“So don’t be afraid;
you are worth more than many sparrows.”
(Matthew 10:31 NIV)
I watch birds flock to the feeder on my balcony. They come in pairs and sometimes alone to peck at the wild bird feed my husband put there for them. They do not worry whether they will find food or not. When the feeder is empty they stare at me through the glass as if to ask how I could forget about them. I trust my heavenly Father to not forget about me, either. I hope you will, too!
“The Lord came and stood there,
calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel!
Samuel!’
Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your
servant is listening.’”
(1 Samuel 3:10 NIV)
I want to be like Samuel. I want
to listen to God speak to me. I want to hear His voice. Am I too distracted,
too worried about my life to hear Him? His voice never stops vying for my
attention. What am I paying attention to? I will stop and listen to my Lord and
Savior today. I hope you will, too!
“Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit,
who is in you,
whom you have received from God?”
(1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV)
Jason White reminded me, “God didn’t rescue you from your sin and come to dwell in you just to be involved in a small portion of your life. He came to be involved in all of it.” There is no secular vs sacred in God’s kingdom. All I am and do is covered with His presence and power. I will welcome balance in my life today. I hope you will, too!
“When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought joy to my soul.”
(Psalm 94:19 NIV)
Anxious thoughts of yesterday and
today lead my mind to Jesus. He is the only One who knows all my thoughts, all
my secrets. He will give me my best meditations today and guide me on the path
laid out for me. He will console me and wipe away all of my foolish, selfish contemplations.
He turns my anxiety into joy. I will confide in my Lord and surrender all to
Him. I hope you will, too!
“Do not judge, and you will not be
judged.
Do not condemn, and you will not be
condemned.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
(Luke 6:37 NIV)
I must treat others as I want to be treated. A difficult lesson to learn. Who am I judging? Who do I want to condemn? Who do I need to forgive? May I first forgive myself and know God has forgiven me through Jesus Christ. May I put the needs of others before my own today, only by the power of God’s grace. I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“We know that the whole creation
has been groaning as in the pains of
childbirth
right up to the present time.”
(Romans 8:22 NIV)
My
heavenly Father appears to me in different ways. My husband, Jeff, has enjoyed
playing Minecraft, but the thought of any video game other than Tetris makes me
cringe. I love documentation and organization, but my creative friend, Meagan,
would rather toss papers into the air and see where they fall. She shakes her
head when she passes by our church’s workroom as I punch holes into papers for
my many notebooks.
“Consider him who endured such
opposition from sinful men,
so that you will not grow weary and
lose heart.”
(Hebrews 12:3 NIV)
The past is not my enemy. It has carried me to today. Regrets will try to drag me down. What I see as loss, might be used for gain by my heavenly Father in another person’s life. This is not about me, but about Jesus. He moved forward through the torture and pain so I could be with Him. I trust Him to lead me through it all today. I hope you will, too!
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of
your faith
develops perseverance.”
(James 1:2-3 NIV)
My heavenly Father is gentle and kind. He is perfect, pure love. He will not let me face today alone. He is with me through the struggles, the pain, the frustration. He will reveal Himself in fresh new ways today. He is the Giver and Developer of faith. He will lead me to exercise it. I only need to seek Him first. I hope you will, too!
“Be very careful, then, how you live –
not as unwise, but as wise.”
(Ephesians 5:15 NIV)
Seize the day! Life is short.
Time marches on. This moment, now, is a gift from my heavenly Father. I dare
not waste or trash it, but cherish it and enjoy it with Him. I do not know what
lies ahead, but He does. I might not need more knowledge, but discernment to
use what I have already been given. I will look into the face of Jesus today
for the answers and solutions I need. I hope you will, too!
“One of those days Jesus went out
to a mountainside to pray
and spent the night praying to God.”
(Luke 6:12 NIV)
I cannot imagine praying all
night, as Jesus did. But I have had restless nights when I talked with Him. He
knows what sleepless nights are. He has been where you and I are going today. I
am so thankful Jesus has already cleared the way so the Holy Spirit can lead
into and out of every situation and circumstance. I will follow Him in
uninterrupted communion today. I hope you will, too!
“You are my lamp, O Lord;
the Lord turns my darkness into light.”
(2 Samuel 22:29 NIV)
As the sun peeks over the trees
my Lord awakens my mind and heart to Him. He shines a light on my thoughts and
leads me to sift them through His love. The Lamp of Truth dispels all darkness
and points me in the right direction. What more can I do today that will glorify Him, except to welcome His light on my every step? I will follow His light today. I
hope you will, too!
“As a dream comes when there are many
cares,
so the speech of a fool when there are
many words.”
(Ecclesiastes 5:3 NIV)
The wise words of Solomon remind me that dreams disturb sleep when I do not give all my cares to my heavenly Father at the end of the day. I wake in the middle of the night and try to solve jumbled problems. In my dreams I argue and discuss in vain with no one. I will give God all my thoughts, keep my mouth shut, and seek His solutions today. I hope you will, too!
“That is why, for Christ’s sake,
I delight in weaknesses, in insults,
in hardships, in persecutions, in
difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
(2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV)
Again I complained to God about
the problems swirling around my head. This was not
working the way I thought it should and that was not
falling properly into place. How can I delight in these weaknesses? How can I
find joy in the frustrations? I will ask my Lord to take over control of these
situations and my life. I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“When Jesus saw her,
He called her forward and said to her,
’Woman, you are set free from your
infirmity.’”
(Luke 13:12 NIV)
Beverly
played the introduction to a peppy hymn on the rickety spinet piano in the
nursing home’s gathering hall. Kathleen picked up her tambourine and kept the
beat. The group of sixteen singers in folding chairs looked up from their hymnals
in delight. We would sing one of our favorite songs.
“God demonstrates His own love for us
in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ
died for us.”
(Romans 5:8 NIV)
I used to play a game with my children. I would say, “I love you more than you love me.” They responded with, “I love YOU more than you love ME!” I can hear Jesus say the same. When I am unlovable or push Him away, He loves me, like my love for my children, but way more. I will tell my heavenly Father today how much I love Him. I hope you will, too!
“I will send an angel before you
and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites,
Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and
Jebusites.”
(Exodus 33:2 NIV)
Distractions try to pull my thoughts off my Lord. To-do lists seek my attention. My focus must be on the task at hand – reading my Bible and writing to God. I put the lists in a drawer and clear my mind in order to enter worship and study. I will allow the Holy Spirit to drive out foolish thoughts so I can think of the only One who matters. I hope you will, too!
“The hand of our God was on us,
and He protected us from enemies
and bandits along the way.”
(Ezra 8:31 NIV)
In the book of Ezra, “the
gracious hand of our God” is repeated several times. Ezra and the Israelites
returned to Jerusalem after they were dragged away, seventy years before. They
trusted their heavenly Father to lead them safely home. As I move into today, I
trust the gracious hand of my God to protect me and bring me safely back to my
home on earth and in heaven. I hope you will, too!
“For seven days they celebrated with
joy
the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
because the Lord had filled them with
joy
by changing the attitude of the king of
Assyria,
so that he assisted them in the work
on the house of God, the God of Israel.”
(Ezra 6:22 NIV)
Those who complained against the
rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem were forced to support it! My God is
powerful enough to change the hearts of the fiercest enemy I could face today.
Nothing will stand in the way of His purposes. I will fight beside Him today. I
hope you will, too!
“What is man that you are mindful of
him,
the son of man that you care for him?”
(Psalm 8:4 NIV)
I did not create myself. I cannot
take any credit for my birth or life. Like an ant compared to a human, I am
incapable of understanding my Creator. Yet, He fashioned everything from a
speck of dust to the stars in the universe. He cares about each one and wants
His creation to know and love Him. I will seek my heavenly Father and spread
His love today. I hope you will, too!
“Immediately the boy’s father
exclaimed, ‘I do believe;
help me overcome my unbelief!’”
(Mark 9:24 NIV)
Are you spinning plates with me today,
like circus performers? Are you juggling 10,000 balls over your head,
afraid to drop one? Are you tempted to jump off the nearest bridge? All Jesus
asks is for me to have faith in Him, small as a mustard seed. It is not about
the amount of faith, but what I have faith in. Who am I trusting? I will give
it all to Him today. I hope you will, too!
“I have set the Lord always before me.
Because He is at my right hand, I will
not be shaken.”
(Psalm 16:8 NIV)
I woke in the wee hours last
night and knew I was not alone. I reached out my right hand to grasp the hand
of my loving Lord. I held on for a few minutes and asked Him to let me fall
back asleep. Jumbled thoughts tried to keep me awake. I brought my hand back to
myself and drifted away. I will trust the Holy Spirit to take my hand today. I
hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“For even the Son of Man did not come
to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as
a ransom for many.”
(Mark 10:45 NIV)
I drove
home from Madison after spending the afternoon playing Dominoes with friends
and singing at the local nursing home. A text came through on my Tahoe’s dashboard,
“Our pianist is sick, can you cover for her at choir practice tonight?” I asked
the Lord what I should do.
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see.”
(Hebrews 11:1 NIV)
I ask myself, what do I want
today? Can I see it, feel it, touch it? Or is it beyond my five senses? In
order to grab anything, I must reach out. When something eludes me, I must
reach out in faith to the One who loves me more than I could ever know. When
everything starts to fall apart or drift away, I will reach out and grab the
handle of faith. I hope you will, too!
“Because of the Lord’s great love we
are not consumed,
for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”
(Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV)
Are you, along with me, dreading
situations where a series of tedious trials seem to be recurring in exactly the
same way? Will I have to go through THAT again? With the help of the Holy
Spirit I can do all things, even improve the outcome of monotonous events. I
will not fear this ominous day, but step out in faith in the One who controls
it. I hope you will, too!
“One of them, the disciple whom Jesus
loved,
was reclining next to Him.”
(John 13:23 NIV)
As I step into a new month, I
realize it is God’s next thing. January is past and February lies ahead. The
cold outside will stay, but the warmth of St. Valentine’s hearts will remind me
of God’s sweetness. He will fill me with His joy as I step into the next thing.
I would rather indulge in His perfect love than anything He has created. I will
recline next to Him, like John did. I hope you will, too!
“Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything, by prayer and
petition,
with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God.”
(Philippians 4:6 NIV)
Someone once reminded me that a
peaceful heart is more important than any well-planned day. I faced a day
filled with responsibilities and activities the Lord led me to. A few minutes
before I needed to leave for the first obligation, I sat quietly and calmed my
mind and heart to surrender my day to my Lord. I released all my fears to Him.
I hope you will, too!
“I tell you the truth,
unless you change and become like
little children,
you will never enter the kingdom of
heaven.”
(Matthew 18:3 NIV)
Why do I doubt and worry? I never
did as a child. My parents provided for all my needs. Jesus tells me I must be
continuously converted into a small child, completely dependent on my heavenly
Father for everything. He keeps His promises. I will put on the new man today
and allow God to rule in my thoughts and heart. I hope you will, too!
“Not one of all the Lord’s good
promises
to the house of Israel failed;
every one was fulfilled.”
(Joshua 21:45 NIV)
Broken promises lay scattered
across the floor of my mind. Shards of procrastination and commitments stabbed
my pride and reminded me of my foolishness. All my plans are filthy, murderous
strategies. My heavenly Father promised to fill me with the righteousness of
Jesus and bring me into glory with Him. I will release my flimsy ideas and hold
on to the promises of God. I hope you will, too!
“All a man’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord weighs the heart.”
(Proverbs 19:2 NIV)
Job asked God to weigh him with honest scales, to know he is blameless (Job 31:6). Lord, please weigh my heart today and show me where I lack commitment to your ways and indulge in my own. Help me where I lack and where I overflow. I want to be filled to the brim with Jesus. Balance on honest scales is the key. I will submit to His will today. I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“So the people rested on the seventh
day.”
(Exodus 16:30 NIV)
I sat at
my desk early one Sunday morning in January and watched snowflakes fall. It was
the first flurry of the year for our small Georgia community. I could barely see
the falling flakes in the darkness. A calm peace covered my deck, my yard, and
settled into my heart.
“And we know that in all things
God works for the good of those who
love Him,
who have been called according to His
purpose.”
(Romans 8:28 NIV)
Oswald Chambers reminds us: “If
we learn to worship God in the trying circumstances, He will alter them in two
seconds when He chooses.” Today will be a day of relief. I know Jesus will walk
with me through the fires, the storms, the struggles so He will be seen and
glorified in my life. I will hope in His presence and power. I hope you will
too!
“Now, my God, may your eyes be open
and your ears attentive to the prayers
offered in this place.”
(2 Chronicles 6:40 NIV)
Every day is a fresh new start in
God’s kingdom. New opportunities await and there are new people to meet and
greet in His name. My heavenly Father is always attentive one hundred percent
to all His children. No prayer goes unanswered. No wish falls to the ground
without His attention. I open my heart and mind to the Holy Spirit today. I
hope you will, too!
“The Lord, the compassionate and
gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and
faithfulness.”
(Exodus 34:6 NIV)
I need a hug from God today. I
need to glimpse His compassion, feel His grace, smile with Him in His laughter.
Like a little child, I will reach out for the hand of Jesus and stop taking
myself so seriously. He will help me to understand His long-suffering,
forgiving nature. He will wrap His arms around me and soothe my agitated soul. I
will not doubt His love anymore. I hope you will, too!
“Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.”
(Matthew 5:7 NIV)
How can I show compassion or
forgiveness today to someone who deserves harm or harsh discipline? I will
begin by showing mercy to myself. I know I deserve eternal torture and
separation from God. He shows His perfect mercy to me so I will go and do likewise.
I will shake off the chains I have put on myself and others and walk in freedom
today. I will rejoice in showing mercy as it has been lavished on me. I hope
you will, too!
“May the God of hope fill you with all
joy and peace
as you trust in Him,
so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 15:13 NIV)
The sky may be dreary, but I know
the sun shines behind the clouds. Jesus is with us, even in the dark. I may be
standing in the bottom of a well, but I can look up in hope. The Holy Spirit
will lift me out of the pit and restore me to Himself. I will hope in Jesus
today. I hope you will, too!
“For God did not give us a spirit of
timidity,
but a spirit of power, of love and of
self-discipline.”
(2 Timothy 1:7 NIV)
As I watch cold winds of January
blow through the trees, I am reminded of the power of God. My heavenly Father
fills me with the Holy Spirit so I can stand firm in the storms. The pressures
of the day will not blow me over. I will not give in to the distractions, but stand
firm in faith and seek my Savior’s face. I hope you will, too!
“When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted.”
(Psalm 138:3 NIV)
The definition of stouthearted is “courageous and determined.” Although I do not
use that word often, it permeates my heart and soul. By faith, I know my
heavenly Father hears all my thoughts long before I think them. He answers all
my prayers, often in ways I do not want or expect. Just the fact that He
listens to me and knows me perfectly is enough to encourage me to call on Him.
I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“Now faith is being sure of what we
hope for
and certain of what we do not see.”
(Hebrews 11:1 NIV)
A dear
sister in the Lord recently brought the Hebrew word “emunah” (pronounced
eh-moo-NAH) to my attention. I researched it in Hebrew for Christians
and discovered the first time it appeared in the Bible is with Abraham. God
declared him righteous because he trusted God to do what He promised to do.
Abraham demonstrated emunah, a kind of Amen, or “so be it” faith.
“Let us then approach the throne of
grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help us in our time
of need.”
(Hebrews 4:16 NIV)
Does today look uncertain for
you? Will you face difficult situations and people today? God knows what we
face long before we face it. He reveals Himself to us in the good and the bad.
He will walk us through the storms and the struggles into His wonderful light
of joy and peace. I will hold Jesus’ hand today. I hope you will, too!
“Being confident of this
that He who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion
until the day of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 1:6 NIV)
Confidence is a fleeting thing,
if it is dependent on myself, on my abilities. But confidence in the Creator of
the Universe who personally works in me, is rock solid. Amazed and armed with
the knowledge of changes and blessings around and in me, I can rejoice at what
the next steps are. I will confidently step out into today and all that He
holds for me. I hope you will, too!
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that
prevails.”
(Proverbs 19:21 NIV)
I will plan the work and work the
plan today. Many ideas tug at my mind. The twists and turns, stops and starts
will be orchestrated by the Holy Spirit as I release all to Him. Obedience to
His leading will allow me pinholes of light into His purpose. Lord, help me to
stay close to you today. I will choose to walk in the center of His will. I
hope you will, too!
“Jesus looked at them and said,
‘With man this is impossible,
but with God all things as possible.’”
(Matthew 19:26 NIV)
This day is bigger than life,
Lord. So many things vie for my attention – places to go and people to see. I
cannot see how the pieces will fit together. The impossible looms ahead in the
darkness, but you are with me in the light. Nothing happens apart from your
kindness and goodness. I surrender all to my heavenly Father and trust in Him
to take care of today’s impossible for my good. I hope you will, too!
“Slander no one,
be peaceable and considerate,
and show true humility toward all men.”
(Titus 3:2 NIV)
My mother often reminded me to
think more highly of others than myself. Jesus humbled Himself to the point of
death for those who hate him. I cannot do that on my own, but only by the power
of the Holy Spirit living in me. His humility shines through my pride and puts
me in my proper place. I will humble and deny myself today for His glory. I
hope you will, too!
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.”
(Proverbs 16:3 NIV)
Today is the half-way mark
through the year’s first month. As I look back, I watch Jesus wash away all my
mistakes. As I look forward, I watch Jesus point to the bright light of the
future. As I look around, I watch His kingdom grow to fulfill all its purposes
in the people around me, today. His plans are beyond my puny thoughts. I will
commit today to His care. I hope you will, too!
“The eternal God is your refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.”
(Deuteronomy 33:27 NIV)
God is pure, perfect, and
unconditional love. He does not just give love, He is love. Because He is love,
He gave Himself to us. That is what true love is all about. I cannot fathom
what this really means. It is bigger and beyond the human heart. Love has no
beginning and no end. I will rest in His powerful arms today and know He will
lead me on in His love. I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“I eagerly expect and hope
that I will in no way be ashamed,
but will have sufficient courage
so that now as always
Christ will be exalted in my body,
whether by life or by death.”
(Philippians 1:20 NIV)
Oswald
Chambers reminded me on New Year’s Day in “My Utmost for His Highest” to
surrender my will to God absolutely and irrevocably. Nothing should get in the
way of doing exactly what my Heavenly Father wants me to do.
“If any of you lacks wisdom,
you should ask God,
who gives generously to all without
finding fault,
and it will be given to you.”
(James 1:5 NIV)
I have a problem with
comparisons. I look at others and wonder how they can do so many things. Their
worlds are falling into place and mine seems to be falling apart. Then God
gives me wisdom to understand and see the tapestry of my life from the top
sometimes, not from the bottom. I will rejoice in my unique and special life,
here and now. I hope you will, too!
“Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
(Psalm 90:12 NIV)
How do I number my days? Joni Eareckson Tada suggested, “Welcome the next trial as a friend: a friend that forces you to slow down and live, utterly dependent on God. Thank Him for His grace and ask for His help.” Trials come when I least expect them. Welcoming them is not easy. I must be on the alert and treat every day with care. I will stop, look, and listen today. I hope you will, too!
“They are created now, and not long ago;
you have not heard of them before today.”
(Isaiah 48:7 NIV)
What new thing do you have for me today, Lord? How have you prepared me for all that you have prepared for me? All things come from the loving hands of Jesus. One thought, one breath, one step at a time I will follow Him into the unknown. I will be on the lookout for something new, something different, and something special among the mundane and ordinary. I hope you will, too!
“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.”
(Psalm 139:22 NIV)
I roll out of bed every morning
to my knees. I bury my face in my hands and thank my heavenly Father for waking
me to another day. I ask Him to use me in all ways for His glory. Anxious
thoughts of the coming hours greedily press on my heart, but I obediently pass
them over to Jesus. I release all fears and worries to His care. I hope you
will, too!
“This is what the Lord says –
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
‘I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should
go.”
(Isaiah 48:17 NIV)
I do not need an alarm to wake me
but have many alerts during the day that instruct me. GPS takes me where I need
to go and timers tell me when I need to stop or start. I will be attentive and
alert to the Holy Spirit’s leading in my life today. I hope you will, too!
