Pressing On!

Promise of the Day:
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
(Phil. 3:12)

Prayer:
Wow! Lord! The last day of the year 2008! It seems it just started, and here we are finished. Yet, looking back, we have covered a lot, and have much to praise You for. There were many lessons to strengthen me, and guidance toward the goal even though I have so far to go to reach my goal. You have given me the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit, and more, yet I have not yet learned to produce them all. As Paul says: I have not yet attained, but I will press on into another year, and I pray Your love may abound still more and more as I strive to have the 'Mind of Christ'. Just give me Jesus! You are my desire! Amen

Yesterday Is Gone

Promise of the Day:
"...but one thing I do (it is my one aspiration); forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on..." (Phil. 3:13b Amplified)

Prayer:
My past, Lord, has been put under the blood. Paul tells us to forget those things which are behind. He further says to "press forward", and knowing my future is in Your hands, I press on into a New Year with anticipation! Today is my gift from You--my 'Present'. I have today to enjoy Your Grace and worship You. Each new day, as it becomes my 'present', I commit it to You to lead and guide, step by step. Amen

Virtues

Promise of the Day:
All my fresh springs shall be in Thee.
(Psalm 87:7)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, You are like Springs in the desert to me, Lord. You give me new life, a fresh start. Old things are passed away, and behold, all things are new. You gave me a goodly heritage (as David put is) but that is good only in the eyes of man. My new life comes from You so that all is new. Without You I am nothing. I am by nature impatient; I am sinful; I am unlovely. But through You I can have the mind and virtues of Christ! Transfigure me to be like You Lord Jesus. Amen

Son of God

Promise of the Day:
For unto us is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
which is Christ the Lord.
(Luke 2:11)

Prayer:
When You came to earth as a babe that long ago day, You came to show us God loves us with an everlasting love. When You went to the Cross for me to pay the wages of all sin, You showed me that even while I was a sinner, You loved me first. You came that I, too, could be a child of God. Dear Son of God, to You be the power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing forever and ever. Amen

My Redeemer

Promise of the Day:
Yet their Redeemer is strong;
the Lord Almighty is his name.
He will vigorously defend their cause.
(Jeremiah 50:34)

Prayer:
You are my Redeemer! Job called You his Redeemer and said he knew his redeemer lived. And he knew because of this: even though he died he would live again and would see You 'in the flesh'. He would not be a spirit, but would again have a body of flesh. My soul and my body have been redeemed, and not with silver or gold but with Your precious blood. You are my creator, and then You became my Redeemer. "I know that my Redeemer lives." Job 19:25.
Amen

The Greatest Gift of all!

Promise of the Day:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:6,7)

Prayer:
Father, You gave us Your gift, the gift of Jesus all wrapped up in Love. Jesus, the Savior of the world; Jesus, equal to the Father, yet laying aside all His glory and taking the form of man. What a marvelous, unspeakable gift. Without a human body, You could never have died, and had You not died, we would have no Savior. You are my master, my Savior, and my friend. What a gift!
Amen

His Indescribable Gift!

Promise of the Day:
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (II Cor. 9:15)

Prayer:
The question is asked "What if Christ had not come!" Lord, I do believe man would have destroyed themselves by now, but because You did come we can have life eternal. Had You not come the first time, You would not have gone to the Cross to pay the wages of sin. You would not have been raised first born from the dead. You would not have ascended into heaven to prepare a place for me, with the promise of coming again to receive me. But You did come, and I say with Mary: "My soul doth Magnify the Lord!" (Luke 1:46) "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! (Psalm 103:1)
Amen

Christmas Eve

Promise of the Day:
The true light that gives light to every man
was coming into the world.
(John 1:9 NIV)

Prayer:
Christmas is here once again. So swiftly pass the days! The human race has certainly twisted the meaning of Christmas around, and now we have 'Santa' sightings all over the world! Every year some group wants to remove You from the stories and decorations of Christmas. Why, Lord? Can't they realize without You we would have no Christmas? Had You not come as the first gift to the world, man would probably have wiped the human race off the face of the earth by now. You are the reason for the Season, Lord! You hold us together! You are the 'Babe in the Manger', but even more so 'The Christ of the Cross'. You are the Light of this world. It is in You we live and move and have our being. Amen

Emmanuel

Promise of the Day:
And surely I am with you always,
to the very end of the age.
(Matthew 28:20)

Prayer:
And His name would be called 'Emmanuel', which is translated "God with us'. This promise was given way back in Isaiah, and again told to Joseph in Matthew 1:23 before Jesus was born with a human body. Lord, You were with them in Isaiah's day, You were with Adam and Eve in the garden, and You are with me now. I do not understand it, I just accept it. Now You are seated at the right hand of the Father's throne, yet You are with me, walking with me, talking with me each day. You are forever and always 'Emmanuel', God with us!
Amen

God is Good

Promise of the Day:
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. (Nahum 1:7)

Prayer:
Every good gift comes from above, Lord; but I also know it rains on the good folk as well as the bad. The difference is that You protect Your own. You hear my voice, You have compassion for your children. You have promised me strength for each day, and to always be with me. How do I know You desire good things for me? Let me count some ways: You died for me, that I not have to die. You rose again to give me abundant life; You gave the Spirit to teach me; You are preparing a place for me to live with You eternally. You are my strength and my life. In thee do I trust. God is so good! Amen

Without Care!

Promise of the Day:
"And it shall come to pass in the day that
the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear,..."
(Isaiah 14:3)

Prayer:
To know You, Lord, is to love You and perfect love casts out fear. You are love! Love is one of Your attributes; it is an essential part of You. It is an expression of part of who Your are! You are Holy; You are just, You are truth, and You are Love. When I am enveloped in Your love, I know that nothing can harm me. No man can touch my soul. Martin Luther said:

The body they may kill;

God's truth abideth still,

His kingdom is forever.

So to know You is to cast out all fear, and thereby be without care or worry. I will have no fear of the future. As we are nearing the beginning of a new year, I know You will care for me. I am strong in Your love. Amen

Trust

Promise of the Day:
"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him..."
(Psalm 37:5)

Prayer:
'Trust' is a big word, Lord. Trust is the language of the heart. It is a moment of putting my hand in Yours and letting You lead the way. It is the actual act of my leaning over on You in faith and thereby being at peace and rest. Even when I am unable to see around the bend in the road, Lord, I will 'trust' in You and not be afraid. You have said Your thoughts of me are for peace, and I know I am safe with You. In You I will put my Trust.

Trust and rest when all around thee

Puts thy faith to sorest test;

Let no fear or foe confound thee,

Wait for God and trust and rest.

(unknown)

Amen

My Counselor

Promise of the Day:
For the Lord gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
(Proverbs 2:6)

Prayer:
Lord, I love reading Proverbs and how it tells me about wisdom. In the 8th chapter especially Wisdom is personified. Proverbs 8:12 states "I, Wisdom, dwell with Prudence...the fear of the Lord is to hate evil." And this reminds me of Job 28:28: "the fear of the Lord, that is Wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." You are the one who gives wisdom, Lord. You tell me if I lack wisdom just to ask of God, and through the Holy Spirit I will receive Wisdom. Thank You for counseling me with Your wisdom. You are my Way, my Truth, and my Life...and my Wisdom! Amen

Elohim, Creator

Promise of the Day:
And God saw everything that he had made,
and, behold, it was very good.
(Genesis 1:31)

Prayer:
Lord, the term "Elohim" in English is translated 'God'. In Genesis 2:4 we see the words Jehovah Elohim, or 'Lord God'. You are my Lord God! The name 'Elohim' is actually a plural noun in form, which points to the triune God, yet it is singular in its meaning suggesting Your Unity as One God. You are the Great Three in One. When You spoke, the whole world trembled, and at your command all was complete! You are the Great and Awesome God who said "let US make man in OUR image." Jehovah Elohim, I want my life to always be a reflection of Your image! Amen

Out in the Fields

Promise of the Day:
And Isaac went out to meditate
in the field at the eventide.
(Genesis 24:63)

Prayer:
Dearest Lord, There is no time more profitably spent than that which is spent with you in quiet musing, or talking with You. It is important to be often and alone with You. Isaac went into the field. I have a time early in the morning usually before daylight, while all is still quiet. It is a time for renewal of my soul. It is a time when I learn what You have told us in Your Word. It is the time of reflection and setting new goals. It is the time when You lead me beside still waters, and prepare me for the future, whatever it may bring. And then I can leave my 'field' and cares behind and face a new day with Joy. I don't know who wrote this little thought, but it fits here:

The little cares that fretted me,

I lost them yesterday,

Out in the fields with God.

A walk through the fields, a saunter through a meadow, or a quiet time beside the fire early in the morning, will purge me and give me new joy & hope. Amen

The Gift of God

Promise of the Day:
God has given us eternal life,
and this life is in His Son. (I John 5:11)

Prayer:
Lord, My Savior,
You died for me that I might have life, and this life through You can be abundant! You did not have Your life taken from You, You gave it so that I will never die. As it states in John 10:18, "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. ..." Now as we come to this Christmas season, we think of the miracle of Your birth, yet it was the Christ of the Cross that brings us life and redemption. There is a song I've sung in the past that says 'the babe in the manger could never have done the work of His God on High...' but it is the Christ of the Cross that gives us the gift of life. It is this life and this gift that keeps on giving. Amen

My Goal is God

Promise of the Day:
Ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.
The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
(Psalm 134:1,3)

Prayer:
When I come to a stumbling block in the road, or cannot see around the bend; when there is darkness all around and winter of my life is upon me, then I will lift up my hands to You and Praise Your name, O Lord! In reading the book of Job, I see that though he groans as his outward man is decaying, he will not say one word against You. He says even if You 'slay him' he will trust in You. My goal is You, Lord. No matter what is in the way, my head is bent as I press on toward You until I reach Glory!

My goal is God Himself, not joy, not peace,

Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God;

'Tis His to lead me there, not mine, but His--

"At any cost, dear Lord, by any road!"

(unknown)

Amen

His Name is Creator

Promise of the Day:
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void;
and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
(Genesis 1:1,2)

Prayer:
You, Lord, are my Creator-Owner. As the potter creates his vessels, so You have created me. You also find there are rough edges, but because I belong to You to do with as You wish, You are free to do what is needed to remove those rough edges. You not only created all things, but You did it by the spoken Word, by the 'breath of Your mouth.' Thank You Lord, for including me is Your creation, and may I be pleasing to You. I will spend the rest of my life giving honor and glory to You. Praise to You, O God, my Creator! Amen

His Name is "Peace"

Promise of the Day:
"I will hear what God the Lord will speak:
for he will speak 'peace' unto his people.
(Psalm 85:8)

Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Your peace is beyond understanding! We need have no fear of what life here hands us, because we know life is but a vapor. It is what comes after this life that is important. I will be with You in Glory! You are the Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace! I have perfect peace when I keep my mind stayed on You. "O the Peace that Jesus gives, never dies, it always lives!" I worship and praise Your name forever. Amen

He is called "My Redeemer"

Promise of the Day:
For I know that 'my Redeemer' liveth..."
(Job 19:25)

Prayer:
O My Redeemer! There is none like You and I know that my Redeemer lives. Because You live, I too shall live forever and forever in Your presence. You, who created the mountains and the oceans and all living creatures, also provided a way for me to have You as my Redeemer. 'O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men!' (Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31) Amen

He is called 'King of Glory'

Promise of the Day:
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
(Psalm 24:8)

Prayer:
You, O Lord, are truly the King of Glory! You are the One that brought all things into being by the 'breath of Your mouth'. And You are the One that holds all things together. In You I live and breathe and have life. You are a Mighty Fortress, and bulwark never failing. You who made the oceans also made the dew drop. You who made the mountains also started the heartbeat of a tiny, baby bird. With such might and majesty, I say in amazement, "who am I that You love me?" Yet You do, with an Everlasting love. Thank You, my King of Glory. Amen

He is Called 'The Door'

Promise of the Day:
'I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.' (John 10:9)

Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I have read that at the time You lived on earth (and it may still be in that part of the world) that a shepherd actually was the door of the sheepfold. At night after putting his sheep in, he would lie down across the threshold. All the sheep that entered in were then safe. In the morning they would again go out to find pasture. You are just like that as my shepherd. Once I enter in You are the door of safety, and You will lead me to pastures green; You will lead me beside still waters. You are my Shepherd-King, and I will praise You and follow You throughout eternity. Amen

Great Jehovah

Promise of the Day:
That men may know that thou,
whose name alone is Jehovah,
art the most high over all the earth.
(Psalm 83:18)

Prayer:
Lord, Your name is Jehovah. The Hebrew is YHWH or Yahweh (Yah-Ve) meaning You are the self-existent One. You are the Great 'I AM'. The name Jehovah compounded with other names gives even more meaning such as with 'Nissi", meaning You are my banner; or "Jireh", You provide for me. You are truly the Great "I Am", my Way, my Truth, and my Life. Your banner over me is love, Jehovah-Nissi, My Lord, and My Love. Amen

Lord of Lords!

Promise of the Day:
For he is Lord of lords, and King of kings:
and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
(Revelation 17:14)

Prayer:
You are my Lord of all lords, my King of all kings, and most of all, You are my Savior and my Redeemer! I sometimes picture myself actually in the flesh (as Job says we will be) bowing before You in reverence. Then I see myself going lower until I fall on my face kissing Your feet--those precious feet that walked to the Cross and still bear the scars of Calvary. O Lord my God, You are my Lord and King. You are my everything! You are my Lord of all lords! Amen

King of Kings!

Promise of the Day:
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood:
and his name is called The Word of God....
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written,
KINGS OF KINGS. (Revelation19:13, 16)

Prayer:
O Lord, all other crowns pale beside Yours. Other kings, earthly all, became king either through taking kingship by a 'coup', or by family line, and even then leaving it all behind when they died. But You became King by dying, You walked up to the throne by way of the Cross. You are Truth and You are Life. You are the Word, and it is the Word that makes me whole. You are my King, and my Redeemer! Amen

My Prince of Peace

Promise of the Day:
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
(John 14:27)

Prayer:
Dear Lord of all peace,
The verse in Luke 16:33 stands out as the answer to all my longing for peace: "in Me you may have peace." Without You there is no real peace. After the gift of my salvation, there is no greater gift for me than 'peace'. If my mind is stayed on You, You give perfect peace. This world is a sad, miserable place, but You have overcome the world, and it is in You I find Peace. I praise You for this peace, with all of my heart, mind and soul. Thank You, my Prince of Peace.
Amen

You Are So Great!

Promise of the Day:
For thou art great, and doest wondrous things:
thou art God alone. (Psalm 86:10)

Prayer:
There is none like You, Lord! You are a Great and Awesome God! Both Nehemiah and Daniel called You the Great and Awesome God. And in Job 37 it talks about the 'thunder of Your voice'; Your majestic voice, and that You do such great things we cannot comprehend it. In chapters 38 thru 41 of Job, it is all about Your power and Majesty. You created the oceans (38:11) and also the dew drop (vs. 28). O Lord my God, How Great You are! Amen

I Will Sing to You, O Lord

Promise of the Day:
"Therefore, I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord,...and I will sing praises unto thy name." (II Samuel 22:50)

Prayer:
"Praise to the Father
Praise to the Son
Praise to the Spirit--
Our Great 3 in 1"
Holy art thou O Lord, and worthy of honor and glory and praise. O Lord, when I think of being with You in heaven, I can only imagine what it will be like. Will I join an angel choir, singing Your praises? Will I fall on my face before You crying 'Holy, Holy, Holy' with the seraphims? Let all that is within me, bless Your Holy Name, the Almighty God. Amen

You Alone are Worthy!

Promise of the Day:
Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?
for thou only art holy. (Revelation 15:4)

Prayer:
Lord, this verse brings to my mind two more verses showing 'You only' are the holy, worthy one. The first one if Rev. 4:11: "Worthy are thou O Lord, to receive Glory and honor and power"; and Rev. 5:12:"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and Glory and blessings." Worthy You are, O my God, for You are holy. Your Name be glorified forever! Before You I fall down and worship You, and I will lift Your Name on high! Amen

More Names for Jehovah

Promise of the Day:
"...Counsellor,
The mighty God,
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace."
(Isaiah 9:6)

Prayer:
Looking at these names in this verse, Lord, I see the Trinity within it. The Holy Spirit is our 'Counsellor'; The 'Mighty God' I see as the 3 in 1, the Triune God. The 'Everlasting Father' is the Heavenly Father; and the 'Prince of Peace' is my Lord Jesus who brings peace to my soul. You are Majesty, the Great I AM the way, the Almighty God. Praise be to You forever! Amen

My Wonderful Lord

Promise of the Day:
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder;
and his name shall be called Wonderful..."
(Isaiah 9:6)

Prayer:
Your Name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord. You are Master of all, Creator of all, and Ruler of all. You are the Great Shepherd; yet You are the Mighty King. And the most amazing of all, Lord, is that You have forgiven me and made me a child of the King. Because of You, wonderful You, I am an heir of all Your wonders. Truly, You have lived up to Your name of 'Wonderful'. Thank You, my Wonderful Lord. Amen

Thank You for Our Earth

Promise of the Day:
The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it. (Psalm 24:1)

Prayer:
Lord of all,
In John 1:3 it states very clearly that "all things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being." You are the Creator-owner of all things, and can do as You will. You could have made our earth all black and white, but You gave us beautiful colors to please the eye. Thank You for all its beauty. Everything on this earth is Yours; everything I enjoy, and all that I have is Yours. I praise You for being Lord of it all. Thank You, You are so good! Amen

God of the Morning!

Promise of the Day:
Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
(Psalm 65:8)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, Without You each morning, I can not do anything all day. Without You first thing in the morning, I fail at all I do. As the sun rises over the horizon each morning, so the "Son" must rise in my heart each morning. Meeting with You chases away the shadows and darkness, and brings peace to my soul. The only way I can cope with each day's unknown, is to meet with You before it even starts. Then I know You are in the 'lead' all day.

"Would you know this life of triumph,

Victory all the way!

Then put God in the beginning

of each coming day."

I give You all of my mornings, dear Lord.

Amen

Thank You for You

Promise of the Day:
I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty,
and of thy wondrous works. (Psalm 145:5)

Prayer:
This is a unique relationship we have, Lord. You are the love of my life, the lover of my soul and my desire is to you; yet I have never seen Your face or touched Your hand. I have never heard the timbre of Your voice, yet I worship You. I pray to you "in the Spirit" as I am told to do in Ephesians 6:18. You are my light and my salvation. "In all that I do, I will glorify You, my Saviour and my God." Amen

Thank You for My Country

Promise of the Day:
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.
(Psalm 33:12)

Prayer:
Lord, I thank You not only for my parental heritage, but for being born in this country. It is still the Land of the Free and the home of the Brave. Because of this country's forefathers, we have been very blessed. But as I look at the future and how we as a nation are trying to get away from You, I fear for my children and grandchildren. Protect them Lord, and help us to all be responsible in preserving the values upon which our country was founded. Amen

Tests of Life

Promise of the Day:
Thou hast shewed thy people hard things. (Psalm 60:3)

Prayer:
Yes, My Lord, some are 'hard things'! One wonders at why the road is so hard. Your way is the narrow road which in itself is difficult for some to find. But then come the rocks, and the path along the precipice. The way bends and turns, but You are always there. I have only to call Your name: 'Shepherd', 'Master', Jesus', and You will appear. In fact, You are beside me all the time, but by calling out my eyes are opened that I might feel Your presence. And so we walk on always walking upward until I will reach Your high places. Then I will look back, Lord, and I will say "it wasn't so hard, You walked beside me all the way." Amen

Pressed For God

Promise of the Day:
Pressed out of measure. (II Corinthians 1:8)
That the power of Christ may rest upon me. (II Corinthians 12:9)

Prayer:
Lord, as I see it, to press something is to put weight or heat or both in order to smooth the wrinkles. Jacob had God's hand pressed physically on his hip, and he became a changed man. He now knew his God! I think of the lives of missionaries I read about: Isabel Kuhn with "In the Arena", and Dr. Glover in "A Thousand Miles of Miracle". They had total pressure, yet at every turn they found Your Grace to be sufficient. When You are by my side, no pressure is too great if it brings me to a victorious life. Paul learned to be content in any situation after 'being pressed out of measure.' Being pressed is when I will experience the power of Christ, and in the end I will be victorious. Amen

My Potentate

Promise of the Day:
He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
(Eph. 1:20, 21)

Prayer:
Who is Man, Lord, that You are mindful of him? You are so great, so awesome! In I Kings 8 Solomon states the heavens cannot contain You, yet I am in awe that You say You dwell within me. You were here before the beginning of time, You made the world, the stars and the planets, yet You care for the little sparrow that drops to the ground. You are Majesty of all, the highest and only potentate, yet You care for me. You are pure and holy yet You love me in my filth and rags, and cover me in Your righteousness. You are everything to me, dear lover of my soul. Amen

Sing and Shout to the Lord

Promise of the Day:
Let the desert and its towns raise their voices;
let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice.
Let the people of Sela sing for joy;
let them shout from the mountaintops.
(Isaiah 41:11 NIV)

Prayer:
Lord, I would like to quote the paraphrase for Gen. 1:31, 27and Psa.8:3-6 from my Praise book by Ruth Myers. "I worship before You, dear Lord, as the all-wise Creator, the One who made heaven and earth and all that is in them. I praise You for the honor of being made in Your image, personally formed by You for Your glory, and gifted spiritually just as it has pleased You." Someday soon, Lord, I will be able to fall on my knees and Praise You face to face; I will sing to You for eternity. To Your name be the glory, dear Lord! Amen

You Are Beautiful to Me

Promise of the Day:
We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Prayer:
You are so beautiful, Lord Jesus. Your beauty is surpassed only by Your brightness and Glory. When You were seen on the Mount, being transformed even as the disciples watched, Your light burst forth from within. This was just a glimpse of Your true beauty and Glory. And Your Word tells me that someday I shall awake in Your likeness. Now this is definitely a 'WOW' thought! Words cannot describe Your beauty or what You have prepared for me, yet in Job in indicates that in my flesh I shall see You. O what a glorious day that will be, when my dear Savior I see! And I will stand totally amazed as I gaze upon Your wisdom, glory and beauty! Amen

Sowing to the Spirit

Promise of the Day:
"...He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." (Gal. 6:8)

Prayer:
And this is what You require of me, Lord, to love You, to do good and to bless others as You have blessed me. I do pray I fulfill this with my life. I have wasted so much of it, just feeling sorry for myself. I now want to make my life worthwhile and make my reason for living be given a purpose. I want others to see You in me as I finish my course on this earth. I look forward to spending eternity with You so much, that sometimes I get overwhelmed! You are my beloved, and my friend. Thank You for Your bountiful gifts. "...and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." (II Cor. 9:6) Amen

Thank You for Your Holy Spirit

Promise of the Day:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,

whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,

and bring all things to your remembrance,

whatsoever I have said unto you.

(John 14:26 KJV)

Prayer:

Thank You Father, You are so good. You have given me the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Helper, to be with me and to teach me. Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet heavenly Dove, You indwell me to produce in me Your fruit such as: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness. I pray You will mold me, melt me, fill me and use me to the Glory of the Father and the Son. Ephesians 3 and 4 explains that I have the 'Fullness of God' within me. You are the 'Spirit of God', and the 'Spirit of Christ'. Your ways are just and true. Your comfort is with me day and night. How great You are! Amen

A Good Woman

Promise of the Day:
The steps of a good (woman) are ordered by the Lord: and (she) delighteth in (her) way. Though (she) fall, (she) shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth (her) with His hand. (Psalm 37:23,24)

Prayer:
Lord,
Now and then I like to change the pronoun in a verse to the female gender. It makes it more personal for me. In these verses I put myself down as a "good woman". Not from anything I have done, but because of Your great mercy and forgiveness. You have cleansed me and made me whole, and You guide my steps. Now and again through this life I have tripped and stumbled, but never totally been cast down. Skinned up and bruised maybe, but Your hand has held me, caught me, raised me up and healed me. You hold me up with Your strong right arm. You lead me step by step and I delight in Your way. Amen

Always the Same

Promise of the Day:
"Is it well with you?" And she answered, "It is well."
(II Kings 4:26)

Prayer:
Lord, my spiritual well-being should not change. You are the same yesterday, today and forever. And even though my outward man is decaying, showing age, yet my spiritual should be and in fact it must be, renewed day by day. Just as Your compassion's are new every morning, so my spiritual should be 'renewed' every day. Forgive me for letting the emotions and physical take over at times. I may even be sorrowful at times, yet with You, with the Fullness of the Godhead within me, I shall rejoice. This life is but for a moment, so why give in to anything resembling the old nature? I am Yours, Lord, and You never change. Because of You I can say "it is well". Amen

A Hard Lesson to Learn

Promise of the Day:
"Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield."
(Psalm 33:20)

Prayer:
To patiently wait for something, Lord, is a difficult task. I have done a lot of waiting in my lifetime but I am not sure I can say I have even yet learned to be "patient" with my need of waiting. I am reminded of the little boy told to sit down. He finally did so, but he declared he might be sitting on the outside, but he was still standing on the inside. So with me, Lord. I may look calm and patient while waiting, at least on the outside, but inwardly I am 'pacing'. May I learn in my waiting to just rest in You, commune with You my friend, and know that all is well. You are my help and protection. Amen

Good Thoughts

Promise of the Day:
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--
think about such things. (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I want my thoughts to be continually on You so that the 'words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be right in thy sight' (Psa 19:14). I find that when I begin to think of things that are negative, or sad, or depressing, if I truly do as the verse in Phil. 4:8 states, I will rise above these thoughts. When my thoughts turn to You, when I think of what You have done for me, then how can I but Praise You in all situations. You are my rock and my salvation! Amen

Somewhere Up There

Promise of the Day:
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them,
and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters:
and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
(Revelation 7:17 KJV)

Prayer:
Lord, the sun is always shining somewhere up there above the clouds, even when the day is dark and dreary. Beyond what we can see I know the sun is shining. The same is true in our lives, Lord. We may be going through a storm but "there is God". There is always God, above the storms, seeing the end from the beginning. You know the way that I take and You will lead me. You shall wipe away the tears from my eyes and give me peace.

Somewhere, the sun is shining,

Somewhere the song-birds dwell;

Hush, then, thy sad repining,

God lives, and all is well.

(by Jessie Pounds)

After the storms You light will truly shine through. Amen

His Work

Promise of the Day:
These were the potters,
and those that dwelt among plants and hedges:
there they dwelt with the king for his work.
(I Chronicles 4:23)

Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I will never write a great poem, or a score for a song. I may never stand before an audience to speak Your Word, even through singing again, but just a cup of cold water may be all that You require of me. So, Lord, wherever You place me, if it is just where You want me, I will be content to serve You. It may be caring for my home, helping a neighbor, working in the garden I will do the best I know how for Your glory. What I am trying to say, dear Lord, has been best stated by Kenelm Digby:
"The most saintly spirits are often existing in those who have never distinguished themselves as authors, or let any memorial of themselves to be the theme of the world's talk; but who have led an interior angelic life, having borne their sweet blossoms unseen like the young lily in a sequestered vale on the bank of a limpid stream."
Whatever you have given me to do, no matter how humble, it is "Your Work" and I love You. Amen

This Poor Man

Promise of the Day:
"This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." (Psalm 34:6)

Prayer:
My Lord,
You always hear Your children, but I would say You are apt to hear the one 'poor in Spirit' most readily. You have said "blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." In this verse for today, I have always pictured this 'poor man' as some wretched soul in great difficulty, and it may be; but as I ponder it I wonder if it could be the one 'poor in spirit', the one who is humble before You, Lord. The one realizing in himself he is and has nothing, yet in You he has everything. Also, You save 'out of all his troubles', not from the troubles. You are with me and will always go with me through it all. "I cry unto You my Savior and find You waiting there.' Amen

First Love

Promise of the Day:
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit.
(Psalm 51:12)

Prayer:
Dear Lord,
This verse reminds me of Revelation 2:4 where the church of Ephesus is told they had left their 'first love'. They had left that first excitement of being in love, the giddiness, the desire to tell the world. And Lord, I believe the Psalmist is asking for this joy, this excitement, to be restored. I, too, pray this prayer, Lord. Remove the scales from my eyes that I might see You, let me feel the touch of Your presence. Another Psalm comes to mind, in 16:11 where it states "In thy presence is fullness of joy..." I call Your name often, as just this simple act is a reassurance of Your closeness and gives me a sense of knowing You are near. In You there are "pleasures forevermore." Amen

God of the Valley

Promise of the Day:
Thus says the Lord: "Because the Syrians have said, 'The Lord is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys,' therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord."
(I Kings 20:28)

Prayer:
Lord,
I know You are the God of the Valleys because You have promised to walk with me through the Valley. It is in the Valley that I learn to be strong, I learn to stay close to You and You uphold me with Your powerful right hand. It is in the Valley where I drink deeply from You and Your Word, and then when I reach the mountain tops I can dance with 'hinds feet' on the high places. I am not afraid of the dark Valley Lord, it leads me to You.

Thank You for valleys, Lord

For this one thing I know

The mountain tops are glorious

But it's in the valleys I grow!

(By Jane Eggleston)

Thank you that you walk with me through the valleys. Amen

He Meets the Deepest Need

Promise of the Day:
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.
(Psalm 18:6)

Prayer:
O Lord,
At times it has been 'out of the depths' that I have cried to You and You have saved me. I am learning to praise You even when the way is dark, and my heart is crying. This, I believe, is my "Sacrifice of Praise". To praise You in the storm when the clouds are gathering; to praise You in the darkest night when the heart is breaking. But through my Praise, (and Your Word states You are enthroned on my praises,) through this Praise I can sing "then came the morning!" Life has won, and You have been with me through it all. O Lord, I have tasted You and know You are good; I will trust in You. Amen

Trials of Life

Promise of the Day:
"... faith as a grain of mustard seed..." (Matthew 17:20)

Prayer:
Faith is simply keeping my gaze on You, my Jesus. Some trials which we may call 'trials of faith' are just a result of being alive--the rain falls on the just and the unjust. Some trials are actually consequences to sins committed. Some are the discipline needed as Your Word says 'whom you love you chasten'. And some things happen to bring glory to you. But through it all, You are there, You are the faithful one, and I have just to gaze and gaze on You. When my heart is right, all else is as naught. You are there and I lean on You! Amen

The Word

Promise of the Day:
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
(Psalm 119:11)

Prayer:
Your Word, dear Lord, is my best defense against Satan. It is sharper than a 'two-edged sword'. Your Word also speaks peace to my soul, it marks the path I take; guides me down life's path. It is Your Word that will keep me from sin, but also sin will keep me from Your Word. John 1 also calls You the Word. "In the beginning was the Word...and the Word was God." In You, The Word, is light, the light of men. The Word became flesh and dwelt among man. You, the living Word, speak to me through the written Word, intimately, lovingly, and personally. You are my Lord and my friend, The Word. Amen

Blessings Abound

Promise of the Day:
"He whom You bless is blessed..." (Numbers 22:6)

Prayer:
Lord, in I Chronicles 4, Jabez prayed to be blessed, and it says You heard him. In Psalm 5, David tells me "You bless the righteous man...You surround him with favor as with a shield." This means You have already blessed me! Because of my salvation, I am righteous, clothed in righteousness. How do I know I am blessed? Every time I take a breath, I am blessed. Every time I eat a meal, I am blessed. Even if I were to close my eyes in death from this life, I am blessed as I will open them to look right into Your face. Oh yes, Lord, I am blessed! May I always share my blessings with others for Your sake. Amen

Gladness and Joy

Promise of the Day:
Do all things without murmurings and disputings.
(Philippians 2:14)

Prayer:
Lord of All, Blessed and Holy,
Forgive me for murmurings and complaining. Today is a new day, as is often said: "today is the first day of the rest of my life", so may I do all unto You, without murmuring. Each day is a blessings from You, and each little service I am given, whether it be the laundry, or mopping floors, may I do all to Your Glory. Keep me from negative thoughts, or disputing. From now on, may all be done with Joy and Gladness, for "thine is the Power and the Glory forever." Amen

Your Love

Promise of the Day:
Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:
therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
(Jeremiah 31:3 KJV)

Prayer:
Another verse, Lord, states Your compassion's never fail and are new every morning (Lam. 3:22). O how You love me! You know all about me and still love me. I left you, and wandered away, yet You still loved me. You see my faults and my errors and mistakes, and You keep on loving me. Great is Your faithfulness! (Lam. 3:23) O Lord, You love me with an 'everlasting love', and a forgiving love. In You I put my trust. Amen

One Day at a Time

Promise of the Day:
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
(Psalm 96:1 NIV)

Prayer:
O Lord, Our Lord, how majestic You are in all the earth! The whole of nature is in Your control! The storms, the calm, the rain, the sunshine; the mountains, the valleys, the seas and the dew drops. So also is my life, Lord, with its ups and downs, the mountains of difficulty only You can move, the storms of life, the happy times and a peace from You that passeth all understanding. I will sing to You, one day at a time, day after day. I will not fear tomorrow as I know and trust You to make straight my path as I live each day, one day at a time. Amen

The Adversary

Promise of the Day:
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (I Peter 5:8)

Prayer:
My Lord,
I do not care to dwell on the enemy, but we know we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against Satan. He is always around looking for cracks in the armour, loop holes or the Achilles heel. I do like to dwell on the thoughts and promises that You have overcome this world. Through You I can have the victory. You have given me the full armour of God to protect me, with the Sword of the Spirit, Your Word, being the most useful in battle. May I keep Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You! Thy Word, O Lord, is a light to my path and a lamp to my feet. It is also a quick way to cause the enemy to flee. Amen

Victory in Conquest

Promise of the Day:
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15:57)

Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I thank You that You do not compare me with a Moses, or a David, or even a Queen Esther. These were all people used by You, and they conquered because they depended on You. You are not a respecter of persons. I have never been 'great' as they were (one brought up in a palace, one a king, one a queen), yet You have promised I will have victory through You, too. You are the same Lord that gave Esther wisdom, You are the same Lord that led Deborah the prophetess to victory; You are the same Lord that gave Rahab faith to protect the spies and save her family. I may have different situations than they, but You are the same Lord and will give me the victory, just as You did for them. Praise Your Holy name! Amen

Accepted by God

Promise of the Day:
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
Accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)

Prayer:
Jehovah God,
There is no way to come before You in my natural state. No one can enter Your throne room unless we are Holy. Yet here I am, accepted in the Beloved, clothed in salvation, standing before You just as if I had never sinned. I am Holy and pure, because when You look at me You see Jesus. You see me as complete and whole through the blood of Jesus. How can I say thank You? It says it in the song "My Tribute" the way I feel: "...the voices of a thousand angels could not express my gratitude...To God be the Glory!" I am complete through Jesus. Amen

Jesus, The Very Thought of You!

Promise of the Day:
As he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spiknard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
(Mark 14:3)

Prayer:
Lord, when one falls in love it is sweet to hear the name of that loved one often repeated. It is pleasing to speak of that one often as well. This is how it should be for me about You. You are the one I love. You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus, the very thought of You brings peace to my heart, healing to my soul, and a balm for all sorrows. And the amazing part is, You love me! You love me with an everlasting love. Your thoughts of me are for peace. When I think of Your coming to earth, of Your loving me, I would that I could do as this woman did, and give You all that is precious to me. And I do, Lord, I hold it out on my open hand, giving You my all. This is my way to show You my love.
Amen

Sin Vs. Sins

Promise of the Day:
For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. (II Corinthians 5:21)

Prayer:
Lord, Had I never done an 'act' of sin, I still have the 'sin nature' inside of me as part of my heredity. It is this heredity that You died for. Oswald Chambers explains it best in his book "My Utmost for His Highest": "The revelation of the Bible is not that Jesus Christ took upon Himself our fleshly sins, but that He took upon Himself the heredity of sin which no man can touch." All I have to do is accept the price You paid. Accept Your Redemption. Go back to the Cross. It is taking this heavy burden on my back to the Cross, and leaving it there. You are my Redeemer, my Savior. It is truly 'The Old Rugged Cross' and what You did there that makes the difference! Amen

Overcomers

Promise of the Day:
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Rev. 12:11)

Prayer:
Lord, to each of the seven churches in the first part of Revelation, You tell them to be 'overcomers'. To all it is to "he who overcomes" You will give certain blessings. He will eat of the Tree of Life; he will not have the second death; he will receive the white stone and a new name. The overcomer will be clothed in white; will have a place in the temple of God; and the last is that the Overcomer will share Christ's Throne. All I have to do to be an Overcomer is to 'open the door' of my heart and let You in, give Your Spirit control of my life, and through You I can conquer all. When once I give You control of my 'self-life', sin will have no more dominion. Love will shine through and Your work will go forward. It is by the 'blood of the lamb' that I will be an "Overcomer'. Amen

God Controls All

Promise of the Day:
"I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things." (Isaiah 45:7)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, You have said that in this world we shall have tribulation, but we are not to fear as You have overcome the world. I thank You, Lord, that You have control even when we come to that bend in the road, You see around the bend.
Another verse that comes to mind is I Peter 4:12: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you...but rejoice inasmuch as you are partakers in Christs sufferings...". You suffered and died, died for my sin, my infirmities, my bends in the road; but someday this will be past and I will share in Your Glory. You are controlling and guiding every step. Amen

The Amen

Promise of the Day:
These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness.
(Rev. 3:14)

Prayer:
You, O Lord, are the Great Amen. In our verse it calls You the "faithful and true witness." You are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. When I say "Amen" at the end of a prayer, or in worship, I am adding my agreement to what has been said, my way of saying "may it be so". This is my prayer that it may be done. When David ends the 72nd Psalm with a double 'Amen', he is adding an exclamation, an emphasis. You, the Blessed Lord God, are the "Amen", and to this I add 'Amen, so be it, and blessed be Your glorious name forever and forever! Amen, and again I say, Amen

Substance of Faith

Promise of the Day:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen.
(Hebrews 11:1 KJV)


Prayer:
Yes, Lord, it IS by 'Faith'. It is Faith, first, last and always. Yet it is not by MY
faith; it is by YOUR faith. It is Your Faith that gives me life and hope. Galatians 2:20 in the King James Version is stated correctly and makes the most sense. "...the life I now live in the flesh I live BY the Son of God." I could never of myself have faith strong enough to give me life, but by leaning on You, totally, physically, spiritually and mentally, I not only have life but I have "abundant' life through You, the Faithful One. Amen

The Potter's Wheel

Promise of the Day:
Does not the potter have the right
to make out of the same lump of clay
some pottery for noble purposes and
some for common use?
(Romans 9:21 NIV)

Prayer:
Lord, sometimes I do feel as though my life is on the potter's wheel, spinning around. But if this is an analogy of my life, then I want your gentle fingers to be smoothing and molding this lump of clay. May there truly be a reason for each turn, and may I become what You have planned for me. It may just be a 'common use', but at least it will be of use. You are my potter, Lord, I am Your soft and pliable lump of clay. I want to be a product of Your perfect plan.
Amen

He is the Potter

Promise of the Day:
Hath not the potter power over the clay?
(Romans 9:21 KJV)

Prayer:
You, O Lord, are my Creator-owner. My Potter; my designer. Melt me, Lord, Mold me, use me, and most of all, fill me. Fill me up with You so that I spill over with Your love. The one thing I do not want is to be useless and cracked and set on a shelf. You are the potter, Lord. I am a lump of clay, but You can make this lump into a useful vessel; into something beautiful and good. I yield to You, my Savior. Amen

Deeds of Love

Promise of the Day:
Let us not love in word, neither in tongue;
but in deed and in truth.
(I John 3:18 KJV)

Prayer:
It was Your love, Lord, that brought You to earth in human form. It was Your love that hung You on the tree of Calvary. It is Your love that sets me free, that gives me salvation. Then I, as Your child, am also to love. Your love is an attribute that You share with me, and so by having Your love in me, one should know that I am Your child. My love should show by my deeds. Use me, Lord, as a vessel of love. Amen

Deeds of Helps

Promise of the Day:
Whoever serves me must follow me;
and where I am, my servant also will be.
My Father will honor the one who serves me.
(John 12:26 NIV)

Prayer:
Lord, You said that even a cup of water given in Your name would glorify You. I don't want to miss seeing the needs of others just because my own needs may be so great at any given time. When I see You working somewhere, I want to be helpful. Help me to see the hungry, the thirsty, the lonely, the sick, and bring Your touch to them. And when I am not able, may I appreciate and pray for those who do. I want to follow You and glorify You, dear Lord. Amen

I Give You My Heart

Promise of the Day:
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, thou wilt not despise.
(Psalm 51:17NIV)

Prayer:
Lord, it is not the sacrifices of animals You want, but me, a broken spirit before You. "Blessed are the poor in spirit." You, Yourself, were given as my sacrifice; now You only want from me my heart, totally and unreservedly laid at Your feet. I am crucified with You Lord. I die daily that You might have total control. Here is my heart, Lord Jesus. I can only offer You my worship and praise, and a contrite heart of thanksgiving. Amen

Our God Reigns

Promise of the Day:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen
(Matthew 6:13b)

Prayer:
O Lord, You are Majesty! Even Job could only stand in awe when he realized Your power. You, who made the oceans also made the dew drop. In John 18 You tell Pilate Your kingdom is not of this world, and in Psalm 93, Your throne is established of old. Your Glory is from everlasting to everlasting. Yet You tell me Your kingdom is within me! The power that raised Jesus from the grave is within me! Romans 8 promises I will share in Your glory. So Lord, Your kingdom, power, and glory which is forever, is also mine forever. The Lord Reigns! Hallelujah! Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen

Bless The Lord

Promise of the Day:
"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall
continually be in my mouth.
I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered
me from all my fears." (Psalm 34:1, 4)

Prayer:
O Lord, I will praise You at all times. I am to pray about everything, with thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6), and I know You remove my fears. The situations may still be with me, but O the peace You give! I call this the "Sacrifice of Praise". No matter what the circumstances, if I will praise You, just thank You for being with me knowing You ultimately are in control, then the burden is lifted, the heart is lightened and I will bless and thank You. "I sought the Lord . . . and He delivered me from all my fears." Amen

Comforter, Teacher and Helper

Promise of the Day:
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,...he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
(John 14:26)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, You have given to me a helper, the Holy Spirit, to dwell within me. You told Your disciples that You were going away, but another would come, one who would comfort and help. The Holy Spirit is part of the Triune God, one with the Father, one with the Son. The Holy Spirit is "the Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified." This is a quote from one of the ancient creeds, but helps me see the workings of the sweet Holy Spirit. In our verse it promises the Spirit will teach me. So I have a Comforter, a Helper, and a Teacher ready to bless me and guide me through each day. I can do "all things" through Him. Amen

Worship In Spirit

Promise of the Day:
The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the innermost parts of his being. (Proverbs 20:27 NASB)

Prayer:
They that worship You, O Lord, must worship You in spirit. The Amplified Version of Proverbs 20:27 states that the "spirit of man is the factor in the human personality which proceeds immediately from God." This would tell me that my spirit is so entwined with Yours, I should be at complete rest. It shows how the life of the vine flows through the branch, just as Your Spirit is flowing into my spirit, giving me life and peace and rest. You know my most innermost being and thoughts. I will lift up my eyes from earth's troubles. I will rest in You, my Savior and my God. Amen

Holy, Holy, Holy

Promise of the Day:
Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? (Exodus 15:11)
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. (Rev. 4:8)

Prayer:
There is none like You, O my Lord! When I think of Your Glory, I say "Woe is me..." as did Isaiah; and as Job, "I abhor myself". You are Holy and full of Glory! Yet You are mindful of me! Through the blood of Jesus, I can come boldly into Your throne room, entering into the Holy of Holies, to praise You and worship You and to seek Your face. You are Majesty! I could search through all eternity and find no one like You! You are Holy, holy, holy; there is none like You! Amen

Abba, Father

Promise of the Day:
You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. (Rom 8:15,16)

Prayer:
Father, Father, My very own Father! You are Holy; hallowed and holy is Your name. And You have accepted me as Your child, a joint heir with Christ! This is all so very incomprehensible! Because I am unable to believe this in my finite self, You have given me the Spirit to give witness to my spirit, and He assures me I am Your child. Verse 17 of Romans 8 goes on to say that we also must share in Christ's suffering if we are to share in His Glory. This is only in this present life, and even here You never leave me and I can cry out "Father, my Father!" Amen

True Meekness

Promise of the Day:
I can of mine own self do nothing; as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
(John 5:30)

Prayer:
Dearest Lord Jesus, You who are the life in me, I bow before You today and seek to do Your will. When You were on earth in the body of a man, You yielded Your all to the Father. You did nothing of Your own self but always the will of the Father. Yet You also were one with the Father, equal to the Father. If You were so willing to yield to the Father's will, then so much more should I be to yield to Your will. It is in yielding that I will have strength. In yielding I shall inherit all You desire for me. In yielding Your Grace shall be sufficient for me. I delight to yield to You. Amen

Temple of God

Promise of the Day:
In him the whole building is joined together
and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
And in him you too are being built together
to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
(Ephesians 2:21,22 NIV)

Prayer:
"Know ye not that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit?" What a sobering thought, dear Lord. Not only are all believers joined together by the Holy Spirit, comprising the church, but I am as an individual a dwelling place. The Spirit dwells within ME. And since He is the Spirit of the Father, and the Spirit of the Son, I have the fullness of the Godhead within me. The Trinity! So the Trinity, and me, that makes a 'foursome'. I am one with the Trinity! What Grace! What Amazing Grace! I fall on my knees before You, O Holy Lord! Amen

The Trinity

Promise of the Day:
Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father. (John 14:9)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, You told Your disciples that if they saw You they had seen the Father. Another verse states that You and the Father are one. In the Nicene Creed it states "being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made . . . ". It goes on further to say of the Holy Spirit that He "proceedeth from the Father and the Son." You, my Lord are equal to the Father in Your Godhead, yet less than the Father in Your manhood; thus explains another verse where you state "my Father is greater than I." This thought, O Lord, that You are one with the Father and Holy Spirit is the doctrine of the Trinity, and because man cannot explain it shows it is too wonderful to be imagined. You are the "Holy Trinity"; One God, the equal three! And You are in Me! This is all I need! Amen

Thy Will be Done

Promise of the Day:
I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O Lord.
(Psalm 26:6 NIV)

Prayer:
Lord, I have just reread the whole of Psalm 26. What a blessed Psalm--"Examine me, O Lord, and try me; test my mind and my heart." Here the psalmist is asking to be tried. He is committing himself to You because as it next says "Your loving-kindness is before my eyes." You love me, and only do what is right, what is best for me. I have titled this Psalm "He is a Just Ruler". Merge my will with Yours, dear Lord; Thy will be done.
Amen

God Uses It for Good

Promise of the Day:
And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison...
But the Lord was with Joseph...
and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.
(Genesis 39:20-21, 23)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, my mind often goes to Joseph when life seems to get difficult. What happened to him was meant for evil by the brothers, yet You turned it all around for good. Satan often tries to thwart Your work and discourage Your people, and he knows I am an easy mark. But I am learning to know that YOU can turn it all into good. My job is to keep my gaze on You and put joyous trust in You as Joseph did. The Joy of the Lord is my strength. Show me Your desire for me and fill my heart with You. A quote from Madame Guyon: "I have learned to love the darkness of sorrow; there you see the brightness of His face."
Amen

Breathe His Name

Promise of the Day:
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. (Proverbs 18:10)

Prayer:
Breathing Your name, Lord, calling on You by Your name brings peace to my soul. Even repeating it over and over when wrong thoughts pop up, cleanses my mind and helps me fill it with good thoughts, pure and lovely. Another way I use Your name is in the 'night watches' when I have difficulty sleeping. I repeat Your name by using letters of the alphabet, such as "Adoni" for A; "Beloved" is for B, and so on. Your name, O Lord, IS a strong tower! It gives me courage and it gives me life. By breathing Your name in the face of Satan, he flees from me. O Praise Your Name, Your Holy, beautiful name! Amen

He Goes With Me

Promise of the Day:
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. (Daniel 3:17)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, Just as with these Hebrew boys and the furnace, You may not always deliver me from something, but You do go with me through it. When the king looked in to the fire, he even Saw You and knew who You were. With Daniel, You made the lions nothing more than large kitty cats. In the New Testament, when Paul was on his way to Rome, the ship even broke apart, yet all were saved because You brought them through it. I could go on and on, even in my own life, but with You all things are possible. You will walk with me all the way through the Valley of the Shadow of death and through the gates of Heaven itself. I will never be alone. Thank You, Lord, that no matter how impossible a situation may seem, You go with me. The fire cannot burn me, the water will not overflow me. Praise Your name forevermore! Amen

Love and Unity

Promise of the Day:
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others...(I Cor. 12:27-28)

Prayer:
Lord, Your church is to be known by its "love". Not by any miracles, but by love. You have given us a 'spirit of love', one of Your attributes which You share with us. From Ephesians we also learn that Your church is to have "unity". This unity is the bond we share that is sealed by Your blood. One body, One Spirit, One Lord, and we are to preserve the Unity of the Spirit. Fill me with Your love, dear Lord. You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of love. May I show and spread Your love in this unlovely world. Amen

Victory through Jesus!

Promise of the Day:
Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:11)

Prayer:
"Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
(I Cor. 15:57) Lord, You have not given me a spirit of fear, but the victory over fear, and sin. You have given me the Victory I need so that I can love even the unlovely; and keep a sound mind. Through You, Lord, I can be an overcomer. You have promised eternal life, an inheritance with You, a new name, even a crown. O Lord, without You I am nothing. With You I can have the Victory over all things. Death may come to this body, but life comes through You forevermore. There is Victory in Jesus! Amen

Without Him!

Promise of the Day:
By the grace of God I am what I am. (I Cor. 15:10)

Prayer:
Without You, Lord, I am nothing! I would be lost, I would truly fail at trying to be worthy of You. I was nothing but rags, I had nothing to offer You but my filthiness and sin, and You made me into something beautiful. But for Your grace I could not be saved, yet You reached down and plucked me out of the mire. You made me a princess, clothed in Your righteousness, and now I can stand before the Father clean and shining in the light of Your Glory. Hallelujah! What a Savior! Amen

God's Word

Promise of the Day:
When the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God." He answered and said, "It is written . . .It is written. . . It is written . . ." Then the devil left Him. (Matt. 4:3-4, 7, 10-11)

Prayer:
Lord, You used Your Word against Satan, and I too, should know Your Word well enough to use it as my weapon against Satan. "Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee." (Psalm 119:11) Your Word is as a double-edged sword, and is my weapon of choice. When I am faced with a decision, I should seek Your Word for the answers. Paul said "Woe to me if I preach any other Gospel." Your Word, Lord, is a light unto my path. May I be true to You and love Your Word for the rest of my life! Amen

Strength for the Needy

Promise of the Day:
For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is like a storm against the wall. (Isaiah 25:4)

Prayer:
O Lord, Your promises are so great. No matter what the day brings You bring me the strength to face it. This You have proved to me over and over as I have been traveling down this road of life. As I read through the Old Testament, I am reminded how You gave strength to each of Your saints. Jeremiah said he was too young; Moses said he could not speak. Jehoshaphat was afraid and he sought You. He was promised the battle was the Lord's and You gave him strength to go forward. You have promised, dear Lord, that if You bring me to something, You will see me through it, through every dark spot, over every stumbling block, around every bend. Yes, even through the final passage of the "valley of death". I can rely on You, You are always with me. Thank You, Lord.
Amen

My Future Home

Promise of the Day:
Now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
(Hebrews 11:16)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, I do look for a better city. This world is not my home! You have promised and indeed it is true, my citizenship is with You. How can I describe this place, my future home? I Corinthians 2:9 puts it as plainly as possible: "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." So, there is no way our finite minds can even imagine how wonderful it will be. One thing I do know is that I will "awake in Your likeness", and I shall see You face to face! I shall hear Your voice! I can not even imagine how I will react. I think I will fall on my face and kiss Your feet and thank You for giving me eternal life! One day, when I reach my future home, and I see Your face, I will say 'it has been worth it all'. Amen

Joy

Promise of the Day:
These things have I spoken unto you...that your joy might be full.
(John 15:11)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, Paul is an example of one who knew Your word, walked in Your presence, and he was joyful. Even though he listed all his trials, and many problems which we would call "tragedies", yet he also said he was always rejoicing. He found it joy to suffer for Your sake, and to share in Your sufferings. When he had what he called "a thorn" (whether physical, mental or spiritual he doesn't say) he found Your grace to be sufficient. May I too face life this way. All I am or ever hope to be comes from You. Your way is truth and it is Joy. Your Joy is all I need for strength and peace. I will delight myself in You. Amen

But For Your Grace

Promise of the Day:
To each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
(Eph. 4:7)

Prayer:
But for Your Grace, dear Lord, I would not be saved! But for Your Grace I would not be in union with You! But for Your Grace I would be weak and would have gone my own miserable way. But now I can sing "Amazing Grace'' that You saved a wretch like me. I was lost, but You found me and set my feet on the Rock. This marvelous, wonderful Grace is mine because of You, my Jesus. You are all I need. Your Grace is sufficient! Amen

Sing to the Lord!

Promise of the Day:
Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. (Psalm 33:3,4)

Prayer:
Jesus, my Lord, I adore You. Perhaps this is why I so love singing with our worship team at church every Sunday. It is my way of praising You and to 'sing unto Him a new song'. I not only get to do this for Sunday morning worship, but 2 other times as well as we practice the songs. There is nothing like being down in the spirit, and then to begin praising You in song. It lifts the spirit so high, I feel as though I could float. Praising You keeps my focus on You! Praise stimulates my faith, and praising You in a trial will help me see the goodness in that situation. In Psalm 22:3 it states that You 'inhabit my praises.' Another translation says that You are 'enthroned on my praises.' "Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" (Psalm 107:8) Amen

Created By God

Promise of the Day:
Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days (of my life) were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.
(Psalm 139:16 Amp.)

Prayer:
Lord, this thought that You knew me when I was yet unformed in the womb, staggers my mind. Oh yes, I can see You knowing David maybe; Isaiah, I am sure; Moses, for sure; and for other 'greats' it makes sense, but me?! I have so few natural abilities, I can not write a poem, I can not paint a picture. I am not able to preach a sermon, or even speak to a group; but yet You knew me, You loved me, You have kept me in the hollow of Your hand. Sometimes my mind is overwhelmed with the thought of it. Verse 14 of Psalm 139 states: "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well." You are the Life in me, O most Holy Lord!
Amen

My Lord

Promise of the Day:
"And Thomas answered and said unto him, 'My Lord and my God.'".
(John 20:28)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, Because You are God and cannot lie, You are bound by Your Lordship to care for me, protect me, and provide for me. In return I am not only duty bound to obey You, but it is with a grateful heart I am going to bow before You and proclaim as Thomas did "My Lord and my God". My loyalty comes to You not because of what You can do for me, but because of what You did do for me on Mount Calvary. You gave Your life, what more could You give. My faith is in You Lord. A. W. Tozer states that 'faith is the gaze of the soul upon a saving God.' And so I bow before You lifting up my hands to praise You. I will honor You and obey You, my God and my King. Amen

Dwell There

Promise of the Day:
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, On a warm day, we often look for the shadows, shade of a rock or of a tree in order to be cooler. It is here in the shadow where we are revived, and we will find a resting place, a shelter from the blast of heat. Your Word states You cover me with Your feathers which brings to mind a mother hen covering her chicks so no harm will come. They are hidden from sight and sheltered from any onslaughts of an enemy. My enemy is Satan, but if I stay close to You, remain in Your shadow, he cannot touch me. My only safe place is to remain in the shelter or shadow of Your wings. Psalm 17:8 states: "Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings." Amen

Platforms

Promise of the Day:
My Father is the husbandman. (John 15:1)

Prayer:
Lord, You are in ALL of the events of my life which means even the sorrows that come to me. Even the pressures of pain, as well as the good times. Isobel Kuhn calls the times of pressure "platforms". And so they are; each causing me to step higher and be closer to You. We learn in the good times, we learn in the hard times. I just pray, Lord, that any lessons coming my way will not be wasted. You are in control of the whole of my life. You may have to prune the vine of my life all the way down, but the outcome will be the greater abundance of fruit. There are blessings known only to the 'husbandman' that we can never have unless we are ready to pay the price of pain, and reach the next platform.
You are my 'husbandman'. You know the way I take. Amen

His Goodness

Promise of the Day:
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalm 100:5)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, Goodness is one of Your attributes. This means that as an attribute You are "all Good". A. W. Tozier states: 'the goodness of God is the drive behind all the blessings He daily bestows upon us.' Your goodness is that which causes You to be kind, cordial, and full of good toward all of man. As an attribute, it is self-caused, infinite, perfect and eternal. Your Goodness, Lord, is an unmerited, spontaneous goodness of God and is back of all Your acts. The last verse of a poem written by Charles Wesley fits here, Lord:

Before my faith's enlightened eyes

Make all thy gracious goodness pass.

Thy goodness is the sight I prize:

O might I see thy smiling face:

Thy nature in my soul proclaim.

Reveal Thy love, Thy glorious name!

"O Taste and see that the Lord is good!" (Psa. 34:8) Amen

The Life-Giver

Promise of the Day:
When he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he...blessed, and brake the loaves...and they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
(Mark 6:41-44)

Prayer:
You, dear Lord, are the 'life-giver'. You not only give me what I need, but You will take from me what I do not need. You have promised to help me carry my burdens, and that I should cast it all before You. In the New Testament, Paul likens our time on earth to a race that we must run to win. We could never run a race if we are encumbered with a heavy burden, or if we are weak from hunger. So You take the load, and then You fill me with Your 'bread of heaven'. Life giving nourishment from You to help me go singing and free on my way through this life. Thank You, Lord for supplying all my needs. Amen

I Do Not Understand

Promise of the Day:
What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.
(John 13:7)

Prayer:
No, Lord, I do not understand why You had to suffer and die that we might have life; or why Your children are persecuted and have to suffer in this life. You could put a hedge around all Your children, but we would then become weak; we would not have learned how to use Your armor. You say in I Peter 4:13 that our suffering is working for us and will make us rejoice even more when we see Your glory. David said that before he was afflicted, he went astray. I know that all that comes my way is allowed for my good, and I pray I will not waste the trials You allow for me. I also know that nothing touches me that has not gone through You first. You have a design for me, and though I may not understand it, You will use it for my good. Thank You Lord for all You do for me even if I do not understand. Amen

Obedience

Promise of the Day:
"Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."
(II Corinthians 10:5)

Prayer:
My Lord, Your Word says that when You were in Your human body You did nothing of Yourself. You looked to the Father for direction. How much more it should be for me to look to You, the Father and Holy Spirit for my direction. The Moffat translation of the Promise verse is: "I take every project prisoner to make it obey Christ." I want every thought, action and project to be under Your control. Only then can I feel I am truly living as You would have me to live. You are my dwelling place. Amen

The Perfect Example

Promise of the Day:
"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet." (John 13:14)

Prayer:
Lord, You said You had given us an example of how You want us to live. That example had You on Your knees before the ordinary men of that day, washing their feet. When You stood before Your accusers You did not talk back. You laid down Your life for Your friends. You gained Your strength by being alone and often with the Father. Lord, help me to take Your examples and apply them in my own life. I want to be ready, always! Amen

Sweet to My Taste

Promise of the Day:
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
(Psalm 34:8)

Prayer:
Many analogies are throughout Scripture to help me understand how to be in union with You, Lord. Psalm 34:8 is one with: "Oh taste...". You speak of Yourself as the 'bread of life'. Your Word is as sincere milk, and we are to grow in order to take in the 'meat' of the Word. In all ways it shows how important it is to feast on You, on Your Word, every day. I am to take 'You in', drink and eat from Your Word, until it makes me strong, filled with Your love, ready to offer a cup to those who are hungry and thirsty for You. 'No one can satisfy the hungry heart like Jesus'. In You I am satisfied! Amen

My Mornings!

Promise of the Day:
Come up in the morning...and present thyself there to me
in the top of the mount. (Exodus 34:2)

Prayer:
For the past 8 or 9 years, Lord, I have made it a habit to spend at least an hour with You. O that I could say that I had done this for the past 50 years! But one cannot spend time weeping over the past. Paul says to forget the past. It is done, it cannot be changed. But we can press forward toward our goal. These years of a time each morning have been precious. A way of beginning each new day with You. A time to praise You and realize each new day brings me a day closer to You. Each morning I awake and know You are still with me and have watched over me all through the night; so I thank You for Your faithfulness. I look ahead without fear because I know You are in control and I can face each new bend in the road. I give You my heart, Lord. I give You my life, and I give You my day. Amen

When Faith Fails

Promise of the Day:
"Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." (Mark 9:24)

Prayer:
O Lord, how often I have said "help thou my unbelief". Yet we are told by Paul in Galatians that it is by "Your faith" that I have life. All I have to do when I feel weak and helpless and lacking in faith, is to lean heavily on You. Being God, You have an attribute of 'faithfulness'. I do not need to keep striving for more faith, but to learn to just rest on You, my All-Faithful friend. In a book written by a saint over a hundred years ago, this statement was made: "The Lord Jesus received is holiness begun; The Lord Jesus cherished is holiness advancing; the Lord Jesus counted upon as never absent would be holiness complete..." This, Lord, is Faith. Amen

Shout of Faith

Promise of the Day:
And when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout;
and the wall of the city shall fall down flat,
and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. (Joshua 6:5)

Prayer:
Lord, it was not the 'shout' that caused the wall to fall, but the act of faith. You had told the Children of Israel that Jericho already belonged to them, so they had the 'hope' of victory. Just as I have the 'hope' of Glory, but before I get there I am to follow You and be willing to fulfill Your work here. What You say You will do. "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Heb. 11:1) Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Thank You Lord! My hope, my faith, is in You. Amen

Abundant Life

Promise of the Day:
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
(John 10:10 NIV)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, I do have a deep 'artesian well' from Your Holy Spirit within me--always full and bubbling to overflowing. Yet, until I dip into it and drink of the freshness, I do not experience the joy that is there for me. No wonder there are so many sad Christians. You fill the life with Your bubbling spring, yet it is not absorbed or applied. Fill my cup, Lord, I hold it up to You! I will drink from the saucer as Your peace and joy overflows in my life. Thank You, Lord!
Amen

Find Joy

Promise of the Day:

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice:

let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them:

let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, Lord,

wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

(Psalm 5:11, 12 KJV)

Prayer:

As I was reading these verses, Lord, a thought came to my mind. Just as the priests first had to step into the river before you parted the water's of the Jordan, so I must lift my heart to You in a 'Sacrifice of Praise' to find the joy You give. I cannot expect to sit in misery and fear and then wonder why I don't have joy. I must keep my thoughts on You, and lift my heart to You, look at the roses, look for the silver lining, and Thank You for Your blessings and peace. Then I will experience Your joy.

Stay in tune with the Master.

He is your strength each day.

Lift your heart to Him in song,

And you shall then find joy.

(Unknown)

Amen

You Are My Joy

Promise of the Day:

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,

but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

because anyone who serves Christ in this way

is pleasing to God and approved by men.

(Romans 14:17-18 NIV)

Prayer:

You, Lord, are the Joy of my Salvation. Your peace passes all understanding. And it is this joy and peace that I have within me because You are IN me. Ephesians is very clear about the 'fullness of God' being within me! This to me is a 'Wow' thought! This is where Your kingdom is right now, within my being. So I look to You today for total peace and joy in whatever I face. Your Joy is my strength, and You are my Comfort and my Peace. Amen

Come, Lord Jesus

Promise of the Day:
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:
and the dead in Christ shall rise first. (I Thess. 4:16 KJV)

Prayer:
O what a Day that will be--when my dear Savior I see! To actually behold You Lord, in all Your Glory! And I shall be like You, Blessed Redeemer! There are times when I hear of all that is happening in this world that I cry to You 'how long, O Lord, how long' until You call it enough. May I not waste my time while waiting, but may I be Your light every day. Even so, come quickly! Amen

Your Return

Promise of the Day:
No one knows about that day or hour,
not even the angels in heaven,
not the Son, but only the Father.
(Matthew 24:36 NIV)

Prayer:
O Lord, I want to see You, I want to hear the sound of Your voice, and I want to feel Your touch. I can only imagine what it will be like! As the song goes: "will I dance for You Jesus? Will I fall on my knees?" I think I will fall on my Face before You and perhaps weep that I have not done more. Lord, will I see my children? my grandchildren? all of my dear family and friends? O I pray it will be so. Draw them all to You and come quickly, Lord Jesus. I know I will join the many other saints praising You, and filled with awe and reverence! O Lord, I want to see You soon! Amen

Hope!

Promise of the Day:
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
(I John 2:25 KJV)

Prayer:
What a glorious hope we have! The term 'hope' means a promise of a known fact. Romans 5:2 states "...we stand and rejoice 'in hope' of the Glory of God." And another verse in Romans 15:13 "The God 'of hope' fill You with all joy and peace." What a blessed hope (promise) we have in You, my Jesus. "I am not worthy the least of His favor", yet You left heaven and died in my place that I might have this 'hope' of eternal life. I praise You and Thank You for all You have done and are preparing for me. Amen

The Beginning to the End

Promise of the Day:
"...I am God, and there is none like me,
declaring the end from the beginning..." (Isaiah 46:9-10)

Prayer:
O Lord God, Maker of all, Ruler of all! You see the end from the beginning. You knew me before I was born, and You see my days and know what is in my future. You have promised to never leave me, and You have proved this to be so as You have carried me over the rough spots. Even when I left You for a time, You never left me. When I returned You held me to Your cheek. Thank You Lord, that Your presence is with me now and through eternity. Amen

The Good in Life

Promise of the Day:
Whatever is true...whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable...think about such things. (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

Prayer:
Lord, so often You tell us to keep our minds on good things. Psalm 19:14 says that I should "let the words of my mouth, the meditations of my heart, be right in they sight, O Lord." This is the answer to a sound mind, peace in my heart, seeing You with me through this path of life. Keeping my focus on You, on the true, the lovely, and I will not stray. You are my redeemer and my salvation.

What of the past still lingers?

Bitterness and strife?

Nay, for I hear You whisper,

"Think of the good in life."

(unknown)

I will keep my thoughts on You! Amen