Everlasting Arms

The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you.
Deuteronomy 33:27a NLT

I've been thinking a lot about the everlasting arms of God. I don't know that I've ever meditated on that before, but I've sure learned a thing or two about His everlasting arms this past week!

Think about how good it feels to be wrapped in the arms of someone you love or to wrap your arms around someone you love. A good hug can make you feel safe. It can help make the cares of the day drop off. Studies show that if a hug lasts more than 5 seconds, you can even feel the tension leaving your body. Five seconds... compare that to everlasting.

God wraps us in His everlasting arms for our whole lives. He is our strength, our comfort, our shelter, our protector, our one true love who never fails us, never leaves us, and never stops loving us. In Him, we have peace that far surpasses anything the world can throw at us. And the great thing is, we never get too big or too old to be in His arms - in the circle of His love. How awesome is that?!?

Read this next verse and embrace its truth and His love for us. 

Isaiah 46:4 NLT, I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. What a promise! Thank You, Father!

Prayer:

Father,
          According to Your Word, Lord, be merciful to us, for we have waited for You. Be our strength every morning, and our salvation in times of trouble. Thank You, Father, that You are this and so much more. We pray as Paul prayed. When we think of all this, we fall to our knees and pray to You, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. We pray that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You will empower us with inner strength through Your Holy Spirit. We invite Christ to make His home in our hearts as we trust in Him. Cause our roots to grow down deep into Your love and keep us strong. And may we have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Easy

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

There are times, I bristle at circumstances that seem way out of proportion to my ability to pull my own weight in any given situation. And I may fuss, fret or fume about it, depending how powerless I feel. However, what I want - more than my own way - is God's way. His way is for me to NOT do it alone. Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you..."

On my way to work, I heard a reference to this Scripture and my first thought was, "This burden is heavy..." and I got a mental image of me with a yoke over my shoulders, struggling to try to pull a load of burden that was way too much for me to pull by myself. Then I "saw" Jesus stepping in to shoulder the other side of the yoke I was in. Immediately, I stopped straining against the yoke. My spirit was revived and my strength renewed as we walked together, matching our steps, stride for stride. In Truth, the load was indeed much lighter, and I barely noticed the weight.

As Psalm 124 declares, If it had not been the Lord who was on our side...

Prayer:

Father,
           I don't know why we think we can do this by ourselves. We cannot. We are so grateful for Your daily instruction; for taking the time to lead us, to teach us - as only You can. We need You, Lord. Keep us ever mindful of this Truth. "More of You, less of me." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

When I Think

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.
Philippians 4:8 The Message

I've heard a lot of stories from people regarding their personal experiences and thoughts on last week's Category 3 tornado that blew through our town and several surrounding cities. As a region, we are blessed beyond measure that NO one died during the blustering rampage. And we are so grateful to God for His mercy.

Most of the stories started with, "When I think what could have happened..." and then the stress and/or the tears followed... Why is it - as humans - we are so ready to focus on the evil that could have happened and get upset about it rather than rejoice and give thanks that it didn't happen? Why is it we have to spend quite a bit of time talking people out of a state of upset and into a place of thanksgiving and praise over things that "almost" or "could have" happened, but didn't? When you think, choose wisely...

Prayer:

Father,

           Your Word tells us to guard our hearts above all else, for it determines the course of our lives. Holy Spirit, convict our hearts when we choose to think about the what-ifs rather than what God did. Turn us from the path that leads us falsely to fear. When we think, Father, remind us to fill our minds and meditate on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. And to ALWAYS give You all praise in all things. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Warnings

The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’”

Matthew 3:3 NLT

Every Saturday at noon, the alarm sirens are tested in our town. I happened to be on the phone with my sister when they sounded today and she was a little freaked out by them. They ARE supposed to be alarming - to get our attention in case of an emergency. But often, they are ignored even though we know what they're telling us.

Today, I was reminded of the attitude of the world, regarding the end times of the world as we know it. I got to thinking about 2nd Peter 3: 3-4 where it reads, Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”  And they ignore the tell-tale signs of the times, and the warnings and the love message that they MUST be born again - because they're tired of hearing it.

They've had plenty of warning - centuries to prepare - and when our Father sends His Son to come get His bride, the only thing the news stations will be reporting will be after the event, when they're wondering where thousands of people went who just disappeared off the face of the Earth. Those of us who have prepared - who have repented of our sin and asked God to forgive us - who acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, the only Way to the Father by His Blood that was shed on Calvary, and who believe that His death, burial and resurrection were all about redeeming us from our sin - that's who will go. There won't be any alarms sounding, no immediate advance warning - other than a trumpet blast - and that will be too late to be already prepared. If it happened now, are you ready to go?

If not, I'll be happy to tell you how. 

Prayer:

Father,

       For that one who is lost, or the ones who have slipped away from their relationship with You and mistakenly think You won't take them back this many times later, release them from their fear, Father, or whatever it is that holds them back from the one True salvation. All roads don't lead to You, but I know You can find us and draw us to You from wherever we are. Please, Father. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen 

Contentment

Today's Promise comes from Jesus Listens Note-Taking Edition by Sarah Young
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I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  

Philippians 4:12

Pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. 

Psalm 62:8

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night. 

Psalm 92:1–2 NKJV

Help us to learn the secret of being content in any and every situation. We realize that contentment-training is a challenging process — learned through enduring a wide range of difficulties. We thought we were fairly advanced in this training, but then the circumstances of  life got harder. On some days we're able to cope fairly well with all the stress. On other days we just want out! Please teach us how to handle the “other days.”

We are so grateful that we can pour out our heart to You — acknowledging how frustrated and upset we might feel. Just releasing those pent-up feelings in Your Presence does us a world of good. Knowing that You completely understand us and our circumstances encourages us even more.

Lord, 

         Please deepen our awareness of Your continual Presence. We know we need to stay in communication with You — talking with You, bathing our minds and hearts in scriptures that speak to our situations. And singing praises to You lifts our spirit like nothing else! It is good to sing praises to Your Name — declaring Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness every night. In Your loving Name, Jesus, Amen

In the Dark

 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

John 8:12 NKJV

I hate getting up in the middle of the night without a light. I've whacked my foot against the furniture so many times, my little toe is in a permanent "tuck or duck" position! How about when the electricity goes off during a storm and we're groping around for a flashlight or candles? Why is it we always want light more so when we can't get it? Is it that we take it for granted until it's gone?

It is written in 1st John 1:6-7 NLT, So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.  

With that, why would anyone choose to continue to walk in darkness when they can have the Light of Life? Why would anyone choose an eternity where they will be cast into outer darkness - where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth? (Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:30). 

Do we think we have forever to make the choice to follow Jesus? Do we take for granted His mercy and grace and patience?  Peter wrote,  But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

Prayer:

Father,
         We want to live in the light, as You are in the light. Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Help us to help others see and understand that if we follow You, our steps will be sure. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Psalm 32

Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude
Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the flood waters of judgment. For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

Prayer:

Father,
            Cause Your Word to come alive in us and be utterly life-changing! Change our hearts, O God, to be ever true! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Prescribed

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him...
Colossians 3:8-10 NKJV

Have you ever heard or said something like, "That's just the way I am" or "I've always been this way" or perhaps, "I have a bad temper - that's just how I am"? What is it about change that we resist - whether good or bad?

If there was something wrong with our physical bodies - for example, our heart - most of us would see a doctor to get help, right? Would we then do what the doctor prescribed in order to live?

What about when there is something wrong with our spiritual heart? Why won't we seek help from the Great Physician - the One Who is also our Creator? Why do we resist what He has prescribed for us in order to live abundantly? Come! Let us put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of our mouths. Do not lie to one another, since we have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created us.

Prayer:

           

Father, 

          Change our hearts, O God! Only You can change our hearts to be like Christ. We pray to be less and less so that Christ will be more and more evident within us. Help us to see that piercing our hearts lets out the bad. And please make us new by Your Holy Spirit as You've promised in Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Growing Up

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

How many times have we read that Scripture? More times than we can count. But I have a little different take on it today based on the sermon I heard yesterday. This is a something-to-think-about kind of Promise.

Calvin told the story of all the things he has planned for his children when they get older. (He and his wife have 3 under the age of 5.) Things they can't do because they haven't grown enough. Adventures that are yet to be experienced because they're just not ready yet. And he can hardly wait...

Do you ever think about God feeling that way regarding His children... about us? Ephesians 2:10, NLT tells us, For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.  All the things He has planned for us? 

You may be at a place where you wonder about the good things. When are they coming? OR why aren't they coming? Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 3:1-3 NLT, Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? 

I think we have to check ourselves. Have we grown up in our walk? Have we matured? Or have we reached a certain level and don't want to do what it takes to grow beyond it? Yes, we need to feed milk to babies, but we don't want to have to part a moustache to give a bottle to someone who should be ready for solid food. Let's get on with growing up.

Prayer:

Father,

           Help us to believe and receive what we are taught from the gifts You've given us. We pray Your word, that this will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of Your Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. That we will no longer be immature like children. That we won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. By Your grace, we will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.  Instead, help us to speak the Truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Perfect Tool

 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV

Every worker needs tools of some sort to perform the tasks for his or her job, and hopefully, he or she also has the knowledge to utilize the tools of the trade. For instance, a gem cutter who crafts and creates needs a lot of different tools to do his work. He also needs a comprehensive guide for knowledge about all facets of his work. 

Some of the knowledge a gem cutter needs to possess involves  Cabochon Cutting, Facet Cutting, and Special Lapidary Technique. Three areas of knowledge, not too bad, hunh? Except that Cabochon Cutting alone involves 19 different skill sets that must be mastered. There is SO much that goes into cutting stones to create precious gems, I couldn't begin to do justice in providing a comprehensive list of tools or the knowledge required.

I am sure there must be times when gem cutters wish they had the perfect everything tool - similar to a Scout knife - you know, knife, screwdriver, can opener, scissors, corkscrew, etc. Especially in this day and age where everything we use in life is bigger and better and should be convenient. As a society, we crave convenience. Whatever it is, it has to be faster, super-powered, and ready at a moment's notice. 

However, no matter how or what you slice and dice, if you don't have instruction to operate the tool, it won't matter how many gadgets you've got. By the same token, if you have a lot of instruction, but no hands-on time with the tool to implement what you've learned, that won't work, either. 

Keep in mind, as a Christian, we don't have to have EVERY piece of equipment in our hand to get started. And we don't have to know everything before we begin to put into practice what we are learning. God knows it all but remember, He started us off with two tablets, then came tools and material... a hammer, two boards, a few spikes...

And as a result, the truly perfect everything tool was forged. An instruction manual that doubles as a weapon against the most evil of enemies  - a sword for all seasons. It is the original comprehensive help guide for FAQs. It has the answer for EVERYTHING. It's user-friendly, never crashes, and it never goes offline...  although it does make provision for user re-starts, when necessary. It's The Bible. The Word of God. The Word of Truth - for the worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Prayer:

Father,

         Hebrews 4:12 tell us the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Father, wash us with the water of Your Word so that we may be clean before You and be able to share Your answers with those who have questions. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Psalm 128 - A Blessing for those who fear the Lord

How joyful are those who fear the Lord— all who follow his ways!
You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!
Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table.
That is the Lord’s blessing for those who fear him.

May the Lord continually bless you from Zion.
May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.
May you live to enjoy your grandchildren.
May Israel have peace!

Psalm 128:1-6

In Jesus' Name we pray

Not New, Hopefully Used

This is a repeat post - on purpose. The older I get, the more I forget things - and sometimes very important things! I don't do it on purpose, it just happens. But now and then, I find something that is a great reminder because maybe I'd forgotten it in the middle of the circumstance. Today's Promise is just that - Not a new one, but hopefully one that is used in our daily walk. In case we've lost sight... 

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A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

2nd Timothy 2:24-26 NLT

Did you ever notice in Scripture how the apostles addressed and defined themselves?
Paul, a servant of the Lord;
Peter, a slave to Christ;
His servant John;
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
All in submission - all in service to God and Christ Jesus.

What is it servants do? Whatever the Master instructs them to do. Not IF they feel like it. Not WHEN they feel like it. Not only if the other servants do or don't do it. Not only when someone's looking...

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

He had to include that one, right? The 'be patient with difficult people' phrase? I noticed there's not a qualifying statement attached to that sentence, either; such as, except for Mondays or be patient with difficult people once or twice, but smack 'em the 3rd time...

Can it really be that big of a deal? Is it that important for us to be patient with difficult people? The Word says, Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap.

Think about that - their eternity could be determined by whether or not WE choose to be kind and patient to them. It's time for a change. Let it begin with me.

Prayer:

Father,
           Change MY heart so that I can be kind and not quarrelsome. Patient and not peeved. Let my life reflect Your love. May I never again get down to that last nerve. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Unoffendable by Brant Hansen

Today's inspiration comes from: Unoffendable by Brant Hansen
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When you are angry, do not sin, and be sure to stop being angry by the end of the day. 

Ephesians 4:26 NCV

So, overall, how does Scripture, which is well acquainted with injustice, describe anger? Take a look at some verses from the New Living Translation.

Anger is described as “fierce” and “cruel” in Genesis 49:7. It’s “burning” in Exodus 11:8. In the same book, it’s also described as a “blazing fury,” and if you’re not careful, it can “blaze against you” (Exodus 15:7; Exodus 22:24).

In Leviticus 26, anger is something given “full vent” and equated with “hostility” (v. 28). In Deuteronomy 7, it is associated with the words “burn” and “destroy” (v. 4). In 1 Samuel 20, we see an anger that “boil[s] with rage” (v. 30). Anger “will not be quenched,” according to 2 Kings 22:17. In 2 Samuel 6, it “bursts out” (v. 8); in Job 4, it “blasts” (v. 9); and in Job 16, God Himself, in anger, “tears” and “pierces” (v. 9).

Anger is terrifying and fierce in Psalm 2:5. It’s burning and consuming in Psalm 69:24, then smoldering intensely in Psalm 74.

In Isaiah 9:12, it’s associated with a fist poised to strike. In chapter 30, it’s demonstrated with flames, cloudbursts, thunderstorms, and hailstones (v. 30). In Isaiah 63:3, it tramples.

It doesn’t exactly chill out in Lamentations. The words “engulfed” and “slaughtered” are used in chapter 3 (v. 43)...

...The Bible directs us to get rid of anger (Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8), but our idea of “righteous anger” turns that directive on its head: we ...actually pat ourselves on the back for being offended and embracing anger.

And all that boiling, piercing, corrosive power becomes part of our lives—and destroys us.

We cling to our self-righteousness and can’t possibly imagine giving it up. We think it’s how we’re supposed to live. But our Father is holding out another way of living, entirely. He’s saying it’s far more valuable. He knows. He made us. He knows we can live better this way. We’ll be under less stress. We’ll be able to live in the moment. We won’t be constantly offended, perpetually nursing hurts. He’s telling us to hand over the idea that we know things we don’t about ourselves and others, and simply be humble.

I’ve found myself thinking — even if I don’t say it out loud — that part of my job as a Christian is assessing where people stand. Therefore, if I didn’t try to make this assessment about others, I wasn’t taking Christianity seriously enough, or something. I don’t know what I was thinking.

What a sweet, sweet relief to not have to do this.

Jesus had to point out to seemingly upstanding religious leaders that some prostitutes were closer to the Kingdom of God than they were. Would you or I have known that?

Last night, I talked with a new friend of mine who shared that he’s always seemingly been angry. “I spend half of my life with anger,” he said. “I’ve always lost a tremendous amount of sleep because of it.”

Life is better when we admit what we don’t know, realize our own moral status before God, and give up our made-up Right to Be Offended.

 God knows how we’re wired. He tells us to forgive and to get rid of anger. People made in His image would do well to listen. It means everything, not just for us, but for those around us.

We think we want a right to “righteous anger.” It takes a tremendous amount of humility, an extraordinary “dying to self” to hand over this desire, this job, this obsession, to God. But He made us, and He knows how we operate best. He says to hand it over.

And He’s promising something of value that no one else — and literally, no other religion — promises. He’s promising a release from the constant evaluation, never-ending striving, and relentless assessment of where we, and everyone else, stand.

He’s promising a better way of life. He’s holding it out to us, saying, “Hand over the garbage;” and He means it, because He loves us, and He has something better to offer.

He’s offering peace.

Prayer: 

Beloved Jesus, lead me to someone today who needs to hear Your story of love and forgiveness.

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Wearing a New Label

You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.

Colossians 3:9b-10 The Message

So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.

Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. 

Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. 

Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. 

And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. 

Colossians 3:1-14 The Message

Prayer:

Father,
           According to Your Word in Colossians 3, Let the peace of Christ keep us in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing our own thing. Remind us to cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Help us to give it plenty of room in our lives. Cause us to instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And to sing, sing our hearts out to You! Let every detail in our lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Falling Short

Who can live in your tent, Lord? Who can dwell on your holy mountain?
The person who lives free of blame, does what is right, and speaks the truth sincerely;
who does no damage with their talk, does no harm to a friend, doesn’t insult a neighbor;
someone who despises those who act wickedly, but who honors those who honor the Lord;
someone who keeps their promise even when it hurts;
someone who doesn’t lend money with interest, 
who won’t accept a bribe against any innocent person.
Whoever does these things will never stumble.

Psalm 15:1-5 CEB

We want to live in His tent. We want to dwell on His holy mountain. Can we live free of blame? Can we do and maintain just these listed in only 5 verses of the Bible? Not without Jesus. 

James Stanley writes in his Life Principles Bible Notes, "If the list of requirements in Psalm 15 sounds impossible, in a sense, it’s supposed to be. The truth is, we do not realize our need for the Savior until we understand how far we have fallen short of God’s holiness. This is why we must depend on Jesus. He is the only One who can cleanse us and prepare us to dwell in His house forever."

Prayer:

Father,

            According to Your Word, we are Your masterpiece. You created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things You planned for us long ago. We can not live righteously in and of ourselves but only through Christ. Great is Your faithfulness, O God. We thank You that Your mercies and grace are new each day. Give us Your strength so we can live out Your expectation and purpose for us in this new day. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Choose Wisely

To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,

‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance,
so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t mourn.’

For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ 

But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.

Matthew 11:16-19 NLT

From our mother's womb, we are learning, gaining knowledge of the world around us. If we have/had a Godly mother, she included scriptural knowledge as the basis for all we've learned. If we didn't, we make the choice at some point whether or not to accept Christ as our Savior and follow His Word. Knowledge is one thing, wisdom is quite another. Wisdom is the ability to apply the knowledge we've learned. Wisdom comes from God.

It's not enough to just accumulate knowledge. There are too many assumptions to be made and many of them are in error. John the Baptist wore clothes woven from camel hair, and he ate locust and wild honey. Our text for today says the people thought he was possessed. Jesus came preaching the same message and they said He was a glutton and a drunkard and kept bad company. They were all looking for the promised Messiah, but He didn't look like they thought He would. He didn't enter the way kings enter. His emissary was not what you'd picture the King's representative to look like. Assumptions based on knowledge alone...

Proverbs 7:4 NKJV tells us, Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Wisdom is the primary goal... Wisdom enables us to rightly use the knowledge we've gained. There is no true wisdom without God. 

Our Promise is found in verse 19, But wisdom is shown to be right by its results - which means that our ability to apply spiritual truth [wisdom] will be demonstrated by what we do based on the choices before us. Choose wisely.

Prayer:

Father, 

           Open our eyes of understanding to recognize You in all that comes our way. Give us wisdom and a discerning heart to help those around us. Your wisdom, Father, Your strength. Light our path with Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

He Has Spoken

This is how the Lord responds: 
“If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me.
If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman.
You must influence them; do not let them influence you!
They will fight against you like an attacking army, but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze. They will not conquer you, for I am with you to protect and rescue you.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
Jeremiah 15:19-20 NLT

Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, was having a meltdown. He hated being hated for delivering the truth of impending doom. The higher calling in his life made him lonely and not liked at all by the citizens of Jerusalem. His trust in the Lord to be able to protect and care for him began to waiver. 

Ever been there? Doubting yourself. Doubting God... Remember that God doesn't lie. (Numbers 23:19) If He said it, He will do it. Psalm 145:13b NLT tells us, The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. God in His great mercy, assures Jeremiah of His protection. It's Truth we can take to the bank. They will not conquer you, for I am with you to protect and rescue you. I, the Lord, have spoken!

I saw a magnet once that read, "God said it. I believe it. That settles it." I was a young Christian then and bought it. As I matured in the Lord and His Word, I had to throw it away. The Truth is if God said it, that settles it. Period. Whether or not we believe God's Word does not change His Word. His Word changes us.

Prayer:

Father,

           Change our hearts, O God! Forgive us for the times we have questioned You. Thank You for being our Savior, Redeemer, Provider, our Healer, and our Lord. Give us clean hands and pure hearts. Help us to have our hearts and minds properly prepared to receive Your Word and to trust You unfailingly for a harvest of great faith. Your ways are not our ways, help us to know that in our knower, and trust You accordingly. Help us to keep our faces set like a flint, steadfast and immovable in Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Going My Way

Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil.
Psalm 119:133 NLT

Every day, we take steps in this journey called life. What are we using as a guide for those steps? Are we following? Are we leading? Are we headed in the right direction? Do we know where we will end up? 

Questions to contemplate. The answers are found in God's Word. 

Prayer:

Father,

          Birth in us a fresh anointing and desire to know You more. To read and embrace Your Word. Guide our steps by Your Word, so we will not be overcome by evil. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Excerpts of Peace

"Let me hear what the Lord God says, because he speaks peace to his people and to his faithful ones." Psalm 85:8

When in doubt, pray and read the Lord's word. What He says will always help bring about peace in your life.

“I’ve said these things to you so that you will have peace in me. In the world you have distress. But be encouraged! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33

In this life, there will be hardships, but they only last so long. Be at peace knowing that it’ll be over soon.

"Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” Luke 1:78-79

Even in the dark times, even when death draws near, the mercy of God is always available to comfort you and grant you peace.

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

The peace we experience from our faith in Jesus surpasses any temporary peace the world can give; it can ease your deepest fears and soothe your troubled heart.

“May the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2nd Thessalonians 3:16

You are never without God, who brings you peace each and every day and is always watching over you.

Prayer:

Father, 

           Thank You for peace that knows no end. Peace that triumphs over grief and over every test and trial. Peace that gives us hope in every situation through our faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. And it's in His Name we pray. Amen

Peace Speaker 

Do They Know?

By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.
John 13:35 NASB

Several years ago, Tim Tebow created controversy in the NFL by writing "John 3:16" under his eyes. The NFL had a conniption over it, trying to stop Christians from bringing in signs of it. Not showing players praying, etc. In effect, declaring that players and coaches should keep their faith to themselves. And it worked for the most part. 

However, what I LOVE is that when there's a crisis (like Damar Hamlin's) those same people want people who have a relationship with the Lord to pray for them. I was SO glad to see Christians in the NFL stand up (and kneel down) to pray without caring about any consequences! They knew they needed a miracle from God to save Mr. Hamlin's life. I love the ESPN analyst who stopped and prayed earnestly while on air - and they didn't cut to a commercial... That was miraculous!

It's been said repeatedly since then that they didn't know so-and-so or the other ones were Christians, but there they were praying. (Praise God!) I've been thinking a lot about it. Do the people within our sphere of influence KNOW we are Christians? I'm not talking about preaching to them or "shoving it down their throats". I'm talking about living our relationship with the Lord in the light of day. 

Heart Check: Does a lost and hurting world know that we are Christ's disciples because of our love for one another? 

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You that we can come boldly to Your throne of Grace when we are in need. Thank You for the opportunities to stand in the gap for those who may not yet have a relationship with You. Father, please let Your light burn brightly within us, and let us be known for Your love that we have for one another. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Reminder about Grace

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

Ephesians 2:4-8 NIV

I know I've posted about this before, but I think it bears repeating. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the grace of God. How do we measure grace? Should we try to measure it? Personally, I think we should at least be aware of what it means for us - the measure of it with regard to our eternal lives. We need to realize that although it was freely given, it was not free.

I really have no idea what God’s grace covers in your life and you have no idea what God’s grace covers in mine. I know a lot of people – myself, included – who tend to struggle with receiving something they think they haven’t earned in some way, whether it’s love or a gift…or grace. And there’s the rub. We cannot earn any of those things. These are the things in life that are priceless. There's no way to put a dollar value of any kind on them but we must acknowledge their immeasurable value.

I am all too aware of what grace has covered in my life and when I think of a pure and holy Christ giving His life for mine, I am overwhelmed. I know the cost of grace for me – His life for mine on the Cross at Calvary. Something of which only God and I know the real value. Something only God and YOU know the real value of when it comes to your life. But to think that because of His great love and sacrifice, the grace He gives to us allows us to stand FAULTLESS before His throne in spite of what we've done. (Jude 24&25)

Oh, the incomparable riches of His grace!

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray Jude's prayer - Now to You who is able to keep us from stumbling, And to present us faultless before the presence of Your glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Needed Most

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:15-16 NLT

Jesus fully understands every temptation known to mankind. He faced them all but did not succumb to any of them. That's why He can help us. He can empathize with us, yet He knows how to rise above and He can bring us up higher, too.

Mercy is not getting what we do deserve for our sins and weaknesses. Grace is getting what we don't deserve - another chance, forgiveness, and mercies that are new EVERY morning...

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV tells us, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Salvation by His Grace, abundant life by His mercies, and everlasting love that we cannot begin to comprehend. Exactly what we needed most.

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for instant access to Your throne of Grace. Thank You that we have only to utter Your Name from the heart and You are with us. Help us to understand the magnitude of that! What a great and loving God You are! Open our eyes to see and our hearts to receive. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

He Has Not

Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
Numbers 23:19c NLT

This post is not long, but it can be very deep depending on your response. 

I'll post the Scripture again to make it direct.

Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?   

Think about these questions in relation to your life. How deep in faith and trust are you willing to go to get the answer?

And once we have the answer (which will remove all of our excuses), will we beg forgiveness for not trusting Him and then follow Him for evermore?

Prayer:

Father, 

           Forgive us for walking by what we see in the circumstances around us instead of by faith in Your Word. You have never failed us ever. Please take our head knowledge of You and drive it deep into our hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Link to Geron Davis's praise song - Evermore!

https://open.spotify.com/track/2e0sujOz8eJJ5AAm3XTp7y?si=3f1b6455419140eb

Remake / Do-Over

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 
2nd Corinthians 5:16-17 NLT

Most all of us - at some point in time - have wished, prayed and/or begged God for a do-over. Some way to re-do or undo parts of our lives. The ONLY hope we have of that is in making Christ Jesus the Lord of our lives. Giving everything about ourselves over to His will and control. He wants it all - all the parts - good and bad. That's how He does it. He takes it all, uses it all, and makes us new. It's an extreme makeover - bought and paid for by Him.

Tenth Avenue North did a song called You Are More. Here's a portion of the lyric that speaks volumes on this very subject of a remake.

'Cause this is not about what you've done - But what's been done for you.

This is not about where you've been, But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you feel, But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.

You are more than the choices that you've made,

You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,

You are more than the problems you created,

You've been remade.

Prayer:

Father,
            So often we come face to face with our human inadequacies and feel less than what You could ever put up with... but that's not Your Truth. You placed a priceless value on us when You sent Your Son to buy us back - "while we were yet sinners" is how Your Word defines it. How do we ever thank You for that? Lord, we give You our lives. You paid for them. Help us to walk the path You've chosen for the remake of our lives, following in Your footsteps. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

In Vain

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Psalm 127:1-2 ESV

Have we got our priorities in the proper order? I would encourage each of us to examine ourselves - the time we spend building the house versus the time we spend building our relationship with the Lord. We can work ourselves into the grave worrying about working enough hours to pay the bills, etc. (anxious toil). Worry is the antithesis of trusting God. The Bible teaches us that without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.

If we want to work, let's work on getting our priorities straight. Put God first in everything, then and only then will everything else fall into place. If you never have enough hours in a day, I promise you that time sown in building your relationship with God will reap a harvest of the most productive use of the remaining hours in the day. 

Put God first in all things. Otherwise, it's all in vain.

Prayer:

Father,

          Open our eyes of understanding to see that worrying is choosing to not trust You in all things. Forgive us, O God, for trusting in our own labor. We do not want to be cursed for trusting in our own strength (Jeremiah 17:5). Turn our hearts toward You in all things, Father. Holy Spirit, guide us into all Truth. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Full of It

For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:20 NKJV

Don't misunderstand this verse. Jesus is not condoning the so-called righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Yes, they knew the law, the Torah. To anyone looking on, they appeared pious. They dressed the part... on the outside. However, in Matthew 25:27-28, Jesus declares, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. In today's vernacular, they were full of themselves. There was nothing Godly inside of them.

God wants our hearts to be after His own heart - loving, forgiving, compassionate, and eager to do His will. To exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, we need to remember that God looks at the heart, not at the outward appearance. What are we full of?

Prayer:

Father:
           We pray as David prayed, Give us understanding, and we will keep your law and obey it with all our heart. For the sake of Your Name, O Lord, forgive our iniquity, though it is great. Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out our transgressions. Wash us thoroughly from our iniquity, and cleanse us from our sin! Make us beautiful in YOUR sight. The only thing we want to be full of is You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Luck, Fate or Faith

But you who abandon me, your God, who forget the holy mountains, Who hold dinners for Lady Luck and throw cocktail parties for Sir Fate, Well, you asked for it. Fate it will be: your destiny, Death. For when I invited you, you ignored me; when I spoke to you, you brushed me off.
You did the very things I exposed as evil; you chose what I hate.
Isaiah 65:11-12 NLT

It's already started. I find it hard to believe otherwise intelligent people espousing this heresy... "Ohhhhhh, next Friday is Friday the 13th! I think I'll stay home and avoid trouble." Unbelievable... If you believe in something that ignorant, who's to say the house wouldn't cave in on you because you believed bad things were going to happen to you?

I have no luck per se. When I was without God, I went to the racetrack and lost every single race I bet on. And I didn't just lose - the horses I bet on came in dead last! Hellooooo...you shouldn't be here. Your mother brought you up to know better. Psalm 19:9-10 reads, The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Buying the ticket to win whatever...what difference does it make if I'm one number off or a thousand, I still lose. I've referred to the Scripture before about the curse that comes with trusting in anything other than God. He is our Source. He is the Great I AM. He is the Alpha and Omega, the omniscient, omnipotent, holy, righteous, Almighty King. Who in their right mind would want to make Him angry?

You want to talk about being afraid of something? Hebrews 10 - If we give up and turn our backs on all we've learned, all we've been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ's sacrifice and are left on our own to face the Judgment—and a mighty fierce judgment it will be! If the penalty for breaking the law of Moses is physical death, what do you think will happen if you turn on God's Son, spit on the sacrifice that made you whole, and insult this most gracious Spirit?

What are you banking on? Where do you place your faith? Who are you going to trust to take care of you?

Prayer:

Father,
          Your Word in Psalm 19 warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise, how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep us from stupid sins, from thinking we can take over Your work; Then we can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in our mouths; these are what we chew on and pray. Accept them when we place them on the morning altar, In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Act Your Wage

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.

Proverbs 1:19 NKJV

Greed is a sin. The wages of sin is death - Romans 6:23. Whether it literally takes a life or figuratively (as in the constant pursuit of greedy gain), it will rob you of the abundant life Jesus came to give us. And not only abundant life here, but also our eternal life!

1st Timothy 6:17-19 spells it out clearly, Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 

We are to do as Jesus did. And just yesterday we talked about greater works than these shall we do. Remember?  As followers of Christ, our wage is to be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Which wage would you rather have - life or death?

Prayer:

              Thank You for always giving us great benefits, for always providing the best way to learn, for giving us the choice. Shine Your Light of Truth on our daily lives so we can see that life and death are choices we make. Guide us into Your wisdom and Truth. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

It's Only the 3rd...

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 
Hebrews 10:24 NLT

I'm not going to mention resolutions for anyone else - successes or failures. My personal opinion is that the only resolution I need to make is to follow Christ more closely. To do that, I must be in His Word, spend time in His presence, emulate His acts of love and good works.

In John 14:12 NLT, Jesus declares, I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. What a promise! What a divine aspiration for us as Christians!

Verse 25 of our text for today instructs us - And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Do we realize that an act of love is as simple as picking up the phone to call a friend and check on them, perhaps pray with them over the phone? Taking the time to drop a card or note in the mail? But when we think of all that Jesus did (and does and will do), are we motivated to do good works? He said we would do even greater works... Are we? 

It's only the third day of a brand new year - I've talked to friends who have lost family members in the last week - one on New Year's Day. I spoke with several friends today who are battling illnesses, and two others with Covid. We MUST love others as Jesus loves. They NEED it!

Prayer:

Father,

           Soften our hearts - pour in a fresh anointing of compassion for others. Give us the wisdom to know when to speak, what to speak, and when to just be quiet and listen - to be in the moment with them. Holy Spirit, motivate us to acts of love and good works beyond our own understanding. We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus extended to the hurting world around us. Open our eyes to see, open our hearts to hear. Help us to help others. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Right Anchor

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.
Hebrews 6:18-19 NLT

Friends and family alike are SO ready for this New Year and all the promise it holds. While the world tosses and turns around us, we need a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.

Unless you own a boat, you probably haven't given much thought to anchors of any kind. History tells us they started out as large rocks or a net full of rocks tethered to the boat. Through the years they have evolved into certain shapes for certain types of boats - fluke, plow or scoop, mushroom, claw - and obviously different weights. You also have to take into account the surface you're dropping it into - sand, mud, marshy grasses, etc - and the wind conditions. Sometimes you need to set more than one to keep the boat from swinging or dragging. There's so much you must consider.

Life is like that - often compared to the storms of life and being tossed about. How we navigate through the storms of life depends on our anchor. There are some things we need to consider such as whether the storm has come to trouble us or to clear out the debris of life, but as Christians, we need only to hold to the hope that lies before us. Either way, we need an anchor that is strong and trustworthy - Jesus! He is the One who holds us steady in every situation, every storm, and every circumstance. 

It is said, "The roughest storms prove the strength of our anchor."  Psalm 93:4 NLT tells us, But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore— the Lord above is mightier than these!  Thank You, Father!

Prayer:

Father,

           You are our Light in the darkness, our Shelter, our Rock, our Sure Foundation. We cling to You in all things, giving thanks for even the storms that strengthen our faith or clear a way for us. Help us to see Your hand of protection and provision in everything that touches our lives. Holy Spirit, bring to our remembrance, Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV, The Lord our God in our midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over us with gladness, He will quiet us with His love, He will rejoice over us with singing.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Annual New Year's Day post

...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...
Joshua 24:15b NKJV

New Year's Day marks the anniversary of the first Promise for Today that I sent to a handful of friends and family members in 1996. When I first started sending out the Promise, I used other people's devotions from books I had and then later, I purchased more. We went through quite a few over the years. Sometimes, I'd take them directly from a book, but I always let people know what book we were using. And sometimes I would elaborate and add my own comments. Those of you who know me know that written words are my passion... but I started with the works of others. 

Then in 2007, my beloved former pastor, Doc (Dr. Howard O. Jameson) challenged me to step up, to make it personal and write from my heart about how God's Word affects me, rather than from someone else's heart and perspective. It has been the most challenged commitment of my life. 

More of God, less (and less and less) of me in 2023. By God's grace and with His direction, my life will be changed according to the choices I make in obedience to Christ and His Word. As always, it's all about the choices.

The Promise started with the following excerpt from Max Lucado's book, When God Whispers Your Name. Every year, I send it out as the first Promise of the New Year to remind us of our choices.

Max Lucado writes:

It's quiet. It's early. The coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I am free to choose. And so I choose.

I Choose Love ... No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I Choose Joy ... I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical ... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I Choose Peace ... I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I Choose Patience ... I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I Choose Kindness ... I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I Choose Goodness ... I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I Choose Faithfulness ... Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I Choose Gentleness ... Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself. 

I Choose Self-Control ... I am a spiritual being ... After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

Prayer:

Father,
          We choose You. Thank You for the power of Your Word to change our lives and our choices for how we live the life You have given us. In this New Year, please give us the courage to walk in the conviction of Your Word. Father, we ask that You guide us in EACH step of life. I pray Your provision and protection over those You have allowed me to touch with Your Word. Let us be ever mindful of You, Lord, the Author and Finisher of our faith. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen