Divine intervention

 Friday, January 13, 2023 (6:08 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You!

I went to sleep last night asking Your perfect healing of a much loved one. At 11:50 [and every other time I woke up after] I prayed Aaron’s blessing (Numbers 6:24-26).

Lord God, there is so much in my heart at this very moment. Faith. Hope. Trust in Your Word. Your ability. Your promises. Father, how truly I ask You to bless and keep Your people.

(6:59 a.m.)

Attempting to put all my thoughts and feelings into words here is proving intermittent. My mind seems to jump all over the place. Lord, You know all. And I thank You that You do.

Guide me here this morning I ask. Singing ♪I’m Yours♪ seems quite appropriate. Because I am. We are. Yours!

Father God, You know our every hope. Our fears. Frustration. Concerns. I bring them all to You. Seeking Your Divine intervention in, with, by, through and for every aspect of our circumstances.

Blessed Lord, I want to trust and depend on Your promises. Like the one You gave to Moses concerning Aaron’s blessing (Numbers 6:27). “Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”

I look to You for such blessing Dear Lord. I believe You divinely led my thinking last night. Gently guiding my heart to asking Your blessing on behalf of others.

The Life Recovery Bible comment for this particular prayer tells us, “6:24-26 The simple words of this blessing reflect God’s desire for all His people. He is the source of all blessings, grace, and peace in life; only through a relationship with God can we hope to experience the fullness of life described here. The blessing seems to build to its final word - peace (shalom). The Hebrew word for peace means much more than an absence of conflict. It implies a complete sense of well-being, health, and contentment. God offers this to anyone who is willing to follow Him and especially those whose lives have been bruised and broken.”

Most dear and blessed, loving Father God I am asking Your peace, Your favor, Your graciousness, Your smile, protection and blessing upon all. We are in desperate need of all You want us to have.

You alone are good. Great. Glorious. Gracious. And we want to live as You would have us. Aware of our need for You. Asking Your blessing. Guidance. Divine intervention.

Do all You know is best Dearest God. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(430 words ~ 7:51 a.m.)

Yes!

 Thursday, January 12, 2023 (5:40 a.m.)

Thank You, God. Praise You Lord.

Yes!

(5:51 a.m.)

I love saying, “Yes!” to You. Wholeheartedly. Without reservation. Unpretentiously. Thank You Father.

Thank You for waking me with an easily identifiable song. The melody. A crescendo. All building to the title of such Truth… ♪Great Are You Lord♪

I’m confessing to You right now my warring mindset. Yes, Lord. Mm, yes, Lord! Thank You for reminding me that with every single smile I notice there is a degree of hope. Joy. Yes!

I’m asking You to continue singing Your Truth to me this day. I look to You to do in, with, by, through and for me ALL that I cannot possibly do myself. I love You. I long to serve You. And I can’t in and of myself.

I get in my own way. Hence the warring mindset mentioned above. Being grounded in Your Truth is my only way out and through the muck and mire I bring to Your table.

Thank You Lord that when all is said and done the desire deep within my heart is to completely agree with one of Your young prophets (1 Samuel 3:9) as I sing out his words. ♪I’ll say yes, Lord yes to Your will and to Your way. I’ll say yes, Lord, yes; I will trust You and obey. When Your Spirit speaks to me, With my whole heart I’ll agree And my answer will be yes, Lord, Yes♪

Yes! I want my answer to Your leading to be an automatic, obedient “Yes!” I confess Blessed Lord, to that rarely being the case.

I know myself to be reluctant. I look to You to make me eager. And willing. Yes, Lord. I believe You are able. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

YOUR mighty power at work within us. NOT mine. Or anyone else’s.

Yes, Lord! All of this because I got to waking up humming ♪You give life, You are love You bring light to the darkness You give hope, You restore Every heart that is broken♪ Ultimately singing out ♪Great are You, Lord♪

Yes! Great are You Lord! Use me this day. Exactly as You alone know is best. I love, need, trust and want You. Do all You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(414 words ~ 6:36 a.m.)

countering

 Wednesday, January 11, 2023 (7:49 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You! Awake for quite some time. Songs singing in my head. Smiles coming as I read details behind the writing of them.

From ♪Baby, Baby♪ to ♪Sweet Little Jesus Boy♪ I sit. Silent. Contemplating. Wondering. Hoping. Countering.

Yes Lord I am countering my opposing thoughts with Your Truth. Thank You. Praise You!

(8:20 a.m.)

Blessed Father, there is no way for me to thank You enough for all You are and do. Thank You for the opportunity to explore the writings of other people. Others who counter their fearful thoughts and musings with the Truth and hope found in Your Word.

Thank You for leading me this morning over to Psalm 27. A psalm of David. “The LORD is my light and my salvation - so why should I be afraid?” Yes! Why should I be afraid?

“The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” Thank You Father. You ARE our strength!

(8:43 a.m.)

Thank You for this privilege of reading the writings of so many like minded people. Those who struggle and ultimately counter their circumstances with Your Truth.

Following King David’s lead in finding “great joy by improving his conscious contact with God” (The Life Recovery Bible Step 11 devotion Thirst for God Psalm 27:1-6) again I thank You. Yes Father, thank You for the hope we find in Your Truth.

Reading across the page at the comment for 27:11-14, again I smile with the faith we have in You. “God… wants to become the stabilizing factor in our life. Apart from Him we have no power against the things that once put us in bondage. We must determine, one day at a time, to follow God, patiently and confidently waiting for Him to protect and lead us.”

Yes Father! Yes!

Verse 8. “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with me.’” Thank You that this is what I experience so many times throughout each day.

“Teach me to how to live, O LORD. Lead me along the right path,” (v. 11). Make me brave and courageous as I wait patiently for You (14).

Thank You Father. Use me this day. As You know is best. Countering every fearful thought with Your Truth. Thank You. Praise You. I love, need, trust and want You. Amen.

(403 words ~ 9:04 a.m.)

Two powerful words!

 Tuesday, January 10, 2023 (6:23 a.m.)

Awesome, Blessed, Loving, Holy God,

I woke up singing. Then smiling. Thank You Lord!

Think about it… one minute I was sound asleep. And the very next? Two powerful words!

♪… I believe... ♪

Thank You Father. Praise You Lord. There is so much Truth to be found with those two powerful words. And again? The choice we have in believing. Or not.

♪I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low? Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know, ooh oh You Say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing You say I am strong when I think I am weak And You say I am held when I am falling short And when I don’t belong, oh, You say I am Yours And I believe (I), oh, I believe (I) What You say of me (I) I believe♪

Oh most dear and blessed God, thank You. Praise You.

Singer, songwriter, Lauren Daigle says of writing this song “at a time when I felt like things were getting away from me and, honestly, I was feeling overwhelmed.” Adding, “This song became my anchor and my rock and it gave me truth.”

Isn’t that EXACTLY how Your Word describes You?

(7:29 a.m.)

Mm. Two more powerful words! You are:

“This hope [which] is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls” (Hebrews 6:19a)

“… my Rock, in whom I find protection” (Psalm 18:2b)

‘… the Truth we will know which sets us free’ (John 8:32)

What are the two most powerful words here? You say? I believe? Nope! You are!

Thank You Blessed God. Thank You that You ARE! Good. Glorious. Gracious. Great. Eternal. Loving. Kind. Truth. Anchor. Rock. Endless…

Use me this day Lord. Reminding me of who I am and all I have in You. With You. By You. Through You. And for You. You are Whom I long to glorify and enjoy. This day and forever.

Thank You for loving me. And changing me.

Do all You must in blessing and keeping me aligned with ‘Your desire for all Your people.’ This comment for Numbers 6:24-26 (The Life Recovery Bible) describes You as “the source of all blessing, grace and peace in life;” Adding the importance that “only through a relationship with God can we hope to experience the fullness of life described here [in these verses].”

Thank You Father. You have such incredibly powerful Truth to guide and direct all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength in loving You and others as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). Do as You alone know is best.

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

(486 words ~ 8:15 a.m.)

The privilege!

 Monday, January 9, 2023 (6:59 a.m.)

Good morning. Hi. Hello. I love You. I’m glad to be here with You. Thank You for the privilege.

(7:44 a.m.)

Mm, yes.

(8:11 a.m.)

The privilege! We, as believers of Your Word of Truth and promises, have the privilege of turning to You (Revelation 3:19). Every single time we recognize our need.

I confess to You the meanness going on in my head. All of the comparisons of my weaknesses with the strengths of others (Galatians 6:4-5). Father God, I want to trust You. I choose to trust You. Thank You for giving us the privilege of choice.

We have the privilege of reading Your Word in variations translations. The privilege of seeking a better understanding of all that You’ve promised us. Thank You Father.

I want to stand on and use those promises Dearest God. You are good. Glorious. And here I have chills as another soundtrack of my mind begins.

Taking a look at the reasons behind the lyrics I find myself sitting taller. Straighter. Smiling. Father God, Your are so very gracious. And I am incredibly grateful. Thank You.

♪I’m not weak, I got my feet No apologies, yeah, This Is Me… And I know that I deserve Your love There’s nothing I’m not worthy of… This is brave, this is bruised This is who I’m meant to be, this is me♪

Oh dearest, loving Father, continue Your work in teaching us that You truly do know the plans You have for us. Plans for good and not for evil. Plans to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

Thank You for the privilege of loving and being loved by You. Empower and embolden us to walk in Your light. Brave. Unafraid. Wonderfully complex (Psalm 139:14). Exactly the way You alone created us.

I love You. I need, trust and want You as Lord of my life. Use me. As You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(341 words ~ 9:11 a.m.)

earnestness

Sunday, January 8, 2023 (6:13 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You! It took awhile. A bit of distraction. And here I am. Grateful. Blessed. Smiling. Singing.

Rather than continuing a feeble attempt of muscling my way through a degree of sad[seasonal affective disorder]ness, I confessed it to You. A bit of post holiday blues? The shutting off and taking down of Christmas lights. And You provided the much needed reminder!

♪You give life, You are love You bring light to the darkness You give hope, You restore Every heart that is broken Great Are You, Lord♪

Lord God, thank You! You reminded me that it’s not up to me to be strong enough. I don’t have the strength. Nor the power. You do! And we have access to it. When we approach You in all earnestness. Thank You Father.

Thank You for shifting my focus. You are my need. Nothing is greater than all You are and offer. I’m asking You to continue Your work in making me fully aware of all the Light You bring to our darkness.

Illustrated Bible Handbook. Romans Chapter 8. The Spirit’s Power New Life Through the Spirit; 8:1-17. Final Glorification; 8:18-39.

“It is the Spirit of God within us, who raised Jesus from the dead, who is able to lift us up too, to a new and righteous kind of living (9-11). Our obligation is not to ‘try,’ but to trust the Spirit of God within us and let Him lead us (12-14).”

♪Spirit of the Living God, Fall afresh on me, Spirit of the Living God, Fall afresh on me. Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me. Spirit of the Living God, Fall afresh on me♪

Thank You for singing Your Truth to me Dearest God. Thank You for leading me to Your Word of Truth and promises.

♪You give life, You are love You bring light to the darkness You give hope, You restore Every heart that is broken Great are You Lord♪ Yes! Great are You Lord!

Use me today Dearest Father. Exactly as You alone know is best. Leaning Into and onto the strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). In all earnestness. Trusting Your Spirit to lead us. Through the darkness.

I love You. I need, trust and want You. Thank You for Who You are and all You do. Yes. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(401 words ~ 7:48 a.m.)

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.)