“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!
