new-to-me

 Friday, May 1, 2026 (6:01 a.m.)

Most Dear and Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

You’ve recently provided MANY new-to-me experiences, Lord. Starting with an ever building trust that You know what You’re doing.

Thank You for the willingness to meet new people. “Put myself out there.” Take risks. Weigh the benefits. Explore. Be open. Stand back. Observe. Be aware.

This past week I’ve been more willing to listen to what I can’t hear. Your still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12).

(6:39 a.m.)

Again You amaze me! Bringing my open heart before You, You fill it with Your Truth! Details in Your Word that I have missed through the years. Father, thank You that You are so incredibly patient with us.

Reading the introduction of 1 Kings I’m learning of people who trusted You. And those who disobeyed. You never giving up on them by doing ‘everything You could to draw them back into a healthy, vibrant relationship with Yourself’ (The Life Recovery Bible).

(7:04 a.m.)

Father God, the more I read the greater grows the realization of how very little I know of Your Word. Thank You that my trust in You is not reliant on my understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).

You are so very good. Great. Glorious. Gracious (Psalm 145:5-8). 

♪There’s no one like You

None like You…

… Our God is greater, our God is stronger

God, You are higher than any other♪

(7:17 a.m.)

Father, thank You for all You are doing in changing me into the woman You created me to be. Yours. Unafraid. Willing. Dependent on You. Interdependent with others.

Continue Your work in growing me Lord. I long to be led by Your still, small voice. Enable me to hear and follow You. Do all You must in using me exactly as You know is best. I love, need, trust and want You Blessed Lord. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(327 words ~ 7:23 a.m.)

finding peace in God's presence

 Wednesday, April 29, 2026 (5:21 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You! 

I am safe. Feeling shaky. After being startled out a dream-filled second sleep.

(6:02 a.m.)

Thank You for the privilege of bringing to You the shock and alarm I was feeling. Thank You again for being my Go-To!

After a bit of searching I am thrilled to realize that I just experienced first hand what it is to ♪take it to the Lord in prayer♪

Unsettled to the point of speaking out loud while walking throughout the house. Telling myself to, “Shake it off.”

Father, thank You for the changes You have been making in, with, by, through and for me. Empowering me to truly celebrate:

♪What a Friend We Have in Jesus, 

All our sins and griefs to bear

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!♪

(Philippians 4:6)

Thank You for this intense reminder Dear God. Even Especially in the midst of muddled confusion, my brain went to “Talk it over with God” instead of my usual tendency toward “Fear!” And being afraid.

Searching to learn more about “taking startle to God” I’m tremendously comforted in reading that doing so “involves transforming moments of sudden fear, surprise, or anxiety into opportunities for deeper faith, prayer, and reliance on divine grace.”

This same description adds, “this approach invites believers to find peace in God’s presence, recognizing His sovereignty over unexpected life circumstances.”

Father thank You that as I continue reading I am reminded that we are to: surrender anxiety, embrace Your divine grace, cultivate awe, and convert fear to prayer. Mm, yes, thank You Father.

Use me today exactly as You know is best. Easily startled, yet unafraid. Because of Your presence. In my heart, soul, mind and strength. Do all You must that I represent you well. I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(339 words ~ 6:54 a.m.)

♪ I Thank God ♪

 ♪Hell lost another one

I am free, I am free♪

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 (6:17 a.m.)

Father God,

Thank You!

The days seem to be blurring together for me. So much so that I truly have to pause to remember what day of the week, even what month of the year it is. Talk about blinking and missing everything.

Thank You for waking me with lyrics I easily sang out. How surprising to be reminded of the title. ♪I Thank God♪ Oh, how truly I thank You Lord!

♪Get up, get up, get up

Get up out of that grave…♪

Thank You for the opportunity of learning about and verifying the lyrics as being biblically sound. Thank You for the left turn my thoughts took while reading about them.

Wanting to know more about what it means to genuinely worship You I find a list of five characteristics of God-pleasing worship. And a Bible verse to boot. Thank You Father.

God-pleasing worship glorifies You. It's Christ-centered, Spirit-driven, engages people and transforms lives. Thank You for the many times I have experienced exactly that.

Reading in Your Word, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming… indeed it’s here now - when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way.”

May I be deemed by You as one of those Dear Lord. I want my worship of You to be truly Spirit led and filled. Do all You must that I represent You well. I love, need, trust and want You Blessed God. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(285 words ~ 6:48 a.m.)

loud and clear

 ♪All I know is 

I’m not home yet

This is Not Where I Belong♪

Monday, April 27, 2026 (6:22 a.m.)

Father God,

Thank You for continuing to sing to me. Loudly and clearly right now. To the point that I even heard the words “loud and clear” in my mind. I want to explore this with You, please.

Thank You for the things You’ve been teaching me. About You. Others. Myself.

(6:37 a.m.)

Thank You for this moment of sheer contentment. Satisfaction. Hope. Joy. Bordering on absurdity.

Yep! There’s the word for what I’m feeling right now. “The quality of being wildly unreasonable or illogical.” This seems to be the closest I’ve ever come to fully experiencing the Truth of Philippians 4:6-7!

Going to bed last night I confessed to You the depth of apprehension I’m having in regards to becoming a recovery care-giver for a much loved one. There is such a large number of unknowns. 

The list of maybe this or what if that’s continues to grow. Not acknowledging them to You hasn’t served me well. Telling You straight out that I have some fear regarding all the details and potential outcomes allowed You to come in and settle my heart. My soul. My mind. Even my strength.

Thank You God for reminding me again that I may not know what tomorrow holds, but I do know Who holds it. YOU do! Thank You that You do dear Lord.

(7:05 a.m.)

Searching to learn if You really do sing to us, I find myself absurdly AGOG. Eager and excited to tell Your Truth beyond my wildest imagination!

Sent by many sources to Zephaniah 3:14-17 I get to read of a time when “God will remove all dysfunctions from our personalities and relationships; sorrows and burdens will no longer exist… we can rejoice in this promise” (The Life Recovery Bible footnote for 3:9-20).

While not myself a daughter of Zion, I get to rejoice in the hope that is offered Your people.

“Sing, O daughter of Zion… be glad and rejoice with all your heart… ‘Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs’” (vs. 14-17).

Again I say, I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Ah, but James (4:15) teaches us to say, “If it is the Lord’s will and we live long enough, we hope to do this project or pursue that dream.”

Your Truth reminds me that all I hope or dream is in Your mighty and powerful hands. I do not need to fear or be afraid. I get to choose to “Sing… shout aloud…Be glad and rejoice” will all my heart! Be absurdly AGOG!

Yes Father. Thank You for singing to me. Loud and clear.

♪All I know is 

I’m not home yet

This is Not Where I Belong♪

Use me exactly as You know is best. Unafraid. Excited and eager to tell. Hope-filled. Forsaking all fear and trusting You.

I love, need, trust and want You singing, speaking, leading and guiding me every step along Your way. Do all You must Dearest Dad. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(557 words ~ 7:41 a.m.)

"Go-To"

 Sunday, April 26, 2026 (6:29 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You.

I said it to You much earlier. When I realized that I had been praying to You in the middle of a frightening dream. Thank You that You were my immediate “go-to.”

(6:51 a.m.)

Mm, yes. Blessed Father, I want to know more about trusting You as my absolute, first and foremost “Go-To” overall.

Thank You that there is much written about the importance of turning to You first!

(7:58 a.m.)

Oh most dear and and blessed God and Father! Thank You for this time to sit and explore with You. Thank You for the privilege of being honest with my heart.

Yes. My heart that often whines to You. Of so many things. Most recently? My tiring of being the grown-up. Thank You that there’s much written about this as well.

(8:09 a.m.)

Reading “Choose Trust Over Worry: Recognize that worry is a sign of relying on your own understanding; actively choose to trust God in difficult circumstances” helped me recognize another of my own physical “tells” when dealing with fearful thoughts. That immediate weight of dread in the pit of my stomach.

I experienced it right before bed last night. Deciding to wait to deal with potentially upsetting information, I held off until this morning to look into it any further.

Father, thank You for the quickening of my heart. The tension in my neck and shoulders. That balled up internal weight that lets me know something needs attention.

Growing up with the frequently asked question of “What’s wrong with you now?” I truly thought something was always intrinsically defective with me. You are teaching me to believe differently.

I’m asking (Matthew 7:7) You to continue Your work in, with, by, through and for me Lord. I love, need, trust and want Your guidance in all that I think, say, do and feel. Be my eternal, everlasting, first and foremost “Go-To” over ALL! 

Thank You. Praise You. Use me as You alone know is best. Amen.

(347 words ~ 8:44 a.m.)

Saturday

 Saturday, April 25, 2026 (6:38 a.m.)

Holy God,

Good morning. Happy Saturday.

(7:12 a.m.)

Mm. Yes. Happy Saturday indeed.

(7:45 a.m.)

Father, do all You must that I will honor and serve You well. I love You. I need You. I trust and want to glorify and enjoy You as You know is best.

Keep my heart, soul, mind and strength dependent on You. Teach me to love as You would have me love. You. Others. Myself (Mark 12:30-31).

Use this particular Saturday for Your good. And for Your glory. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(102 words ~ 7:53 a.m.)

the moon

 Friday, April 24, 2026 (6:38 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You.

There was sleep. And rest. Some smiles. And a huge to me wonder. I don’t think I’ve ever brought my questions about the moon to You before now.

I’ve observed its cycles. Watched as it seems to grow and change its shape throughout any given month. Yesterday was the first time I recall wondering if my emotions are ever tied to it.

I look to You before exploring too much on my own. What say You Lord?

Made by You on the fourth day of creation (Genesis 1:14-19). Set by You to light the earth (v. 17). Something along the lines of our own personal night light. Thank You Father.

The more I’m reading in and of Your Word right now the greater my excitement grows. Another one of the things You have provided us that I’ve pretty much taken for granted all these years.

Waking with a simple wonder and having it turn to such eagerness to learn more is astounding to me Lord. Thank You!

“It is the LORD who provides the sun to light the day and the moon and stars to light the night, and who stirs the sea into roaring waves. His name is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies…” (Jeremiah 31:35).

“When I look at the night sky and see the work of Your fingers - the moon and the stars You set in place - what are mere mortals that You should think about them, human beings that You should care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4).

Recently I’ve become more aware of the importance of being curious. First introduced to me by an early grade schooler several years ago, I am again humbled by all there is to learn from the most unlikely places.

Father, how I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to continue Your work in teaching me what You would have me learn. At the pace You have set and know is best.

(7:28 a.m.)

Blessed Father, the eagerness I’m experiencing as Your Word is coming more alive (Hebrews 4:12) to me borders on sheer delight. A feeling of joyful excitement that often seems to ebb and flow. Much like the tide. Which is governed by the moon. The one You set in place.

Reading about resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, verse 40 tells of the glory of heavenly bodies being different from that of earthly ones. Verse 41 declares, “The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and the stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory.”

Father, I want to know more about You. Your glory. Your creation. And my place in it all. I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Do all You must in using me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(483 words ~ 7:46 a.m.)