responsible trust

 Wednesday, April 10, 2024 (6:03 a.m.)

Holy God,

This IS the day that You have made (Psalm 118:24a). Hours ago I had determined to “rejoice and be glad in it” (v. 24b). Complete with smiles and singing.

What a difference standing up makes. Lord, You know all the details behind this queasiness that continues ebbing and flowing. Thank You that I can even bring unsettledness to You.

(6:47 a.m.)

And in doing exactly that, I come across a Bible verse I thought of yesterday. Proverbs 16:9. “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” Thank You that You do.

With this truly being the case, I fully look to You Dear Lord. Asking, seeking, knocking (Matthew 7:7) that You would completely guide and direct my interactions today.

I confess to You my tendency toward avoidance these past many weeks. In not wanting to be disappointed I have made few plans. Do all You must in putting me where You want me Lord.

Thank You for bringing me to The Life Recovery Bible comment for Proverbs 16:9. “It is important that we entrust the future to God, but we also need to make plans… Responsible trust in God means taking action to secure what we need in life, while letting God’s Word and His Spirit guide us in our preparations…”

Yes please Lord. While I can purposefully claim that I will rejoice and be glad, I need You to make that happen in, with, by, through and for me.

Depending on the power, promises and Truth of Your Word, I turn once more to Philippians 4:13. Responsibly trusting that “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

Yes Father. Teach me more about responsible trust. In You.

Use me. Exactly as You know is best. Off balanced and all.

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

(324 words ~ 7:21 a.m.)

eclipse glimpses

 Tuesday, April 9, 2024 (6:30 a.m.)

♪To God Be the Glory great things He hath done! So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, Who yielded His life an atonement for sin And opened the lifegate that all may go in. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice! O come to the Father thro’ Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory - great things He hath done!♪

Thank You Father. You provided us glimpses yesterday. There was planning. Excitement. Joy. Hope. A total solar eclipse experienced by millions. Accompanied by silence. Awe. Emotions. Chills. Tears. Mm, yes! Praise the Lord!

There were new to me terms. Path of totality (100 miles wide and 10,000 miles long!). Bailey’s beads. Diamond ring effect. PB&J. Passion Beauty and Joy.

People coming together to share this once in a lifetime experience. A pause in political differences. Acknowledgements of a genuine power greater than ourselves.

Father, thank You for the wonder involved of people making and taking the time to look up. Many in four minutes of complete silence. Feasting on Moon Pies and Sun Chips. Contemplating what only You know to be in their hearts (Psalm 139:1).

Thank You Lord for the changes You continue making in mine (Psalm 51:10). “Yes, the LORD has done amazing things for us! What joy!” (Psalm 126:3).

Keep my focus on You I ask (Matthew 7:7). Knowing, trusting, believing You to be ♪The Good, Good Father♪ I am convinced You are.

Thank You for Your love. Of which I woke up singing. Using me exactly as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(282 words ~ 8:00 a.m.)

peace that passes understanding

 Monday, April 8, 2024 (6:59 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You. There was sleep. Waking. Thoughts. Prayers. More thinking. More praying. Thank You that Your Truth ultimately won out over the fearful imaginings in my mind.

“My God is able. My God is able. My God is able…” (Ephesians 3:20). Fear quelled. Sleep returned. Joy to follow.

I think that’s an actual experience of hope! Thank You God. I find myself smiling. Trusting that ♪I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart♪

Yes Lord. ♪…down in my heart to stay And I’m so happy, so very happy I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart♪ It is in trusting You, Your Truth, Your promises that I truly experience ♪the peace that passes understanding down in my heart♪ (Philippians 4:7).

Thank You Father. Use us as You know is best. Trusting. Believing. Knowing. Loving. Needing. Wanting. Sharing You. Yes. 

(9:55 a.m.)

Mistakes. Adjustments. Changes in plans. Met with gratitude. Joy. Smiles. Thank You Father.

Oh look. A chuckle! Yes. You change my mindset. “My God is indeed able!”

(5:07 p.m.)

New Matthew Bible. Ephesians 3:20-21. “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think by the power that works in us, be praise in the congregation by Jesus Christ throughout all generations, world without end. Amen.”

Yes! Amen!

(236 words ~ 5:12 p.m.)

singing with joy

 Sunday, April 7, 2024 (6:15 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You for Your goodness. Your grace. And Your glorious greatness (Psalm145:5-8).

Thank You for reminding me to ♪enter Your gates with thanksgiving in my heart♪ And to enter Your courts with praise (Psalm 100:4). This IS the day that You have made. I WILL rejoice for You have made me glad (Psalm 118:24).

Thank You God that we are called to “Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy” (Psalm 100:2). Yes Lord. You teach us to worship and adore You. Rejoice. Be glad. Thank. Praise.

We have plans of travel and fun today (Proverbs 19:21a). I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to align them with Yours for us (Proverbs 19:21b).  

Yes Lord. “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10b). Thank You for turning my focus to You. Your will. Your way.

Use us as You know is best. Glorifying and enjoying You. Yes. We love, need, trust and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(176 words ~ 7:02 a.m.)

first song

 Saturday, April 6, 2024 (7:40 a.m.)

Thank You God,

This morning’s first song was again ♪Love Is the Answer♪ Thank You for such a resounding Truth with which to start the day.

Following the theme comes ♪You are the love of my life [actual lyrics are: ‘my love and my life’ which are even more descriptive of You Dear Lord!] You are my inspiration Just You and me Simple and free♪

Thank You Lord that we truly are free in You. We get to know the Truth of Your love (John 8:32). Which is absolutely the answer!

Yesterday I got to practice repeatedly remembering, “My God is able.” And why is that? Because of the Truth and hope found in Your Word.

With ♪Love is the answer♪ softly singing within I turn again to Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth (Ephesians 3:14-21). He knew firsthand of Your “glorious, unlimited resources” empowering believers “with inner strength” through Your Spirit (v.16).

Mind blowing Truth, Father! I waken, singing of love. Thank You for leading me into Your Word. Reminding me that it’s YOUR love that is the answer. To all the woes of this world.

“Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 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” (vs. 17-19).

(9:26  a.m.)

Thank You Father. For again reminding me that Your love is the answer! I love, need, trust and want You. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(345 words ~ 9:28 a.m.)

anticipation

 Friday, April 5, 2024 (7:24 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You. You are good. Great. Gracious. Glorious (Psalm 145:5-8). And I am grateful Lord.

Circumstances change. Thank You that You don’t!

Thank You for the privilege of bringing every possible emotion to You. Right now it’s anticipation. No. Moreover, it’s a lack thereof.

Yes Lord. I am currently at a loss. I know I have joy. There are smiles to prove it. Yet I’m also feeling conflicted. Warring internally with my own thoughts.

So here I’m confessing to You, much like I did the other day. Thoughts. Feelings. Unfavorable comparisons. Knowing, trusting, believing that Jesus truly is the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6).

Father God, I sit. Feelings of joy and contentment rising above those of fear and doubt. This is all You Lord. Thank You!

(8:15 a.m.)

You provide me this opportunity of searching and reading Your Word. Standing firm and staying my mind on Your Truth and promises. Trusting Paul’s letter of thanks and encouragement to the Philippian believers.

Yes Father. Thank You for Your work in us. Helping us want to do Your will. And enabling us to do what You want us to do. Without grumbling or making trouble (Philippians 2:13-14 Worldwide English NT).

Mm, yes Lord. You are able.

(8:50 a.m.)

Yes! “My God is able!” Let this become my overriding thought process. 

Thank You for taking my weakest words of thanks and building them into those of hopefulness and joy. “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).

Talk about Your power in our anticipation. Oh! This just keeps getting better.

Thank You for yet another reminder. 2 Corinthians 12:9. Your grace and power working best in our weakness. Thank You Father.

Please take my fear and replace it with Your strength and power. Yes. I want to anticipate Your strength and power clearing out every sense of fear and doubt. Thank You Father.

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

(367 words ~ 9:06 a.m.)

love is the answer

 Thursday, April 4, 2024 (7:00 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You. Again. And again. And again.

(7:46 a.m.)

Sitting. Singing. Reading. Contemplating the lyrics to ♪Love Is The Answer♪

Views conflict over its original intent. Christian in nature? Most say “no.”

Father, thank You for bringing my thoughts to You in the incalculable ways that You do. Never having paid much attention to this particular song before, thank You for the way the titled line just keeps singing to me.

♪Love is the answer♪ over and over. Looking further at the lyrics I see You. Again. And again.

♪Light of the world, shine on me Shine on us all, set us free Love is the answer♪ Yes. Yes, Father!

♪Tell me, are we alive, or just a dying planet? What are the chances? Ask the man in your heart for the answers And when you feel afraid, love one another When you’ve lost your way, love one another♪

Yes. The answer remains the same. ♪When you’re all alone…far from home…down and out…All hope’s run out…needing a friend…near the end…we got to love one another♪

Your Word [Jesus] said it first. Mark 12:29-31, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength’ (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Amen, amen Dear Lord. ♪Love is the answer♪

Use us Dearest God. Loving as You would have us love. You. Others. Ourselves. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(290 words ~ 8:22 a.m.)