Have you ever known a hardhearted person? It seemed no matter how hard you tried, they shut you out? If you do anything wrong, they’re relentless and unforgiving.  Not so with our Lord. Although He could have every reason to be hardhearted toward us when we sin, instead, He pursues and forgives us. What a TENDERHEARTED Lord we have!  And, this is important – in Ephesians 4:32, He commands us to be like Him – kind, tenderhearted, forgiving each other. If there’s someone you’re hard-hearted toward, this Thanksgiving season would be a good time to “forgive, as God in Christ has forgiven us.”

Lord, we praise You for being TENDERHEARTED toward us. Thank You for Your mercy! Thank You for Your grace!  Help us faithfully follow You and forgive others as You have forgiven us. 

Have you struggled with your thoughts or emotions lately? Illness, the economy, and cultural issues can wear on even the most committed Christian. It’s easy to wish things were like they used to be and to have little hope for the future. But that’s not to be our mindset. Rather, the Lord summons us to pray for our families and leaders. Are you unsure your prayers would make a difference? If so, commit 1 John 5:14-15 to heart. “And this is the confidence that we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests for which we have asked from Him.” Friends, it’s time to raise our voices in faith. Find tips for how to pray and verses of faith in my journal, Prayers of My Heart, here or  at Amazon.

Have you ever been tongue-tied; you couldn’t say what you wanted to say? The godly priest Zacharias had such an experience. Except he was literally unable to speak. It hadn’t always been that way. He had led a remarkably righteous life.  Then, one day, when he was performing his priestly service, he was chosen to burn incense in the temple. As the people prayed, he alone entered the temple. That’s when things changed. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and fear gripped him. The angel spoke wonderful news. His wife, who had not been able to get pregnant, was going to get pregnant. Most importantly, their child would be the forerunner to the long awaited Messiah.  Shocked at both the news that they were going to have a baby and that their child would hold such an esteemed position, Zacharias asked, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”* Gabriel told Zacharias that since he didn’t believe him, he wouldn’t be able to speak until John was born. How’s that for a sign? Imagine what it would be like to have a marvelous encounter with an angel, to watch your beloved wife grow with child, and not to be able to speak. Finally, when baby John was born, Zacharias’ tongue was loosed. What  words poured from his heart and soul?  “…Because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:78

Let’s sit for a moment and meditate on Zacharias’s words, on the reality of Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God and comes to earth to deliver messages, of tongues tied and loosed, of Jesus visiting us….to shine upon we who are in darkness, to guide us into the way of peace. “Holy, holy, holy” is all I can say right now. What are you thinking?

LORD JESUS, SUNRISE from ON HIGH, we smile in joy and praise of You, who came from heaven’s glory to visit us on earth. We praise You for the light You shine on us and for guiding us to the way of peace. We can’t wait to worship You in heaven! 

Do you ever feel fragile or like you might “pop” because of the daily pressure you are under? David knew what it was like to feel that way and found God to be the SUSTAINER of his soul. Listen to his words in Psalm 54:4. “God is my helper; The Lord is the SUSTAINER of my soul.” What does it mean for God to be the sustainer of our soul? It means that God revives our minds and emotions when we sit in His presence, meditate on His truths, and absorb encouragement from His Word. God, the Holy Spirit, refreshes and sustains us so we can carry on.

Lord God, we praise You, SUSTAINER of our souls. Thank You for the many times and ways You sustain us. We love and praise You!

Are the storms in your life overwhelming you…perhaps literally? Whether the storms are literal or metaphorical, fear can flood our emotions. Lightning bolts of regret can strike us to the core. Worry can flood our minds.  But God doesn’t want us to stay overwhelmed, drowning in fear, worry, and regret. That’s why He has given us His Spirit; His very presence to be with us. Just as shelters offer a place for flood victims, God calls us to come to Him for REFUGE. The Hebrew word “REFUGE” means shelter from danger or falsehood.  The more closely we stay under God’s arms of truth, the more protected we are from the enemies’ lies. Psalm 46:1 reminds us that God is our REFUGE, a very present help in trouble. Go to Him. Shelter under the truth of His love for you.

“Are you wearing a mask when you go to the store,” a friend asked. I quickly replied yes. “Whew,” she responded.  I’m not sure what her response would’ve been if I’d said no, but she seemed relieved. Wearing a face mask is a government recommendation to help stop the spread of a physical virus. But, are you aware of God’s spiritual mandate to stop the spread of sin? Yes, Ephesians 6:10-18 says to put on God’s armor of truth, righteousness, peace, and faith and to take the sword of Spirit which is the word of God. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve trained ourselves to put on a mask to stop the spread of a virus. Are we putting on our spiritual armor to prevent the spread of sin? Learn how to armor up in my book, Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion.

Have you been disturbed by some of the trends in our nation and world?  If so, build your life and family on Jesus.  He wasn’t just a good teacher. He did what no other person has done.  He never gave in to sin when He was tested and tried.  Isaiah 28:16 states,  ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a TESTED STONE, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed.” The verse continues, “He who believes in it will not be disturbed.’” Because Jesus is tested and proven, we can confidently build our lives on Him. We’re wise to say “no” to humanistic, passing social views and to say “yes” to Jesus – God’s TESTED STONE.

Lord Jesus Christ, once again we’re reminded of the joy and privilege of calling You our God. You are foundational to all we believe; a pure and holy TESTED STONE.  We praise and worship You!

Do you ever feel like things are getting harder, not easier; and that too often truth is ignored? If so, Christ can relate. He was pronounced “not guilty,” then crucified. How irrational was that? But Colossians 2:15 tells us Jesus  TRIUMPHED over the irrational. He disarmed the rulers and authorities. He made a public display of them. And Christ is still triumphant even though we may not see it at certain times. Jesus will right what is wrong.  The truth will prevail.  That’s good news on a national and world level.  It’s also good news for us personally.  Christ, who triumphed over the grave, is able to triumph over despair in our hearts and the irrational in our lives.  Christ is the triumphant Lord. What do you need His help with today? He’s listening.

John 2:19-21  records a question the Jews asked Jesus and His response.  Their question? “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” The “things” Jesus had done included driving the sheep and oxen out of the temple, pouring out the money changers’ coins, overturning their tables, and ordering them, “Stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” In other words, Jesus acted like He owned the TEMPLE. Jesus’s replied, “Destroy the TEMPLE and I’ll rebuild it in three days.” Jesus wasn’t talking about the stone temple, however. He was talking about His body, the temple of His Holy Spirit. As Jesus foretold, He raised His body three days after they destroyed it. Miraculous, yes. But a point God is driving home to me concerns Jesus’s actions and words regarding His temple. He drove out all that wasn’t supposed to be in it. Certainly, He must feel the same about our body, His  TEMPLE, in whom His Spirit dwells and the collective body of Christians, His TEMPLE. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) What in us individually and what in the church body, both His, would He drive out? As an individual Christian, I must examine myself with the full understanding that God’s goal is to perfect me and conform me to the image of Christ. As the body of Christ we must examine ourselves with the full understanding that we are to be distinct from the world, marked by Christ’s love and light.

Lord Jesus, TEMPLE of the Most High, thank You for coming from heaven and tabernacling in us. Drive out all that is in us that dishonors You so we are a beacon to the unsaved and a fellowship for the saved. 

Could you use some encouragement about Christ’s tender mercy and provision for you? If so, you’ll find it in my study, If God is In Control, Why…..