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