righted thinking

 Tuesday, March 30, 2021 ( 6:10 a.m.)

Holy God,

How deeply and truly I thank You. You righted my thinking yesterday. Thank and praise You for Who and all You are.

After having spent wonderful time with You asking Your Holy Spirit to head up my day, something didn’t go according to my liking and I threw all decorum straight out the window. I actually had quite the little tizzy fit.

Ranting. Cursing. Growling. And finally? Singing. Asking to ♪Put Jesus in my Everyday Life Not just Sundays or Wednesdays But all the in between days♪ Thank You for having taken hold of all my unseemliness and righting my wrong thinking.

Ecclesiastes 10:2 sums me up quite well. “Wise thinking leads to right living. Stupid thinking leads to wrong living.” Yep! Me. Right there. In a nutshell. Thank You God.

Thank You that You came immediately to put an end to that dark, deep hole I was preparing to take myself down. Cursing rather than blessing. Complaining instead of thanking. Definitely NOT glorifying and enjoying You.

Praise You God ♪from Whom all blessings flow♪ Yes indeed. You stopped me right in my tracks. Reminding me Whose I am and Whom I serve (Acts 27:23). I got to choose. Right in that very moment. Bless or curse? Sing or stomp?

You changed my heart and I got to wake up this morning singing. ♪Lord, You are More Precious than Silver. Lord, You are more costly than gold. Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds. And nothing I desire compares with You♪

It was only after calming and settling completely down that I realized my feelings had been hurt. Not until later did I notice a huge error in my actual reading and understanding of circumstances. Forgive me Father.

Lord God, You have so much more work to do in me. Thank You that You are “faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

As I read deeper into Your Word I find myself feeling settled. Grounded. International Children’s Bible, “God, You do what is right. You know our thoughts and feelings. Stop those wicked actions done by evil people. And help those who do what is right” (Psalm 7:9).

How appropriate to find myself singing ♪Don’t hold a grudge or a chip and here’s why Bitterness keeps you from flyin’ Always stay Humble And Kind♪ Yes Lord. Keep working in me to Your good end.

Going back to the original song of this morning [♪More Precious than Silver♪] I turn to the associated verse. Psalm 16:2. “I say to the LORD, You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You.” How true! How absolutely true.

The Life Recovery Bible comment (16:1-6) tells us, “Strength and security comes from God alone; He is the only one who can restore us to right living.” That is exactly what I experienced with You yesterday Lord. You righted my thinking. And I am grateful. Thank You God.

Use me this day Lord. Exactly as You alone know is best. Loving. Laughing. Glorifying. Enjoying. Forgiving. Reflecting Your goodness and Your grace. I love You. I need You. I want You. And I ask You Father, do all You must. Praise You. Amen.

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

Supernaturally!

 Monday, March 29. 2021 (7:00 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

I woke up asking You to ♪Be glorified, be glorified today♪ In my life. My heart. My mind. And my soul. Yes Lord! I long for You to be glorified by me today.

Turning again to the internet I find a page entitled, “What Does it Mean to Glorify God?” Here I read that we give glory to You by believing that we are sinners who cannot save ourselves. Is it really that simple Lord?

Coming from one who tends to complicate the easiest things, I really do sit here and wonder. How much more difficult do I make the simplest circumstance?

Being reminded that we are saved by Your grace, I turn to Ephesians 2:8 and immediately start singing words. ♪… nothing less… righteousness…♪ But what is the song? Thank You for the relative easy find. ♪The Solid Rock♪

So here I am Lord. Smiling over Your simplest Truths. Singing as I truly consider what it means to have ♪my hope built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness♪

Father, I am asking You to do all You must in teaching me how to glorify You. Mm, yes God. YOU do it! In, with, by, through and for me.

I love You Lord. You give us choices. Bless or curse. Thank or complain. 'Seeing trials in the light of eternity provides us opportunities to glorify You with our lives.' Empower me to this end God.

This particular internet message tells me “Glorifying God is not something you can drum up on the fly. Only those who are saturated in the Word of God and who are enabled by the Holy Spirit to live with eternity in view are able to do so.”

Mm. Enabled by the Holy Spirit… “to worship God for His power to enable you [me] to live in a supernatural way.” Yes, Lord. That!

I give You glory by recognizing Your grace, knowing You better and loving You more. Oh yes Blessed God. Let me live this day believing all You say is true. Supernaturally!

Do all You must. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(360 words ~ 8:53 a.m.)

Blessed. Grateful. Safe.

 Palm Sunday, March 28, 2021 (6:17 a.m.)

Most Dear and Holy Lord God,

Thank You! You reminded me last night that I am blessed. Grateful. Safe. Those were the words that quieted my mind and let me go to sleep. Praise You Lord.

(7:52 a.m.)

I confess to You Father I far too often allow discord and disasters to take center stage in my head. Thank You for reminding me that in ALL things we are to give thanks! (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Even here I take to Your Word. Reading in and of the apostle Paul’s letter to the believers in Thessalonica, I ask You Lord, guide and direct my time with You.

Paul commended the Thessalonians for their trust in You. I confess to the various times during each and every day that I struggle to maintain that trust Lord.

It’s only when You draw me to You that I remember that it’s all about You! Your strength. Your power. Your protection. Your will. Your way. On my own, I got nothin’. With [in] You? We have everything!

Thank You Lord. Praise You God.

I try so hard to make sense of things. To absolutely no good end. It’s only when I was again reminded by You last night to focus on You, Your Truth, Your promises that I found rest. In You.

Thank You Lord that every single time “But what about…?” came to mind I was able to counter with, “I am blessed. I am grateful. I am safe.” Thought again and again, until sleep happened.

Father God, I want to live this day in and with, by, through and for You. I confess to readily slipping back to negative habits. Trying so hard to do and be all I think You’d have of me instead of inviting You to ♪Have Thine Own Way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the Potter, I am the clay…♪ (Isaiah 64:8).

Yes! Lord, ♪Mold me and make me after Thy will, While I am waiting, yielded and still♪ Continue Your good and holy work in making me into the woman who will glorify and enjoy You forever.

Fearful, worried thinking is not a road that takes me to You. Remembering that I am blessed, grateful and safe opens me up to a wide array of Your Truth and promises.

Bless You Father. I love You. I need You. Use me exactly as You know is best. Ever reminding me that I am truly blessed. Grateful. And safe. In and with You. Praise You. Thank You. Amen.

(423 words ~ 9:14 a.m.)

"glorify and enjoy"

 Saturday, March 27, 2021 (7:01 a.m.)

Mm, Father,

I prayed the phrase “glorify and enjoy” with a friend yesterday. Immediately confessing to not fully understanding its meaning.

Yes Lord. I’ve known and recited the principle for decades. “The chief end of mankind is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Again I wonder. How do we do this?

Reading on the internet a sermon by Noel Mann I get to explore new to me understandings. Thank You Father.

Speaking of his own insecurities in this message delivered in 2012 Mr. Mann shares his belief that “God takes special delight when He works through our weaknesses.” I smile as I playfully wonder how delighted you must be with me.

And just as quickly I remember how often I believe You to be disappointed with my choices! What would it be like to truly do everything for Your glory?

John Piper is referenced in this sermon. Having summarized that You are ‘most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in You.’ What an incredibly freeing concept God.

I confess to overthinking and under accomplishing. I so often get stuck in my own distorted thought patterns.

Thank You Lord that we get to call out to You. Turn to Your Word (Psalm 16:11; 37:3-6; 73:25-26; 86:7-12). Read Your Truth. Believe Your promises. Trust in You.

♪… with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding In all our ways acknowledge You and You will direct our paths♪ (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Here again I confess to thinking the worst, not the best. Especially about myself. I pick at my own faults. Almost like a child with a healing wound. Work in me Dearest God.

Quoting the end of this sermon, I ask You Blessed Father to do all You must to Your good end. “If God has so intricately put me together, can I trust Him to have a plan and a purpose for my life?

“Getting back to our initial question, does God want us to be happy and satisfied? I would say on the basis of [these] Scriptures that He does. We exist to glorify and enjoy God. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. We are most deeply satisfied when we taste God’s glory.

“The purpose of this message is to encourage us to pursue our relationship with God. We can experience some of the joy of eternal life today by knowing and by getting better acquainted with God.

“Let us seek our satisfaction in God because He alone can satisfy.”

Mm, yes! Most dear and holy Father God. You alone can satisfy our every need. Teach me how to let You do exactly all You want. In me. With me. By, through and for me. Without my own feeble attempts to help You along.

You’ve got this! You’ve got us. Thank You. Praise You. Be glorified. I love You. Amen.

(498 words ~ 8:27 a.m.)

thinking

Friday, March 26, 2021 (7:04 a.m.)

Holy God,

I love You.

(7:33 a.m.)

Mm. Yes. Thoughts come and go. Wonders. Ponders. Thinking. Memories.

(8:09 a.m.)

Oh most dear and blessed God, choosing again The Passion Translation I read not only of me thinking about You, but You thinking of me as well (Psalm 139:17-18). How truly fortunate we are to be considered Yours.

As I read and wonder, think and ponder I ask You to guide me in Your Word this morning. I am sincerely seeking Your direction.

(8:51 a.m.)

Three verses stand out Lord. Matthew 18:3; Romans 12:16 and 1 Corinthians 14:20.

Yes Lord. I want my thinking to be led, guided and directed by You. Yes, Father! I need You teaching me to “live happily together in a spirit of harmony…” (Romans).

While we are to ‘dramatically change our way of thinking and become teachable like a little child [or “wounded lamb”]’ (Matthew) we are not to ‘remain as immature children in our reasoning’ (1 Corinthians). My own thinking is this to be impossible without Your presence in our everyday life.

And right here I get to sing with other children from Psalty’s Fantastic! Praise Party! ♪Put Jesus in your everyday life Not Sundays or Wednesdays but all the in between days Put Jesus in your everyday life He wants to be your very Best Friend♪ Thank You for the reminder of Your ready presence in our lives.

The apostle Paul wrote telling his “Beloved ones… As it relates to evil, be like newborns, but in your thinking be mature adults” (v.20). He wanted “the believers living in Corinth to resolve their problems and honor God” (The Life Recovery Bible THE BOTTOM LINE).

I want to live this day resolving problems and honoring You. Continue Your work in teaching and guiding my thinking. I love You. I thank You. Use me to Your good and to Your glory. Praise You, Lord. Amen.

(337 words ~ 9:26 a.m.)

sure

 Thursday, March 25, 2021 (6:54 a.m.)

Holy God,

I love You. And I want to be the woman You created me to be. Loving. Kind. Sure. Confident. In You. And myself as well.

Oh most dear and blessed God, I struggle every single day knowing that I am not all I pretend to be. So much negative self talk and insecurities accompany me most of the time. Thank You that I get to come to You exactly as I am. Flawed. Imperfect. And loved by You anyway.

Yes Father, thank You that I can ramble with You and still end up reading Your Truth. Your promises. Choosing again The Passion Translation, I read David’s confession of his sin with Bathsheba (Psalm 51).

Knowing You to be merciful, compassionate and Your love to be unfailing (v. 1), he was free to come before You expecting to be washed clean from his guilt and purified of his sin (2). Here I am this morning Lord, asking much the same.

I am not all You would have me be. I try. All too often in my own strength, power or belief system. Do what You must Blessed God, to put me firmly on YOUR path of righteousness.

You are truly so very good to us! Even here while I’m pouring out my failings, I get to glance over at my open Life Recovery Bible. Turned to Psalm 51. “Step 6 Healing the Brokenness.” You never cease to amaze me Dearest Lord.

“We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.” How long have I been ready O Lord? And tried to help You of course!

Here at the very last paragraph I read, “Jesus taught that ‘God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted’ (Matthew 5:4). God isn’t looking for evidence of how good we are or how hard we try. He only wants us to mourn over our sins and admit our brokenness. Then He will not ignore our needs but will forgive us, comfort us, and cleanse us.”

Yes please! Sign me up for the mourning and admitting on my part so I will be forgiven, comforted and cleansed by You. I confess right here Dearest God, I’ve yet to fully learn how to accept Your forgiveness, comfort and cleansing. I tend to think I need to continue offering You more than my burdened, brokenness.

Thank You that You are enough! Your forgiveness, comfort and cleansing are enough. I can be made whole in You! Thank You. Praise You. Forgive my uncertainties Lord. They keep me bound. You make me sure. Certain. Positive. Convinced.

That is absolutely how I want to live this day. Sure, in You!

Using David’s words (Psalm 51:5-7), Father I ask You to cleanse my heart, soul, mind and strength making me able to love as You would have me (Mark12:30-31).

“Lord, I have been a sinner from birth, from the moment my mother conceived me. I know that You delight to set Your Truth deep in my spirit. So come into the hidden places of my heart and teach me wisdom. Purify my conscience! Make this leper clean again! Wash me in Your love until I am pure in heart.”

Mm, yes Dearest Lord. Do all You must that I will live this day as You would have me. Other centered. Glorifying and enjoying You. Loving You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and my neighbor as myself.

Empower and enable me to this end Dearest God. I love You. I thank You. Amen.

(601 words ~ 8:22 a.m.)

immediately recognizing

 Wednesday, March 24, 2021 (7:00 a.m.)

Laughlin, NV

Holy God,

Thank You that I got to wake up singing to You. Immediately recognizing the words from ♪Revelation Song♪ I thank You for another opportunity to sing praise to You.

♪Clothed in rainbows of living color♪ are the words that first came to my mind and heart. Father, how I thank You for the directions varying thoughts [and songs] of You take me into Your Word.

Mm, yes. Thank You and praise You Lord! I never know where it is I will end up when I bring You my heart, soul, mind and strength.

This morning it’s the woman who “heard about Jesus’ healing power, pushed through the crowd and came up from behind Him and touched His prayer shawl” (Mark 5:27). As many times as I have read and been taught of this incident there is always something else to learn. Today is no different. Thank You God.

Thank You for Your written history of people of faith. And those who acted on it.

Lord, the tune of the song echoes within me as I go back and forth, singing and thinking of this particular woman. She believed so much that she was willing to take a risk. Thank You Father.

♪Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, God Almighty Who was and is and is to come, yeah With all creation I sing praise to the King of Kings You are my everything and I will adore You♪

A click here or there on any number of verses and I am taken to new meanings and understandings. The Passion Translation's Footnotes teach me so much Lord. For verse 28, “The Greek word [for healed] is sozo and has many possible meanings, including ‘safe and sound,’ ‘healed,’ ‘delivered,’ ‘made whole,’ ‘rescued,’ ‘restored,’ and ‘saved.’ This is what Jesus does for us today.” Oh praise You! Yes He does!

The direction to “See Hebrews 13:8” reminds me “Jesus, the Anointed One, is always the same - yesterday, today, and forever.” Oh, thank and praise You Lord.

Having originally come to this section because of verse 30, and Jesus immediately recognizing that power had gone out of Him, I ask You Lord to work in me this day. In all the many ways You are so inclined.

I love You. I need You. I want to be the woman You created me to be. Believing. Trusting. Risking. Willing.

One more Footnote. Verse 30. “This is a literal reading of a unique phrase in Greek construction. It could be translated ‘the power that keeps going out of Him went out from Him.’ The Aramaic uses the word chayel that can be translated ‘dancing, twirling [movement]’ or ‘vibrations.’ There was a glorious power that kept going out around Jesus Christ, drawing others to Him and healing a woman who touched Him in faith…”

All this I get to learn this morning because of immediately recognizing the song in my head. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You God.

♪Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder At the mention of Your name Jesus, Your name is power, breath and living water Such a marvelous mystery, yeah♪

Use me this day. Exactly as You alone know is best. I love You, Lord. Thank You. Amen.

(587 words ~ 9:01 a.m.)

blessed again

 Tuesday, March 23, 2021 (12:21 p.m.)

Laughlin, NV

You’ve blessed us again Dearest Lord,

Thank You!

(1:16 p.m.)

Mm, yes Father. Thank You! Thank You that no matter where we are, you are here with us.

Being able to read Your Word and learn new meanings are such blessings. Starting out in Luke 13 (The Passion Translation). Reading of Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem (vs. 31-35). From here I was directed to Isaiah 5:1-7. Isaiah’s Love Song.

It’s there I read of Isaiah as “a singing prophet, as many prophets are.” I didn’t know that! Thank You Father for brand new to me knowledge.

Directed over to Psalm 118, I read “the psalm or hymn that Jesus likely sang after the Passover supper with His disciples, before making His way to Gethsemane and Calvary.” Another thing I’ve never known before.

Father God, how I thank You for the honor and the privilege to learn so many new things. Footnotes from The Passion Translation continue explaining more.

“In John 15, His vineyard is described as God’s redeemed people, the church. He has removed our stony hearts and given us hearts of flesh to respond to His voice.” So often I read Your Word and my soul practically springs to life. This helps explain why.

Continuing with the footnotes for Isaiah 5:6, I agree wholeheartedly. “We would become a wasteland if God were to lift His favor and blessings from our lives.”

As I sit here, watching potential storm clouds blow in over the mountains again I affirm how blessed we truly are. “Clouds giving rain is a metaphor for blessing. Rain is often a picture of revelation teaching that falls on our hearts like rain.”

Most dear and holy God, as I continue sitting and watching, thinking and praying, I ask You to work in me as only You know is best. You know my heart, soul, mind and strength. You know all that is best. Align me to Your will and to Your way.

I love You. I thank You. Use me exactly as You wish. Praise You. Thank You. Amen.

(361 words ~ 2:32 p.m.)

God alone

 Monday, March 22, 2021 (6:44 a.m.)

Good morning Lord,

Thank You that You alone are good (Mark: 10:18, Luke 8:19). What an incredibly deep statement. And thought.

Father, I confess to many times saying out what comes to mind before really giving it a lot [if any] thought. Talk about the importance of ‘think before you speak.’

Even this I get to take to Your Word (Proverbs 16:23-33, Ecclesiastes 5:2-12) and read wisdom and Truth. Thank You Father.

Thank You that You alone know what is best for us. Paying special attention to the collection of wise sayings written in Proverbs, I am affirming the soundness found in verses 16:23, 24 and 33.

“From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive. Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body… We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall.”

Father, I ask that You make my thoughts and words wise. Kind. Patient. Loving. Representative of You. Your Truth. Your promises. Your goodness.

I love You. I need You. I want You. And I ask You. Do all You must that I become the woman You alone know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

get to believe

 Sunday, March 21, 2021 (7:50 a.m.)

Holy, Loving God,

How grateful I am that I get to believe You to be holy. Loving. Good.

(2:12 p.m.)

All truth be told, I sat here reveling earlier while reading Titus 3. Content. Encouraged. Leaving here to attend a virtual church service, I noticed feeling irritated and annoyed. Tending to some yard work afterwards, I found myself increasingly aggravated.

So here I am. Back to thank You that You are holy. Loving. Kind. And good.

Our circumstances change. And ♪Your love never fails You stay the same through the ages♪

Thank You Father. Thank You that I get to believe every word I read and sing about You. Thank You that Your love indeed never fails (Psalm 136 Contemporary English Version).

Use me for what remains of this day. Bringing glory to Your most holy name.

I love You. I need You. I want You. And I believe You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(165 words ~ 2:42 p.m.)

how toowayhon are we

 Saturday, March 20, 2021 (7:22 a.m.)

♪Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty Who was and is and is to come♪

Oh most dear and blessed God, how truly I thank You for being who and all You are.

♪With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings You are my everything and I will adore You♪

How toowayhon [enriched, happy, fortunate, delighted, blissful, content, blessed] are we. Yes Lord. Great happiness. Prosperity. Abundant goodness. And delight! Thank You Father.

Blessed God, I come to You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30-31) because I want to love as You would have me. Focusing on what it is to glorify and enjoy You forever.

♪You are my everything and I will adore You♪ Teach me how Dearest Lord. I long to give You the glory You so rightly deserve.

Thank You. Praise You. I love You. Use me. Amen.

(159 words ~ 8:19 a.m.)

best, not worst

 Friday, March 19, 2021 (7:22 a.m.)

Blessed God,

You are good. We are grateful. Thank You.

Lord, I ask You to guide and direct my thinking this morning. I confess to the ease with which I think the worst, not the best. I want very much to reverse that.

(8:08 a.m.)

Having turned to Your Word, I’m reading especially in Philippians. Chapter 4. Joy in the Lord. Mm, yes. Father, it is to Jesus I turn for perspective.

There is so much sadness in the world. Things we just cannot understand. Choosing to turn to and trust You with all our hearts. Leaning not on our own understanding. In all our ways acknowledging You. Believing You will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Father, thank You that Your Word is Truth. Thank You that we have it to stand upon. I look to and lean into You. Asking You dearest Lord to do all You must to provide comfort and care to the hurting.

The Passion Translation tells us to “Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respect, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always” (Philippians 4:8).

I confess. This is rarely my first response. BUT! When I turn in Your Word, the faintest of smiles appear. Softening the wall of protection I attempt placing around my heart. You are good God. I am grateful.

The Message sums it all up. Referring to us as friends. Saying we’d “do best by filling [y]our minds and meditating on things true… gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not to curse.”

Here again I ask You Lord. Empower me to this end. I love You. I need You. I want You. And I thank You God. Yes how I thank You for who and all You are. Praise You. Use me. To Your good and to Your glory. Amen.

(342 words ~ 8:50 a.m.)