Thursday, November 13th

“Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.  For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulations, just as it happened, and you know.  For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.”  1 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Dear Jesus, What careful efforts Paul made to assure his friends that their sufferings as Christians were not a sign of being lost.  It’s so easy to be shaken by afflictions, as Paul put it.  It makes us question your love and existence.  And our faith is important to you.  That’s why you sent Timothy to speak into the lives of the Thessalonians.  Send me to speak into the lives of suffering people, so they grow in faith instead of losing it in the midst of suffering.  And when I’m suffering and bewildered send Christians to speak into my life so I am guided during that vulnerable time to trust and follow you through the dark valley.  I know the eternal love and life you have given me will draw me through suffering safely to my final destination, but the journey is very troubling.  Be with me and send people to walk beside me all the way.  Amen.

Jesus is God of the valley as much as the mountaintop.

Wednesday, November 12th

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers!”  Matthew 7:21-23

Dear Jesus, Your words strike fear in my heart.  I suspect you intended that too.  They deal with my sinful, selfish nature that always wants to be king.  They make me scan my life and look for what I need to apologize to you for.  They make me repent of willful neglect of my duty with family and friends.  They remind me that a relationship with you is not just words but heartfelt belief and actions that grow out of that faith.  I’m not a Christian because I do works alongside my sins.  I’m a Christian because I repent of my sin and cling to you for mercy.  My works are irrelevant when it comes to you and me.  It’s all based on faith.  I do trust you.  And I want you to be able to trust me too.  Help me be your true follower, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

Jesus sees the heart.  So, worship him there. 

Tuesday, November 11th

“But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.  Therefore, we wanted to come to you-even I, Paul, time and again-but Satan hindered us.  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?  Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?  For you are our glory and joy.”  1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

Dear Jesus, Give me that heart that loves people so deeply that I would tell them what Paul told the Thessalonians, that they are my joy and crown of rejoicing.  Guard my heart against valuing things more than people.  Help me to own my family and Christian friends in my heart.  Break up that hardness that I have taught myself to use in order to keep from feeling pain from the hurts that come from relationships.  Help me to feel and to love and to be vulnerable to them.  Make me a real lover of souls the way you are.  You bought all people with your own life.  Help me to keep making payments on them for you.  Amen.

People are God’s most treasured creation.  We fulfill our purpose when we value them the same. 

Monday, November 10th

“Baptism…now saves you…through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.”  1 Peter 3:21-22

Lord Jesus, I quickly forget how much victory and power I have in my baptism.  I act and live like a submissive kitten, when in reality your death and resurrection won a victory for me that makes me a lion.  Lord Jesus, you conquered all things and put them under your feet.  You destroyed death.  You paid for all sin.  You crushed the devil.  All of it must bow to you and your will.  You give me this victory at my baptism.  Your victory, Lord Jesus, is mine.  The devil can’t hold any sin against me.  He can’t hold hell over my head as a threat.  Death can’t scare me because you have taken death’s string.  Lord Jesus, help me to live with eternal confidence and resurrection swagger.  I am not defeated; I am more than a conqueror through you, Lord Jesus.  And nothing can condemn me now.  Nothing can own me now.  Nothing can defeat me now.  I am yours.  Your victory is mine.  Amen.

“So, when the devil throws your sins in your face and tells you that you deserve death and hell, tell him this; ‘I admit that I deserve death and hell.  What of it?  For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction for all my sins.  His name is Jesus Christ and where he is there I shall also be.’”  Martin Luther

Saturday, November 8th

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.  The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to tread on the heights.”  Habakkuk 3:17-19

Lord God, almighty!  So much of what is going on in this world bothers me and breaks my heart.  I weep and struggle with the injustice that happens in this country, when the guilty are acquitted and the innocent are judged.  My heart is angry about the tension between races and nations and languages.  The love that people have for other people is cold and absent.  Morality is going out of the window and it is being celebrated; immorality is being legislated and made legal.  Around the world I hear of wars and rumors of wars.  I read of the persecution that is happening to Christians and my heart weeps.  Hunger, homelessness, famine, drought, earthquake-disaster after disaster happens all around me.  It all seems so unfair.  It all breaks my heart.  Sometimes it even makes me angry.  Yet, Lord, though all of these things continue, I will rejoice in you and I will celebrate your just and righteous rule of the nations.  I will celebrate you and be glad in your salvation.  Yet, Lord, I will still and silence my heart before you because you rule in justice and mercy.  Instead of just coming to wipe out the evil, you have shown mercy to me and to this world by giving us time to repent.  Lord, protect me from the evil of these days and make my feet secure and sure like a deer on the mountain heights. Keep my heart from longing after sin and wickedness.  Keep my life from harm and danger.  In your hands, O Lord, I commend my body and soul.  Send your holy angel, yes, Lord, come yourself to protect me this day.  Amen.

Even in distress, trouble, injustice and wickedness, we will celebrate the Lord.  His justice is perfect.  I will trust it. 

Friday, November 7th

“Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.  The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”  Psalms 16:5-6

Lord God, How can I be concerned about this day when you assure me that my portion and my cup are secure?!!  I often spend so much energy thinking about how I’m going to protect what I have and add to it.  I am often quite concerned about my life, about the direction of it, the success and pleasantness of it.  I am often worried about the things that threaten my life.  But you, Lord, are setting down the boundary lines for my life in pleasant places.  Though I may not always understand why you draw the lines where you do, I know you!  I know that you, God, have made my lot secure.  I know that you are guarding an eternal inheritance for me that far outweighs anything that this world has to offer.  I know that you are keeping me from all true and eternal harm and danger so that I might enjoy this inheritance with you.  Throughout this life, then, dear Father, remind me who you are.  Keep biblical theology, the true teaching about you, close to my heart and mind that I might constantly and regularly remember you and these promises you make.  How can I be concerned when you are keeping me?!!  Help me to remember you and your promises.  Amen.

Our God is keeping an eternal inheritance for us and us for that inheritance. 

Thursday, November 6th

“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.  For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus:  You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out.  They displease God and are hostile to everyone in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved.  In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit.  The wrath of God has come upon them at last.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

Dear Jesus, Once we hear your truthful word and it changes our lives, we enter the fellowship of believers who know what it’s like to embrace the truth even if it means rejection from others.  The truth becomes our greater friend and family that blesses us so much we won’t let it go even if it means loss.  Your love and truth are great companions for our souls.  Help me to be an encourager for those who cling to you and your truth in the face of opposition and help me to encourage them the way Paul does here.  So that their rejection from others will be replaced by love and compassion from me.  Amen. 

Run toward those who are suffering for the truth and fill in their hole with your compassion. 

Wednesday, November 5th

“Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you.  Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.  Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.”  1 Thessalonians 2:8-9

Dear Jesus, Give us pastors and leaders who will serve like Paul, as a mother selflessly serves her children, not counting the cost.  Make them people whom we admire for their sacrifice and humility.  Help them to model what you are like so their lives match their message about you.  Cause them to do everything in their power not to be a burden to the people they serve.  Oh, Lord, give us selfless leaders!  Amen.

Once you stop to count what serving others has cost you, you have already stopped serving and have become an employee.   

Tuesday, November 4th

“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.  I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.”  Psalms 63:1-2

Lord God, You are my God.  As I live my life in this world, it is a desert wasteland, it is desolate on every side.  I realize and experience more and more every day that nothing in this world will satisfy me.  In fact, everything in this world is just a leech.  It dries me out.  It exhausts me.  It dehydrates me.  It leaves me gasping for breath and longing for water in this world.  Earth is truly a desert drear.  I experience this and realize this more and more every single day.  But Lord as I look to you in your Holy Place, I consider and gaze on your power and your glory.  I consider how powerful and mighty you are to save.  I consider how powerful and mighty you are to protect.  I consider how powerful you are to guide and govern.  I think about the weightiness of your glory and majesty.  You, God, are truly majestic and glorious more than I know or can imagine.  When I look to you, Lord, in your Holy Place, then my spirits revive and my strength returns.  When I gaze on you and think about you throughout the day and night, then I have reason to praise you for as long as I live.  Satisfy me, O Lord, with food for my body and strength for my soul.  Do not leave me, Lord!  Follow close to me and holy me with your mighty right hand.  Guard me in the shadow of your wings.  Sustain and strengthen me in this desert that is my dwelling place for me.  And, finally, bring me to the dwelling place you have prepared for me.  Amen.

This world is not the paradise God intended.  It is a desert and a desolate wasteland.  But one day, God will turn this desert into paradise.  I can’t wait! 

Monday, November 3rd

“You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results.  We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.  For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.  On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.  We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.  You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed-God is our witness.  We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.  Instead, we were like young children among you.”1 Thessalonians 2:1-7 

Dear Jesus, Thank you for purifying my motives.  It’s so easy to slip into selfish reasons for doing church and reaching out to others.  This passage where Paul peels back the curtain to show his true heart, reveals that your love drove him to boldly keep reaching out to new people even though it was difficult and scary.  Help me to take a long hard look at my motives and to weed out any self-interest that makes me work for money, for praise or for self-affirmation.  Give me a wise and discerning heart that purifies itself in your grace and truth and then goes boldly to love other people big.  I know you see all my motives.  Do what you must to make sure mine are pure in your sight.  And when I must invade the life of someone else with your truth, help them to see that my motives were only about their spiritual and eternal benefit and nothing for myself.  Amen.

Daring to invade another person’s life with the truth that first offends and then saves, is a great act of selflessness. 

Saturday, November 1st

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12:1-3

Dear Lord Jesus, On this All Saints Day we remember all of the Christians that have finished their race and rest in heaven with you.  I’m thinking not only of the saints you have told us about in your word, but also the saints who have become great in my life.  The life these saints have led for all of us to see, will encourage me to run my race with deep faith rooted commitment.  They soldiered on in the face of unprecedented adversity.  They looked forward to their place in heaven, declaring themselves lifelong pilgrims.  Give me the spiritual insight to forbid myself to look for a permanent home on earth.  Thank you for promising to be at the end of my track to greet me with your merciful praise.  Amen.

It’s always easier to run the faith race when you know God and every Christian before you is watching eagerly to see you finish. 

Saturday, November 1st

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12:1-3

Dear Lord Jesus, On this All Saints Day we remember all of the Christians that have finished their race and rest in heaven with you.  I’m thinking not only of the saints you have told us about in your word, but also the saints who have become great in my life.  The life these saints have led for all of us to see, will encourage me to run my race with deep faith rooted commitment.  They soldiered on in the face of unprecedented adversity.  They looked forward to their place in heaven, declaring themselves lifelong pilgrims.  Give me the spiritual insight to forbid myself to look for a permanent home on earth.  Thank you for promising to be at the end of my track to greet me with your merciful praise.  Amen.

It’s always easier to run the faith race when you know God and every Christian before you is watching eagerly to see you finish. 

Friday, October 31st, Reformation Day!

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.

Thursday, October 30th

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will life you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.”  Psalms 91:11-13

Dear Lord God, There are so many parts of my life in which I live afraid.  I am afraid of danger.  I am afraid of disaster.  I am afraid of storms.  I am afraid of what people may do to me.  I am even more afraid of what people may think about me.  I am even more concerned about how people view me.  I live my life afraid of so many dangers.  I see a snake and even though I may want to do something about it, I shrink back in fear.  I like to see lion, but only as long as they are inside an enclosure and unable to get near me.  There are so many parts of my life in which I am afraid.  Father, you do not want me to be afraid.  In fact, you tell me here that you have commanded angels about me to guard me in all of my ways.  You have promised that when I am falling and hurtling toward the ground like an eaglet, they will scoop me up in their hands and protect me.  Your Son, Jesus, swooped in to save and rescue me from sin and every evil.  He has already rescued me from the greatest danger that faces me and he will rescue me, along with all of his heavenly angel army, from every other evil and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.  Lord God, this is all true.  Help me to live my life today unafraid.  Help me to step out against the snake and the lion, whatever it is that may threaten me.  Help me to step out in the boldness and confidence of my identity-I am your child!  And that is true no matter how people receive me.  That is true no matter how people treat me.  I am your child.  And you are my refuge and my fortress.  Help me to step out into this day unafraid.  Amen.

Being raised up on eagles’ wings doesn’t mean that the baby bird never left the nest, but that when he was flailing and falling from the sky, unable to fly on his own and save himself, his mother swept in to the rescue.  So also, my God! 

Wednesday, October 29th

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.”  Psalms 139:1

Lord God, I am afraid, Lord.  I am afraid that if people really know the deep insecurities, doubts, fears, and guilt in my heart that they wouldn’t like or love me anymore.  I am afraid that if people really knew the things that I’ve done in my past that they wouldn’t respect me anymore.  I am even more afraid of that same thing with you.  What you know about me goes far beyond what other people know about me.  You have searched me completely and thoroughly.  You know all of my thoughts.  You know all of the things that I’ve done.  You know me in and out.  And still you love me.  And still you call me, “Child!”  And still you forgive me.  And still you guide and guard my paths.  And still you lead me on the path to everlasting life.  And still you walk with me.  And still you order my footsteps.  Father, I’m not afraid anymore.  There is no thing about me that can become known that you don’t cover up with the blood of your Son Jesus.  People may turn away from me, but you never will.  You know me and you still love me.  And you will never stop.  I’m not afraid anymore.  Amen.

To be fully known and truly loved as God loves us is what we need more than anything.  It comforts us in all our fears and fortifies us for any trouble that life can throw at us. 

Tuesday, October 28th

“Therefore we do not need to say anything about it (your faith), for they (the people around you) themselves report what kind of reception you gave us.  They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”  1 Thessalonians 1:8-10

Dear Jesus, I always amazes me how if I will but just trust the gospel’s power enough to share it, I will see it turn people from sad, helpless, sinners, into love producing saints who have impact on others.  Give me the optimism I need to dare to reach out to new people with your word of grace and mercy.  Help me engage people in conversations and to kindly confront their emptiness and sadness with the hope you bring.  Make me an instrument of your life changing spiritual medicine for all humanity.  Amen.

One of the greatest acts of faith is to share God’s word because we trust it will work. 

Monday, October 27th

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  Psalms 51:10

Lord God, You are gracious to me beyond my imagination.  You know my sin better than I know it.  You see it in my heart, even in their deepest corners.  You want me to be good and upright.  You want integrity and truth and honor and righteousness to come from my mouth and to be lived in my life.  But that isn’t often there either.  You know my sin and how I have failed to do the good you desire.  You know it all and, yet, you welcome me into your presence to confess.  You welcome me into your presence to beg for forgiveness and mercy.  And more than that, you also actually forgive.  You remove my sin and guilt.  You have done all that.  Father, you are gracious and merciful, always eager to forgive me.  I pray, O Spirit, do not just remove my sins but make me new.  Raise me up from this old, sinful way of life to live a new life for you today.  Restore my spirit and make me strong.  Restore my joy and put a spring in my step.  Clean me heart, O God, and raise me up to a new life.  Amen.

Jesus doesn’t just get us out of hell; it also makes us new.  Grace doesn’t just help us shed the weight of past sins; it raises us up to live a new life. 

Saturday, October 25th

“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”  Psalms 34:1

Dear Lord God, You have been my Savior and Redeemer through every generation.  Before the oceans were born, before you brought forth the earth and the world, you were there and had laid out my life.  You know all my days before even one of them came to be.  I have so much to thank you for, O Father, for the way you have intervened in my past to bring me to faith.  You put me into a Christian family; you surrounded me with Christians who would baptize me, who would teach me, who would correct, comfort and encourage me.  You have brought me to this new day full of faith.  And I know that in this present day you will continue to do what you have done in the past.  You have put me where you have wanted me in my life and in my relationships.  You are using other people and events to shape me.  You are using me to shape other people and to impact my community in ways that I am not even aware.  I am confident of the future not only because of your promises but because of your past faithfulness.  You have not once let me down.  Your Word assures me that you will not once let me down.  Even when things do not go the way I imagine and even when circumstances are not pleasant or pleasing.  I trust your Word.  In my heart, O God.  I have so much for which I might praise you.  Amen.

I have reasons to praise God because of his past work in my life, because of his present working, and the promise of his future intervention in my life. 

Friday, October 24th

“We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 1:3

Dear Jesus, I can relate to Paul because I know people you have put in my life who work hard at their callings because they believe in you.  Their deep love makes them serve people faithfully.  I know others who endure in the faith even in the most scary trials.  They hope in you even when they cannot see you.  Their lives encourage me.  I see them as a gift from you.  It’s a privilege to know them.  I long to be like them.  You know who they are.  Bless them with greater faith, hope and love, so they are filled with everything they need in their hearts to persevere.  Cause their lives to impact many more people and cascade their good deeds into the lives of others who will imitate them even as they imitate you.  Amen.

If you are touched by the godly life of someone else, tell them so.  

Thursday, October 23rd

“Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear-not by heaven or by earth or by anything else.  All you need to say is a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ Otherwise you will be condemned.”  James 5:12

Dear Lord, You cannot abide people thinking they can control their lives.  So, when we swear we will do this or that, you are disturbed.  You give us breath and you take it away.  Without your blessing all of our plans are a house of cards.  Help us to learn to live in dependence on you.  We know that your plans for our lives will prevail no matter what we decide to do.  We will be thankful for what you send our way because it fits your grand plan to reach all people with your good news.  Amen.

Don’t ask God to bless your plans.  Ask him to plan your blessings.