Are you familiar with the song, “Wand’rin Star” that Lee Marvin sang in the movie, Paint Your Wagon? Webster defines “wander” as going about from place to without a plan. While Marvin’s song may have been a hit, a wandering mind isn’t a hit when we’re praying. It’s frustrating and ineffective. If you’ve found yourself praying, “Dear God, thank you for this day. Oh! That reminds me, I forgot to get eggs for breakfast.” then you know what I mean. How can we stay focused in prayer rather than have a wandering mind? We can write our prayers. For instance, in Prayers of My Heart journal, there is a section called Week at A Glance where you can write the names of those for whom you daily pray.  As your eye focuses on a name, you record a word or two reminders of your prayer. Then, you move in prayer to the next person. Rather than having a wandering mind, you have focused, meaningful prayers. Prayers of My Heart journal  – the solution for a wandering mind.

Would you agree there’s a lot of darkness in the world and that people senselessly hurt one another? Here’s good news. Believers have a different calling than to hurt one another. First Peter 2:21-24 is God’s shout out for us to walk according to a high and precious calling. “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, [Calling 1: Follow Christ’s Steps] who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; [Calling 2: Speak the Truth]; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, [Calling 3: Take the High Road in Relationships], but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; [Calling 4: Keep Entrusting Ourself to God]; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; [Calling 5: Live Righteously]; for by His wounds you were healed. [Calling 6: Walk in Christ’s Healing]  Yes, there’s a lot of hurt in the world, but Christians are called to a high and precious calling. How are we doing?

Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus and that He bore our sins so that we might live righteously. Help us honor Him by living according to Your high and precious calling.  

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Have you ever wanted to approach someone to visit or discuss an issue, or maybe just to be near them, but felt the person was unapproachable?  Maybe you felt you weren’t good enough. Isn’t it incredible that our approaching God has nothing to do with our goodness? As a matter of fact, we’re not good enough to approach Holy God. Then, how do we get to Him? Psalm 65:4 NKJV explains. “Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to APPROACH You, that he may dwell in Your courts.” Our Heavenly Father is APPROACHABLE not because we’re good, but rather because Jesus opened the way for us to enter into His presence through Christ’s righteousness. GOD. APPROACHABLE. Grace. Learn more HERE.

LORD, thank You for being an APPROACHABLE GOD to whom we can come through the righteous blood of Christ. 

DISCOVERING HIS PASSION – Care about others. Share with them the good news of God’s grace. This study guide will prepare you. 

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Have you ever wondered if you’re doing everything you’re supposed to be doing? If so, consider this. Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. (Matthew 4:8) Jesus stood against Satan’s temptation and by doing so, He received God’s gift -“all authority in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18) With heaven’s highest authority, Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:19-20 what we are to be doing during our time on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” So now that we know, what will we do? 

Jesus, we praise You, Son of God who has all AUTHORITY in heaven and on earth. 

Learn how to share your faith HERE.

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Do you like to get tips? Tips on gardening, saving money, home organizing. We do well to pay attention to proven tips. They help us do things smarter and in a more meaningful way.  Hebrews 3:1 gives us a tip. “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.” What kind of a tip is that? The word “consider” means to “fix your thoughts.” In other words, as partakers of a heavenly calling, we’re to fix our thoughts on Jesus when we wake in the morning, when we get bad news, when we face a difficult decision. Why? When we look at Jesus and consider Him, we’re more likely to act like partakers of a heavenly calling than if we look at our situation from solely an earthly perspective. Not sure this is a good tip? Try it! You’ll discover that considering Jesus in the midst of what you’re facing brings increased hope and assurance.   

Jesus, APOSTLE and High Priest of our confession, help us remember that our confession of You as Lord and Savior makes us partakers of a heavenly calling. Help us walk out our calling well by fixing our thoughts on You.

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It makes me smile to think about where and when Christ spoke the words in Luke 4:18, “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.” When did Jesus say these words? He had just returned from being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. He was led by the Spirit in the power of the Spirit.” (Luke 4:14) What was His first Spirit-anointed task following His victory over Satan’s temptations? He went home…to Nazareth. I love that. And get this – “as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.” This is a good place for us to pause and ask ourselves, “Is it our custom to gather with believers to read and hear the Scriptures? Are we raising our children with the custom of gathering with believers to hear the Word of God? If it was what God’s ANOINTED Lord Jesus did, it’s what I want to do. I’d have hated to have missed Jesus speaking in the synagogue that day. I’d hate to miss Him speaking today as I gather with others to worship Him and hear the reading/teaching of His Word.

Jesus, we praise You, ANOINTED Lord and Savior. Thank You for Your words and example of the Spirit-led life.

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Some time ago an event planner commented to me, “I’m sure you’re enrolled in the TSA Pre Check program as much as you fly.”  I thought to myself how enrolling in the Transportation Security Administration’s Pre check program was something on my to do list, but I’d not yet done it. Her suggestion prompted me to take action and sign up. We never know how the power of our suggestion might encourage someone. For instance, do you have a friend struggling with loneliness who you might suggest they join you for Bible study? Is there a family member dealing with anxiety to whom you could suggest they listen to Christian music? God’s Word tells us to encourage others. How might God use your power of suggestion to encourage someone today?