365 Days of Praise
Just You Wait and See
Things aren’t always as they appear. Just you wait and see. For instance, Jesus had no earthly possessions, wasn’t married, and when arrested, His friends abandoned Him. He was lied about, mocked, and beaten almost to death. Mark 14:61 records the high priest questioning Him prior to crucifying Him, and saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’” How incongruous. Blessed? Yet, Jesus was and is the Son of the Blessed One. So, when we think about our lives or circumstances, they may not seem to add up to “blessed child of God” or “bride of Christ.” But that is who we are. Things aren’t always as they seem. Just you wait and see.
Heavenly Father, we praise You for Christ, SON of the BLESSED ONE, and for the blessings You’ve promised us.
“Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’” Mark 14:61
Are Things Heating Up in Your Life
Our Heavenly Father has a goal: to cleanse us of sin. Malachi 3:3 explains that He sits as a SMELTER, or a refiner, watching over us as the heat of daily life, trials, and sufferings causes our impurities to rise. What happens when our sin glaring rises in our lives? We have the opportunity to confess our sin so God can remove them from us. God’s goal is for us to be increasing purified so we better reflect Him. Are things heating up in your life? If so, be assured your Heavenly Father is sitting as a Smelter, or a refiner, closely watching over you; patiently hearing your prayers and confessions. And, has anyone told you? You are reflecting Him more every day.
Lord, thank You, SMELTER of our mind, spirit, and soul. Purify us so we reflect Your image.
“He will sit as a SMELTER and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.” Malachi 3:3
The Difference in Slow and Fast
Lord, we praise You for being SLOW to ANGER. You are a gracious and merciful God. We love You and thank You!
“The Lord is gracious and merciful; SLOW TO ANGER and great in lovingkindness.” Psalm 145:8
We Want Proof and We Have It
The world is sickened and in shock by the horrifying confirmation that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who walked into a Saudi consulate on October 2, has been confirmed dead after being tortured. Can you, would you, expect to see him walking around and eating with his friends after confirmation of his tragic death? No, of course not. Does that help you in any way better grasp why people didn’t believe that Jesus was alive after they witnessed His torturous scourging and merciless crucifixion? Matthew 28:6 gives the shocking angelic announcement of Jesus’s resurrection to Mary as she stood outside Jesus’s empty tomb. “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” In addition to Mary and the disciples, more than 500 eye witnesses saw the Risen Christ. The grave couldn’t hold Jesus because He is life. He breathes His eternal life into each person who acknowledges they are a sinner and asks forgiveness in the RISEN ONE’s name.
RISEN LORD, we celebrate Your victory over death and worship You.
“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” Matthew 28:6
When You Put Your Head On Your Pillow Tonight
Do you sometimes wonder what our world and the future hold? Revelation 1:5 gives us great comfort. It reminds us to look heavenward in confidence to the RULER OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH. While things may seem, or actually be, chaotic under different earthly rulers; there is ONE supreme eternal RULER whose reign has no end, and who reigns with justice and with mercy. If you’re a believer, you’re a citizen of Christ’s kingdom. That’s good to remember when you put your head on your pillow tonight.
Lord Jesus Christ, what a glorious blessing to know that this world is not spinning out of control. YOU are the enthroned, RULER of the kings of the earth.
“Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the RULER of the KINGS of the EARTH.”
If You’re Under Attack
Do you feel under fire by a barrage of personal, financial, physical, spiritual, or other attacks? If so, take courage. Look up to your Heavenly Father, who David describes in Psalm 3:3 as a SHIELD about him. Put on the spiritual armor He’s given you. (Ephesians 6:13) Take His Word and bathe your heart and mind in it. (Psalm 119:97-98, 110-111, 114) Jesus hasn’t left us alone to suffer through life’s trials by ourselves. Cover yourself with His love and truth. (from Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion)
Lord, thank You for being a SHIELD about us. Help us stay under the protection of Your divine armor and Word.
“You, O Lord, are a SHIELD about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.” Psalm 3:3
Learn more about Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion HERE.
When You’re Devastated by the Separation, Take His Hand
Have you ever been separated from someone and you desperately wanted to be with them? Whether the separation is due to death, divorce, disease, distance, or destruction such as a weather related tragedy like Hurricane Michael, the pain of not being able to reach a loved one is indescribable. “Indescribable.” That’s a word victims and survivors use when trying to explain their loss, suffering, and sadness. Jesus understands such depth of emotion. He loves us and created us to live in union with Him. Indescribable love drove Him from heaven’s glory to earth to seek and save us. Jesus, separated from sinners by unimaginable holiness, crossed the chasm separating heaven’s glory to earth’s despair to offer His holy hand of redemption. Will we take His hand?
Lord, we praise You, who are SEPARATED from SINNERS, yet humbled Yourself to come to earth to save us.
“it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;” Hebrews 7:26.
Prayers of My Heart Journal – Record God’s character traits each day as you praise Him for His great love.
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Marco Pollo
Did you ever play Marco Polo in the swimming pool? I have fond memories of playing it with my sister, Vicki. We’d take turns closing our eyes and calling out “Marco.” The other one would respond “Polo” then swim away so they wouldn’t be tagged. Some of us may think of Jesus as one who is blindly searching for us when we call out to Him. That is far from the case. Jesus has His eyes on us and is waiting for us to call on Him. Jesus is the SEEKER of the LOST, as He explains in Luke 19:10, He came to earth to seek and to save. Call on Him. He sees you.
Lord Jesus, Thank You that You can see us and know right where we are. Thank You for SEEKING and SAVING us. May those who are calling for You then running away, turn toward You with arms open wide.
“The Son of Man has come to SEEK and to SAVE that which was lost. ” Luke 19:10
Are We Heeding God’s Warning
Hurricane Michael, a Category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph, made landfall in Florida on October 10. Governor Rick Scott and other governors issued warnings and called on residents in the path of the hurricane to evacuate and find shelter. Some ignored the warning. Hurricane Michael, as predicted, brought devastation and death. As human governors are looking out for their residents, so our Heavenly Father is looking out for us. Psalm 91:1 describe God as a shelter and says, “He who dwells in the SHELTER of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” From what and how does our Heavenly Father shelter us? His words in the Bible shelter us from wayward thinking. His righteousness shelters us from temptation. His love shelters us from hate. His presence shelters us from loneliness and despair. God is a SHELTER. Are we heeding His warnings and staying close to Him?
Heavenly Father, thank You for being a SHELTER. Please give courage and hope to all who are suffering loss due to Hurricane Michael.
You Either Have It or You Don’t
We all know what we mean when we say, “I don’t have it in me to….” Then we complete the thought. “I don’t have it in me to go to that reunion.” “I don’t have it in me to keep working the night shift.” It’s important for us to recognize if we do or don’t have something in us. At the top of our check list should be if we have the life of Christ in us. We either do or don’t, and 2 Corinthians 13:5 advises every person to test themselves to see if they do. You see, going to church, enjoying nature, or being a nice person doesn’t make a person a Christian. A Christian is one who has Christ “in” them. ChristIaN. How do we get Christ in us? As we sow a seed into the ground so a plant can spring forth, we receive the seed of Christ’s Holy Spirit into our spirit. God does the work. He sows His seed into our spirit when we come to Jesus by faith; confessing Him as Lord and Savior. Why would we come to Jesus? Because we don’t have it in us to be perfect. If we want to go to heaven when we die, then we need His Holy Spirit in us. The question is, do we or don’t we have it (the Holy Spirit) in us? It’s a consideration that has eternal consequences for every one of us. Learn how to receive the Holy Spirit HERE.
Lord Jesus, promised Seed of Salvation, thank You for planting Your Holy Spirit in our hearts and souls. We love and adore You.
“’And I will put enmity
Between you (satan) and the woman,
And between your (satan’s) seed and her seed (Christ);
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.'”