My Soul Thirsts for You

Promise of the Day:
Jesus answered and said unto her, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
(John 4:13-14 KJV)

Prayer:
"As the hart panteth after the waterbrooks, so my soul panteth for You, O Lord." (Psalm 42:1) You have said 'Come to the water'. I come, Lord, I am drawn by this great need of my thirst for You. Fill my cup to overflowing with You, Lord, so that I drink from the saucer. A.W.Tozer has written "I thirst to be made more thirsty still." Your water of life quenches my thirst yet I cry out for more--I want more of You, dear Lord.

"...We drink of thee, the Fountainhead

And thirst our souls from thee

to fill." (St. Bernard)

Just give me Jesus. Amen

More of the Fullness of God

Promise of the Day:
When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father,
even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify
of me. (John 15:26 KJV)

Prayer:
Two times in the above verse, Lord, the Trinity is mentioned. And in Ephesians and Colossians we are reminded we have God in all His Fullness within the believer. This means that the whole Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is living within me! This means that I can live in Your love and grace. I can commune with You and draw from Your power. The Power that raised Jesus from the dead is the Power within me! I praise You, dear Lord, for always being with me because You dwell within my heart. You alone are my heart's desire, and I will worship You. Amen

The Fullness of God

Promise of the Day:
In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (Col. 2:9)

Prayer:
In You, Jesus, dwells all the fullness of the Godhead, and You are in me and I am in You--so the fullness of God dwells within me! This is such a 'Wow' thought and a mystery to me, yet You have said it so it is true. This also means, Lord, that I have the Power of God within me! This same power that raised You from the grave actually dwells within me! Another 'Wow' thought that is so awesome! Forgive me for feeling down--ever! Forgive me for complaining--ever! You Who by Yourself purged my sins (from Hebrews 1:3), have become the life in me. You are all I need, Holy Lord. You are Majesty, and You are in me! Amen

Peace With God

Promise of the Day:
Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace. (Job 22:21)

Prayer:
Holy Lord, You are my God and King. In You I put my trust! If I will keep my gaze on You and not worry or fret about what this old world holds, I will have peace no matter what happens. From my Daily Light reading today I realize that if I make Peace WITH God, then I will have the Peace OF God, and I will be AT Peace. You will give perfect peace when my mind is stayed on You. Amen

Friend of the Small Things

Promise of the Day:
"For who hath despised the day of small things?" (Zechariah 4:10)

Prayer:
Lord, You have promised to never leave me or forsake me. This means You are not only with me when important things happen, when I need protection for a long journey, or when You help me do a great fete; but this means You are with me even with the small things. You are with me on days of drudgery when I do no more than wash the clothes or clean the floors. You are with me when there is no vision, and with me even on a trip to the grocery store. You are with me when there is no hill of difficulty facing me, nothing spectacular happening, just small ordinary, everyday things. You are my companion and friend, and with me always. Therefore I will praise You and sing in the 'small things' and on ordinary days. Amen

Romans 8:28

Promise of the Day
We are assured and know that God being a partner in their labor, all things work together and are fitting into a plan for good to and for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose. (Romans 8:28 Amplified)

Prayer:
One of Ruth Myers favorite verses to paraphrase, in her little book on 'Thirty-One Days of Praise' is Romans 8:28. Lord, I am going to once again use her words as my prayer today: "Father, I'm so delighted that You are both loving and sovereign, and that You cause all things to work together for good to those who love You, to those who are called according to Your purpose. So I thank You for each disturbing or humbling situation in my life, for each breaking or cleansing process You are allowing, for each problem or hindrance, for each thing that triggers in me anxiety or anger or pain. And I thank You in advance for each disappointment, each demanding duty, each pressure, each interruption that may arise in the coming hours and days." And I would like to add, Lord, from James 1:4 from the Phillips translation, that I will not think of these trials as intruders, but I will welcome them as friends.

I thank You for the bitter things

They've been a friend to grace,

They've driven me from the paths of ease

To storm the secret place.

(F.W.Willett)

Amen

How to Resist the Devil

Promise of the Day:
"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me." (Psalm 50:23)

Prayer:
Praise is so Powerful, Lord! Praise can play a very big role in moving Your mighty hand! Praise is used all through the Psalms, and throughout the Old Testament; for example, in II Chronicles 20:22 it states "when they began singing and praising" then it goes on to tell how the Lord worked. It is through praise I keep my focus on You, Lord. Praise and Joy will send Satan fleeing quicker than anything else. Recently I received a forward on e-mail which said in essence that I should live my life in such a way that when my feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says..."Oh no...she's awake!" If I will wake each morning and put on Your armor immediately, praising You with a joyful heart, Satan won't be able to get out fast enough! Someone has said "Praise is the devil's death knell." Praise the Lord! Praise Ye the Lord! Amen

A New Day

Promise of the Day:
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. (Psalm 25:5)

Prayer:
O Lord, here it is, another new day dawning! A new day to look forward to Your leading. A new day for blessings from You. You tell me not to worry about tomorrow, and I am to 'forget the past'. So here we are in the present, a new day for praising You! Lead me and guide me in thy truth, dear Lord. Help me to follow Your lead; open my eyes to see Your guidance. Your compassion's are new to me every morning; Your strength is with me, covering my weakness. You are my light, guiding me and keeping me from stumbling. Lead on, O Great Jehovah! Amen

How Sweet the Name

Promise of the Day:
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
(Acts 3:6 KJV)

Prayer:
Jesus, there is just something about Your name! It is truly the sweetest name I know. It brings comfort to the burdened, and rest to the weary. You are my hiding place and my strong tower. It is at the name of 'Jesus' every knee shall someday bow, and every tongue shall confess that You are Lord and King. It is at the name of Jesus I bow down and worship You in reverence and awe.

Jesus, my Shepherd, Guardian, Friend,

My Prophet, Priest and King,

My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,

Accept the praise I bring. (John Newton)

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds. Amen

My Prayer Partner

Promise of the Day:
The Spirit . . . makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
(Romans 8:27)

Prayer:
Lord, I want Your will to be accomplished in the rest of my life. So how am I to pray? This verse lets me know that this is why I have the Spirit as my Prayer Partner. He knows Your will, and when I don't know how to pray, He prays for me. So I cast it all on You, Lord. In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, I make my requests, knowing they will be according to Your will. I pray for wisdom for our future, guidance for each day, and in all I do that I will glorify You, and in everything I will give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.
Thank you for my personal, invisible Prayer Partner, the Holy Spirit. Amen

Salvation's Plan

Promise of the Day:
If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
(Psalm 130:3-5 KJV)

Prayer:
"The soul that sinneth it shall die," and "All have sinned"; also, "the wages of sin is death." Because of who we are, Lord, we should all die, but Your love has provided a way for me to be saved. It was Your love that took You to Calvary. And it is Your love that by Grace forgives me.

O the love that drew salvation's plan!

O the grace that brought it down to man!

O the mighty gulf that God did span

At Calvary! (W.R.Newell)

Your mercy is so great! As our verse for the day states: "there is forgiveness with thee." Because of Your mercy and Your grace, I have received this blessed hope. Amen

Friend for Sinners

Promise of the Day:
And you, being dead in your sins. . .hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses. (Colossians 2:13 KJV)

Prayer:
What a blessed verse, Lord, I just had to use it again! I was dead, but now I am alive forevermore. And not only alive, but You see me as pure and clean. You have forgiven me and washed me white as snow. You are not only now my friend, but You are my beloved. You have clothed me in a beautiful robe of righteousness and crowned me with Your Glory.

Jesus! what a friend for sinners!

Jesus! lover of my soul!

Friends may fail me, foes assail me,

He, my Saviour, makes me whole.

(J.Wilbur Chapman)

Jesus! What a friend! Amen

No More Sin

Promise of the Day:
". . . having forgiven us all our transgressions,
having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the Cross." (Colossians 2:13c, 14)

Prayer:
Lord, when I have thought of listing my sins, I hear You say "what sins, my child?" You nailed them to the Cross with the stamp across them as 'Paid'--'Forgiven'. And Paul has said we are to forget the past--so if You have forgiven all, blotted out all my transgressions, remember them no more, then why should I make a list of them? Instead, I will Praise Your name at all times, I will Bless the Lord, O my soul, and Praise Your Holy Name!

Praise God!

All our sins

--past, present future; small, medium, large--

are covered equally by the blood of Jesus.(unknown source)

This is Grace! Amen

Broken Pieces

Promise of the Day:
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
(Psalm 147:3)

Prayer:
Yes, Lord, You are the master of fixing broken things. All I had to offer You was my filthiness, my rags, my broken pieces, but You took all of these and made something beautiful. I know I am beautiful because You dwell within me, and You have given me my "Father's eyes." I am a new creation, a new vessel.

Our life is full of brokenness. . . .

How can we live with that brokenness without becoming bitter and resentful

Except by returning again and again to God's faithful presence in our lives?

(Henri Nouwen)

Thank You, Lord, for giving me a new beginning. Amen

My Children

Promise of the Day:
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
Impress them on your children. (Deuteronomy 6:6, 7)

Prayer:
Lord, sometimes I wish I could have those years with my children back. I want to be a better parent, to spend more time impressing Your Word on their hearts. But, of course, that is not reality. Now I just pray that You will take the mistakes, the errors, even the omissions I made with them, and work all of these things for good, to draw them to You. Show them Your path, may they have a longing to know You. Give them wisdom from You for each new day, and thank you that Your hand is and will be upon them throughout their entire lives. Amen

God's Bairns

Promise of the Day:
Little children, abide in Him...(I John 2:28)

Prayer:
Lord, I can still hear my Scottish daddy saying 'Little Children' meant: 'My wee bairns', or, 'my dear little born ones'. Those expressions always bring a feeling of love to my mind--love of a parent for their child. I am Your 'born one', Lord, and I cling to You as a child does to his parent, or a branch to the vine. "I will not doubt, though all my ships at sea, come drifting home with broken masts and sails", because You are with me. You have an 'all wise' love for me as You care for me as Your 'wee bairn'. Thank You Father, You are so good. Amen

A Worm to a Butterfly

Promise of the Day:
Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and
...put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

Prayer:
For years, Lord, I prayed to be changed into a 'butterfly'. In these verses it shows that my 'new man', created by You is righteous and holy. In Isaiah 61:10 it says "(You) clothed me with garments of salvation, (You) have wrapped me with a robe of righteousness...as a bride adorned with her jewels." I am already a butterfly, Lord! You have made me beautiful in Your sight! I am that 'new creation'. My soul is a new creation, soon my body will be new and glorified as I will be like You, and then You will even give me a new name. What more could I need to be a 'butterfly'?

"Like developing butterflies, we are to shed the cocoon

of our sinful nature that we might

emerge into the beauty of Christ." (unknown)

Thank You, Lord. Amen

Little Frets

Promise of the Day:
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. (Song of Solomon 2:15)

Prayer:
Dear Lord, You know I've often said "I seem to be able to handle the big things and bring them to You. But its the little frets, the 'little foxes' that keep me frustrated." This is what I think it is referring to here in our verse. It is the small things that sometimes keeps us from walking where You want us to or doing what You desire. Forgive me, Lord, and may I just give to You each day and its little trials and nuisances, and leave them at Your feet. You are not only the God the the 'big' things, the storms and burdens, You are the God of the smallest, be it even just a 'hangnail'. You are such a great and awesome Savior. Here are my 'little frets', my 'little foxes'. Amen

He Heals the Wounds

Promise of the Day:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,...to set at liberty them that are bruised." (Luke 4:18)

Prayer:
These words of our promise today were written first in Isaiah 61. This no doubt is the portion of Scripture Jesus was reading from when he was in the Synagogue in Luke 4, and it had been written about Him. Yet so few saw the connection. He came to heal, not so much the physical, but the spiritual. He came to set man free from the bond of sin.
O Lord, If I will but seek You first, I will find healing, peace and joy. I will find rest for the soul. You have said Your kingdom is within me, and I am to set my heart and mind continually on You and things above. I kneel before You Lord, and I lift my hands in praise to You! Amen

Sorrow to Joy

Promise of the Day:
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
(I Thess. 4:13)

Prayer:
Lord, I love the song written by the Gaithers "Then Came the Morning." It is about the night after Jesus death, but reminds me of nights I have sat with a sick or dying loved one; but then comes the morning! Night turns into Day!
"Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning." Even if that day ushers our loved one into Your presence, it will be a blessed time to know they are with You. Truly our sorrow is not a sorrow of despair, as the world sorrows. There is always that blessed hope of the new day dawning, the confident expectations of the morning! Thank You, Jesus. Amen

I Can Only Imagine!

Promise of the Day:
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
II Corinthians 5:1)

Prayer:
O Lord, I can only imagine what it will be like to stand in Your presence! "Will I dance for You, Jesus, will I fall on my knees?" May I touch Your hand, touch Your face, look into Your loving eyes? May I hear Your voice, while my own will be silent in awe? Will I see and know my loved ones there? O Lord, I can only imagine!

Think of stepping on shore and finding it Heaven!

Of taking hold of a hand and finding it God's,

Of breathing new air, and finding it celestial air,

Of waking up, and finding it Home!

(anonymous)

I can only imagine, Lord.

Amen

Longing for Heaven

Promise of the Day:
In my Father's house are many mansions:
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you...(John 14:2)

Prayer:
I long for you Lord. Yea, my heart and my soul cry out to be with You, to see Your face, to touch Your hand, to hear the timbre of Your voice! Sometimes the weight of the world seems too heavy, as when I see the news on TV, or I watch my friends and loved ones suffer. I cry out for You, my Living God. As long as You have a purpose for me here, I will serve You with all my heart, but Lord, when You are finished with me here, I am so ready to be with You in heaven--to be home! Amen

My Saviour

Promise of the Day:
We trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men,
especially those that believe. (I Timothy 4:10)

Prayer:
Beautiful Saviour! Ruler of all nature--how I love You! You are my God and King! You are my everything! You gave Your life for me. When I see You hanging on that tree, bearing the shame and the curse of the Cross for me, how can I refuse Your love? There is no other love like Thine. O Lamb of God, my Saviour divine! Amen

Put On Jesus

Promise of the Day:
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness. (Romans 3:22)

Prayer:
Lord, To me, this verse in Romans 3:22 is just awesome! You have covered me with the robe of righteousness! And In Romans 13:14 is says to 'Put on the Lord Jesus Christ". So as Your child, I am covered by Jesus. The Father looks at me and sees perfection. He sees Jesus! Verse 12 of Romans 13 calls it the 'armor of light'. Jesus is the light of the world, so I am covered in His light. I picture a turtle with his shell, and when he is afraid he draws into his shell. I draw into You, Jesus, so that I am protected by your armor, and covered by Your righteousness. You are my Light and my Salvation! I will go in the strength of the Lord! Amen

Look To Jesus

Promise of the Day:
"Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth..." (Isaiah 45:22)

Prayer:
One look at the Cross and I am humbled, O Lord. You said "Blessed are the poor in spirit" and I feel this means that as I look at the Cross, I see how very poor I am, how without hope, nothing I can do will save me. But You took the curse, You became sin, You paid the price. Now all I have to do is look and be saved; look and receive peace; look and receive power from the Holy Spirit. Look and Live, look to Jesus now and live that I will have abundant and eternal life. Hallelujah! Amen

Transformed

Promise of the Day:
We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (II Cor. 3:18)

Prayer:
O Father, I thank You that You gave me Jesus as my model, and that as I keep focused on Him I know You will transform me more and more into His image by Your Spirit. Then as You see my reflection, it will actually be Jesus You will see. Lord, I press forward toward this goal. May I forget the past--I can't change it--but press forward to the goal, keeping my eyes, my gaze, on You. Thank You that within me I have the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Father, the Spirit of Jesus, so actually, the Fullness of the Godhead. How can I miss! I shall overcome! I shall be 'transformed'. Amen

My Goal

Promise of the Day:
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

Prayer:
O to be like You, Blessed Redeemer! This is my goal, Lord, to be more and more like You each day--to have the 'Mind of Christ'. Then I will have the fruit of the Spirit, that of Love, Joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, patience... Even though my body is aging, my spirit is being renewed as I gain Your likeness. I want Your light to shine, and Your name to be glorified through me. Thank You that through You, my Blessed Savior, the Father does see me as pure and clothed in Your righteousness. May others truly see Jesus in me! Amen

His Goal

Promise of the Day:
My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
(John 4:34)

Prayer:
Your goal, my Jesus, was to finish the work of salvation. This was the whole reason You came, to have the body of man so You could die that we might live. Your eyes were always on the goal. My thoughts of what you did for me are usually about the Cross and your dying for me; but when I think of Your coming as a tiny baby, growing into a man, God living within the body of a created human being, then it is just too much for me to take in. What is man that you would care so much? But You did it for me, and on the Cross You were able to say "It is finished." Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive honor, and riches and Glory! Amen

You Fill Me, Lord

Promise of the Day:
The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup.
(Psalm 16:5)

Prayer:
The Daily Light reading for today was such a blessing to me Lord. Several thoughts just truly filled my cup to overflowing. The first verse that stood out is from Numbers 18:20. You are my inheritance! You are the one I long to see when I get to Heaven. In Psalm 73:25 & 26 it says You are my desire! Even though my body is getting older, yet you make my inner life stronger.
A favorite part of Scripture for many is found in Psalm 23:4 "yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear...". I do not fear death, Lord, as it is only a shadow. You are the light and stand between myself and death. I only pass through the shadow. Such a comfort! The last verse that touched my heart was from Psalm 63:1. I seek You daily for my refreshment, Lord. My soul is hungry and thirsty for You. I long to be with You forever and ever. Just give me more of You! Amen

My Desire

Promise of the Day:
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (Mark 11:24)

Prayer:
Yes, Lord, I am to 'claim' Your promises as for me. This is so awesome! The verse for today also states that I will have what I desire, if I will pray for it. Here are my thoughts on this, Lord. When I pray, I am in Your 'throne room', I have communion with You. The more I pray the more I get to know You; the more I get to know You the more I realize what You have done for me and the more I love You. Then, the more I love You, the more I desire to joy in Your presence and to learn of You, and seek to be like You. I soon forget all the material and earthly desires and I reach higher for You. You want to give me all my heart desires, and You, dear Lord, are my desire. Thank you, Lord, You are so good! Amen