pressing on

 Tuesday, September 22, 2026 (4:19 a.m.)

Most Dear and Awesome God,

Thank You for the honor and privilege of sitting with You. Of truly entering Your gates with thanksgiving in my heart; and going into Your courts with praise (Psalm 100:4).

Mm, yes Father. Thank You for the ways You work in, with, by, through and for us. Changing us. Often without our even noticing.

Yes! You change us from the inside out.

Romans 12:2

Ezekiel 36:26

2 Corinthians 3:18; 5:17

♪Where Would I Be if I didn’t have Jesus

Pulling me out of that grave?

Where would I be if I didn’t have mercy

Pulling me away from my ways?

… Thank God, thank God, thank God

I’ll never know♪

Oh yes, Blessed Father! Thank You that You save us from ourselves. Repeatedly.

Let’s take Saturday for instance. I made a slip of the tongue. Rushing to say one thing, it came out differently than I’d planned. Hoping it would go by unnoticed, the listener immediately pointed it out.

Father, I didn’t realize until yesterday that my immediate, negative and intentionally hurtful response was fueled by my own embarrassment. Thank You for stopping me right in the midst of my mentally replaying the event.

Right there in the backyard, You very quickly reminded me that I am not responsible for anyone else’s words, motives or actions. I must answer to You for my own.

I confess to You Dearest LORD, my sole motive in that moment was to hurt. Embarrass. Shame. Pay back. Like for like. Absolutely not my best look!

Thank You for Your very fine art of forgiveness. And all the benefits that stem from its practice.

It is only You at work that enables me to choose to change. To truly take to heart the apostle Paul’s encouragement to the Philippian believers.

“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:12-14).

Yes, Father. Keep me pressing on toward You. I love, need, trust and want to serve You well. Continue doing all You must in changing me. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(424 words ~5:55 a.m.)

this day

 ♪This Is the Day, this is the day

That the LORD has made, that the LORD has made

We will rejoice, we will rejoice

And be glad in it, and be glad in it

This is the day that the LORD has made

We will rejoice and be glad in it...♪

(Psalm 118:24)

Monday, September 21, 2026 (3:56 a.m.)

Dearest, Most Blessed and Glorious God,

Thank You for the decision to sing of this day to You. This day. Yes. This very day. It’s what we have. This day. This moment. This right now.

Yesterday I was asked the question of how I was. I took the longest time before answering. I considered skirting it altogether. Then I realized, even with the varying degrees of sadness and change I was experiencing at that moment, I was truly grateful.

Yes! Grateful for the love You have provided me through the years. Friendships

(4:16 a.m.)

Oh, most Blessed Father, how truly I thank You. You command us to love. And You also teach us how. Thank You for the opportunity of sitting with You. Singing to You. Smiling about You.

Even posing the question to the internet of how we are to rejoice when we don’t feel like it yields godly answers. Thank You LORD for the good You place in our paths.

There are far more things that I don’t know or understand than those that I do. So much I could fear if I allow my mind to go too far in those directions. Thank You for Your Word that teaches us what You would have us do instead.

Praise. Rejoice. Love. Thank. Mm, yes!

(5:54 a.m.)

Father, thank You for the resources You provide. The circumstances which allow and encourage us to turn to You.

Here I join myself in with the apostle Paul’s prayer for the church at Rome. “I pray that God, the source of all hope, will infuse your lives with an abundance of joy and peace in the midst of your faith so that your hope will overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romand 15:13, The Voice).

Mm, yes, Father. My ability to do anything worthwhile [like rejoicing and being glad] is absolutely dependent on the strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10) flowing through Your Spirit. Do everything You must so I will make good use of all You are providing me.

I love, need, trust and want You LORD. Thank You for making me glad. Praise You, LORD. Amen.

(427 words ~ 6:28 a.m.)

more lyrics

 Sunday, September 20, 2026 (4:14 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. I was able to find lyrics again. I very much like when that happens.

♪Again and again

You rescued me out of the mess I was in♪

(Goodbye Yesterday)

Psalm 5:11

Mark 8:34

John 15:11, 18-21

(4:54 a.m.)

Father, thank You for the time You allow me to get my head in the game. There are so many thoughts. And songs. Each leading me either toward or far away from You.

Thank You that we always have the choice of turning our eyes upon You. Looking full in Your wonderful face. And the things of this world grow strangely dim In the light of Your glory and grace.

Lord, it amazes me how very often lyrics overtake my thinking. My thanking. And praising.

I especially enjoy looking into the reasons they were originally written. The stories behind the songs often take me to even deeper thoughts of Your Truth.

Thank You God for the ways You point us toward You. Your will. Your way. Often with baby steps. Greater strides. Awarenesses. And even more lyrics.

(6:06 a.m.)

Blessed God, You never cease to amaze me! From wonders and wanders to sitting outside watching the sky change colors.

Not yet having my own complete thought. I am absolutely entranced by the potential of a magnificent sunrise.

Thank You for Your patience with my ramblings.

♪For the Beauty of the Earth, 

For the glory of the skies

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise♪

(Psalm 107:8)

Father, thank You for the ways You sing music into my soul. Thank You for the opportunity of learning more about the songs we find throughout the Bible. At least 185 of them. With Moses, then his sister having sung the first one (Exodus 15:1-18. 21).

When I even begin to think of all the lyrics that have ever been written, Yours are the ones I most want to know.

(7:42 a.m.)

Most blessed and Holy God, there is far more that I don’t know or understand than that which I do. Continue Your work in, with, by, through and for me that I will come to represent You well.

♪… I’ve been Washed in the water, washed in the blood

All because of You, oh hallelujah♪

Oh yes, Blessed Father. Thank You that the lyrics just keep coming. Use me exactly as You alone know is best. I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(442 words ~ 7:51 a.m.)

unfailing love and faithfulness

 Saturday, September 19, 2026 (3:13 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

I woke up thinking of, then reading the same verses I read before falling asleep last night. Psalm 18:1. And Psalm 100.

The very next thing I know, I’m singing. And finding the lyrics on the very first search. Thank You Father.

“You are God in the heavens the name above all names” immediately gave me

♪Be exalted now in the heavens…

You’re the name above all names♪

(Worthy)

Father God, thank You for the ways in, with, by, through and for which You bless me! Sleep. Gentle nudging. Freedom. Your love. Curiosity. Opportunity. 

Yes! All these. And so much more.

Thank You that when I’m thinking of You and the blessings You provide, different lyrics of Your worthiness swell inside me.

♪Day and night, night and day, let incense arise♪

(Worthy of It All)

Mm, yes. Blessed God, You ARE worthy of it all!

All our worship. All our praise.

You have been teaching me the benefits of thanking and praising You for decades now. Thank You for every single time You help me see positives over negatives.

Thank You for the work You have put in to having me actively search for things and circumstances of which to be grateful.

Blessed, Holy, Father God, thank You for the opportunity of sitting here with You. Reading what other people have written about things that I experience.

Thankfulness turning to praise. Praise leading to wonder and awe. And finally silent worship.

You do this Lord. You provide joy unfathomable. Thank You for the desire You’ve placed in my heart to not only seek, but also to find it.

Yes Father. Thank You for every blessing You pour out. Every song. Every challenge that leads to building the character You have for us (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4).

I was blessed to fall asleep while reciting my love for You. Claiming You as my strength (Psalm 18:1).

Thank You for the privilege of believing You are good. That Your unfailing love continues forever, and Your faithfulness to all generations (Psalm 100:5).

Father, do all You must that I will represent You well. I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Use me as You alone know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

♪For from You are all things

And to You are all things

You deserve the glory♪

(Worthy of It All)

Amen!

(390 words ~ 4:41 a.m.)

slow start

 Friday, September 18, 2026 (4:31 a.m.)

Thank You God for such a slow start to this morning. 

(5:21 a.m.)

Yes! This REALLY slow start.

Father, I confess to having my own plans. The steps I intended to take every morning. Even before getting out of bed. 

That system began and lasted all of yesterday. We were off to such a great start. All the stars seemed to be aligned. The exhaustion I felt upon awakening earlier precluded every attempted stretch of my muscles.

Thank You God that Your Word guides and directs us to trust in You. With all our hearts. Leaning not on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5)

(6:38 a.m.)

Still moving slowly. Yet purposefully. Mm, yes. My thoughts are on You Lord.

Having first read Proverbs 16:9, I went over to Ecclesiastes 3:11. Then back to Proverbs 16. This time, verses 1 and 3. Then 33 as well.

Father, You are so very good. Thank You for the time You are willing to take with each and every single one of Your children.

As I continue moving slowly, preparing to get started with this day [that You have made (Psalm 118:24a)]  I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to lead and guide me every step of the way.

Lord, teach me to seek You and Your kingdom above all else (Matthew 6:33a) that I will do what You would have me do (33b). I want to trust and believe You will provide all that is necessary (33c).

Father, You know what is needed (Matthew 6:8b). Continue Your work in raising me up to be and do and think and speak all that only You know is best.

I love, need, trust and want You blessed God. Use me at the very pace You have set (Hebrews 12:1). Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

contagions

 Thursday, September 17, 2026 (4:22 a.m.)

(4:26 a.m.)

Here’s a thought!

Thank You Father for the ability to think clearly. And the resources to investigate my ideas.

The notion just now was that of kindness being contagious.

(4:55 a.m.)

And would You just take a look at this? I found another new to me word. And it’s helping me get to know myself even better.

Father God, thank You for the freedom You provide us to explore. Experiment. Wonder. Be curious. Start off in one direction. Circle back. Change course. And NEVER be far away from You! (Psalm 139:1-12).

Yes. Thank You God. In looking for and finding confirmation of kindness being contagious, I am also being introduced to even more words.

Contagion - late Middle English: from Latin contagio(n-), from con- ‘together with’ + the base of tangere ‘to touch’

Satisficing - a decision-making strategy for choosing “good enough” while combining the words satisfy with suffice

Portmanteau - when two words combine, making a new word

(5:25 a.m.)

Going back up to my original wonder about kindness being contagious, I realize I very much want to touch others with Your kindness Lord.

Looking even further into it, I find mention that “True Kindness is God’s Love in Action.” This is something I definitely want to experience! Your love in action.

(5:57 a.m.)

Thank You Father that we have Your Word of Truth and promises that continue teaching us how You would have us live. And love.

Thank You for the apostle Paul’s letters. Written to strengthen and encourage believers. Let me take them not only to heart, but into action.

Father, I want to follow his instructions for my relationship with You and others. 

“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other’s faults because of your love… Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:2, 31-32).

Yes, please Dear Lord. Do all You must that I will practice sharing Your kindness with others. Make me contagious with You. 

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

(396 words ~ 6:12 a.m.)