me see and remember the joy that is set before me, an eternity of heaven with you. Keep me from being surprised. Rather, help me to find joy in suffering for you. Amen.

Thursday, August 21st

“Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.”  Titus 2:2

Dear Jesus, It’s hard to admit, but I no longer can view this passage as your injunction to me as a young pastor to teach older men how to live.  It seems that in almost no time I have become one of the “older men.”  Now these six attributes of a mature Christian man are directly applicable to me.  You want me to be temperate, that is calm and gentle.  You want me to live worthy of respect, to curb my passions and resist the temptation to be lazy or crazy in my ways.  You want me trusting firmly in your word and not wavering with doubt.  You want me to love people deeply instead of withdrawing into myself.  And you want me to endure hardship with a reliant hope in your deliverance.  That is, you want me to recognize that my anxieties are often self-inflicted.  I get what you want and it helps me some.  But without your presence I will utterly fail.  I need you to give me the strength to live above my sinful nature.  Help me Lord Jesus to live the godly life you call for.  Be my Savior and my sanctifier.  Amen.

Only God can use godly people.

Wednesday, August 20th

“To him be the glory and the power forever and ever.  Amen.”  1 Peter 4:11

Lord God, So often when I’m doing things I’m wondering to myself:  How are people going to think about me?  What will they think of me if I do this?  I ask:  What will people think of me if I don’t do this?  I do and say so many things in my life that are motivated by the opinions and thoughts of people.  Not only is it impossible to make everyone happy, but this is also chasing the wrong applause and seeking the praise of the wrong name.  I do so many things to make my name great.  Dear Father, hallowed be your name, not mine.  Help me to hear your divine applause flowing from my baptism.  Help me to remember that through Jesus I am already wholly and completely pleasing in your sight.  And then, dear Father, with your full approval, help me to serve so that people praise you and give glory to your name.  All that I do is empowered by your strength.  Let is also be done for your glory!  Amen

Tuesday, August 19th

“If anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything.”  1 Peter 4:11

Lord God, You have really high expectations for me.  You tell me exactly how you want me to behave and how you want me to serve my neighbor.  Jesus, in your Sermon from the Mount, you tell me to turn the other cheek, to love your enemies, to give your clock and the shirt off your back to others, even to go the extra mile in service to other people.  The bar is high and sometimes I don’t even want to do it.  More than that, I don’t have the strength in me to give and to give and to give like you ask.  My cup is empty and my strength dries up.  Lord God, give me strength to keep on servicing.  Fill up my cup by your Spirit so that I can serve other people day after day, time after time.  Create a steadfast spirit in me and renew me daily.  Satisfy me with your unfailing love.  And give me your strength so that day after day, hour after hour, I can serve and give and love.  Amen.

Our service to other people is neither for ourselves nor from ourselves.  Our service is for our neighbor.  Our service (and our strength for service) is from God.