safe travels

 Saturday, January 7, 2023 (5:42 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You! You provided us safe travels yesterday. We are grateful.

Mm, yes. Grateful!

49 years of ‘packing a bag’ to go one place or another. Enjoying one another’s company. You’ve done this Lord. Thank You.

Thank You for the freedom we have in coming before You. Mm, yes. Freedom to turn to You. Freedom to trust in Your Truth and promises. Freedom to call out Your name. Freedom to “Fear not. Behold.”

You reminded me yesterday Lord. Every time my mind started spinning potential mishaps, I came back to Your Truth. Thank You. Praise You.

You do this for us Father. International Standard Version. “Then the angel told them [lowly shepherds], ‘Stop being afraid! Listen! I am bringing good news of great joy for all people’” (Luke 2:10).

It is only because of You and Your love for each and every single one of us that we can learn to trust You. In all things.

As I began imagining negative turns circumstances could take, I remembered to call out Your name. Here a comment for Luke 2:8-12 from The Life Recovery Bible. “…Jesus’ coming in the flesh reassures us that our holy and almighty God is also a personal God. God is with us and for us.” Thank You that You are!

“We need not fear the unknown future or the all-too-familiar past. When we put our faith in the living God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, His perfect love expels all fear (see 1 John 4:18).”

Turning to 1 John 4, again I am reminded of the absolute gift we have in being loved by You. Thank You Father. I want to learn to love as You would have us love. Without fear (v. 18). You provide our every need. Thank You.

Mary chose to keep all the events surrounding Jesus’ birth “like a secret treasure in her heart.” Thinking “about them over and over” (Luke 2:19). Continue Your work in training me to think Your Truth over my fear.

The Life Recovery Bible comment for this verse (2:19) teaches, “In recovery painful thoughts of a guilt-ridden past or an uncertain future often intrude and disrupt the present and sometimes cause us to feel depressed. Certainly these darker issues must be faced for us to break free from the patterns of the past.” You are doing this with me Dear Lord. Reminding me that Jesus came to cancel all my debts! Thank You Father.

Continuing with the comment. “But Mary shows us how thoughts about God can lift our spirits and give us the courage to take the next step. She meditated on the things God was doing and wanted to do in her life. When we do the same, we take a step toward recovery and wholeness. Pondering the joy with the sorrow, the awesome with the awful, the gain with the pain will lead to emotional and spiritual healing.”

You provide us this healing Dearest God. Continue Your work in setting us free. Free from fear. To live and love as You would have us. Thank You Father.

Use us this day as You know is best. Accomplishing what You want. We love You. We need, trust and want You to lead and guide us in our thoughts, words and actions. Thank You for the work You’ve done and are doing. Praise You Lord. Amen.

(578 words ~ 7:43 a.m.)