Leave it with Him

Promise of the Day:'
Consider the lilies . . .how they grow. (Matthew 6:28)

Prayer:
Lord, You have asked us to just look at creation around us to see how You care for all. In plant life alone, there are some plants that are called 'night shades' and they do their best growing during the dark of the night; some do need mostly a sunny clime, and some need lots of rain. The desert is full of plants that prefer the dryness. You know just what each one needs, and you know just what I need to help me grow. The same is true for my loved ones, as I pray for each one, You know best how to bring out their most beautiful colors. So I leave all to You, and though I pray for days full of sunshine, You know what is best. You made each one, You know our frame, and Your thoughts for me and for my loved ones, are for good.

Yes, leave it with Him,
The lilies all do,
And they grow--
They grow in the rain,
And they grow in the dew--
Yes, they grow;
They grow in the darkness, all hid in the night--
They grow in the sunshine, revealed by the light--
Still they grow. (author unknown)

Here I am Lord, I give myself and my loved ones to You, and I will leave all with You.
Amen

My Vision of Faith

Promise of the Day:
Look from the place where thou art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it. (Genesis 13:14, 15)

Prayer:
"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe it all to thee" dear Lord. What is it You desire of me but to love the Lord my God with all my heart, mind and soul. You will ask no more of me than I can do, and You will give me the power and the strength to do all that You ask of me. So I rest in You, my Jesus. If You bring me to something, whether it be a thought, a 'brick wall', a bend in the road, You will see me through it. S. A. Keen has said: "No instinct can be put in you by the Holy Spirit but He purposes to fulfill. Let your faith then rise and soar away and claim all the land you can discover." To God be the glory for all You have done! Amen

Open My Eyes

Promise of the Day:
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God. (Psalm 123:2)

Prayer:
"Open the Eyes of my heart, Lord, ...that I may see you! See You high and lifted up..." O Lord, may my gaze be continually upon You. I will keep my eyes on You by staying in the Word, by seeing Your tender mercies, by listening for Your voice. Your Word states You will guide me with Your eye. How can I know Your guidance without keeping my own gaze on You, seeing how You pour out Your blessings and Your love every day. My eyes look to You, O Lord my God, Shining in the Light of Your Glory. I eagerly wait for You and in everything I will keep my focus on You. Amen

By Faith

Promise of the Day:
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above, and they shall stand in one heap. (Joshua 3:13)

Prayer:
There is not anything, Lord, that I can do without Faith. All things are possible with God! It was by faith that Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac. He knew Isaac was 'the promise', so He trusted You to fulfill that promise. It was by faith Noah spent 100 years building the ark with no water near, and the word "rain" was not in their vocabulary. It was by faith Rahab hung the red cord out the window and was saved, and Mary became pregnant though she had never been with a man; and of course it was by faith as our verses tells us, that the priests stepped into the Jordan, and the waters parted. Thomas Champness has said: "Faith assists God. It can stop the mouth of lions and quench the violence of fire. It yet honors God, and God honors it. Oh, for this faith that will go on, leaving God to fulfill His promise when He sees fit!" I will therefore sing as I march forward to face each new day. You are a marvelous and awesome God! Amen

A-Wearying for Jesus

Promise of the Day:
I do not count the sufferings of our present life worthy of mention when compared with the glory that is to be revealed and bestowed upon us. (Romans 8:18)


Prayer:
"We shall see His lovely face, some bright golden morning!" O what a wonderful day when I shall behold You face-to-face, my beloved Jesus. It will then have been worth it all, each trial will seem as nothing when I see Your face! One glimpse and earth will be forgotten!

Just a-wearying for you,
Jesus, Lord, beloved and true;
Wishing for you, wondering when
You'll be coming back again,
Under all I say and do,
Just a-wearying for you. (author unknown)

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen

By Himself

Promise of the Day:
Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high...(Hebrews 1:3)

Prayer:
O Lord Jesus, today's Daily Light verses were so powerful for me, I just want to thank you. There is no comparison available to show the contrast between Your heavenly throne and Your becoming like a man. Yet You did it, left the throne and made Yourself of no reputation. Then by Yourself took the penalty for my sin.
Now, because of what You did, I too can and do have all things. And not only do I have all things, but I am in You. I Cor. 3:23 states "You (I am included) are Christ's, and Christ is God's". We are one, one with the Trinity actually. This makes us a quartet, the Trinity and me. There is no greater Love than this, that by Yourself, Lord, You cleansed me and made me whole and the Fullness of the Godhead is within me. To me, this is such a 'Wow!' Thank You. Amen

My Refuge and My Strength

Promise of the Day:
But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
(Psalm 37:39 KJV)

Prayer:
Holy Lord, no matter what my situation, You are always there guiding and helping me. Thank You for giving me the strength I so often desperately need. As Psalm 37 states "You are my strength in time of trouble." You are a strength to the needy, a refuge in time of storm. You are also my rock and upon You, my Rock, I place my faith. The winds of trouble may blow, but You are my shelter and safety. You are the joy of my salvation, my refuge, and my strength. Praise be to You, O God. Amen

God is My Salvation

Promise of the Day:
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.
(Psalm 46:1,2 NIV)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, You are truly my refuge. When I am close to You I have nothing to fear. You cover me with Your 'feathers' and hold me up with Your 'everlasting arms'. I will rise upon 'eagles wings', and I will run and not grow weary or faint from trials that beset me (Isa. 40:31). You are a light to my path. In Prov. 4:18 it states "the path of the just is as the shining light". . .until I reach You. From a poem by James Montgomery:
"God is my strong salvation;
What foe have I to fear?
In darkness and temptation
My light, my help is near.
Though hosts encamp around me,
Firm in the fight I stand;
What terror can confound me,
With God at my right hand?"
Thank You for being my Strength, my Refuge, and My Salvation! Amen

His Great Love

Promise of the Day:
Great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. (Psalm 86:13)


Prayer:
You looked beyond my fault, Lord, and saw my need. I was sinking in the slough of despond, stuck in the mire of sin, yet You delivered me. You reminded me You had paid the costly price, why was I slopping about in the pit. You had already gone to Mount Calvary and nailed it all to the Cross. O Lord, Your mercy and Your Grace is even greater than my sin. You have delivered me! Where sin abounded, Your Grace abounded more. In Eph. 2 it states "God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us (me). . ." Because of Your Great Love I am now alive, no longer sinking, but alive unto God; clean and white and righteous!
Amen

Eternal Life

Promise of the Day:
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
(John 17:3 NIV)

Prayer:
I thank you, Lord, for the gift of Eternal Life. Eternal Life is that life beyond time. It is not just a phase, but it is beyond what my finite mind can even imagine. And to think--I shall behold You always--eternally! You are the source and the substance of Eternal Life. With this life I will be a joint heir; a child of the King; reigning with You. O Lord, I don't understand it, but I accept it and I Praise You for it. Praise to the Father, Praise to the Son, and Praise to the Holy Spirit, the Great three -in- one. Amen

When I See Jesus!

Promise of the Day:
One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4 NIV)

Prayer:
Lord, 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 can only imagine!" I so long to see Your face, "Your face, Lord, I will seek" (Psa. 27:8). Just to gaze on Your beauty and to Praise You! I Praise You in the sunshine as well as the shadows. May I use the time I have left on this earth to Praise You, and when I get to Glory I will sit at Your feet and gaze and gaze upon Your sweet face. Thank You, Lord, that my life here on earth is only the beginning of my eternal life with You.
Amen

God is My Portion

Promise of the Day:
. . .My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
(Psalm 73:26)

Prayer:
Lord, I will drink from the saucer as You fill my cup to overflowing. You make my life complete! In reading Hebrews 11, the saints of old knew You were their portion. They sought for the city not made with hands. They longed for a rest not found on this earth. They longed for You, Lord. Their souls' thirsted for You, as does mine. This world is not my home, You are my inheritance; my portion; there is no other. You are my hearts desire and I will worship You, O Lord. Amen

God is My Help

Promise of the Day:
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. (Ephesians 3:20)

Prayer:
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of You, O Lord. (Rom. 11:33) In all Your wisdom and knowledge, still You desire to do more for me than I can imagine. O Lord, I am so unworthy of all of this. Yet the more needy I am, the more You desire to help me if I will just lean on You in faith, and draw from You the strength and help I need. O Lord, it is You who is not only able to do more for me than I could ask or think, but from Jude 24 & 25 I know You are able to keep me from stumbling into sin; and You through Your Grace can present me before the throne of the Father, blameless, clothed in Your Righteousness! This is the most abundant help and beyond my imagination! To You be glory, majesty and dominion forever! Amen

God's Way is not Man's Way

Promise of the Day:
For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)

Prayer:
Lord, Your ways are not our ways--Your thoughts are not our thoughts. Then why do we so often try to put You in a box? We think You have not answered or do not care when life is not as we have planned or requested. Quality control and practicality in our eyes, are not necessarily Your way. Forgive me, Lord, for ever thinking 'I deserve better'--for that is when I stumble and move away from Your side. One look at You, one look at the Cross--and I am humbled! So be it, Lord. Selah-Amen

God Answers Prayer

Promise of the Day:
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him. (Psa. 91:15)

Prayer:
You do hear our prayers, O Lord. You are Jehovah-Jireh, the God who provides. Your banner over me is 'love', Jehovah-Nissi. The answers You give may not be what I request, as I know not how to pray; and deliverance may not always be physical, but spiritual. You have not promised a way free of stones and thorns, but that You will go with me all the way. You have not promised me riches, but You have said You will supply all my needs. And You have promised strength for each day; Your comfort to go with me, and that You will carry me on eagles wings. You are my God and my King! You are my Lord God Jehovah and in Thee will I trust. Amen

All Things

Promise of the Day:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Prayer:
My prayer today, Lord, is a paraphrase of this verse from Ruth Myers book "31 Days of Praise".
"Thank You, my loving and sovereign God, that my failures and mistakes are part of the 'all things' You work together for good . . .as well as my tensions and stresses, my hostile and anxious feelings, my regrets, my trips into shame and self-blame--and the specific things that trigger them. I praise You that 'all things,' including these, can contribute to my spiritual growth and my experience of You . . ." And from Psa. 61:2: "When my heart is overwhelmed, I'm more aware of my need to cry to You. . . to take refuge in You . . . to rely on You." Thank You Lord, that you do use 'all things' to play a part in Your good plan for my life. Amen

Trust in the Lord

Promise of the Day:
Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. (Isaiah 26:4)

Prayer:
Lord, You are my Light and my Salvation, and my desire is to You. Psalm 27:4 states that 'I seek to dwell in Your house all the days of my life to gaze on the beauty of the Lord.' It also states 'Your face I will seek.' (vs. 8) O Lord, open the eyes of my heart that I may truly see You; see You high and lifted up, shining in the light of Your Glory! You are altogether lovely and I will trust in You forever. Amen

God's Way

Promise of the Day:
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
(John 10:9)

Prayer:
Lord, if there were many ways to God, why would You have had to die? No, You said You were the door. You are the way. In the old times of the sheep fold, there was only one door in and out, and the only way for the sheep to enter was through that door. At night the shepherd lay across the threshold, so if any thing or any one wanted into the sheepfold, it had to be through the shepherd. The same for heaven. You are the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). To come to the Father, the only way is through You, the Son. It is through You, the Great and Good Shepherd that we can boldly enter the 'Holy of Holies'. Teach me thy way, O Lord.
Amen

My All-Seeing God

Promise of the Day:
O Lord, thou has searched me, and known me. (Psalm 139:1 KJV)


Prayer:
Lord, for my prayer today, I quote from David's Psalm 139 from the Knox translation:
"Lord, I lie open to thy scrutiny; thou knowest me, knowest when I sit down and when I rise up again, canst read my thoughts from far away. Walk I or sleep I, thou canst tell; no movement of mine but thou art watching it. Before ever the words are framed on my lips, all my thought is known to thee . . . Such wisdom as thine is far beyond my reach, no thought of mine can attain it. Where can I go, then, to take refuge from thy spirit, to hide from thy view? . . . I praise thee for my wondrous fashioning, for all the wonders of thy creation. Of my soul thou hast full knowledge, and this mortal frame had no mysteries for thee, who didst contrive it in secret, devise its pattern, there in the dark recesses of the earth. All my acts thy eyes have seen . . . A riddle, O my God, thy dealings with me, so vast their scope! As well count the sand, as try to fathom them; and, were that skill mine, thy own being still confronts me . . . Scrutinize me, O God, as thou wilt, and read my heart; put me to the test, and examine my restless thoughts. See if on any false paths my heart is set, and thyself lead me in the ways of old." Amen

His Name is Jesus

Promise of the Day:
She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.
(Matthew 1:21)

Prayer:
'Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there is something about that name!' O Lord, some day all of heaven and earth will proclaim and bow down to the name of 'Jesus'. The world is still trying to stamp out that name, but while all the kings and kingdoms will pass away, Your name will live on forever! You are also called the Mighty God, Wonderful, Counsellor, the Prince of Peace, and Righteousness. Jer. 23:6 states: This is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. You are not only called 'Righteousness', but You will clothe me in a robe of Righteousness (Isa. 61:10) The Father will look at me and He will see His Son, The Lord, My Righteousness, Jesus. Amen

My Lord and I

Promise of the Day:
The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. (Psalm 9:9 KJV)


Prayer:
You, O Lord, are my hiding place, my refuge, my shelter in a storm. You cover me with Your feathers as a mother hen protects her chicks. You are like the shepherd who carries the lamb between his shoulders. When You are with me, Lord, I have nothing to fear. You do not just lead me, but You walk beside me and help me carry the load. With You by my side I can face whatever trials life brings. Thank you for being my constant in this ever changing world. Amen

God is For Me

Promise of the Day:
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. (Psa. 56:9, 11 KJV)


Prayer:
Lord, I refer to the verses in Isaiah 43 so often. I will paraphrase them here: "You created me, You formed me. You redeemed me and called me by name. You go with me through the deep waters, You are with me in the fire . . . I am precious to You . . . I will not be afraid for You are with me." (vs. 1, 2, 4, 5) In Isaiah 41:13 You promise me You hold me by my hand. With these promises, dear Lord, I will not fear the future! I will keep my gaze on You! You are my God and my Redeemer! You are For me just as You said! Amen

My Time Apart

Promise of the Day:
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)


Prayer:
Lord, I must have my time apart with You each day. This is part of my searching, my seeking You. I call it 'my quiet time.' Andrew Murray calls it "The Inner Chamber'. Hannah Hurnard refers to it as her 'Trysting Place'. Whatever it is called, it is a time of special communion with You, shutting out the world around, and seeking Your presence. IN Your presence there is love, there is joy, there is peace. FROM Your presence I gain strength and joy, peace and love. Sometimes I feel that I am on 'Holy Ground', and I can feel You all around me. You are my God, and I come into Your presence with Joy. Amen

Pleasing God

Promise of the Day:
Without Faith it is impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Prayer:
The main and foremost way to please You, Lord is by my 'faith'. When I have faith in You, even my death will be precious in Your sight (Psa. 116:15). Another way to please You is by a gentle and quiet spirit (I Peter 3:4). This is impossible to acquire without Your Spirit in control of my life. May I manifest these reflections of You--gentleness and quietness. You also share attributes with me, Lord, and I pray I will be worthy. Of these attributes are love, kindness, faithfulness and Joy. All of these are pleasing to You as they reflect You in my life. You take pleasure in Your children (Psa. 149:4) and so I am pleasing to You as I am Your child. Amen

The Lord is Peace

Promise of the Day:
So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The-Lord-Is-Peace. . .(Judges 6:24)

Prayer:
Jehovah-Shalom! Solomon's name means "peaceful" and peace was given to Israel during his reign. But when Jesus came, the begotten Son of the Father, He WAS and IS Peace--The Prince of Peace. This is the peace You want to give us, Your peace which passes all understanding. It is a calm in the storm; it is a place where rivers cannot overflow, wars cannot touch; it is a quiet resting-place for the soul. It is this peace that You desire for each of us to have. This peace is mine when I keep my mind stayed on You (Isaiah 26:3). You are my Jehovah-Shalom! You are my peace. Amen

God's Mercy

Promise of the Day:
Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity. . .? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18, 19)

Prayer:
You are so long-suffering, O Lord, Your mercy so great! You have cast my sins into the depth of the sea because of Your great mercy! Isaiah 41:10 states ". . . be not dismayed. . . I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee. . ." How merciful is that? You not only cast my sins away, but You stay with me to give me strength, to comfort me, to help me and to hold my hand. You are the God of all comfort and Father of mercies (Titus 3:5). In Jude 24 You tell me You are able to keep me from falling and You present me faultless before the throne. To these thoughts I can only say 'Wow'! Thank You for being my merciful and faithful God. Amen

God's Word

Promise of the Day:
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. (John 14:21)


Prayer:
Lord, Paul tells us that after we have been forgiven by You, then we are to forget the past with all its failures, mistakes, sins, and to press forward. So I will take today as a new beginning, the first day of the rest of my life; put Your Word first in my life, hiding it in my heart. Psalm 119 is all about loving Your Word (vs. 47, 48), following Your precepts (vs. 78), using it as the light for my path (vs. 105). It is by Your Word I find comfort in a time of weeping (vs. 50), praises and songs for each new day (vs. 171, 172). Your Word is sweet to my taste! (vs. 103) Your Word revives me and gives me strength. Your Word is my delight (vs. 35). O Lord, teach me and give me understanding (vs. 34). Thank You, O Lord, for Your Word, a priceless blessing! Amen

To Endure Temptation

Promise of the Day:
When the tempter came to Jesus, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread," (the lust of the flesh). But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' " The devil...showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory (the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life). Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan!." (Matt. 4:3-4, 8-10)

Prayer:
Jesus, it is so good to be reminded that when You lived on this earth, You walked among men as a man; You were tempted by the sights and sounds and desires just as we are, yet You stood firm. You used Your Word by quoting scripture, to drive Satan away! Your Word is as sharp as a two-edged sword. We are to resist the devil, and what better way than by quoting from Your Word. I have experienced these temptations,( the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and pride of life,) and I have failed because I walked away from Your Word and took my gaze off You. You forgave me, and now I wrap myself in You, hide Your Word in my heart, abide in the shadow of Your wings. I trust that I will be as it states in James 1:12: "Blessed is the man (woman) who endures temptation." Amen

Making Melody

Promise of the Day:
Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises on the harp to our God. (Psalm 147:1,7)

Prayer:
"I will sing of the Mercies of the Lord!" Amen Lord! Your mercies are great, and cause me to burst forth with song. Thank You for my heritage of music and singing. Singing is a big part of worship is our churches today as we fulfill Eph. 5:18: "...speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." I long for the day when I will be able to join the angel choirs in praising Your Holy Name. And maybe I will even be able to join King David, as he accompanies on his harp. Oh what a day that will be as we will bless Your Holy Name forever and ever. Amen

All is Well

Promise of the Day:
My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. (Psalm 119:28)


Prayer:
Some days, Lord, I feel fearful, and my soul melts within me. Then I read Your Word; I ponder Your mighty works, and remember You are my help and my companion. You have not given me a spirit of fear; therefore I will go boldly forward. With You holding me by my right hand I have nothing to fear. You give me hope and strength to carry on. You have given me so many blessings, that I can say with confidence, "All is well". To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen