let's do this...

 Friday, October 16, 2026 (6:38 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Let’s do this… Start all over again

I’ve been here awhile already. Reciting The Lord’s Prayer to You. Hoping to get a better understanding. A deeper connection. With You. “Our Father…”

(7:32 a.m.)

Thank You for this time of exploring. Looking up various translations and paraphrases from both Matthew and Luke.

“Father, may Your name be kept holy. May Your Kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need, and forgive us ours sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation” (New Living Translation Luke 11:1-4).

“Our Father in heaven, may Your name be kept holy. May Your Kingdom come soon. May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:9-13).

Having grown up using the words found in 21st Century King James Version I keep looking deeper. The Message. The Passion Translation. Even the simplicity of Clarence Jordan’s Cotton Patch version. 

Yes Dearest Dad. I am in definite need of simplicity these days!

“Father, may Your name be taken seriously. May Your Movement spread. Sustaining bread, grant us each day. And free us from our sins, even as we release everyone indebted to us. And don’t let us get all tangled up. Amen” (The Cotton Patch Gospel).

“Our Father in heaven, Reveal who You are. Set the world right; Do what’s best - as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with You and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything You want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes (The Message).

There are so many different attempts at getting Jesus' example of prayer across.

“Our Father, dwelling in the heavenly realms, may the glory of Your name be the center on which our lives turn. Manifest Your kingdom realm, and cause Your every purpose to be fulfilled on earth, just as it is fulfilled in heaven. We acknowledge You as our Provider of all we need each day. Forgive us the wrongs we have done as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us. Rescue us every time we face tribulation and set us free from evil. For You are the King who rules with power and glory forever. Amen” (The Passion Translation).

As I continue searching and finding, reading and wanting to absorb it all, I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to do all You must that I will implement well the faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13) You have provided.

I love, need, trust and want You Blessed God. Use me as only You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(495 words ~ 8:20 a.m.)

"believe and trust"

 ♪My one defense, my righteousness

Oh God, how I need You♪

(Lord I Need You)

♪I Believe 

Oh, I believe in You♪

Thursday, October 15, 2026 (5:12 a.m.)

Oh Holy God!

Thank You for all the challenges so far this morning. Computer glitches. Doubts. Fears. Wonders. And You! Always You.

Thank You for the various ways You remind us that You’ve always “got this.” No matter what “this” is!

(5:38 a.m.)

Blessed Father God, how I thank You for loving us the ways You do. For knowing us (Psalm 139). Every single thing about us.

I’m confessing to You right now the emotional state I have been in this past month. Highs. Lows. Tumbles. Struggles. Fear. Apprehension.

Thank You that You don’t waver. I can get churned around like the crashing waves of the ocean and You remain constant. Unchanged.

Lord God, I love You. I absolutely need You as my Savior. The One on whom I can trust and depend.

I want very much to base my entire being on Your Truth and promises. I’m asking (Matthew 7:7) You to empower and embolden me to live every moment as though I truly trust and believe You to be True.

Isaiah 41:10 tells us, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” I want to completely believe and trust all You have promised.

Yes, Lord. Continue Your work in, with, by, through and for me that I will keep turning to You for every aspect of my existence.

♪I wanna dance like David, I want a faith like Paul

I wanna sing like Silas tearing down the prison walls

I wanna face that fire, it won’t burn me though…♪

(That’s Who I Praise)

Do all You must Dearest Dad, that I will meet the challenges of this day with the “faith, hope and love” (1 Corinthians 13:13) that You provide us.

That faith we have in all You have done. The hope of seeing all You have promised come true. And the love which encompasses us (John 14:21). Your love that is the greatest of all and never ends.

Use me as You know is best. Believing and trusting You all the way. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(402 words ~ 6:15 a.m)

awed by God

 ♪Lord, I’m just grateful that I got to wake up today♪

(OKAY!)

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 (5:39 a.m.)

Yes! Father, thank You for reasons to be grateful. Waking up means there was sleep. Bright shining stars and planets brought smiles of awe and wonder.

(5:57 a.m.)

Thank You for the times that I am so easily awed by You. Mm, yes! In, with, by, through and for You I truly am awed. On my own? Just odd.

Finding reasons to smile. Remembering to breathe. Having freedom of movement. Thank You for the variety of things that remind me how worthy You are to be thanked and praised.

(6:40 a.m.)

♪Goodbye Yesterday 

I’m livin’ in the light of a new day

I won’t waste another minute in my old ways

Praise the Lord, I’ve been born again♪

Thank You Father for the many times I don’t even realize the music I have singing in and to me. You definitely have a way about You!

(7:02 a.m.)

Taking the opportunity to read in and of Your Word, I find that we, like the people of Israel, are to look for evidence of the great things You have done and are doing (1 Samuel 12:20, 24). Father, how I thank You for all You do. And praise You for all You are.

Good. Great. Gracious. Glorious (Psalm 145:5-8). Loving. Kind. Forgiving. Faithful. Eternal... Thank You that this list is endless.

I join my heart and voice with the psalmist of Psalm 33:20-22. “We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. Let Your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in You alone.”

It truly is Dear Lord! Because You watch over those who fully esteem and revere You, those who rely on Your unfailing love (v. 18).

♪Singing oh Lord Keep Me in the Moment 

Help me live with my eyes wide open

‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what You have for me♪

Father, thank You for all the reasons You have for me to sing. I love, need, trust and want You as absolute Lord of my life. Do all You must that I represent You well. Worshiping. Adoring. Glorifying and enJOYing You forever. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(398 words ~ 7:33 a.m.)

rebirthed

 ♪Goodbye, Yesterday

I’m livin’ in the light of a new day

I won’t waste another minute in my old ways

Praise the Lord! I’ve been born again♪

Tuesday, October 13, 2026 (4:26 a.m.)

Yes! Praise You Lord.

You reminded me many times yesterday.

♪Again and again and again and again

You rescued me out of the mess I was in♪

Every time I wanted to give up on a sorting project You kept me at it. Gently. Kindly. Encouraging me to just keep putting “like with like.” That’s all.

When I started to become overwhelmed by what I deemed the simplest task, You took over. As I sat near tears of defeat, You had me get up. Go out in the rain. Clear my head. Do something for another. Come back. And start again.

Thank You Father. You took the unmerciful judgments of myself and turned them into smiles. Even laughter. Yes! As I began whining to You that I will never be enough, You countered by reminding me that I am definitely tall enough!

I am confessing to You the lies and the fear I live under. Being at times my very own worst enemy, I look to You instead.

Father, You have provided our every need.

♪I have decided to follow Jesus

The world behind, the Cross before

And I won’t turn back♪

I am looking to You to keep me looking to You. Yes Father. My tendency is to look away. See the mess I am in and crumble. Thank You that Your way is better.

Mm, yes. So much better!

(5:18 a.m.)

As I prepare to go out into this brand new day that You have planned, I ask (Matthew 7:7) that I do it all in the strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). Apart from You I can do nothing of substance.

(6:15 a.m.)

Thank You for this time to sit. Read in and of Your Word. Take in Your Truth. Wonder at all You provide.

Father God, I love You. I need You. 

♪Lord I Need You, oh, I need You

Every hour I need You

My one defense, my righteousness

Oh God, how I need You♪

Yes! I want to serve You well. Thinking, saying, doing all that You know is best.

Guilt, shame and reminders of past failures will never motivate me to change my thoughts or behaviors. Christ living in me (Galatians 2:20) through the presence of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) will!

Do all You must Blessed God that I truly represent You well. Living and loving as You would have me.

Throwing off my old sinful nature and my former way of life (Ephesians 4:22). Instead, letting the Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes (23). Putting on my new nature (24), created to be like You (Genesis 1:26-27) - truly righteous and holy.

Use me exactly as You know is necessary. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

faith, trust and courage

 Monday, October 12, 2026 (6:01 a.m.)

Awesome God,

I’m looking to You. Asking. Seeking. Knocking (Matthew 7:7). You have treasures untold for us. And I want to learn to live as though this is true!

Father, I have fallen again into a trap of procrastination. Afraid to make decisions. Unwilling to do today all that I can put off until tomorrow. This is not living abundantly. It's fear of making mistakes.

(6:28 a.m.)

♪Lord, I Need You, oh, I need You

Every hour, I need You

My one defense, my righteousness

Oh God, how I need You♪

Father, how I thank You for the Truth You sing to me. Regularly. Often. Unexpectedly. 

You are so very good (Psalm 145:7). Great (v. 6). Glorious (5). And gracious (8).

I can’t even begin to comprehend all that You are and do for us each and every moment of our days here on earth. If I truly believe You to be all that is described in Psalm 139, why do I continue living under this cloud of indecision?

I confess to You this fear of being wrong! 

(7:19 a.m.)

Thank You for the Truth and encouragement we find in Your Word. 

Psalm 51:6

Ephesians 5:10

Colossians 1:27

2 Timothy 1:7 

James 1:5-8

(8:26 a.m.)

Lord, I ask You to go before, behind, beside, beneath, above and within me this day [which You have made (Psalm 118:24a)]. I want to truly “rejoice and be glad in it” (v.24b). Glorifying and enJOYing You FOREVER!

You know that ‘the impulses of my human heart may run wild, but Your eternal plan will prevail’ (Proverbs 19:11 The Voice). Lord, I want to live according to Your purpose! Do all You must. In, with, by through and for me.

I love, need, trust and want You Dear Lord. Use me exactly as You know is best. Unafraid. Faithfully trusting and courageously following You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(332 words ~8:46 a.m.)

OKAY!

 Sunday, October 11, 2026 (5:44 a.m.)

Holy God,

There’s another song. Thank You that I hadn’t gotten two words in, and there was the title!

OKAY!

♪Lord, I’m just grateful to wake up today

You take me worries and hurries and fade ‘em to grey

You have good plans for me, that’s what You say♪

(9:43 a.m.)

Thank You for the opportunity to explore these lyrics. And the unique way they became such a hopeful song. An interactive social media session with focus being on gratitude amidst modern day stress and chaos.

Yes, thank You Father for people who are willing to openly share their struggles with everyday life here on this earth.

Gratitude

Creative expression

Time in nature

Balanced habits

confident certainty

 Saturday, October 10, 2026 (5:28 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

Thank You that we are invited into Your presence. To embrace and enjoy You.

(5:56 a.m.)

Mm, yes! Embrace. Enjoy. Delight. And meditate (Psalm 27:4c). 

Father, thank You for the opportunity to sit with You. Staying my mind on the hope we find in Your Word.

Hope. Yes. Hope… The confident certainty we have in Your unchanging character, power and promises.

“This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary” (Hebrews 6:19).

♪Oh, praise the One who paid my debt

And raised this life up from the dead…

Jesus Paid It All 

All to Him I owe

Sin had left a crimson stain

He washed it white as snow♪

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

(6:50 a.m.)

Blessed Lord, thank You for Bible verses that lead to song lyrics. And musical phrases that point to Scripture. I truly appreciate the ways You grab our attention right back to You.

The apostle Peter wrote to the Jewish Christians “To show us how to live well in a shattered and hopeless world” (THE BOTTOM LINE The Life Recovery Bible). Thank You that his words of hope steady and remind us of Your grace and peace.

According to Peter, we are to “be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead…” (1 Peter 1:6). There will be many trials for us to endure. And when our faith remains strong there will be “much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (v. 7).

And why is that? Because of the hope, that confident certainty, we have in Your goodness. Your grace. Your glorious greatness (Psalm 145:5-8).

(7:28 a.m.)

Father, thank You for Your constant reminders. They don’t change. Or fade.

You ARE our “Source of hope” (Romans 15:13a). Able to fill us completely with joy and peace because we trust in You. Then we will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit (v. 13b).

Thank You for pulling us into Your Word Dearest God. Empowering and enabling us to ‘take a new grip with our tired hands, standing firm on our shaky legs’ (Hebrews 12:12 The Message).

Continue Your work in disciplining us that we will grow into the people You designed us to be. I love, need, trust and want You dearest Lord. Do all You must that I will represent You well. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(430 words ~ 7:49 a.m.)