God is Still Good!

Tuesday, March 31, 2020 (6:00 a.m.)

Holy God,

Through this whole CoVid-19 pandemic I have stopped short of asking You for a miracle. I’ve alluded to our need of one. I am confessing to You right now Lord I don’t know how to pray powerful virus ending prayers.

(7:24 a.m.)

So what did I do instead? Played crossword. Watched a video. Checked messages. Anything but continue in what really matters.

Lord God, You really matter. Glorifying You really matters.

Waking up so much earlier I was readily aware of the rhyming between the words glorify and horrify. I get to regularly choose on which to focus.

Each days news seems far more dire than the day before. My own tears come far more easily. Yet You are still on Your throne! You are still God. And You are still good.

Yes, Father. We get to trust and believe and hope and then trust and believe and hope some more. Do all You must Dearest God to this end.

I don’t know how to effectively pray for the end of this present horror. But You are still God. And You are still good!

The tears keep coming Lord. They cloud my thinking. Grip my heart. And then for the third time so far this morning, out of seemingly nowhere, Elton John is once again loudly singing ♪I’m Still Standing better than I ever did Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid And I’m still standing after all this time Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind♪

What any of this might mean I have no idea. You promise to hold us. Care for us. Nurture and grow us. Never have we as the current people of this world encountered anything like this ever before.

The danger and the horror grow. Making it all the more important for us to remember that YOU alone are in charge of it all.

We want healing Father. A miracle that only You can provide. Scientists are working. Politicians. Health care workers. All are being tapped beyond their own capabilities.

Enter Jesus. On a donkey. On the road to Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11). Our only hope. And where is our focus? On entertainment. Lifting our spirits by staying virtually connected.

What about the prayers Father? Where are they?

I utter “Thy will be done.” Wondering what “Thy will” might really look like. I cry out,”Stop this horror!” Only to wonder what it will take for You to truly be glorified.

Father God, I love You. I absolutely honestly love You. How do I pray as You would have me pray? How do I help?

Nahum 1:7 Psalms 100:1-5 AMP Psalms 103:1-5 MSG Psalms 34:1-10 ESV

Be glorified Dearest God. In our life. In our day. In this virus. In this crisis. In this HORROR. Be glorified.

Teach me to pray as only You know is best most Holy God. We need a miracle. You are still good. And we need You.

(9:53 a.m.)

And just like that [snap!] Elton John is singing to me again. This time it’s ♪Philadelphia Freedom… shine on me, I love You Shine a light through the eyes of the ones left behind Shine a light Shine a light Won’t you shine a light Philadelphia Freedom I love You, yes I do♪

Yes Father! ♪Don’t You know that I love You? Yes I do♪

Won’t You do all that You know is exactly best? You are still good. Still on Your throne. And we need You like never before.

♪Shine YOUR light♪ Blessed God. And be glorified!

We love You. We need You. We want You. And we ask You. Send Your miracle Dearest God. Send Your miracle today!

In Jesus’ most holy name we pray. Amen.

(648 words ~ 10:06 a.m.)

facts

Monday, March 30, 2020 (6:54 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

I love You. I love You…

And just like that Sam Cooke is singing. Or is it Nat King Cole?

The details don’t matter. It’s the facts that count.

Yes Lord. I am turning to You again for the facts.

There are a lot of mistruths out there. Half truths. Out and out untruths. So once again I look to Your Word to guide us in Your way. Your Truth. Your life (John 14:6).

And I am thanking You in it all.

Father, Your Word speaks Truth. Hope. Faith. Love. And it also spells out warnings. Guide us, we pray, in living each day exactly as You would have us. Boldly. Bravely. Sharing Your Truth.

I get to read of facts in Proverbs. Acts. Romans. And then surprise, surprise in Joel.

The introduction for this book begins, “Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes - natural catastrophes of all kinds have a way of making us feel helpless. We can do nothing to stop them. We can only do our best to avoid them and then pick up the pieces after they have occurred…”

Oh yes Blessed God!

And even here the singing begins again. ♪I love You For sentimental reasons♪ But it’s NOT for sentimental reasons! It’s for Your Truth. Your promises. Your facts.

THE BOTTOM LINE in The Life Recovery Bible states the PURPOSE of this book was “To warn God’s people of impending judgment, and to urge them to admit their sins and turn back to God.”

Father, how we do turn to You. Confessing our errors. Our missteps. Our failings. Our sins.

We keep hearing “another month; we haven’t seen the worse; few resources…” Our natural response is to fear. Blessed Holy Father God, I long to hear more of You!

The key verse of this Old Testament book is listed as 2:13. “Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful. He is not easily angered. He is filled with kindness and is eager not to punish you.”

Oh Dearest God, how I depend on Your Truth. Your facts. Your promises.

Turning the page to read the RECOVERY THEMES I’m drawn in again by their titles. “The Power of Confrontation; The Importance of Forgiveness; God’s Power Is Limitless; God’s Power within Us.”

The very first section starts by stating the obvious, “God’s people had lost sight of their need for God and had become complacent about following the plan He had laid out from them. To break through their denial, God allowed them to suffer a series of disasters. Through their sufferings and the prophet Joel, God let His people know that they needed to make some changes in their lives.”

Holy God, this is where I call out to You to be glorified in all of this! Some of us will escape with our lives. Many will not. The mere thought of that can be terrifying. That is why I once again turn to Your facts.

Because You love us [♪for sentimental reasons♪?] I get to turn to the author of Hebrews’ Concluding Words (Chapter 13:5-6). Moses’ charge to Joshua is quoted. As is a verse from Psalms.

Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid of them! The LORD your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you.”

Psalm 118:6, “The LORD is for me, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

We absolutely do not know what today will bring. And we ask You to lead and guide us through every single step of it.

You are our future and our hope! Here I pray Paul’s words to the Romans right back to You. Asking “that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in Him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Yes Father. ♪I love You, I love You, I love You, I love You…♪ NOT for sentimental reasons!

I love You because You are good. And mighty. And loving. And kind.

Be with us Lord. ALL of us. We need You. Desperately!

Do all You must. And all You alone know is best. Thank You. We love You. We pray. Asking in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

(728 words ~ 8:47 a.m.)

bravery

Sunday, March 29, 2020 (7:53 a.m.)

Holy God,

I just found the word for the day. Bravery.

Yes Father. I look to You to make me truly brave.

How I thank You Lord. Left to my own devices, I would soon spiral completely out of control. Circle the drain if You will.

Thank You that You have so much more for us than fear!

♪You Make Me Brave You make me brave You call me out beyond the shore into the waves Cause You make me brave… No fear can hinder now the promises You made Because Your love, in wave after wave Crashes over me, crashes over me For You are for us You are not against us Champion of Heaven You made a way… for all to enter in♪

Yes Father! YOU make us brave!

(12:34 p.m.)

Your Word. Your Truth. Your promises make us brave. Thank You Father.

1 Thessalonians 1:4 from The Message. “When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn’t just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions.”

Holy Spirit. Steel in our convictions. Bravery. Yes Father. You make us brave. Do all You know is best this day. Thank You. Lord. I love You. Amen.

(214 words ~ 12:45 p.m.)

♪I'm Waiting For The Day♪

Saturday, March 28, 2020 (6:59 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You!

Yes Lord. Thank You.

You woke me up singing again.

It took some time to recognize. And somewhat longer to find.

As I wonder what You want me to do with it, I continue looking to You. Father. Is it the drums? ♪Bom, bom, bom♪ Or the words?

Without getting too sidetracked by the history of the song itself, I’m asking what You want me to do with it Lord.

Written by Brian Wilson in 1964. “A simple love poem told from the point of view of its narrator who wishes to offer his comfort and support to a girl whose heart was broken by someone else.”

Sure sounds like You to me!

There are jazz chords. Doo-wop progressions. Timpani blasts [♪Bom, bom, bom♪]. So many dynamics.

The beat starts out huge [♪Bom, bom, bom♪] and gets smaller as the vocals begin. Lord God, I really see You singing to me here.

♪I came along when he broke your heart That’s when you needed Someone to help forget about him I gave you love with a brand new start That’s what you needed the most To set your broken heart free I know you cried, and you felt blue But when I could I gave strength to you I’m waiting for the day when you can love again♪

We are in desperate need of Your love, Father! The brand new starts that only You provide.

♪But you know that pretty soon I made you feel glad That you belonged to Me And love began to show… I’m waiting for the day when you can love again♪

This where I am choosing to seize the moment and not wait. No!

Psalm 118:24, ‘THIS is the day that You have made; I WILL rejoice and be glad in it!’

Yes Father. You keep singing to me when I least expect it and I will continue pointing to You. Your goodness. Your grace.

The Passion Translation, “This is the very day of the Lord that brings gladness and joy, filling our hearts with glee.”

♪Bom, bom, bom…♪ You came along. You gave. You know. And we accept Your promises Lord.

Thank You for loving us. Continue Your work in doing exactly as You know is best.

We love You Lord. Use us. Thank You. Amen.

(399 words ~ 8:16 a.m.)

still

Friday, March 27, 2020 (7:01 a.m.)

Blessed God,

I’m here. Still claiming You to be good. Still believing You to have a plan. Still confessing I have no idea what it’s all going to look like in the end.

Even there, that’s not exactly true. Yes it is. No it isn’t.

In the ultimate end we’ll be with You. And still we don’t really know how that will look.

Father, thank You.

(8:10 a.m.)

Thank You that we get to search Your Word. Sing Your praises. Smile as often as possible. Stand on Your promises. And stay our minds on Your Truth.

Holy God, we love You. We need You.

(9:17 a.m.)

The news of the world outside intensifies. As does my quiet resolve to continue trusting You.

Psalm 62:5. The Passion Translation. “I am standing in absolute stillness, silent before the one I love, waiting as long as it takes for Him to rescue me. Only God is my Savior, and He will not fail me.”

Yes Lord. I love You. I need You. And I want You to continue doing all You must in making me alert, aware and unafraid. It’s You Dear Lord. Our biggest hope is You!

Thank You for who and all You are. Be glorified Dear Lord! Through all the unknowns, be glorified! Amen.

(227 words ~ 9:29 a.m.)

"subterranean joy"

Thursday, March 26, 2020 (6:30 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

I am here. Actively seeking joy. Your joy.

(6:56 a.m.)

And just like always, You provide. Thank You Father. I get to turn to You. Trust in You. Call to You. Depend on You.

You settle my soul. You guide my thoughts. How I thank and praise You Father.

Take me into Your Word this morning.

Psalm 51:12, The Passion Translation. “Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough You bring to me. Hold me close to You with a willing spirit that obeys whatever You say.”

Reading an e-article from desiringgod.org reminds us that “Joy Is Not Optional”. Lord, how I thank You for the way You draw me more deeply into Your Word.

Deuteronomy 26:11, “You must rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house…” I confess to forgetting this Dearest Lord.

The news of this world surrounds us with fear and warnings. How desperately we need Your Good News of hope and joy.

Father, we need Your Truth! Yes. Philippians 4:8, The Voice. “Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy.”

It’s a tall order Lord. Not one we can fill on our own. I lean into You. Asking You to provide our every single need. Teach us Father.

The Passion Translation. “So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always.”

This is where I am simultaneously laid out before You while at the very same time standing firmly on Your Word.

2 Corinthians 6:10. “Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.”

The joy I am going to find Dearest God is definitely in You. It isn’t optional. It’s Scriptural!

I don’t want to appear “dull to the multifaceted pains of life in this age” (Joy Is Not Optional). No! I long that others would see the hope and joy I have in You.

The CoVID-19 crisis is real. It’s not going away any time soon. And it’s scary. Terrifying, if we focus only on it.

But “in Christ we have access to subterranean joy that is simultaneous with, and deeper than, the greatest of our sorrows.” Establish us firmly in Your Truth Dearest God.

And You just keep providing! Thank You Father.

Tracing the phrase, “God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him” (John Piper) I am directed to Psalm 16:11. “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.”

The Life Recovery Bible comment for this and the four preceding verses help me stay centered in You. Thank You Father. 

“16:7-11 As we seek through prayer and meditation to improve our relationship with God, we will find in His Word not only peace of mind and heart but also good counsel that will keep us from falling into sin. Knowing that God is with us and that He will never abandon us should be a constant source of joy and peace. An important principle of recovery is realizing that God is with us - here and now - and that He promises to be with us through all eternity.”

Father God, keep me close to You this day. Protecting me from my own tendencies. I want to know and trust, depend on and delight in You more. Better than I ever have.

Do all You must that I will be fully aware of Your absolute "subterranean joy". I love You. I need You. I want You. And I seek You. Lord, how I seek You!

Use me exactly as You know is best this day. Joyfully! Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(704 words ~ 9:49 a.m.)

"Effective Prayer"

Wednesday, March 25, 2020 (6:52 a.m.)

Holy God,

I look to You. Count on You. Asking. Seeking. Knocking (Matthew 7:7).

(7:58 a.m.)

We need You Father.

I don’t know how to pray effectively. “Effective Prayer” Yes. That’s the phrase I just read in The Life Recovery Bible (Matthew 7:7-11).

(8:29 a.m.)

“Effective Prayer”

Songs are singing to me from all sides. ♪Great Are You Lord♪, ♪You Never Let Go… still I will praise You♪

I have only snippets of prayers to You this morning Lord. They start and stop.

The disciples asking Jesus to teach them to pray. Matthew 6:5-15. “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name (v.9)…”

Yes Father!

We are in need. Of Your presence. Your healing. And we are not hearing or seeing much to do with renewed faith and trust in You.

James 5:16, “So confess your offenses to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.” Please Father. Teach us.

harmony

Tuesday, March 24, 2020 (6:34 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You.

Pandemic. New normal. “Safer at home.” Everyday a different buzz word. Or phrase.

State and nation wide closures of schools, beaches, public meeting places. Nothing like we have ever seen before.

Father, I continue bringing it all to You. Reiterating my desire to be alert. Aware. And unafraid.

There is a lot of fear going on out there. Half truths. Misleadings. Conflicts.

This is again where I turn to You. Seeking harmony. Agreement. Hope. Faith. Love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

These I will find only in You. Your Word. Your Truth. Your promises.

Father God, You’ve got this. I know that. I trust it. I believe it.

I have no idea what it’s going to look like. I do not take any of this blindly. Or lightly. And still I trust You.

(7:50 a.m.)

And right here I get to again stop and praise You!

Singing. Searching. And actually finding.

♪Even though I walk through the valley Of the shadow of death Your perfect love is casting out fear And even when I’m caught in the middle Of the storms of this life I won’t turn back, I know You are near♪

Lord God how I thank You. You remind me.

♪And I will fear no evil For my God is with me And if my God is with me Whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear?♪

Holy God, You provide me verses regarding harmony. Romans 12:16. 1 Chronicles 15:19-22. 2 Chronicles 5:11-13. Zechariah 6:12-13; 11:7-8; 11:14. Acts 2:43-45; 4:23-26; 5:12-16. Romans 15:3-6. 1 Corinthians 14:26-33. 2 Corinthians 13:11-13. James 3:5-6.

Your Word speaks Truth. Power. Promises. You never change. You are always good.

♪Oh no, You never let go Through the calm and through the storm Oh no, You never let go In every high and every low Oh no, You never let go Lord, You never let go of me♪

Singing. Building resolve. ♪And I can see a light that is coming For the heart that holds on A glorious light beyond all compare And there will be an end to these troubles But until that day comes We’ll live to know You here on the earth… But until that day comes Still I will praise You, still I will praise You♪

Yes Lord! I can choose to hope. Trust. Have faith. Lean into and depend on You to do all that You know we need.

Father God, I trust You to continue turning my focus to You. Believing You to be all You claim and promise to be.

♪Even though we walk through the valley Of the shadow of death YOUR PERFECT LOVE IS CASTING OUT FEAR♪ (1 John 4:18).

Blessed Lord, I absolutely do not know what I think I know! And smack in the middle of the unknowing still I will praise You! ♪And I will fear no evil For my God is with me And if my God is with me Whom then shall I fear♪

If this world has ever needed the Truth and promise of the 23rd Psalm, Lord it is now. Do all You must to bring Your harmony to this chaos and conflict.

We love You Lord. We need You. And we ask You, do all You know is best. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(584 words ~ 8:36 a.m.)