Pressing On!

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

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

Yesterday Is Gone

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

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

Virtues

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

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

Son of God

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

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

My Redeemer

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

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

The Greatest Gift of all!

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

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

His Indescribable Gift!

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

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

Christmas Eve

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

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

Emmanuel

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

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

God is Good

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

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

Without Care!

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

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

The body they may kill;

God's truth abideth still,

His kingdom is forever.

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

Trust

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

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

Trust and rest when all around thee

Puts thy faith to sorest test;

Let no fear or foe confound thee,

Wait for God and trust and rest.

(unknown)

Amen

My Counselor

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

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

Elohim, Creator

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

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

Out in the Fields

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

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

The little cares that fretted me,

I lost them yesterday,

Out in the fields with God.

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

The Gift of God

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

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

My Goal is God

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

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

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

Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God;

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

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

(unknown)

Amen

His Name is Creator

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

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

His Name is "Peace"

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

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

He is called "My Redeemer"

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

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

He is called 'King of Glory'

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

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

He is Called 'The Door'

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

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

Great Jehovah

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

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

Lord of Lords!

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

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

King of Kings!

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

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

My Prince of Peace

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

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

You Are So Great!

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

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

I Will Sing to You, O Lord

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

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

You Alone are Worthy!

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

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

More Names for Jehovah

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

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

My Wonderful Lord

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

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