“Is any one of you in trouble?
He should pray.
Is anyone happy?
Let him sing songs of praise.”
(James 5:13 NIV)
Prayer and Praise is the only prescription that works. It does not matter what I face today, I am not alone. I can talk to my heavenly Father, even sing to Him. He created my voice and wants to hear it directed to Him. One day my voice will be restored in His kingdom when I see Him face to face. Until then, I will use what I have now for His glory. I hope you will, too!
“Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have
breakfast.’
None of the disciples dared ask Him,
‘Who are you?’
They knew it was the Lord.”
(John 21:12 NIV)
Jesus reveals Himself to me in new ways. Sometimes he invites me to a meal. Sometimes he invites me to sit and be silent while He teaches me something new through a pastor or teacher or friend. I know it is Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. I can selectively listen to or ignore Him. I will choose to pay attention to His invitations. I hope you will, too!
“Do not follow other gods,
the gods of the peoples around you.”
(Deuteronomy 6:14 NIV)
What is trying to take over my thought life today? What is becoming a god in my heart? Who do I love more than I love Jesus? If anyone or anything takes first place in my being, it must be removed. The battle is fierce, and I am a soldier. My heavenly Father is a jealous Commander and requires all my allegiance. I will give it to Him. I hope you will, too!
“I want to know Christ
and the power of His resurrection
and the fellowship of sharing in His
sufferings,
becoming like Him in His death.”
(Philippians 3:10 NIV)
Things in this life break, wear out, and fall apart. When I fail to keep up the pace I set for myself, I cry out to my heavenly Father. He always is there to encourage me to keep on moving ahead. The goal is the glory set before me, just like Jesus. Perfection is His. I will thank the Lord for His life and death. I hope you will, too!
“God chose the foolish things of the
world
to shame the wise.”
(1 Corinthians 1:27 NIV)
I think it is better to have wise foolishness than foolish wisdom. When I remember the many Bible scholars I have known, the ones who truly loved Jesus were humble and simple. Their faces would probably never grace a magazine cover, but their love covered many of my offenses. My favorite pastors and teachers were not eloquent speakers, but I learned volumes from them. I will pursue wise foolishness for God to be glorified in my life. I hope you will, too!
“For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also.”
(Luke 12:34 NIV)
I like to try to get the cart before the horse. I want the earthly treasure first and hope my heart will follow it. Jesus taught that I must set my mind and heart on eternal things first. If I do not, I will be chasing fluff, things that will not last. I will focus on my relationship with Jesus, the real Treasure, and let everything else rest in His arms in eternity. I hope you will, too!
“Immediately he received his sight
and followed Jesus, praising God.”
(Luke 18:43 NIV)
Louise Peyton was born blind and brilliant. Whatever she lacked in vision, she gained in every other sense. Louise saw my teenage-self better than I did and could put me in my place with a word. The disciples on the road to Emmaus saw Jesus but did not see Him. Thomas had to see before He could believe. I want to see like Louise and the blind beggar in Jesus’ path could. I will try to be a faithful witness. I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“Stop judging by mere appearances,
and make a right judgment.”
(John 7:24 NIV)
It was a cold,
rainy, dreary Sunday morning. I had a house full of family guests for the
weekend. On my way to church by myself, I drove up to a gray SUV driving under
the speed limit. I had allocated a certain number of minutes, thirty to be
exact, to safely arrive at church.
“Do everything without complaining or
arguing.”
(Philippians 2:14 NIV)
I want to be blameless and pure,
a child of God, without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, shining
like a star in the universe as I hold out the Truth. The Apostle Paul placed a
stern call to the church at Philippi. I know it is meant also for me. I know it
is God working in me to will and act according to His purpose. I will seek to
be blameless in my walk with Jesus today. I hope you will, too!
“God called the light ‘day’
and the darkness He called ‘night.’
And there was evening, and there was
morning
- the first day.”
(Genesis 1:5 NIV)
I turned off the camper AC unit and opened the screen door and windows to a clear, bright morning. Fresh air poured in with morning light. The storm passed and cleansed the trees and ground cover to prepare us for a fresh new day. Spring approached in stealthy steps. Bird calls announced their presence. I will rejoice in the beauty and peace of the morning. I hope you will, too!
“He has made everything beautiful in
its time.”
(Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)
Failing appliances, new acquaintances, and unplanned adventures create new worries that snuggle up in my thoughts. “What will I do when THAT happens, Lord?” I asked. “How will I afford to replace the appliance? What should I say to that new person? How will I know which direction to take?” “I will be with you when the time comes,” He replied. I will wait with Him to show me what to do at the right time. I hope you will, too!
“Then He entered the temple area
and began driving out those who were
selling.”
(Luke 19:45 NIV)
The Lord will show me the tables in my life that need to be overturned. I dare not sit by and watch apathetically, but step into the mess and help to clean it up. My body is His temple. My church is His dwelling place. My home is His resort. My community is His Capernaum. I will ask Him to use me to make things right in my piece of the universe. I hope you will, too!
“I despise my life; I would not live
forever.
Let me alone; my days have no meaning.”
(Job 7:16 NIV)
I opened my eyes to a painful fever blister on my lower lip, and the touchpad on my new laptop died. Instead of asking, “What else can go wrong, Lord?” I put my head down and whispered, “Please help me, Lord, I need you now more than ever.” My thoughts drifted to others who suffer much worse calamities. He touched my computer and my lip and set me on my way for a better morning. I will turn to Him for everything. I hope you will, too!
“And God said, ‘Let there be lights
in the expanse of the sky
to separate the day from the night,
and let them serve as signs
to mark seasons and days and years.’”
(Genesis 1:14 NIV)
Green blades of grass peek
through the brown stubble. Dry, dead leaves shiver on precarious limbs of oak
trees. Spring tries to punch through winter. Squirrels scurry from tree to tree
with nut prizes in their mouths. The earth wants to wake up but can barely open
its eyes to the sights. I will welcome the new season soon. I hope you will,
too!
by Macy Johnson
“If the king regards me with favor
and if it pleases the king to grant my
petition
and fulfill my request,
let the king and Haman come tomorrow
to the banquet I will prepare for
them.
Then I will answer the king’s question.”
(Esther 5:8 NIV)
During a recent visit, my granddaughter asked if we could have a tea party. I brewed a
pot of green tea and found cookies and candies for us to share. Wide-brimmed
straw hats were retrieved from pegs in the laundry room. We donned them on our
heads and created our best English accents.
“And my God will meet all your needs
according to His glorious riches in
Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:19 NIV)
Carey Scott wrote, “Faith is trust on steroids, and when we activate our faith, we surrender control and allow the Lord to satisfy us in His timing and His ways.” Lord, I trust you and release control to you. I will surrender my will to you. I know that nothing can touch me outside God’s perfect plan for my life. I will trust Him to meet all my needs. I hope you will, too!
“How many are your works, O Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.”
(Psalm 104:24 NIV)
God comes to me in the morning in the form of a bird. He chatters at me from outside my window while it is still dark. I cannot see him, but he is my friend. He comes when I turn on the light on my writing desk. He speaks while I fashion thoughts to my heavenly Father. Soft music cannot silence the chirping. I listen to God’s creatures. I hope you will, too!
“Cast all your anxiety on Him
because He cares for you.”
(1Peter 5:7 NIV)
Four o’clock in the morning found me wide awake. “Just a few more hours, Lord,” I asked. He placed a distant window in my mind’s eye. A light was on through the trees. “Someone needs your prayers,” He nudged. I lifted them up to Him and found peace as I sang to Him and fell back asleep for a little while longer. I will answer the call, no matter what the time it is. I hope you will, too!
“Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.”
(Proverbs 4:23 NIV)
Alicia Britt Chole reminded me, “Uncertainty is quite revealing. The unknown triggers different reactions in different hearts and exposes our soul’s defaults.” What unknown trigger will strike a dissonant chord in my soul today? What defaults will I gravitate toward when I face the unknown? Will I react as Jesus would? Will I put the needs of others before my own? I must be alert to all triggers that come my way today. I hope you will, too!
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew
their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
(Isaiah 40:31 NIV)
One morning after a long, hard week, I glanced out my window to watch an eagle swoop across the water. I am thankful God led me and protected me then and will continue every day for the rest of my time here on earth. I hope only in the Lord and will grow stronger in faith in Him. I hope you will, too!
“’No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never
wash my feet.’
Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you,
you have no part with me.’”
(John 13:8 NIV)
Do I think I know what is best for God’s kingdom? He calls me to stop trying to fix the problems I face. Faith requires me to surrender, to release all control and trust His way is perfect. It may be painful and seemingly headed in the wrong direction, according to my wisdom, but it is His way, the only way. I will abstain from my way and follow His today. I hope you will, too!
“Such a thing has never been seen or
done,
not since the day the Israelites came
up out of Egypt.
Think about it! Consider it! Tell us
what to do!”
(Judges 19:30 NIV)
I turned off the TV. Changing the station was not enough. My soul was crushed by the sight. Lawlessness and immorality flashed before my eyes on the screen. I vowed to not let anything godless enter my mind. The only solution was to turn up the light of my soul brighter and stronger to push away the darkness. I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“Then the king, with the queen sitting
beside him,
asked me, ‘How long will your journey
take,
and when will you get back?’
It pleased the king to send me; so I
set a time.”
(Nehemiah 2:6 NIV)
I walked
into the Sav-A-Life crisis pregnancy center office one wintry afternoon. “I am
here to clean your toilets or do whatever is needed,” I told the administrator.
“Who are you?” she asked. After I explained who I was, she said, “We don’t need
a cleaning lady, we need you on our Board!” That was the beginning of my
service with Sav-A-Life in Birmingham.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or
vain conceit,
but in humility consider others better
than yourselves.”
(Philippians 2:3 NIV)
Humility springs from a secure
identity with my heavenly Father. I am inspired by a deep sense of unworthiness
from my depraved nature, omitted duties, and violated commands from God’s word.
Humility helps me see and meet the needs of others and judge them as more
important than my own. It leads me to repentance unto life in Christ. I will
follow Jesus to make Him known to those around me today. I hope you will, too!
“They all ate and were satisfied,
and the disciples picked up twelve
basketfuls
of broken pieces that were left over.”
(Luke 9:17 NIV)
Nothing is wasted in God’s
kingdom. Nothing is left behind. The earth turns. Night falls and morning
rises. This season will pass. New opportunities to serve for God’s glory linger
around the corner. Whatever is done for Christ will last. I will quiet my mind
and place my soul in His presence. I will feast on His Word and save the
leftovers for later. I hope you will, too!
“All the people, even the tax
collectors,
when they heard Jesus’ words,
acknowledged that God’s way was right,
because they had been baptized by John.”
(Luke 7:29 NIV)
I must turn from my foolish,
selfish ways and walk on the straight and narrow path today. This new day, new
month, offers an opportunity to change, to turn around and follow Jesus. He is
the only Leader I need or want. Yes, God’s way is the only Way. I will seek Him
in a new way today, put Him first. I hope you will, too!
“Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a
harvest
if we do not give up.”
(Galatians 6:9 NIV)
Phrases of encouragement circled
around in my brain: Endeavor
to Persevere, Keep on Keeping on. They pop
in and out of my mind when I am faced with difficult situations. Now is the
time to pay attention to what is ahead and forget what is behind. One day, one
step at a time on the path with Jesus. I will march on into today and not be
afraid. I hope you will, too!
“I am not ashamed of the gospel,
because it is the power of God for the
salvation
of everyone who believes:
first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”
(Romans 1:16 NIV)
The world does not want to hear about Jesus, much less see Him. As I move forward into today, I am reminded of the cold darkness out there. If I stay away, how can God’s love move through me to dispel negative forces? I will shine God’s light on the right path. I will proclaim the love of Jesus today. I hope you will, too!
“Do not use your freedom to indulge the
sinful nature;
rather serve one another in love.”
(Galatians 5:13 NIV)
I needed a new laptop computer
before the old one died. I walked into one store and was told they did not have
what I was looking for. I crossed the street to another store and found exactly
what I wanted on sale for a price I could afford. It is not fancy. As I journey
to Christ’s death and resurrection, I will follow the Holy Spirit’s lead to
seek only what I need. I hope you will, too!
“My mother and brothers are those
who hear God’s word and put it into
practice.”
(Luke 8:21 NIV)
I thank Jesus for giving me Himself.
He is God’s Word, the only Way, Truth, Life, and the only Path to the Father. I
thank Him for including me in His kingdom and eternal family. I will trust the
Holy Spirit to lead me to diligently study God’s word and walk more closely
with Him. I will put His words into practice today. I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“But everything should be done
in a fitting and orderly way.”
(1 Corinthians 14:40 NIV)
The
monthly church payroll journal entry frustrated me. I was not comfortable with
the process. A more direct method, in an effort to skip a step, seemed more effective.
Yet, I could not get a grasp on where the numbers came from for certain
accounts. This struggle kept me up at night.
“When you enter the land
and plant any kind of fruit tree,
regard its fruits as forbidden.
For three years you are to consider it
forbidden;
it must not be eaten.”
(Leviticus 19:23 NIV)
God instructs me to slow down and not rush into anything. Growth takes time. The plans and projects He has given require thoughtful deliberation before action. I must give the fruit to Him first, then I can enjoy its bounty. I will plant and wait on my heavenly Father to produce fruit in me today. I hope you will, too!
“The thief comes only to steal and kill
and destroy;
I have come that they may have life,
and have it to the full.”
(John 10:10 NIV)
Blessings can come at any time and in
many different ways. The enemy wants to destroy life and all the wonderful
blessings that come in good and bad times. They are God’s gifts and must be
protected. With the Bible, God’s Word, in my hands, heart, and mind I will
fight all the battles to keep faith in the struggles today. I hope you will,
too!
“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!
