practicing gratefulness

 Wednesday, February 18, 2026 (5:35 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You for Your presence in our lives. Thank You for the privilege of being grateful. I want to practice and get better at it everyday.

♪Great Aunt Maureen said at a hundred and three

“Write scripture on Your heart for when you need it

So just say it to yourself ’til you believe it”

And I’m feeling like I’m needing it right now♪

[Still Waters (Psalm 23)]

Father, thank You for bringing music to my heart and my mind. Many times [like now] before I even know what song it is. Thank You for the various ways You sing Your Truth into our days.

Thank You Lord for walking with me. Always. Here I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to make me ever more aware of Your presence in all I experience. I love, need, trust and want Your goodness, grace, greatness and glory (Psalm 145:5-8) to be what I am seeking. Yes. Your Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33).

Use me exactly as You know is best. Doing in, with, by, through and for me all that is necessary that I serve You as You so rightly deserve. Teach me to worship, adore, glorify and enjoy You forever. Provide all the mercy, grace, faith, hope and trust that is needed. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(228 words ~ 6:43 a.m.)

trusting God

 Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (3:57 p.m.)

Holy God,

This seems to be a real backward approach to the day. Coming here with You twelve hours later than usual. It’s kind of cool I have to admit. I get to thank You for reminding me that YOU are who I trust.

Bemoaning circumstances earlier I got caught in the “I don’t know who to trust” loop. Thank You for that little push that seemed to say, “How about Me?!”

Yeah! YOU! Trust You! 

Thank You that I get to keep coming to You. Singing. And smiling.

♪I’m ‘bout to have a Good Day 

No matter what they say

Sun is shining down on me 

Birds are singing praise…♪

Thank You for this break in the heavy rains. Thank You for 

♪Turning old things new

Grey skies blue…

…God who made the universe 

Knows me by my name

So it’s a good day♪ 

Indeed it is! Thank You for starting it off by reminding me to trust You (Proverbs 3:5-6). I love, need and want You as well. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(191 words ~ 4:27 p.m.)

stating the obvious

 Monday, February 16, 2026 (6:26 a.m.)

Holy God,

I love You. I need You. I trust You. I want You. Perhaps I should start by stating the obvious with You more often.

Yes! Even AI supports this thought.

“Acknowledging obvious truths about God, such as His faithfulness, provides reassurance and grounds for trust. Stating the obvious can be a powerful way to affirm faith and recognize God’s work in the world and in personal life.”

Yes please. I want very much to be more appreciative of You in my life.

Words of love and promises

 Sunday, February 15, 2026 (5:00 a.m.)

Hi God,

Thank You. There was sleep. And hope. And words of love. Yes. Words of Your love. For each of us.

(5:13 a.m.)

Oh. And promises. Father, thank You for Your Word. Filled with love. And hope. And promises.

Isaiah 41:13. You speaking through Your prophet Isaiah to the sinful people of Judah. “I am holding you by your right hand - I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, ‘Do not be afraid. I am here to help you.’”

I like the sound of that. You willing to hold onto Your people. And help them. 

“See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for He allows us to be called His children, and we really are!” (1 John 3:1a). Thank You that we get to be Yours. With all the love that comes with this distinction.

Father, I love, need, trust and want You. Continue Your work in making me all that You would have me be. Loving. Kind. Joyful. Peaceful. Patient. Good. Gentle. Faithful. And strong in spirit (Galatians 5:22).

Do Your best in, with, by, through and for me to represent You well. I want to worship, adore, glorify and enjoy You forever. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(217 words ~ 5:46 a.m.)

first! Not last.

 Saturday, February 14, 2026 (6:38 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You that You are so very good. Great. Glorious. Gracious (Psalm 145:5-8). Thank You that “I love You, LORD; You are my strength” (Psalm 18:1).

(7:07 a.m.)

I confess to You the very biasé attitude with which I have been approaching the days You have provided me. Gone is an excited and eager outlook. Seemingly replaced by a sullen apathy.

Rather than bring the feelings of indifference and lack of interest directly to You, I’ve tried to disguise them. With that simple admission I find myself resembling Adam and Eve in their feeble attempt to hide their nakedness from You (Genesis 3:7-9).

Forgive me Father. You are ALWAYS where I need to come first! Not last.

The search I just launched yielded that same finding. Referencing Matthew 6:33 [“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…”], AI stresses trusting You as our primary source of wisdom and strength before trying to fix problems on our own.

How many times do I need to learn and relearn this lesson Dear Lord? Once in a great while I think I’ve got it. Only to be reminded, “Nope! Here we grow again.”

Thank You that Jeremy Camp gave us a song for times exactly like this.

♪Here I am Again 

Back in the same place I’ve been

So many times…

…Losing the battle

And thinking I’ll never win this fight…

…Fall after fall, prayer after prayer…

Here You are again

Forgiving, redeeming my heart again

Standing me up on my feet again

You show me Your mercy will never run out…

…I can breathe again

Knowing I’m loved, I feel free again

No matter how long I’ve been wandering

When I think I’ve gone too far

Here You are Again♪

Father God, thank You. Forgive me my selfish, self-centered ways. Do all You must in redeeming and revealing the woman You created me to be. Wonderfully complex (Psalm 139:14a). Strong. Courageous. Unafraid and encouraged. With You (Joshua 1:9).

I can do none of this life stuff alone. I need You guiding and directing me every single step of the way.

I love, need, trust and want You as absolute Lord of my life. Use me as You know is best. Worshiping. Adoring. Glorifying and enjoying You forever. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(398 words ~ 7:40 a.m.)

the whole package

 Friday, February 13, 2026 (6:33 a.m.)

Holy God,

I’m here asking (Matthew 7:7). For Your healing. And Your presence. Your mercy. Your grace. Your joy. The whole package.

Psalm 63:3

2 Corinthians 3:18

Ephesian 1:4-6

We are made to praise the glory of Your grace

washed by the Word

 ♪I speak the name of Jesus over you♪

(In Jesus’ Name)

Thursday, February 12, 2026 (6:08 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You so much. You bless us. You keep us. You make Your face shine upon us and are gracious to us. You turn Your face toward us. You smile. And give us peace (Numbers 6:24-26). You even gave us a dry day yesterday. Thank You!

(6:22 a.m.)

Father, thank You again! Thinking of You smiling at us, I searched for examples. I was sent to Psalm 80. Verses 3, 7 and 19 especially. From there came a prayer poem by Bill Gaultiere of soulshepherding.

In “The Trinity Restore You” he speaks of three faces shining all around us so that we are saved. The Father loves us. With His face shining [smiling] down on us. The Son graces us. His faces shines right beside us. The Spirit lives in us. With His face shining inside us. The Trinity empowers us. Making their face shine through us.

Father, thank You for the ways You lead us to Your Truth. And healing. Following the prompt on “See the Smile of God” to “The Smile of Jesus is Everywhere. Do You See It?” I learn even more.

It’s here that I read about a smile being a powerful prayer. And that Your Word washes our minds of hurts from the past (Ephesians 5:26). 

The Voice says it this way, “He [Christ] did that [agreed to die on behalf of the church] to make us completely clean, as the people of God. It was like He washed us with water, as He brought God’s message [Word} to us.”

Father, You provided me the powerful Truth of this message over 32 years ago when You used verses 22-25 to save our marriage. I trusted You with the most precious thing in my life then [the tenuous relationship with my much loved husband] and I’m asking for the strength of Your mighty power (v. 6:10) to continue doing so now.

I know You to be good. Gracious. Glorious. And great (Psalm 145:5-8). Able to do ALL things (Matthew 19:26, Luke 1:37, Job 42:2, Ephesians 3:20). Do all You know is best for each of us.

I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Use me in representing You well. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(390 words ~ 7:59 a.m.)