In It, Not of It
Father, it is a morning of thanks. Thank You for the good sleep over the weekend. I am so grateful for Your presence and direction in yesterday’s service. And thank you for the opportunity to be with family. No matter the circumstances, I am grateful that you are by my side. Thank You, Father.
James 1:21 (<<click here)
In this passage, we are admonished to rid ourselves of the “filth and evil in our lives.” In the culture in which I live, Lord, this is a great challenge. The world is replete with it. I can’t turn a TV on, walk through a checkout like, flip through Facebook or stand in any given public gathering of people without being exposed to it.
I may be exposed to it on a regular basis, and would have to be a recluse with no access to technology, to avoid it but ultimately it is my choice as to how I respond to it. I see it but that doesn’t mean I have to embrace it or take it in. I don’t have to read it or watch it or even look at it. You enable me to turn the other way – help me to do so.
That can be tough enough but the real challenge is abiding by John 17:14-19. Lord, in this passage You state that we “are not of the world, even as [You are] not of it.” But the challenge comes in living out our commission of being sent “into the world.” We cannot simply run and hide. In Your strength alone can we stand strong as we are sent “into the world.”
I cannot impact the world for Your kingdom, Lord, from a distance. I must be in the midst of the fray. It is dangerous. I might get hurt – seriously even. But I cannot shirk my responsibilities. The battles must be fought if the lost are to be reclaimed! Lord, “protect [me] from the evil one” and use me as You will! Amen.
Aug 15th, Mon, 6:06 am
Gracious
In all honesty, Father, I’m having a hard time sitting here this morning. I am achy and restless. But I know that You are here and that You are eager for our time together – it is important to You. So I am here, too. Because You love me, I am here. Because I love You, even though I might wish to be elsewhere, I am here. Love is a great motivator for doing important things, whether we really want to or not.
I’m grateful that You are a big enough God to hear me out and to still love me. You already know it’s in my head, so why not get it out on paper. You are well aware that how I feel physically and mentally has no bearing on how I feel about You.
Lord, may I be more like You. May I see others, those I love and those I don’t even know…may I see them for who they are and still care about them. May I not take offense because they are hurting and that’s what shows when they interact with me. May I love them regardless. Help me to be big enough to be gracious – for that is what you are to me. Enable me to be merciful and compassionate. I have no excuse for that is what you extend to me.
More about Jesus would I know
More of His grace to others show;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His Love who died for me. ~ Eliza E. Hewitt, 1887
Aug 12th, Fri, 7:11 am
Listen Twice as Much
Thank You, Father, for Your watch care over us through the night. There was nothing scary or traumatic going on, I am just grateful that You are always there. We become weary and require sleep but “Behold, He who keeps Israel [and us!} will neither slumber or sleep.” Psalm 121:4 Praise Your holy name!
James 1:19-20 (<<click here)
“…quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
I cannot recall when I originally heard it – it may have been when I was a Children’s Pastor but it was said that the reason we were given two ears and one mouth is because we should listen twice as much as we speak.
Lord, this is something with which You have been working with me. I have not mastered it yet but it pops in my head much more often than it used to. It’s so easy to listen to someone share something and then be tempted to share a similar experience on my part. And sometimes, though I don’t think I do it deliberately, it’s almost like I am trying to “one up” them. “That happened to you? Well, listen what happened to me!”
Thank You, Lord, for Your patience with me. Help me, more and more, to be “quick to listen” and “slow to speak.” Help me to put others before myself. Help me to listen between the lines. Many who talk with me are saying more than their mouths are communicating. Enable me to discern what’s being said and to act according to Your will and direction. Touch others through me.
Aug 10th, Wed, 7:15 am
Stability
Father, be with us as we enter these days of transition. As Karen begins another school year and as I and others acclimate ourselves to new leadership at work, may we keep You at the center of our speech and actions. Help us to exude Your grace and love in abundance to those we encounter.
James 1:16-18 (<<click here)
Lord, Your word clearly states that all things good come from You and that as the Amplified Bible puts it “there is no variation” in You. You never change. You are a constant. Hebrews 13:8 reads, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
With all the craziness, change and uncertainty in this world, Lord, I am so grateful for Your consistency in my life. And Your presence in my life helps me to be that way, too. I surely haven’t mastered it but You faithfully continue to work in my life.
In many ways the stability that You bring to me and that I try to live out is what draws others to You. Quite often I crack under the pressures of life and do not respond in ways that reflect Your presence in my life.
Fill my thoughts today, Lord Jesus. Permeate them so that my knee-jerk reaction is not anger, or spite or retaliation but instead is love, joy, and peace. Amen.
August 9th, Tuesday 6:37 am
Temptation
Father, a snippet of today’s Puritan prayer would be my prayer this day,
“While Jesus is representing me in heaven, may I reflect him on earth,
While he pleads my case, may I show forth his praise.”
For all You have done, are doing, and will do for me, Father, and out of my love for You, though it is but a minuscule fraction of Your love for me, may I reflect and praise You with the entirety of my being! Amen.
James 1:12-15 (<<click here)
Now, there is something that plagues us all, Lord, temptation! On this side of eternity, we cannot escape it. It is always just around the corner ready to pounce. And in our own strength, we will ultimately succumb to its ravages. Obviously, I have a bit of experience dealing with temptation…we all do. But can we blame God or anyone else for tempting us? Not at all! Verses 14 and 15 make a very clear statement.
“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entices us and drags us away. The desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Temptation is all too real and sin is the ultimate outcome. But, all praise to You, Lord, we are not defenseless! Your Holy Spirit lives in all who have confessed our sins and have given our lives over to You. The instant temptation is there, He is there to help us. If we will but listen to His guidance we can stand firm. He gives us the strength to say no and if it’s best to do so, to run from its influence. Through Your presence in our lives, we can be victorious.
And if we fail to listen and we are enticed and dragged away, all is not lost.
“…if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” 1 John 1:9
Lord, with Your death You paid the wages for our sin. Thank You is not enough. And even though we deserve to die for our sin, we are offered not our just wages but the gift of eternal life through You.
Thank You, Lord, for all You do and all You are. May I grow stronger in my faith every day so that I may live for You and shine forth my light for Your glory! Amen.
Aug 8th, Mon, 6:06 am