pardon and power

 Sunday, March 28, 2026 (4:55 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. I’m grateful. I’m not feeling it. Yet I am. Thank You that I truly want to practice gratitude.

Thank You for the song that was swirling around my head as I awoke. Thank You that there were dreams, which meant I slept. Thank You for the desire to be thankful. Always (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

I am confessing to You right now an extremely unseemly, unbecoming attitude. There is deep grumbling and grousing going on within. All is currently NOT well with my soul.

Thank You for reminding me AGAIN that as Your little child I belong to You (1John 4:4a EasyEnglish Bible). The Holy Spirit is in me (v. 4c) And “He is more powerful than the spirit that belongs to this world” (4d).

I attempted acting as if yesterday. I went through the motions of celebrating with and for other people. Forgive my selfishness Dear Lord. I pretended to have what it took to be social when in reality I just wanted to come home. And be alone.

Father thank You for all You are teaching me. NONE of what I will or won’t accomplish is because of my own determination. All I am or ever will be is because of Your grace. Pure and simple (1 Peter 4:11).

(5:27 a.m.)

Holy, Holy God! I’ve spent these past many days [weeks, months] continuing to work at a plan that would deliver me from the evil thoughts that keep me bound to indecision and irritation. Thank You that Your way is SO much bigger. And better.

It’s NOT my will, but Yours! Not my works 

(5:41 a.m.)

“Not my works!” No matter how hard I try to think, say, do or be all that I consider right in my own mind can ever be enough. It’s You. All You. Your grace. Your love. Your power. Your pardon.

I can never earn it. Oh, but I can choose to receive it. And I do Dear Lord.

Thank You for leading me again to Your Word. Especially the book of Colossians. The apostle Paul’s letter to the believers of Colosse. “To show us that Christ is the only real source of power in our life” (The Life Recovery Bible THE BOTTOM LINE).

I keep forgetting all that I do not know nor practice regularly. It is Christ’s power, not mine!

Paul wrote to the Colossians, praying, “that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father” (Colossians 1:11-12a).

Father God, I want to live dependent on Your Truth and promises. Eagerness is taking hold within. It is Your grace that provides not only pardon from our sins, but Your power as well. I want to truly take hold of all You offer us.

It is my desire to believe that I am forgiven, justified, made right, reconciled, brought into Your presence and am now ‘holy and blameless as I stand before You without a single fault’ (v. 22).

I ask (Matthew 7:7a) You to enable and empower me in embracing Paul’s words. “But you must continue to believe this Truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News” (23a, b).

Continue Your work in teaching me more about Your grace. The pardon it presents, as well as its power. I am desperately in need of all the power You have for me.

The apostle Paul asked You three times to take away a thorn in his flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-8). Each time You told him, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (v. 9).

It is the pardon and the power of Your grace on which I must learn to depend. Definitely not my own will or way. Use me exactly as You know is best Dear Lord. Do all You must that I represent You well.

I love, need, trust and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

698 words ~ 6:31 a.m.)