“Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.”
(Psalm 27:14 NIV)
God does not procrastinate. When faced with a challenge, I looked for multiple ways to hold off attacking it. I cannot see the big picture, but God can. I have to trust the Holy Spirit’s guidance and wait on His next steps. They always come at the right time and in the right way. I will look to my heavenly Father. I will be strong, take heart, and wait for Him. I hope you will, too!
“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been
completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s
hand
double for all her sins.”
(Isaiah 40:2 NIV)
God became a human and entered this world He created so we could be reconciled back to Him. His perfection required a perfect sacrifice for our rebellion and we could not provide it. Isaiah prophesied that our sin would be atoned for on the cross of Jesus. I accept God’s free gift of salvation. I hope you will, too!
“Over all these virtues put on love,
which binds them all in perfect unity.”
(Colossians 3:14 NIV)
It does not matter how right I am or how much I know, if I do not show it with love, I am nothing. Like honey bees drawn to flowers for nectar, people will be drawn to genuine caring and love. I see it at the nursing home I visit. The residents do not care about how we sing, only that we care about them. I will ask God to help me care more about others than myself. I hope you will, too!
“But now, this is what the Lord says -
He who created you, O Jacob,
He who formed you, O Israel:
‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name;
you are Mine.”
(Isaiah 43:1 NIV)
Oh, the joy to know I belong to Jesus! No matter where I live or what I do, I am held in the arms of my Savior. No power can ever take that freedom away from me. I will thank Him continually for the freedom I enjoy in this amazing country. I hope you will, too!
“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand
firm.
Let nothing move you.
Always give yourselves fully to the
work of the Lord,
because you know that your labor in the
Lord
is not in vain.”
(1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV)
God gives us the victory through Jesus Christ. Everything done through faith will stand and be recognized in God’s kingdom. British Missionary C. T. Studd said it best, “Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.” I will strive to do the best I can all the time for God’s glory. I hope you will, too!
“Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.”
(Proverbs 3:7 NIV)
King Solomon continues in Proverbs 3:8 to say that humility will “bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” Sometimes I “jump the gun” and do foolish things that result in injury. I think I know what I am doing, but hastily miss the path of Truth. I will wait on the Lord, fear Him, trust His guidance, and not try to run ahead of His perfect will. I hope you will, too!
“On the contrary, we speak as men
approved by God to be entrusted with
the gospel.
We are not trying to please men but
God,
who tests our hearts.”
(1 Thessalonians 2:4 NIV)
It is a humbling experience to know the Creator of our hearts and minds is also the Instructor who grades our efforts. I am a student of Almighty God. As He walks down the row of desks and approaches mine, He lays down a final grade of 100 A+! I will gladly receive His gracious gifts today. I hope you will, too!
“This is the confidence we have in
approaching God:
that if we ask anything according to
His will,
He hears us.”
(1 John 5:14 NIV)
Paul David Tripp reminded me, “Integrity exists when there is no gap between what we believe and how we act. If integrity were natural for us, we wouldn’t need Jesus.” I need Jesus now more than ever. I am so thankful Jesus comes to me with kindness and patience. I will commit to integrity and thank my heavenly Father for His grace and mercy in the pursuit. I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“And He took the children in His arms,
put His hands on them and blessed them.”
(Mark 10:16 NIV)
I read a
devotional about a woman who visited her uncle who was diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s disease. She said he looked like a little boy, curled up in his
bed. She commented, “In some ways, we become different people as we grow older,
and yet in other ways, we stay like the children we once were.”
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable -
if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy -
think about such things.”
(Philippians 4:8 NIV)
I will become what I think about. What is taking up residence in my heart and mind? I believe what the Apostle Paul is teaching is I need to filter my thoughts. I will filter in true, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy thoughts. I will filter out lies and negative thoughts. I hope you will, too!
“Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.”
(Matthew 5:5 NIV)
King David reminds me in Psalm 37 that the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. I must humbly acknowledge my dependence on the goodness and grace of my heavenly Father and rid my heart of all arrogance toward my fellowman. Only then will I find great peace with God and man. My Savior, Jesus Christ, is the only Way, Truth, and Life. I will follow in the footsteps of Jesus, one step at a time. I hope you will, too!
“O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for
you.
Be our strength every morning,
our salvation in time of distress.”
(Isaiah 33:2 NIV)
Silence woke me to pitch darkness. The storm had passed, but its effects lingered. The ceiling fan slowed to a stop as I reached for my cell phone. 12:50 am and our power was out. God never promised to remove difficulties, but He does promise to be with us through them. I thanked Him hours later when power was restored and vowed to be more thankful for His amazing grace and mercy. I hope you will, too!
“Stop grumbling among yourselves.”
(John 6:44 NIV)
The Jewish leaders could not understand God’s Truth. They laughed at Jesus when He told them He came down from heaven. Jesus, the Messiah, told them the only way they could accept God’s Truth was if they were born again by the Holy Spirit. They must ask God to reveal Himself to them. Grumbling grows out of man’s spiritual desire to have his own way, not God’s. I will ask my heavenly Father for the ability to understand and accept His Truth. I hope you will, too!
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matthew 5:3 NIV)
Blessed are the humble, for they are not proud and self-sufficient. Blessed are those who mourn over their sin, for the Holy Spirit will comfort them. God’s world is the opposite of our world. Those who know they need Jesus are poor in the spirit of this world but rich in the kingdom of heaven. They will share in the joy of eternal salvation. I will seek to understand Jesus and follow Him into His kingdom. I hope you will, too!
“Be on your guard;
stand firm in the faith;
be men of courage; be strong.”
(1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV)
On a conference call with one of our church leaders, I was informed of possible things to come. I know God is in control. He loves His church more than we ever could. He calls me to be on my guard for enemy attacks, stand firm in the faith He has given me, and be courageous and strong as the battle rages. I will focus on my General. I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“Sing to Him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.”
(Psalm 33:3 NIV)
Robert
Morgan is the author of a prayer journal inspired by hymns. I joined the
journey with him recently, beginning with “Come, Thou Almighty King.” One of
our oldest English hymns, it was published around 1757 in a Methodist pamphlet.
This familiar hymn was set to the tune Italian Hymn by Felice de
Giardini in 1769.
“Neither this man nor his parents
sinned,”
said Jesus, “but this happened so that
the work of God might be displayed in
his life.”
(John 9:3 NIV)
I want to believe a sign of maturity is to accept God’s ways without question. Will I be able to pull Jesus aside in heaven and ask, “Why did you let ___ happen?” I might not remember whatever it was once I am in the presence of the Almighty. A better question might be, “How was your work displayed in ___?” I will trust His wisdom. I hope you will, too!
“Along with their relatives -
all of them trained and skilled in
music for the Lord -
they numbered 288.”
(1 Chronicles 25:7 NIV)
I am encouraged to read about musicians in the Bible who serve during worship. We are all given unique gifts in God’s kingdom. Some are encouragers and some are prayer warriors. Some preach and some teach. I believe those who help behind the scenes will be highly honored in heaven. I thank my heavenly Father for all gifts of service, seen and unseen. I hope you will, too!
“Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet
praise Him,
my Savior and my God.”
(Psalm 42:11 NIV)
This is not supposed to be happening! How quickly I forget this is a fallen world. Things get old and wear out. People forget appointments and disappoint me. The weather does not always cooperate. How is all of this supposed to bring me closer to Jesus? Oh, right, only He is perfect! I will put my hope only in Him today. I hope you will, too!
“God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.”
(Psalm 46:1 NIV)
A little bird followed a visitor into our hospital and made his way to our gift shop. It flew past my head while I was checking out our greeting cards display. I found a maintenance man in the hospital café and he rescued the little bird and carried it in his hands to safety. Somedays I am like the frightened and confused bird, and my heavenly Father always rescues me. I will call on Him. I hope you will, too!
“You are the light of the world.
A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”
(Matthew 5:14 NIV)
“This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine!” I learned that song in elementary school and still sing it with joy. We have all seen this light in others, in their smiles, in their joy, and in their expressions. It is impossible to hide the light of Jesus. I thank my heavenly Father for taking me places to shine His light into the lives of people around me. I hope you will, too!
“Ah, Sovereign Lord,
you have made the heavens and the earth
by your great power and outstretched
arm.
Nothing is too hard for you.”
(Jeremiah 32:17 NIV)
I will be the first to admit I have no control. When the Holy Spirit reminds me of this, I am humbled. Whatever I may face today has already been orchestrated in my heavenly Father’s plans. He keeps all creation in its perfect place and provides oxygen for me to breathe and water to sustain my body. I smile and thank Him for being in control. I hope you will, too!
“The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
(Zephaniah 3:17 NIV)
What does God’s singing voice sound like? Can He produce many tones at once? I hear His voice in the choir during worship and in the instruments that accompany. I hear Him sing a lullaby to lull me to sleep and a marching song to get me going. I will rest in His arms and enjoy His serenade. I hope you will, too!
“But He said to me, ‘My grace is
sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in
weakness.’
Therefore I will boast all the more
gladly
about my weaknesses,
so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
(2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)
Frustrating as it seems, I try to do my best, but fail. There are some successes, some times when I get it right. My joy is in partnering with the Holy Spirit in the good times and bad. When my grip slips, He grabs my hand. I will rejoice in the scuffles. I hope you will, too!
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for
help,
who rely on horses,
who trust in the multitude of their
chariots
and in the great strength of their
horsemen,
but do not look to the Holy One of
Israel,
or seek help from the Lord.”
(Isaiah 31:1 NIV)
My pastor expertly split our congregation open with the sword of the Word and let all our spiritual pride spill out. Peter was his example of someone close to Jesus who promised to stay close and failed. I will seek help only from the Lord. I hope you will, too!
“Better the little that the righteous
have
than the wealth of many wicked.”
(Psalm 37:16 NIV)
The important distinction in this verse is the righteous vs the wicked. Wealth is a gift from God and is to be enjoyed, not used for evil purposes. Jeff and I know from experience, the more we have, the more we have to take care of. I do not want to spread myself or my gifts too thin. I will be content with my blessings and spread them for His righteousness and glory. I hope you will, too!
“In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.”
(John 1:1 NIV)
Eternity spreads in all directions. My finite intellect cannot absorb this concept. Maybe one day, face to face with Jesus, He will explain the big picture. Thankfully, it is beyond my pay grade, beyond my responsibility. I do not need to know how the power bill will be paid, just enjoy the use of electricity in my life. All I need to do is believe, like a child trusts a parent. I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“The promise is for you and your
children
and for all who are far off -
for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
(Acts 2:39 NIV)
On a
recent visit, our daughter brought a puzzle for her children to put together
while they were in our home. I opened the box and spread out the pieces on our
breakfast table. Libby and I sat across from each other to search for the edge
pieces - a common ritual with newly-opened puzzles.
“O land, land, land,
hear the word of the Lord!”
(Jeremiah 22:29 NIV)
“America, America, God shed His grace on thee!” I have enjoyed mini history lessons of this amazing country of mine through the documentaries of various former Presidents. Ulysses Grant, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, and George Washington were a few men who led the United States a little further along by the grace of God. I pray that we will stand firm in the faith our heavenly Father has given us through our founding fathers. I hope you will, too!
“Praise be to the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion
and the God of all comfort.”
(2 Corinthians 1:3 NIV)
A day full of opportunities to serve in many different ways looms ahead. I should get going and close my laptop, but the view out my window stops me. Clouds that covered the sunrise slowly break apart and reveal glories to praise God for. The stillness of the morning brings peace and comfort, urging me to breathe in slowly and exhale a thank-you. I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“All this also comes from the Lord
Almighty,
wonderful in counsel and magnificent in
wisdom.”
(Isaiah 28:29 NIV)
My laptop
computer’s spacebar was sticking. No matter how slow or fast I typed, the words
jammed together and created a visual mess. As a pianist, I know when one of my
fingers does not cooperate, so I realized my hands were not the problem. A
sticking piano key is one problem, but this scenario created a uniquely
stressful frustration for a writer.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
be with your spirit.”
(Philemon 25 NIV)
I like to think of grace as “unmerited favor.” When birds flock to the feeder on my balcony and remind me of their Creator, I am filled with grace. Their tiny, fragile bodies are kept alive by God and sent to me as a graceful reminder of His power and presence. His meticulous order of the natural realm is a gracious gift to me, a keeper of His kingdom. I will honor His grace-full gifts. I hope you will, too!
“He cuts off every branch in me that
bears no fruit,
while every branch that does bear fruit
He prunes
so that it will be even more fruitful.”
(John 15:2 NIV)
Ouch! God never promised His pruning would be painless. I watch as He cuts off the dead wood and diseased branches of my heart. I cringe as He yanks away the vines of selfish desires out of my mind. I feel new life flowing through my veins to give nourishing fruit to my thoughts. I will humbly submit to His pruning. I hope you will, too!
“You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.”
(Isaiah 26:3 NIV)
Try as I might, I cannot make peace or keep it. Perfect peace comes only from my heavenly Father. I might not be able to make sense of all that is going on around me, but He can. Nothing can touch me apart from His perfect will and loving hand. I can breathe and accept His will in what may come today, because my mind is steadfast. I will be an instrument of His peace. I hope you will, too!
“Your attitude should be the same
as that of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 2:5 NIV)
Attitude or Altitude? The words are similar, but oh, so different. AI defines attitude as a learned, stable predisposition to evaluate a person, object, or concept in a specific way. Attitude is learned and practiced over a lifetime. I can recall times when my attitude was bad, not at all like that of Jesus. Altitude is the vertical distance of an object upward. I will direct my altitude and attitude to be like Jesus. I hope you will, too!
“He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.”
(Psalm 23:3 NIV)
What does a “path of righteousness” look like? I picture it to be a grassy path, not well-worn, weaving in and out of trees in a tropical rainforest. I must stay close to my Guide as He leads me, for danger lurks behind the trees and bushes at every turn. The indigenous peoples of the forest do not like intruders, especially ones who carry the Light of Truth. I will stay close to Jesus. I hope you will, too!
“Now may the Lord of peace Himself
give you peace at all times and in
every way.
The Lord be with all of you.”
(2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV)
Shalom, a Hebrew word, means to be complete, whole, or sound. It can only be found in a right relationship with God. I am connected to the Father through Jesus. To have Christ is to have Shalom. I will stay close to Him, so the Holy Spirit will pour His perfect peace into me, and spill it over to those around me. I hope you will, too!
“Always giving thanks to God the Father
for everything,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(Ephesians 5:20 NIV)
I woke up this morning to electricity in my home. Thank you, Lord! I am not sick or in pain. I have meaningful work to do. Yet, my vision is not what it used to be. My fingers do not move over the piano keys as swiftly as when I was younger. Thank you, Lord! I will thank God for everything today, for it all brings me closer to Him. I hope you will, too!
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept
safe.”
(Proverbs 29:25 NIV)
I will not be afraid of the wind that blows or of the stormy people in my life. I know God puts me in the middle of turbulence for a reason. He fills me with peace and calm while leaves push and shove each other. Trees cannot protect me. Neither can my closest friends and family. My God keeps me safe in His arms. I will trust in Him. I hope you will, too!
“I have been crucified with Christ
and I no longer live, but Christ lives
in me.
The life I live in the body,
I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
(Galatians 2:20 NIV)
Galatians 2:20 is my very favorite Bible verse. I memorized it years ago and let myself float on the image of Jesus replacing me. I died so He can live in my body. It is a daily struggle to accept I am dead without Jesus. I surrender to His will. I hope you will, too!
“But godliness with contentment
is great gain.”
(1 Timothy 6:6 NIV)
A new month awakened today. June welcomed us with open arms. Most school classes are suspended for several months. Excitement looms in the future for families and students. Where does contentment fit in all of the whirlwind of activities? Now is the best time to practice focus. Disciplined visions and plans bring peace. When summer afternoon thunderstorms arrive, or hurricane season starts, I will cling to my Savior. I will seek godliness with contentment every month. I hope you will, too!
“So I say, live by the Spirit,
and you will not gratify
the desires of the sinful nature.”
(Galatians 5:16 NIV)
What do I think about? If I think about God and the things of the Spirit, I will not be easily tempted to displease Him. I cannot serve Him and myself at the same time. Choices must be made. What direction will I go? Jesus is with me to help me make the right choices, if I ask Him. I will walk by faith with Jesus today. I hope you will, too!
“Come near to God
and He will come near to you.
Wash your hands, you sinners,
and purify your hearts, you
double-minded.”
(James 4:8 NIV)
“Dinner is ready! Wash your hands!” My daughter called her children. Jesus calls us in the same way. I can hear Him say, “The feast is ready! Wash your hands!” I want to hurry to the Communion Table here and the Feast in Heaven. I will keep my hands clean and my heart pure so I can enjoy fellowship with my heavenly Father. I hope you will, too!
“Put on the full armor of God
so that you can take your stand
against the devil’s schemes.”
(Ephesians 6:11 NIV)
“I like to get dressed when I first get out of bed,” my granddaughter announced. My daughter and I looked at each other. We like to lounge around in our comfy clothes as long as possible. God wants us to be like Dahlia, to be ready to face the day, no matter what it brings. I will put on the full armor of God before I leave my bedroom in the morning. I hope you will, too!
“It should be that of your inner self,
the unfading beauty of a gentle and
quiet spirit,
which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
(1 Peter 3:4 NIV)
I pray, “Lord, please give me your beautiful Spirit so I can be gentle and quiet in all my comings and goings today. Make me more like Jesus so my thoughts are covered with His cleansing blood. Push my selfish ambitions out of the way and lead me on your path of righteousness for your name’s sake. That is true beauty.” I hope you will, too!
“By myself I can do nothing;
I judge only as I hear, and my judgment
is just,
for I seek not to please myself but Him
who sent me.”
(John 5:30 NIV)
Jesus had a one-track mind,
focused on the Father. Because His Spirit lives in me, I should be the same
way. He left the crowds to be alone with His heavenly Father. I should do the
same. I will seek to please my heavenly Father and not myself. I will not judge
another but lift them up to my Father in prayer. I hope you will, too!
“For by your words you will be
acquitted,
and by your words you will be condemned.”
(Matthew 12:37 NIV)
I have been warned to make sure my words are always sweet, for I may have to eat them. If I always tell the truth, I will never have to remember what lies I have told. Sometimes it is better to keep my mouth shut, not say anything. But, for those times when a word or two is required, I will stop and think before I speak and use sweet words. I hope you will, too!
“Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and
my song;
He has become my salvation.”
(Isaiah 12:2 NIV)
Through it all, God was with me. Marriage, the rejection of divorce, the uncertainty of re-marriage, miscarriages, childbirth, layoffs, death, and loss all tried to destroy me. But God. But He would not let me crumple and despair. He was my Strength, my Song, my Salvation. I will praise Him for His continual presence and power in my life. I hope you will, too!
“He who walks with the wise grows wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm.”
(Proverbs 13:20 NIV)
A fool lives for himself. Either he does not believe there is a God or does not care. When he pursues honor for himself, people will get in his way. A wise person seeks God in every pursuit and puts the needs of others before his own. A fool wanders in the dark and does not know what lies ahead. I will walk with the wise in the Light of Truth. I hope you will, too!
“That if you confess with your mouth,
“Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your
heart
that God raise Him from the dead,
you will be saved.”
(Romans 10:9 NIV)
Seems simple, doesn’t it? Just say a few words to get out of hell free. But God knows me. He knows my heart, my inner being, my thoughts, my emotions better than I do. I cannot fool Him. He wants me to know His perfect, unconditional love for me. I will surrender to Him, confess, and believe. I hope you will, too!
“The man without the Spirit
does not accept the things
that come from the Spirit of God,
for they are foolish to him,
and he cannot understand them,
because they are spiritually discerned.”
(1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV)
It takes one to know one. I often remind myself of that when tempted to find fault. I must be as faulty as they, for me to recognize the other person’s weaknesses. In a more perfect way, the Spirit living in me connects to the Spirit living in others. I see Jesus in their eyes. I hope you will, too!
