Your plan

 Wednesday, November 4, 2020 (5:25 a.m.)

Holy God,

I come to You first this morning. No searches. No crosswords. No TV news. Straight to You. Asking. Seeking. Knocking. Hoping. Trusting. Believing that You truly know the plan You have for us. A plan for good and not for evil. A plan to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

I believe Lord, because I choose to believe. Thank You for the faith and hope You have provided me that allows me to believe in You. Your will. Your way. Your plan.

I love You God. I don’t pretend to understand any of the things You do. Yet I get in line to learn more of all You have to offer us. Here I ask You to teach me more. Thank You Father.

Yes. Thank You that we get to come to You. Just as we are. Asking only that You want us to come. ♪Just As I Am♪ (John 6:37).

With so very much need of healing in the world today again I turn to Your Word. The Life Recovery Bible TOPICAL INDEX helps me smile as I follow Your lead regarding my need to believe. “BELIEF (see Faith)”

And when I do? Two TWELVE STEP DEVOTIONALS. Both dealing with Step 2. “We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” Power. Your power! Thank You God.

Reading this morning that ‘faith is the noun form and believe is the verb of the same Greek word’ helps me understand that ‘belief is faith in action.’ Coming to believe matters.

Luke 8:43-48 tells of the Healing Faith of a woman who had spent everything she had seeking a cure from doctors. To no avail. Touching the fringe of Jesus’ robe, she was healed immediately. “‘Daughter,’ He said to her, ‘your faith has made you well. Go in peace’” (v. 48). Oh how I pray that kind of faith upon us Lord.

Dearest God, there are so many examples of division and double standards taking place in the political arena this morning that I confess it is hard to hope. Here I turn to singing ♪All My Hope is in You All my strength is in You With every breath My soul will rest in You♪

And right in the middle, the song switches to ♪Nothing can separate Even if I ran away Your Love Never Fails♪ How I ask You to help me in believing exactly that.

Hope in Faith (Hebrews 11:1-10) reminds us “The Bible tells us that the key [to believing] is in the nature of the higher Power we look to.” And I do Dear Lord. I look to You. This chapter spells out Great Examples of Faith.

Illustrated Bible Handbook breaks it into two sections. The Nature of Faith; 11:1-2,6. The Evidence of Faith; 11:3-40. Until I can muster up the strength to walk courageously in Your Power (Ephesians 6:10) this day I will keep singing.

♪You stay the same through the ages Your love never changes There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning… Your Love Never Fails … You make all things work together for my good…♪

I don’t know how. And I’m going to trust You anyway. Your will. Your way. Your plan. Do all You must Blessed God. We need You like I’ve never known needing You before.

I am choosing to believe and trust and put all my faith in You. Not worrying about anything. Instead, praying about everything. Telling You that we need You. And thanking You that You are good (Philippians 4:6). All the time You are good. Even now.

I love You Father. In Jesus’ most holy name I pray. Amen.

(633 words ~ 7:45 a.m.)

♪You make all things work together for my good…♪ (Romans 8:28). Even all this Dearest God. Even all this…

"IN GOD WE TRUST"

 Tuesday, November 3, 2020 (5:48 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You that hours earlier I remembered to sing ♪This is the day that the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it♪ (Psalm 118:24). Doing it again just now a completely different song began.

♪Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down But a good word makes it glad♪ (Proverbs 12:25). Yes, Lord! You have provided us the reminders found in Your Truth.

I look to You Father. It is an election day like none I’ve ever experienced. YOU are holy. YOU are good. YOU already know the outcome. And we are called to trust in You.

That’s right! Our money and national signage states it for all to see. “IN GOD WE TRUST” The question I have is, do we? Is it truly in You we place our hope?

Father God, I continue asking You to right us as Your people. This IS the day that You have made! We ARE to rejoice and be glad in it. Anxiety in our hearts weighs us down. But Your Good Word makes us glad.

Thank You Father that we can come to You with every emotion we possess. None of them are surprising to You. You know Your plan (Jeremiah 29:11). For good and not for evil. To give us a future and a hope.

Again I say I look to You. Teach us to truly be glad. Grateful. Loving. And devoted. To You. Your will. Your way.

I love You Lord ♪And I lift my voice To worship You, O my soul, rejoice! Take joy, my King, in what You hear: May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear♪

Thank You God. You took my simple statement into a song and then to Your Word. Psalm 18:1. “For the choir director: A psalm of David, the servant of the LORD. He sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. I love You, LORD; You are my strength.”

Remind us of this Dearest Father. YOU are our strength! YOU are our hope! It IS in You we trust!

Illustrated Bible Handbook tells us to “Shout out joy and love!” Do all You must to this end. Teach us to be Your kind loving people. Filled with Your mercy and grace.

I love You Lord. I do! Make it so You are easily seen in me this day.

The United States of America needs You desperately. Do what only You are able in righting the mess we have made. Thank You God. Amen.

(443 words ~ 6:52 a.m.)

who YOU say I am

Monday, November 2, 2020 (6:10 a.m.)

Holy, Holy God,

I come to You this morning, struggling with my thoughts. They are critical. Judgmental. Not at all what I believe YOU to be telling me.

According to my current way of thinking I am somehow to blame for much of everything that isn’t as I would have the world today. Although I realize this to be totally inaccurate, the internal condemnation continues.

Again I turn to You. And You do not disappoint!

Recognizing my thoughts to be filled with negative comparisons and self-blame, I bring it all to You and You fill my heart. While confessing to You I start singing, ♪There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus♪

Thank You Father. Praise You. Sitting up straighter. Standing more firmly. Staying my mind on Your Truth. Romans 8:1. Let me truly accept Your promises, Lord.

The Life Recovery Bible comment tells us, “This is one of the greatest affirmations of Scripture. We will never be condemned by God for our sins, because Jesus Christ has paid the price once and for all. When we turn our life over to God’s care, we can be confident that we will not be condemned by Him. If we have confessed our sins and accepted God’s forgiveness in Christ, there is ‘no condemnation.’”

I don’t have to keep beating myself up over my mistakes. Nor do I need to look to others for approval or signs that I am who I want to be. No! I want to keep looking to You. Asking to be reminded of who YOU say I am. Forgiven! Not forsaken.

Which brings me right back to the first song of this morning. ♪Who the Son sets free Oh is free indeed I’m a child of God Yes I am… I am chosen, not forsaken I am who You say I am… You are for me not against me I am who You say I am♪

Praise You Father. Thank You.

Turning further to You and Your Word, I am directed deeper into this chapter. Verse 31. “What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” Yes!

“8:31-39 Our security in life and recovery is based on God’s unshakeable love for us. The love God has for us is not just an emotion but a matter of historical record…” This recovery footnote reminds us that You willingly sent Jesus to suffer and die on our behalves. There is nothing that can separate me from Your love.

And with that Truth comes another song. ♪Your Love Never Fails Nothing can separate Even if I ran away Your love never fails I know I still make mistakes But You have new mercies for me everyday…♪ Oh thank and praise You Father.

You right, adjust and change my thinking. You put me back on the path of believing that I am truly loved by You. Every single mistake and all.

I love You Father. I need You. I ask You to comfort and guide me every single step of this day. I absolutely have no idea what is coming next. It is in and with and by and through Your Holy Spirit that I depend ‘to be lifted up to a new and righteous kind of living’ (Romans 8:9-11 Illustrated Bible Handbook).

“Our obligation is not to ‘try,’ but to trust the Spirit of God within us and let Him lead us (12-14). After all, we are God’s children now, and heirs to a righteousness which is His” (Illustrated Bible Handbook).

So who do You say I am? Your forgiven child. Do all You must that I would live this day as such. Thank You. Praise You. I love You. Amen.

(645 words ~ 8:14 a.m.)

"That's pretty!"

Sunday, November 1, 2020 (5:45 a.m.)

Most Dear and Blessed Holy God,

“That’s pretty!”

How long has it been since I’ve said that to You God? Oh, and now the tears return. Stinging my eyes and putting pressure on my nose. Rolling down my cheeks enough to be brushed away. As I reach for the necessary tissues, I feel all this emotion catch in my throat.

Such a huge part of me wants to wail out to You, “It’s too much God. I can’t take anymore!” Instead of surrendering and giving up, I look again to the sky. Thank You Lord. Praise You.

You are good

(6:04 a.m.)

And then? Amazement! Enough to go outside for a better view. Panoramic really. Starting in the east. Wrapping all the way around to the southwest. Orange. Pinks. Even shades of purple. So pretty God. So, so pretty.

Thank You.

(6:14 a.m.)

Another trip to the east facing windows and I am truly speechless. Father, praise You!

How I thank You for using Your beauty to remind me of the song I woke up with so much earlier. ♪This Is The Day that the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it♪ Yes! Thank and praise You God!

Here I am. Wavering between hope and fear. So easily undone.

And then? A glance outside. Your incredible artwork at its very best. The beauty of this particular sky could not be what it is without the clouds. The grays and whites shading and adding to the majesty of it all.

Holy God, I don’t remember the last time I’ve felt this deeply rooted joy. Real. Non-manufactured. Not something I worked to achieve. And it all stems from You. Thank You.

I turn to You. Singing. Smiling. Sitting up straighter. Standing firmly on Your Word. And staying my mind on You. Thank You Lord.

I absolutely do not know what today is going to bring. And right now, because of the hope found in a glorious sunrise I am more strongly rooted in the Truth and promises of Your infallible Word. Praise You God.

Psalm 118 begins and ends with the call to “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.” This is the important Truth I need to remember throughout every single moment of every new day.

The Life Recovery Bible’s comment for 118:22-25 reminds us that Your ways are not the same as ours. We don’t see Your bigger picture. We don’t know Your plans. BUT! “As willing vessels of God’s power, we can be transformed to impact others far beyond our wildest dreams. To do this, we must entrust our life to God.” Yes please Father.

“This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Please, LORD, please save us. Please, LORD, please give us success” (vs. 24-25). Yes. Please, LORD, please!

Here from The Passion Translation. “This is the very day of the Lord that brings gladness and joy, filling our hearts with glee. O God, please come and save us again; bring us Your breakthrough-victory!”

That sunrise went a long way in helping to renew my hope. Help me find and share Your gladness and joy this day Blessed God. Yes! This day that You have made. The one that started out so pretty!

Thank You Father.

♪Spirit of the Living God, Fall afresh on me… Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me…♪ exactly as You alone know is best.

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

(617 words ~ 7:31 a.m.)

build my life

 Saturday, October 31, 2020 (5:33 a.m.)

Holy, Holy God,

I’m here asking You once more to build my life. On Your Word. Your Truth. Your promises.

Thank You that I was again able to identify the song with which I was awakened. The melody came first. I hummed along until the chorus began. ♪And I will build my life upon Your love, it is a firm foundation And I will put my trust in You alone and I will not be shaken♪

I confess to feeling quite shaken this morning Lord. Again we are faced with a series of unknowns. Pricey veterinary visits. To what end?

Yes Father. This is the year that I am learning that there is a beginning, a middle and an end to everything. I look to You to walk with us through this most likely “valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4) of our much loved pet.

Emotions waver between being held in, squashed down and explosive. I give You all of them Lord. You are our Shepherd. You know what we need far more than we do. We trust You Father.

We look to You. Long for You. Trusting You to do all You know is best. We love You. And we ask  You to lead and guide us exactly in the way You would have us go. Building our life upon Your love.

Thank You. Praise You. We love You. Amen.

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

Click.

 Friday, October 30, 2020 (6:36 a.m.)

Blessed God,

I have come

“Click.”

That’s how quick it was. Random thoughts. And then? My mind clicked over to instantly singing ♪You have called I have come To the house of the Holy One You are God I will run into You… Jesus You forgave my sins Now I freely enter in♪ 

Mm, yes Father! The clicks happen so quickly I’m often unaware of the switch that has been made.

Just now. Fully invested in singing ♪House of the Holy One♪ then suddenly, with no notice whatsoever, ♪I’m running to Your arms… Forever Reign♪

Just one click of the computer and I’m reading of Job’s anguish. The Message, Job 7:1-6. “There’s Nothing to My Life Human life is a struggle, isn’t it? It’s a life sentence to hard labor. Like field hands longing for quitting time and working stiffs with nothing to hope for but payday, I’m given a life that meanders and goes nowhere - months of aimlessness, nights of misery! I go to bed and think, ‘How long till I can get up?’ I toss and turn as the night drags on - … My days come and go swifter than the click of knitting needles, and then the yarn runs out - an unfinished life!”

What a descriptive word picture Lord. It’s oddly comforting to be reminded that others have struggled in their lives. And all the more encouraging when we remember that it is You to whom they turned for help.

Father God, how I thank You for allowing me to click so easily over to sing of running to You. Your Truth. The hope we find in You.

The Life Recovery Bible has a comment for verses 7:11-21. “Here, Job turned to petition God. Even though he was in anguish, he recognized that God was the only one who could take away the pain. Whether or not the pain we feel is a result of our own sins, God is there to comfort us. His timing may not be what we would consider ideal, but God’s perspective and timing are always best. We can trust God to rescue us - but in His time, not ours.”

Align us to Your time Dearest God. So much is taking place this upcoming week. A semi-cancelled All Hallows Eve, with a rare full blue moon. Time “falling back”. A presidential election of gigantic proportion. You are truly our only hope through all of it.

Do all You must Blessed Lord. We need You. Thank You. Amen.

(418 words ~ 8:39 a.m.)

tender whisper of love

 Thursday, October 29, 2020 (5:26 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for easy access to the song I woke up singing. ♪Oh, I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they say You’re like But I’ve heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night♪

Yes!

(7:11 a.m.)

How I thank You Lord for singing to me. And allowing that song to take me deeper into Your Word. Thank You that You do indeed whisper tenderly and lovingly to us. Often in the deep of night. Or despair.

Reading that even Your servant Elijah suffered with self-doubt is heartening. He needed Your reassurance and rest in overcoming his discouragement (1 Kings 19:4, 10). Thank You Lord that he heard Your gentle whisper (v. 12). Thank You for Your reminders that we are all only human.

Father God, it is to You I turn this morning. Buoyed by Your Truth and promises. I absolutely do not know what today will bring. And I pray the power of Your Holy Spirit to keep me standing firm in whatever it is that comes our way.

I’ve turned to “Psalm 107. A psalm of redemption - from wandering (4-9), prison (10-16), rebelliousness (17-22), and distress (23-32) [Illustrated Bible Handbook]. Led here by the mention of You calming a storm to a whisper (v. 29).

Mm, Father. I read in The Message of this ocean storm (Psalm 107:23-32) and sit transfixed, envisioning it all: ‘Towering waves! Shooting high in the sky, then the bottom dropping out; hearts stuck in throats. Spinning like a top, reeling like a drunk, not knowing which end is up. Calling out to You in our desperate condition; getting out in the nick of time’ (vs. 25-28).

The Life Recovery Bible’s comment reminds me of the hope we have in You. “Psalm 107:23-32 Sometimes we may feel that we are in a small ship plowing through stormy seas and about to go under. Bad memories and a sense of failure make our world seem dark and hopeless. The longer the storm rages, the more we fear and lose all hope of rescue. But when we cry out to God in our trouble, He will turn our storm-tossed life into a calm and peaceful sea and restore our joy. We must turn to Him for help, follow His plan for healthy living, and patiently await His deliverance.”

Yes please! I call to You Father. Still singing the song with which I awoke. ♪You’re a Good, Good Father It’s who You are, It’s who You are And I’m loved by You It’s who I am, It’s who I am Oh, I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide But I know we’re all searching For answers only You provide Cause You know just what we need Before we say a word You’re a Good, Good Father…♪

So, my Good, Good Father, it truly is to You I turn this day. Seeking the life I can find only in You. Love Inspired Fearless Enthusiasm. Your love. Your Spirit. Your will. Your way.

Lead me. Guide me. Step by arduous step. Until the storm breaks and You quiet the wind down to a whisper (Psalm 107:29). Yes, Good, Good Father. ♪You are perfect in all of Your ways♪

Conform me to Your perfect will. I love You. I want You. I seek Your Truth and power. Do all You must in, with, by, through and for me this day. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(552 words ~ 8:04 a.m.)