All Is Well

Promise of the Day:
"O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matthew 14:31)

Prayer:
O Lord, so easily do I find fear and doubt assail me. This must be my natural instinct; however by now it seems my 'instincts' should be naturally those of love, joy, laughter and peace. What treasures You give me, yet how slow I am to have them become a natural part of me. To have these be my natural instincts as the storm is raging around me, will surely mean that I have learned to say 'It is well' at any time. With You in my life, Lord, even before the storm breaks, I can say "all is well" for "It is well with my soul." Amen

Beauty for Ashes

Promise of the Day:
Fear not, thou worm Jacob...
I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth.
(Isaiah 41:14-15)

Prayer:
O Lord, sometimes I do feel like such a worm. As Isaiah said "I am undone..woe is me". But You are a God of the unlovely, the unsuccessful, the broken pieces. You are the God who can take my ashes and make me into something beautiful (Isaiah 61:3). You can take this crushed miserable being of myself, and make me an instrument of peace, a channel of blessing, a useful human being. Here I am, Lord, use even me.

Follow Me, and I will make you...

Make you what you cannot be--

Make you loving, trustful, godly,

Make you even like to Me. (L.S.P.)

Amen

Why Me, Lord?

Promise of the Day:
Oh, that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away and be at rest.
(Psalm 55:6)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, I know it rains on the good as well as the bad, so why do I always say 'why me, Lord?' Psalm 34:19 states You will deliver us out of (not from, but out of) all our afflictions, though the delivering may not be as we ask. The righteous suffer with illnesses, heartaches, poverty, just as the unrighteous, yet You can give me peace through it all. As David said "before I was afflicted I went astray", and sometimes this brings one back to You. The Word also states we suffer so we can help others who suffer, with the comfort You give us. Sometimes I feel I would just like to fly away as a bird, but then I would miss the blessings You have for me. I would miss the peace I receive from you through the dark of night, and I would miss the morning with its victory of life. So, instead of "why me" I will say, "Lord, why NOT me." Amen

My Helper

Promise of the Day:
The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. (Rom 8:26)
The Helper, The Holy Spirit. (John 14:26)

Prayer:
It is amazing to me, Lord (and high on my list of things I do not understand) that the Spirit of God is within me. This same power that raised You from the dead, is within me! As Phil. 2:13 states: "It is God who works in you." And any time I don't know what to do or how to pray, the Spirit, this precious Holy Spirit, will take over, intercede for me and pray for me. Sometimes I do feel like a bruised reed, but I just sway in the wind and Your Spirit keeps me from breaking. You are the life in me, You are all I need forever, Holy Triune God; My Savior, my Father, my Helper.

We are never alone, never without strength, never without encouragement,

never without a Prayer Partner, never without help--

because we are never without Your Spirit. Amen

Step By Step

Promise of the Day:
"...Go forth from your country...to the land which I will show you;
...And I will bless you, and make your name great;...
So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him..." (Gen. 12:1,2,4)

Prayer:
Lord, when I read of Abraham's life, it was a life of learning patience and trusting You, step by step. My life has certainly been one of learning patience--but I wonder, have I learned? And trusting--I am just now learning that secret. But this one thing I have learned, that if I keep my focus on You, Lord, look full in Your wonderful face; lean heavily on You my ever faithful friend, then I have nothing to fear. Life is a series of lessons in trust, but I pray that when this life is over I can look back and say (as perhaps Abraham did) You led me all the way, Step by Step. Amen

Courage and Strength

Promise of the Day:
Only be thou strong and very courageous. (Joshua 1:7)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, I can be strong and courageous, but only through You. Ephesians 6:11, 14-17 tells me how to be strong, and that is by putting on the whole armour of God. This consists of the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of Faith, the belt of truth, Sword of the Spirit (Your Word), and my feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. You not only tell me to be courageous, but You provide me with the means to protect myself. I have a choice. I can quail in fear, or go forth in courage, praising You for Your care and provision. I can do all things through You who strengthens me. Amen
Thank you, Lord.

Strength to Move Mountains

Promise of the Day:
He giveth power to the faint;
and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. (Isaiah 40:29)

Prayer:
"When I am weak, then am I strong." You want me to see I am too weak to move a mountain alone, Lord. But with You by my side it can be done. Life's problems become Your problems, and You can take care of them. I must remember to let my roots go deep, to reach for Your pure, sweet Word and build my strength. Then when trials come I will be prepared. I will call on You and together we will move mountains! Amen

Songs of Courage

Promise of the Day:
And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was...asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:37-39 KJV)

Prayer:
O blessed Jesus, You give me songs in the night and You give me songs as You guide me through life's storms. You are the calm--the eye of the storm. You, Lord, are my resting place. As Psalm 32 states, You surround me with 'songs of deliverance'. No matter how dark the night, Lord, morning will come and night turns into day. Because of You, death has lost, and life has won. Life which You give now through Your Spirit, and for eternity with You. Thank you for Your Songs of courage and peace. Amen

Peace through Conflict

Promise of the Day:
We went through fire and through water:
But thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
(Psalm 66:12)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, I have heard that only that man is at rest who attains it through conflict. This is definitely a Paradox. But how true! Sometimes we don't notice the peace until a raging storm has passed. Wind can be the most frustrating. A wind storm rattling everything, blowing over trees, howling in its rage. Yet when it is gone there is a hush and a calm not felt before the storm. This is so true with life. Through the storms of life we learn to cling to You and find Your grace to be sufficient. Then what Peace! What calm! Just give me Jesus every time! Amen

Reach Higher

Promise of the Day:
Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint. (Proverbs 29:18)

Prayer:
Oswald Chambers states there is a difference between an ideal and a vision. An ideal has not moral inspiration; a vision has.
Dear Lord, I think I have lived 50 or more years with only an ideal. I never had the 'vision'. I never really SAW You; but then one day my eyes were opened and I saw Your nail scarred hands and feet. I saw You look at me with love and sorrow--and I could only fall before You and cry 'oh woe is me!" When once we see You, Lord, as Paul did on the road to Damascus, or Isaiah, or Moses at the bush, then we must reach and keep reaching higher, desiring more. Give me more of You Lord, fill my cup! I desire only You! Amen

Winds

Promise of the Day:
The Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts...Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste...And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; thee remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt. (Exodus 10:13, 16, 19)

Prayer:
Lord, in Scripture You often used the 'winds' for destruction, or for deliverance. I remember years ago when we were complaining about the strong winds, my father reminded us that without the wind we would have a dark cloud of pollution hanging over us. And so with Your stormy winds of affliction You sometimes send my way. As David said," before I was afflicted I went astray". Your 'winds' blow away pollution and help me to keep my eyes on You. The 'winds' literally sweep or blow away the enemy.

Though winds are wild,

And the gale unleashed,

My trusting heart still sings:

I know that they mean

No harm to me,

He rideth on their wings.

(author unknown)

Thank You, Lord, for your 'winds'. Amen

Give Him Your Heart

Promise of the Day:
The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (I Samuel 16:7)

Prayer:
O Lord, It is my heart You desire and not all the sacrifices of all the world. And Lord, my desire is for You. My desire is to have the 'mind of Christ', to walk as Jesus walked, with a heart following hard after You, ever moving forward and upward toward the goal. I can only do this by Your sweet Holy Spirit who dwells within me. The world may see me just as a senior citizen, too old to do much, but You look on the heart. As Paul says, my body may be decaying, but my inner life is growing stronger every day. To God be the Glory! Amen

Prayer and Praise

Promise of the Day:
Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. (Luke 18:1)

Prayer:
Prayer is the slender nerve that moves Your hand, O Lord. Not that You can not or will not work without our prayers, but prayer is my communion with You. To pray without ceasing, I will always be open to You. A constant open door into the Throne Room! And as with the Psalms--the more I pour out my heart to You, the more likely I am to burst forth with Praise. Phil. 4:6 states that in everything with prayer and supplication--"with thanksgiving" I am to make my requests known. To me this is saying "with Praise". The result is in vs. 7, 'my peace will then guard my heart and mind'. I will not faint or be weak, for through prayer I will be strong. I will pray until my prayers merge into Praise to You! Amen

Prayer

Promise of the Day:
We know not what we should pray for as we ought. (Romans 8:26)

Prayer:
How very true these words are, Lord. I have often thought of them when my heart is too overwhelmed to pray, or too confused, but these verses also remind me that I really do not know how to pray. For example, I have prayed to be changed, or become more Christ-like, and then I wonder at the molding, the melting and the refining fires. But I prayed, so You are working. This passage in Romans 8 goes on in verse 28 to say 'we know all things work together for the good of those who love God...according to His purpose.' So, we may pray for something, but You are the one who works it out; maybe not the way I wanted it, but the way You know it is best for me. It is then I will feel You carry me, I will begin to see Your face and hear Your voice telling me to go to the right or left. It is then I will find Your Peace that passeth all understanding. You know my thoughts; You know my needs; and You do all things well. Thank You, Father, for hearing my prayer and working in me for my good. Amen

Praise

Promise of the Day:
And it came to pass, before he had done speaking...and he said, Blessed be Jehovah...who hath not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth. (Genesis 24:15, 27)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, I know we are to close every prayer with Praise, as well as begin every prayer with Praise. When You taught Your disciples to pray, You also began with Praise: "Holy is Your Name." In the Psalms, nearly all of them begin and end in Praise. Paul also tells us to make our petitions 'with thanksgiving'. So, I am to Praise, make my petitions with Praise, lean hard on You with Thanksgiving, and Praise again. I believe this is faith. Though the answer may be long in coming, or even be a no, I can know You have heard and are pleased with my prayer. You hear the moment we step into Your presence. Praise Your Name! Amen

God's Secrets

Promise of the Day:
The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him. (Psalm 25:14)

Prayer:
What are Your secrets, Lord? I think there are several ways to look at this thought. A rose will give off the sweetest fragrance when it is crushed. A blow must be applied to the diamond stone, to show its beauty; and look at the creeping, crawling caterpillar. It becomes a beautiful butterfly only after struggling to come out of its cocoon. Then there was Joseph, sold as a slave, thrown into prison, yet in the end he became a 'king'. This shows how You look not on the outside, but much deeper, into the secret place for a hidden beauty. May I not miss You hand on my life, Lord. May I watch as You unfold the events of my life to teach me to be a vessel that is useful to You, a vessel being formed by the potters hand.

Not until each loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly,

Will God unroll the pattern

And explain the reason why

The dark threads are as needful

In the Weaver's skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

For the pattern which He planned.

(anonymous)

Thank You Lord. I will trust You for the goodness in whatever You send my way, and trust You with the secrets. Amen

Trusting

Promise of the Day:
In God I have put my trust...(Psalm 56:11)

Prayer:
Lord, it is one thing to trust when all about is bright and sunny. It is another thing to trust when the shadows come and darkness falls. This is why we must be in Your Word when all is well. We must be as a tree near the water, letting our roots go deep so that we will still have green leaves in drought time. Faith is Hope in that which is not seen, such as around the bend in the road, or the other side of the mountain. In You, O Lord, I will put my trust, and I will be an 'overcomer'!
Amen

He Goes With Me

Promise of the Day:
He answered and said, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." (Daniel 3:25)

Prayer:
You were with the three Israelites, Lord, in the midst of the fire. This is proof to me You will be with me in the midst of my fires. Sometimes already the fire has been a raging bonfire, others were small contained fires. Either way, You have been and will be there. The story in Daniel gives us a visual of Your presence. I must go forward on faith, but I know You are with me. It reminds me of the poem of "Footprints". When we see only one set of footprints, it is not that the fire was too hot and You left, but that You have been carrying me.

"The road is too rough," I said;

It is uphill all the way;

No flowers, but thorns instead;

And the skies over head are grey."

But One took my hand at the entrance dim,

And sweet is the road that I walk with Him.

(author unknown)

You are an awesome God! Amen

Bless through Generations

Promise of the Day:
I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. (John 17:9-11 NIV)

Prayer:
Lord, in this passage I believe You have included me in this prayer. In the same way, Lord, will my prayers be carried down to future generations? Did I have an ancestor caring enough years ago to have prayed for me as part of their future? I have missed my mothers prayers, yet I feel they have remained as interceding for me these past 30 years. And so, just as You prayed for me in the garden of Gethsemane, Lord, I feel that You accept my prayers for my children and their children, and the generations to come. I will not fear for their future, as I have placed them in Your loving care. Thank You for praying for me, and that I am Your child. Amen

Praying for My Children

Promise of the Day:
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray,
and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. (Psalm 55:17 KJV)

Prayer:
Lord, here are some excerpts from a poem by Dr. Edmon. I give them now to You as my prayer for my children and my grandchildren, as from a mother's heart.
"Father, hear us, we are praying
Hear the words our hearts are saying.
We are praying for our children...
Father, Father, be thou near them...
And wherever they may abide,
Lead them home at eventide."
Yes, Lord, 'evening, morning, and at noon' I give them all to You!
Amen

A Mother's Special Day

Promise of the Day:
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her. (Prov. 31:27, 28 NIV)

Prayer:
Good morning, Lord! Thank You for Your care through the night. You watch over your children as a mother watches over her children. The above verse was read at my mother's funeral years ago, and I would like to think it could be said of me some day. I did so love having my children at home with me, but the years were gone so soon. Even the grandchildren are grown young women now. What a 'circle of life' we have. Someday even I will be just a memory, though I pray I will be a blessed memory. I thank you for the blessed memory of my own dear mother, and thank You for this special day to give tribute to our mothers. Amen

My Heritage

Promise of the Day:
Yea, I have a goodly heritage. (Psalm 16:6 KJV)

Prayer:
Yes, Lord, You gave me a goodly and Godly heritage. I was fortunate to have a Christian mother and father, and I gained insight and perhaps some wisdom from them. I have a fairly strong knowledge of doctrine which I attribute to their training in my youth. Had I not had Godly parents, where would I be today? I shudder to think of it. Thank You Lord, for knowing me even before I was born, and thank you for my parents. All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe it all to You and the parents you gave me. What amazing Grace! yet I so seldom give You the glory and praise for it. I do thank you and praise you now, my heavenly Father, and at this time set aside to especially think of our mothers, I thank you for my 'goodly heritage'. Amen

Are All the Children In?

Promise of the Day:
"Are these all the children?" (I Samuel 16:11)

Prayer:
"I wonder if when the shadows fall
On the last short, earthly day,
When we say good-bye to the world outside,
All tired with our childish play,
When we step into that Other Land
Where mother so long has been,
Will we hear her ask, just as of old,
'Are all the children in?' "
(Anonymous)
Lord, when I look around in heaven will I ask "are my children in?" "Are my grand children in? My sisters, are they here and their families? Are we all in, Lord?" Oh, I can only imagine what it will be like and pray that all of my dear loved ones will be with me. But, Lord, I know the first act when I arrive in heaven will be to fall on my knees before You and say "I am here, Lord! I am in!" Amen

Faith in Him

Promise of the Day:
"...and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20b)

Prayer:
My Faith is weak, Lord. I am the first to admit this. But if I but lean on You and Your Faithfulness, then I know all is right. I may not see around the next bend, the way may be rocky, but You are faithful. If I will but go forth and step into the waters by faith, I know You will open the way. "I will not doubt though all my ships at sea come drifting home with broken masts and sails". It is not faith in my faith, dear Lord, but only Faith in You and Your Faithfulness. Phillips Brooks once said: Faith says not, "I see that it is good for me so God must have sent it," but, "God allowed it and so it must be good for me." I will trust in You and follow You. Amen

He Paid the Price

Promise of the Day:
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31)
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 6:23)

Prayer:
O Lord, it IS a fearful thing to fall into Your hands as an unbeliever. You gave Your life that we would not have to face this. All are born with a sin nature, and therefore all have sinned with the wages of sin being death. Yet, You paid the price. You took the curse and You provided a way by giving Your life on the hill called Mount Calvary. O Lord, 'Hide me behind Your cross.' You took my sin and left it there at the cross. Hallelujah for the Cross! And hallelujah, You did not stay in the tomb. The grave could not hold you! You arose and Life has won! Thank You for my life through You. Just give me Jesus! Amen

Spirit-Consciousness

Promise of the Day:
And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
(Exodus 33:14)

Prayer:
Lord, My 5 physical senses are useless when it comes to knowing Your Presence is with me. I cannot see You, so eyesight does not matter. I cannot hear You audibly, so hearing with the ears is worthless. I cannot touch You, I cannot taste You or smell You. Yet You have said You are with me always. Your Presence goes with me--so I pray that You will open the eyes and the ears of my heart, dear Lord, that I will see and hear You with my heart. In Psalm 34:8 it states that I should 'taste and see', so spiritually I ingest Your Word, and it is good. You have touched my life and made me whole, and my 'Sacrifice of Praise' has a sweet smell to You (Eph.5:2). Spiritually we still count on the 5 senses to give us a clear consciousness of You. Your Presence IS with me, and I will rest in this. Amen

Keep from Idols

Promise of the Day:
Little Children, guard yourselves from idols. (I John 5:21)

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. (Col. 3:2)

Prayer:
You know my heart, dear Lord. There is nowhere I can go to flee Your presence. Psalm 139 tells it all, You know my ways. The Psalm goes on to say that if I could be in heaven or in the lower parts of the earth, if I were able to fly away or live on the most remote island, You would know. Oh Lord, this knowledge is too far beyond my finite mind. You are such an awesome God. You look on the heart and You know my thoughts. Search my heart, O Lord. I renounce any idols. I seek You and You alone. You alone are my heart's desire, and I long to worship You. Amen

Blessed Hope

Promise of the Day:
The whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs; together until now. Not only they, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit . . . groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. (Rom. 8:22,23)

Prayer:
O Lord, it is not only your saints who await Your return, but also "the whole creation groans...". And Paul goes on to say how we are eagerly awaiting the redemption of our bodies. My greatest desire for Your coming is first of all to see Your face, but second is to get a new body. Now I actually have a very healthy body, but it is getting old, wrinkled, achy, stiff. I long for the redemption of the body! My soul is already new and growing healthier day by day; but this body is gradually decaying. O to be like You, Blessed Redeemer! Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Amen

The Bride of Christ

Promise of the Day:
Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Eph. 5:25-27)

Prayer:
Lord, You also refer to the Church as Your 'bride'. But I like to make it very personal--You are my beloved and I am yours. In the Song of Solomon it is "the one whom my soul loves". And how can I come to You as Your bride? How can I be pure enough? Clean enough? Righteous enough? Only through You who died for me. I am then clothed in Your righteousness, wearing the robe of salvation. You said to 'come' and You made me 'white as snow'. When the Father sees me as Your bride, He does not see the filthy wretch from the trash heap described in Ezek. 16, but a bride cleansed by the Lamb and made ready through faith in Jesus Christ. Then comes the morning! Here comes the bride! "The marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." (Rev. 19:7) Amen

He Orders My Steps

Promise of the Day:
When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him. Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. (Proverbs 16:7-9 NIV)

Prayer:
Lord, this verse brings to my mind an old saying: "while we are making our plans, life happens." Yes, the life which we live is ordered by You. In Psalm 37:23 it says "the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord." You determine the way I take, and You can even use my failures and mistakes to work together and bring me to Your desired path. My steps may be taking me into a dark valley, or around a bend in the road, but I know You are there and I will be on the road ordered by You. So in spite of me and the plans that I make, You determine my steps. Thank You, Lord. Amen

There Is God!

Promise of the Day:
And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed 'The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.' (Exodus 34:6,7 KFV)

Prayer:
Hannah Whitehall Smith tells of the time when she was a young Christian, she was pouring her heart out to her friend and mentor, telling her of all the difficulties and troubles she (Hannah) was having. Instead of showing much sympathy her friend quietly made the statement: 'There is God'. Yes, Lord, there is always God. Why do we moan and groan when You, the merciful, gracious, long- suffering God has promised to be our refuge and be a 'present' help in trouble (Psa. 46:1). You are my God and King. You are enough. No matter how dark the shadows, how deep the valley, You are there. "There is God!" You are my All-in-All, precious Lord, and you are always the answer.
Amen