“Everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord
will be saved.”
(Romans 10:13 NIV)
It takes faith to call on Jesus. Faith comes from God through the Holy Spirit. It is a sign of the Almighty’s call on the life of His child. Before I knew Him, He knew me and called on me. I heard His call and responded through faith given to me. It is simple, but oh, so complicated - a God-sized revelation. I will call on the One who called me to Himself. I hope you will, too!
“You too, be patient and stand firm,
because the Lord’s coming is near.”
(James 5:8 NIV)
Paul David Tripp reminded me, “At the center of the life of faith is the willingness to wait on the One who accomplishes His will in His time and in His way. Do you struggle to wait? God meets you with empowering grace.” I get frustrated with my lack of control. I know my promised place of rest will come when the end comes. I will continue to do what God calls me to do. I hope you will, too!
“An anxious heart weighs a man down,
but a kind word cheers him up.”
(Proverbs 12:25 NIV)
I felt the pressure pushing down on me. Thoughts of upcoming responsibilities and tasks weighed heavy on my mind. Then I heard Jesus say, “Come unto me and rest.” There are no kinder words than those from the Holy Spirit. He said, “I’ve got this - you don’t! Wait on me.” I will listen to Him and trust Him to lead me through all He has prepared for me today. I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“Deliver me from my enemies, O God;
protect me from those who rise up
against me.”
(Psalm 59:1 NIV)
It was the
perfect storm. I was visiting with my co-worker and helping customers at the
hospital gift shop when the email appeared on my phone. Distractions swirled
around me, confusion in the shop and in my brain kept me from carefully reading
the email. I quickly responded that I would be glad to help. I should have
known it was a scam email. Satan knows the best time to attack - when I am weak,
distracted, and my guard is down.
“But if we walk in the light,
as he is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus, His Son,
purifies us from all sin.”
(1 John 1:7 NIV)
Daniel Towner wrote the melody to “Trust and Obey” in 1887. Mr. Towner’s wife told him, “I feel the melody you have written is just what is needed to carry the message.” When we walk in the light of His word and sit in fellowship at His feet, we will be purified. I will trust and obey. I hope you will, too!
“But encourage one another daily,
as long as it is called Today,
so that none of you may be hardened
by sin’s deceitfulness.”
(Hebrews 3:13 NIV)
Holley Gerth encouraged me one day with: “Sometimes we can focus so much on what we need to change, how we should be different, or the impurities that still need to be removed that we forget that God values people more than perfection.” The perfectionist tendencies in me need to die. I will allow the Holy Spirit to encourage me today. I hope you will, too!
“In the same way, I tell you,
there is rejoicing in the presence of
the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.”
(Luke 15:10 NIV)
I sat down on the bench by my dining room table to put on my walking shoes. On the carpet near my feet was a Lego doll. I took a picture and sent it to my daughter with a promise to reunite my granddaughter with her doll on their next visit. We are so much more valuable to God. I will seek the lost and celebrate the found. I hope you will, too!
“A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others
will himself be refreshed.”
(Proverbs 11:25 NIV)
Generosity is described as freely and joyfully sharing material and immaterial gifts to reflect God's own character and abundant love. King Solomon wanted to remind his readers that the law of generosity is eternal. When I serve someone in need, I can count on receiving a blessing. It may come only in the satisfaction of helping someone, but it will come. I will look for opportunities to be generous in ways that cannot be repaid. I hope you will, too!
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the
iniquity of us all.”
(Isaiah 53:6 NIV)
Jesus is my scapegoat. Just as the priest laid his hands on the scapegoat to symbolically lay the sins of Israel on it, God the Father placed His hands on God the Son and transferred my sin to Him. I have gone my own way, been led astray, and need a Savior. I thank Jesus for taking my place of punishment. I hope you will, too!
“Therefore I tell you,
whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours.”
(Mark 11:24 NIV)
This is one of the very hardest verses in the Bible for me to believe. What about the friend that dies, or the dream that dissipates? Carey Scott helped me by writing, “No loving God would give us everything we wanted. He will always respond with what is best.” I don’t want to make a mess of my life. I trust the Holy Spirit to guide me. I hope you will, too!
“Jesus answered, ‘It is written:
‘Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes
from the mouth of God.’”
(Matthew 4:4 NIV)
Man relies on God for physical and spiritual food. When the Israelites were hungry in the desert after leaving slavery in Egypt, God provided manna. When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert, He trusted His heavenly Father to provide. Some die from starvation for lack of physical bread, but they need never lack spiritual food. I will feast daily on the Bible. I hope you will, too!
“Then He said to them, ‘Watch out!
Be on your guard against all kinds of
greed;
a man’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions.’”
(Luke 12:15 NIV)
God created humans with a God-sized hole in their hearts. Until they realize only God can fill them, they will reach for, strive for, kill to fill their hole. Emptiness was created by our heavenly Father. When I want something, Jesus says, “That thing you desire was from me to bring you to me.” I will watch out for substitutes. I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“I will give them singleness of heart
and action,
so that they will always fear me for
their own good
and the good of their children after
them.”
(Jeremiah 32:29 NIV)
I reached
into my purse at Publix to retrieve my wallet to pay my bill. My wallet was
wet! I reached further into my purse to see where the moisture was coming from.
Out came an opened sandwich bag full of rotten cherry tomatoes. Ugh!
“Do not be afraid, little flock,
for your Father has been pleased
to give you the kingdom.”
(Luke 12:32 NIV)
The Good Shepherd is also the Prince of Peace, the King of kings. He can bestow on His people, even unruly sheep, whatever He wants to give. Can you imagine He actually wants to give His followers the kingdom? He wants them to rule with Him in eternity. What is there to be afraid of? Nothing can touch me outside His perfect will. I will be brave. I hope you will, too!
“Praise the Lord, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy
name.”
(Psalm 103:1 NIV)
As I look out over the beauty of creation, I am reminded of my Creator. Every ripple in the water, every flutter of every leaf in the breeze, every sparkle of dew on the grass points to a loving God who surrounds me with His beauty and peace. This spinning sphere called earth and the brilliant sun are His. Every breath, in and out, is from my heavenly Father. I cannot help but praise Him. I hope you will, too!
“But you are a chosen people,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people belonging to God,
that you may declare the praises of him
who called you out of darkness into his
wonderful light.”
(1 Peter 2:9 NIV)
As the descendants of Abraham were called God’s chosen people in the Old Testament, believers in the New Testament are designated as chosen, elect. We now receive God’s mercy and forgiveness, just as those who exercised faith years ago. I look forward to spending eternity with my High Priest, Jesus. I hope you will, too!
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers,
in view of God’s mercy,
to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God -
this is your spiritual act of worship.”
(Romans 12:1 NIV)
Jesus is Lord of every part of life. New life in the Holy Spirit calls me to obedient service as worship. I will sacrifice my desires on His altar. Since I have died with Him to this world, I can live with Him in a new life. I will worship God in all I do. I hope you will, too!
“The Lord will fight for you;
you need only to be still.”
(Exodus 14:14 NIV)
Like a loving father, God sometimes takes my head in His hands and turns my face to Him. In a gentle way, He says, “Look at me! Ignore all the distractions. I will fight for you. You only need to be still. Rest in my arms.” No matter how fiercely the battle rages, I am secure with my Savior. He will give me the next steps. I will look at Him. I hope you will, too!
“And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:7 NIV)
If I present all my requests to my heavenly Father with thanksgiving, I will experience His holy peace, power, and presence. He warns me to not be anxious about anything, because He is always with me. There is nothing too difficult or too big for Him. He lives in the details. He created the atoms and molecules of all life. I will rest in Him. I hope you will, too!
“But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your
love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.”
(Psalm 59:16 NIV)
Paul David Tripp wrote, “Each morning the people of God are blessed with mercy from the Lord that is form-fit for the trials, opportunities, pressures, obligations, griefs, and temptations of that day.” Jesus is our only Reason for Hope. He will deliver me from all the storms that attack me and try to rob me of my peace in Him. I will trust Jesus. I hope you will, too!
