"What's next, Papa?"

 Wednesday, February 4, 2026 (6:31 a.m.)

Good morning Lord,

I love You. Thank You for making that possible.

(6:55 a.m.)

How very grateful I am for Your love. And the presence of Your Holy Spirit.

The Message tells us, “This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who He is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us - an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with Him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with Him!” (Romans 8:15-17).

Lord, I want to live as You designed. As Your very own child.

I am asking (Matthew 7:7a) You to show me exactly what this means. To truly be Your beloved daughter. Empower me with a “What’s next, Papa?” attitude.

I love, need, trust and want You. Use me exactly as You know is best. Following Your lead at every turn. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(206 words ~ 7:28 a.m.)

always something to praise

 Tuesday, February 3, 2026 (4:37 a.m.)

Holy God,

This IS the day You have made. I WILL rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). I look to You to make that possible.

I confess to You the discontent and ungratefulness that have been taking up space in my mind. I slipped back into old patterns of fault-finding and complaining. I’m asking (Matthew 7:7a) Your help in bringing me back to thanking and praising.

♪I will enter Your gates with thanksgiving in my heart

I will enter Your courts with praise

(Psalm 100:4)

I will say, “This is the day that the Lord has made”

I will rejoice ‘cause He has made me glad♪

You HAVE made me glad Lord. Repeatedly. Time and again.

Thank You Father.

As I grumbled and griped around here again yesterday, trying desperately to figure out where my joy has gone, You reminded me about the seeds of hurt I have been sowing. Thank You God that Your Word (Hebrews 12:14-15) warns us against the root of bitterness springing up and causing trouble.

I further confess to You Dear Lord, the slights and offenses I have been collecting. And replaying. Ad infinitum. Over and over. In the most disparagingly endless loop.

Thank You for again reminding me of the importance of praise in every situation and condition. Yes, Father! There is always something to praise!

Forgive me for the time wasted in complaining. And plotting revenge of sorts. NOTHING good comes from repaying evil for evil (1 Peter 3:9a).

Father, thank You that we have Your Word. Thank You for Your call for us to: “Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others” (v. 11).

Lord God, I love, need, trust and want You. Do all You must that I will forgive others as You have forgiven me (Matthew 6:12). Use me exactly as You know is best. Rejoicing and being glad. Thanking and praising. Recognizing and avoiding poisonous roots of bitterness (Hebrews 12:15). All the day long.

Thank You. Praise You. I love You. Amen.

(340 words ~ 5:45 a.m.)

Todo va a estar bien.

 Monday, February 2, 2026 (5:02 a.m.)

I ugly cried yesterday Lord. Repeatedly. Mournfully. Sobbingly.

(5:28 a.m.)

And then You reminded me. Like You did just now. With water metaphors. The importance of letting it out while staying calm.

Thank You God! Peace is washing over me. And a smile is growing. On my face. And in my heart.

Thank You. Yes. Thank You. Truly. Deeply. Eternally.

Whatever is going on within and around me, You’ve got this. And me! I don’t have to keep fighting the feelings. Judging them. Trying to make them pass. Or be different than they are.

I heard these words sung out on the radio yesterday. ♪Todo va a estar bien♪ [Be Alright]. And I believed them. ♪Everything will be alright♪ (1 Peter 5:10).

(5:53 a.m.)

Father, continue Your work in, with, by, through and for me. We’ve such a long way to go. Thank You that You are here with me. Every single step of the way.

Thank You that I can choose to let go. Breathe. Trust. Hope. 

I do not have to fear. Or be afraid. I can call upon Your name. And believe. Todo va a estar bien.

Do all You must Dearest Dad in using me exactly as You know is best. I love, need, trust and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(215 words ~ 6:11 a.m.)

as You would have me love

 Sunday, February 1, 2026 (4:53 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for Your love. Your patience. Kindness (1 Corinthians 13:4a). I want to learn to love as You would have me love.

(5:16 a.m.)

Yes Father. I want to love as YOU would have me love.

(5:45 a.m.)

Searching. Reading. Finding. Thinking. It truly all comes back to being fully connected to You.

(6:00 a.m.)

The Life Recovery Bible comment for Jesus’ example of prayer (Mark 1:35-39) encourages us to meditate on Your Word and pray for Your strength and wisdom. Yes please Father.

I have so much to learn. Prayers for others. Embracing Your grace. Being quick to forgive. All parts of Your design.

Continue Your endless work in, with, by, through and for me I ask (Matthew 7:7a). I love, need, trust and want You Dearest Lord.

Do all You must that I will worship, adore, glorify and enjoy You as You so rightly deserve. Learning to love as You would have me love. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(181 words ~ 6:20 a.m.)

Your Way's better

 ♪Your Way’s Better♪

Saturday, January 31, 2026 (4:52 a.m.)

Thank You Father God,

Your way IS better!

I’ve been choosing sullen. Grumpy. Reclusive. Irritated. Annoyed. It hasn’t helped.

Neither has trying to ignore the testy feelings. Puzzling. TV. Reading. Stomping. None of it has changed my sour attitude.

(6:15 a.m.)

Thank You for singing Truth to me in the early hours.

♪Oh Lord, I need You now more than ever

Would You put my heart back together

I searched the world ’til my head hurt

Just to find out Your Way’s better♪

Yes Father! Your Way’s better!

Psalm 18:30, “As for God, His way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.”

Isaiah 55:8-9, “‘My thoughts are completely different from yours,’ says the LORD. ‘And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

My ways won’t shake me free from these gloomy feelings. But Your’s will. Your Way’s better. Won’t You put my heart back together?

Here’s a smile. That’s a start. I love You. I need You. I trust and want You Dear Lord. Do everything You must in ridding me of all that is not pleasing to You.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, [I want to} be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another [including myself] just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

Forgive me the fear that continues rearing up. Faith in You and Your Way’s better! Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(305 words ~ 7:03 a.m.)

loving God's way

 Friday, January 30, 2026 (6:22 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You for Your love.

(6:45 a.m.)

Reading about Your love. That You ARE love (1 John 4:8) singing begins within.

♪Come believe it

Come receive it

Oh, the power of His Spirit is now forever yours

Come believe it

Come receive it

In the mighty name of Jesus, all things are possible♪

(Katy Nichole’s In Jesus Name (God of Possible))

Father, this is what I have for You today. My gratitude for Your love. My asking (Matthew 7:7) that You continue Your work in, with, by, through and for me that I would learn to love as You would have me love.

♪This is My Commandment

That you love one another

That your joy may be full♪

(7:38 a.m.)

Taken from John 15:11-12, I begin quoting verse 10 [under Abiding in the Vine]. “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be full.

“This is My commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you” (vs.10-14).

I want to be Your friend Dear Jesus. Teach me to love Your way.

Philippians 2:1-2. “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from His love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me [Paul] truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.”

Yes Father. Let us learn to work together with one heart and Your purpose. I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Do all You must that I fulfill Your call In John 15:4.

“Continue to live in Me, and I will continue to live in you. A branch cannot make fruit by itself. It can make fruit only if it continues to be part of the vine. You are like that. You cannot make fruit unless you continue to live in me” (EASYEnglish Bible).

A footnote here tells us, “Jesus speaks about fruit as a picture of the good things that will happen if we keep near to Him, like a branch that belongs to a vine.”

I want to love Your way and be a fruit bearing branch (v. 5) Dear Lord. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

 

responsive obedience

 Thursday, January 29, 2026 (5:29 a.m.)

Holy God,

Good morning. And thank You so much.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do yesterday. And it worked out better than I had hoped.

Attending a funeral in the morning was the main goal. Followed by coming back home. Spending the entire day alone. Watching whatever I wanted on TV. And finishing a puzzle I had been working on. The seven uninterrupted hours of sleep was an absolute bonus. Thank You Father.

Lord God, I look to You for today. There are many things that need attention. I am very well rested. “Put me in Coach.” Exactly where and how You want me.

(6:32 a.m.)

While considering You as Coach, I read the words of the apostle Paul written to the Philippian believers. Father thank You that we have these records of encouragement and instruction.

EasyEnglish Bible tells us we are to “be like lights in the world.” I want to be a light for You Lord.

Chapter 2, verse 12 says, “So, my friends, you must continue to obey God. When I was with you, you always obeyed. Now that I am not with you, that is even more important. God has saved you. You must always live in a way which shows that is true. Respect God and obey Him. Remember that He is great and powerful.”

The Message describes the importance of living “in responsive obedience.” Father, I very much want to be responsive and obedient to Your leading.

Verse 13 directs, “It is God Himself who is working in you. Now you want to obey Him, and He makes you strong to do that. When You obey Him, that makes Him very happy” (EASY).

The Message uses these words. “Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God Himself willing and working at what will give Him the most pleasure.”

Do all You must in making me responsively obedient to You Dear Lord. I love, need, trust and want You. Use me exactly as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(363 words ~ 7:07 a.m.)