Faith Well Placed
Father, another new day is before me. May it be all that You want it to be for me. Help me to be attentive to Your direction. Help me to be a blessing to those around me. “Out of my life may Jesus shine.”
Hebrews 11:1 (<<click here)
Faith = reality of hope, evidence of things we can’t see
For many, Lord, this is a struggle. We like to think in concrete terms. Words like “reality” and “evidence” we can deal with. But “faith”? “Hope”? We can’t see those…but they are no less real.
My study Bible *shares a good way to think about it.
“Do you remember how you felt when you were very young and your birthday approached? You were excited and anxious. You knew you would certainly receive gifts and other special treats. But some things would be a surprise. Birthdays combine assurance and anticipation and so does faith! Faith is the confidence based on past experience that God’s new and fresh surprises will surely be ours.”
An old hymn comes to mind, “He Never Has Failed Me Yet.” And I can testify with its author W.J. Henry, “I have proven Him true; what He says He will do. He never has failed me yet.”
Joshua in his final address to the Israelites said,
“Soon I will die, going the way of everything on earth. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!” Joshua 23:4
Thank You, Lord, that we can place everything in Your unfailing hands. Our faith is well placed!
Apr 20th, Wed, 6:37 am
*New Living Translation Application Study Bible
Communing with You
Oh, the complexity of the human brain, Father! Many times in our coming together it has taken great effort to reign in my thoughts…and today is one of those days. Some days I have enough forethought to not let other thoughts or images to crowd in on the task at hand. Regardless of what state my brain is in Father, You can pierce through all and help me to focus on the most important goal of each morning…listening to what You have to say to me and abiding in Your presence. Thank You, Father, for redeeming my thoughts and my time.
Quite frequently in recent weeks I have felt drawn to prayer in our time together. It is of great benefit to me but I have my no means mastered it. I am improving but my mind still wanders and it is not deliberate by I’m sure that I doze off on occasion. But, Lord, You are patient. You love me and encourage me to keep at it. I read of men like George Mueller and how greatly he impacted the world through prayer and desire to follow in their footsteps. Lord, use me. Help me to diligently pursue You, to continually be at the privilege of communing with You so as to do Your will every moment of my life.
The world so desperately needs You – may I be a willing tool in Your hand. Amen.
Apr 19th, Tues, 5:32 am
Rose Colored Glasses
Thinking over yesterday, Father, I am so grateful for your presence. In both times of worship you were with us. As Karen and I busied ourselves through the rest of the day You were with us. We are so blessed and look forward to what this day brings. We give ourselves over to You. Guide us, touch us, and uphold us. Amen.
Hebrews 10:26-31 (<<click here)
Lord, the only thing saving us from eternal condemnation is You. Because of Your supreme sacrifice, because of Your shed blood we have eternal life. And, Lord, all I can say is that I am grateful that we are all in Your hands.
You will be our judge, You who lived amongst us. You who experienced the allure of temptation yet stood firm against it. You alone see the big picture of who we are. You are intimately aware of every detail of our lives – every action, every word, and every single thought! And You will be our Judge.
Every person, from every age, regardless of race, religion or creed will stand before You, Lord. And each of us will have to answer only to You. I will not be so brazen as to assume to know what You will do. But I do know that we will get what we deserve. And I know that You are just and You are love.
I don’t know how much time I have left. I don’t know how much time the world has left. But, Lord, I would ask that I would make the most of the time I do have. Help me see the reality of who I am, to not waste the resources I have. I would pray for all of Your children. Time is truly of the essence. Help us to wake up. May we not see the world around us with rose-colored glasses but to see through Your eyes. Burden our hearts with loving the world as You do. Help us give it our all. Help us to hold nothing back. Time is running out!
Apr 18th, Mon, 5:46am
Gentle Awakening
Father, I continue to be amazed at the multifaceted aspects of Your loving-kindness shown to me. In times past I have spoken of how You gently wake me each and every morning. Some may be quick to say that I am giving credit where no credit is due. They may say that I am just in the habit of waking at a certain time. But as I look back over my entries of our time together, that is not the case. The times I wake up are consistently inconsistent. 🙂 Today is was 6:00, yesterday it was 4:30, a few days ago it was 5:30.
Father, You give me what I need in sleep. You wake me early enough for me to accomplish the tasks at hand for that day. there was even a day this past week where I slept through the night and didn’t wake up until Karen’s alarm went off a bit before 7:00 for her to get up for school! You knew I needed the rest so You let me sleep.
Father, you love us and You show us that love in a multitude of ways every day. Many times we don’t see because we are just not paying attention. Father, help me to pay attention, for seeing and feeling Your love for me inspires me. For if the Creator of all that there is can take time and make the effort to love me, amongst the billions of souls on this globe, then surely my soul can be enkindled to love others this day and every day.
Lord I praise You because of who You are
Not just for all the mighty things that You have done
Lord I worship You because of who You are
You’re all the reason that I need to voice my praise
Because of who You are
– Sandi Patty, “Because Of Who You Are,” 1991
Apr 16th, Sat, 6:06am
Today Is a New Day
(Taken from the front of our home.)
Here I am, Father. As is every day, today is a new day. On some fronts it is a day of new beginnings. It is a day to build upon what has already begun that is as You want it to be. It is a day where things which are detrimental to our relationship have been cast “into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19 NASB
As is every day, today is a new day.
“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness…I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion, therefore I will wait for him.’” Lamentations 3:22-24 NIV
As is every day, today is a new day.
Only in You, Lord, can this day truly be all that it is intended to be. Without You, it is just like any other day. But with You, the possibilities are endless. Under Your direction and tutelage, I grow, I mature, I am challenged. I become what You made me to be.
I give myself to You today, Lord. Use me as You will.
Apr 15th, Fri, 4:51am