June 1: Present your Request to God

“DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN EVERY SITUATION, BY PRAYER AND PETITION, WITH THANKSGIVING, PRESENT YOUR REQUESTS TO GOD” (Philippians 4:6).

Perfect Father, my heart is anxious…troubled with concern and disquietude.

Holy Father, I bring You my concern...my trouble...my worry in the form of a petition...a serious request.  I do not want to focus on me and invent a reason why You should grant my request...that I am worthy of an answer...that I am obedient...that I have done everything right.  I want to focus You, Father, and simply ask You to provide because You are good and You are faithful.

“ASK AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU; SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND; KNOCK AND THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED TO YOU. 8 FOR EVERYONE WHO ASKS RECEIVES; THE ONE WHO SEEKS FINDS; AND TO THE ONE WHO KNOCKS, THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED” (Matthew 7:7-8).

Everlasting Father, thank you that You want to provide because You are my Father and I am Your child. You are good.  You reward those who look for You with all their heart.  You do not give a stone if Your child asks for bread and You do not give a snake if your child asks for a fish. You are the perfect Father.

“AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS” (Philippians 4:7).

I will not be anxious!

June 2: The Way of Life in Christ Jesus

“TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT” (Proverbs 3:5).

Jesus, may I make “lean not on your own understanding” and “in all your ways acknowledge Him” a lifestyle…a way of living…a way of thinking, because You are the Truth, the Way and the Life!

Every action starts with a THOUGHT...an understanding. Every emotion starts with a THOUGHT...an understanding. Every purpose starts with a THOUGHT...an understanding. And a THOUGHT...an understanding comes either from You, Jesus...or from the father-of-lies. There is no middle ground.

Jesus, I have discovered that if I follow the thought or understanding that comes from the father-of-lies, I end up in anger, hatred, jealousy, fear and despair. However, if I follow the thought or understanding that comes from You, I end up in Hope, Truth and Love. This is the moment-by-moment “way of life in Christ Jesus” that I desire.

FOR THIS REASON I AM SENDING TO YOU TIMOTHY, MY SON WHOM I LOVE, WHO IS FAITHFUL IN THE LORD. HE WILL REMIND YOU OF MY WAY OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS, WHICH AGREES WITH WHAT I TEACH EVERYWHERE IN EVERY CHURCH” (1 Corinthians 4:17).

May I commit to this “way of life in Christ Jesus” in everything I think…everywhere I go.  May I do this every moment of my life...whenever a thought enters my mind, until it becomes a lifestyle.  Therefore, Jesus, I will present all my thought to You, just the way they are, and ask You whether those thoughts are from You...the Truth. Then I will listen to Your perspective...Your opinion...Your interpretation, so that I may follow you in thought, emotion and action every moment of my life.

You are the Truth, the Way and the Life!

June 3: Be Still to Hear God’s Voice

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth" (Psalm 46:10).

Everlasting Father, I come before You in absolute stillness…complete silence
Leaving behind all noise
Casting aside all activity
Quieting all the voices in my mind.

I become still
so I may listen
becoming acquainted with Your voice
perceiving Your perspective
recognizing Your answer
understanding Your message to me.

 “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him”
(Psalm 37:7).

Most High, I wait patiently
As I identify my disturbing thoughts
As I describe my perturbed emotions
As I make known my own interpretations.

The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still"
(Exodus 14:14).

Father, I am still…so You might fight for me!

I am still

June 4:  The Word of God is Living and Active

FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND ACTIVE. SHARPER THAN ANY DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, IT PENETRATES EVEN TO DIVIDING SOUL AND SPIRIT, JOINTS AND MARROW; IT JUDGES THE THOUGHTS AND ATTITUDES OF THE HEART”
(Hebrews 4:12).

Most High, I celebrate that Your Word is sharper than any sword, able to judge the thoughts of my mind…IF I WOULD EXPOSE THEM TO YOU…AND LISTEN.

I have learned to expose my own understanding to God and ask Him to judge my thoughts before I accept them as Truth.  Once, I needed to travel from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland on a ferry at a specific day and time.  I asked God for calm waters for the day that I would be traveling.  However, three days before my departure, I learned that a hurricane was going to be in the exact place where I was going to be on the day and time of my traveling and that my ferry might be cancelled.  Perturbed, I asked God why He did not provide.  But God’s Word was sharper than a sword and judged my own understanding.  He answered, “I do not provide the circumstances; I provide DESPITE the circumstances”.

When the day of my departure came, I learned that my ferry was not canceled due to the fact that the threatening hurricane had unexpectedly veered sharply west.  MY FERRY PASSED SMOOTHLY ON CALM WATERS!

“But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” (Luke 4:4).

Thank you, Most High, that Your Word has the capacity to sever negative destructive thoughts instilled by the father-of-lies…to dissolve darkness and unworthiness trapped in my mind…to suspend hopelessness and fear lodged in my heart. 

“TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD” (Ephesians 6:17).

May I be sustained daily by Your Word!

May I live from Your Words!

June 5: Work out Your Own Salvation

“THEREFORE, MY BELOVED, AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED, NOT AS IN MY PRESENCE ONLY, BUT NOW MUCH MORE IN MY ABSENCE, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING” (Philippians 2:12).

Savior, I understand that blaming others for my pain will not get the job done, because I cannot get rid of my heartache that way.  Running away does not help either, because my agony always catches up with me again later.  Hiding behind walls is futile, because the father-of-lies knows how to climb over any wall.

“WHOEVER HAS MY COMMANDS AND OBEYS THEM, HE IS THE ONE WHO LOVES ME. HE WHO LOVES ME WILL BE LOVED BY MY FATHER, AND I TOO WILL LOVE HIM AND SHOW MYSELF TO HIM"
(John 14:21).

Most High, may I love You enough to climb out of the hole where I have been hiding all my life out of fear.  May I love You enough to allow You into the desolate places of my heart where nobody has ever been.  May I love You enough to take Your outstretched Hand, even though I have never trusted anyone else before.

Most High, may I love You enough today to refute my own beliefs…my own interpretations…my own understanding…and lean on Yours!

“IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST AND WILL FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND PURIFY US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS” (1 John 1:9).

You promise that if I love You, You will show Yourself to me…and cleanse me from all unrighteousness!

June 6: For All Times One Sacrifice

“HE IS THE ATONING SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS, AND NOT ONLY FOR OURS BUT ALSO FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD” (1 John 2:2).

Jesus, thank you that You are the atoning Sacrifice for my sins…and not only mine, but the sins of the whole world…my family…my friends…my co-workers…my enemies.

How freeing it is to know that I am not the sacrifice for someone’s heart-ache he has been carrying in his heart since childhood and that everyone is responsible to work out his own salvation… owning his pain… taking responsibility for his own sinful defense habits and patterns ...acknowledging his own misinterpretations…AND TAKING IT TO YOU, the atoning Sacrifice.

“THEREFORE, MY BELOVED, AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED, NOT AS IN MY PRESENCE ONLY, BUT NOW MUCH MORE IN MY ABSENCE, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING” (Philippians 2:12).

Jesus, help me to differentiate whether someone wants me to help him bring his pain to You….or whether someone wants to victimize…using ME as the atoning sacrifice to carry his sins.

“BUT WHEN THIS PRIEST HAD OFFERED FOR ALL TIME ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS, HE SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD” (Hebrews 10:12).

Jesus, may I point everybody who comes to me with their pain, to You, the atoning Sacrifice who is sitting at the right hand of God.  Keep me from trying to be the sacrificial lamb for people, blocking those from seeing the real Sacrifice, Jesus Christ.  You are the only one who can pardon our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness…even the heartache we have been carrying around since childhood.

“IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST AND WILL FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND PURIFY US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS” (1 John 1:9).

Thank you for being my atoning Sacrifice!

June 7: Sincere and Pure Devotion to Christ

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now, when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard… 5Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 8“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ 9And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, 12saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ 13But he answered one of them and said,…14I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.”
(Matthew 20---The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard)

Most High, help me to focus on the job You gave me to do…to see that it does not matter how big or important my job is compared to those of others…to understand that it does not matter how long I have been doing the job You gave me, compared to those of others.   All that matters is that  I do the job You gave me to do... and I do it for You!

Majesty, how encouraged I am to know that You will give me a complete reward for the job You gave me to do.  I will be paid according to what was expected of ME.  The success of my job is not measured by comparing it to those of others.  It is not a matter of ratio…correlation…comparative size or extent.

“BUT I AM AFRAID THAT JUST AS EVE WAS DECEIVED BY THE SERPENT'S CUNNING, YOUR MINDS MAY SOMEHOW BE LED ASTRAY FROM YOUR SINCERE AND PURE DEVOTION TO CHRIST” (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Thank you, God, that each job You give…stands alone.  It is complete… self-contained…whole.  It is not judged on the principles of comparison.  May I focus on the job You gave ME, and do it in sincere and pure devotion to Christ…and I will receive my entire reward, whether I am first or last…whether my job is long or short…whether my job is big or small.

June 8: Singleness of Heart and Action

“[FOR BEING AS HE IS] A MAN OF TWO MINDS (HESITATING, DUBIOUS, IRRESOLUTE), [HE IS] UNSTABLE AND UNRELIABLE AND UNCERTAIN ABOUT EVERYTHING [HE THINKS, FEELS, DECIDES]” (James 1:8 AMP).

Perfect Father, I invite you today into my double-mindedness… my hesitations… my skepticism… my incertitude?  I often start and action…then shrink from action…being unreliable in everything I think, feel and decide.

“THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD. 39 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. 40 I WILL MAKE AN EVERLASTING COVENANT WITH THEM: I WILL NEVER STOP DOING GOOD TO THEM, AND I WILL INSPIRE THEM TO FEAR ME, SO THAT THEY WILL NEVER TURN AWAY FROM ME” (Jeremiah 32:38-40).

Thank you, Perfect Father that You want to give me singleness of heart and action. You want to make me stable, reliable and certain about everything I feel, do and decide.  However, I have a responsibility… to allow You to become my God in everything I THINK!

I understand that I become a man of two minds if I allow my THOUGHTS to follow both the father-of-lies... AND You.  If I want to be certain, stable and reliable in my actions and decisions, I first need to be reliable in my THOUGHTS, because my emotions, actions and decisions are born in my thoughts.

Although the father-of-lies will kill, steal and destroy if I follow him, You, Perfect Father, will make an everlasting covenant with me if I follow You: to never stop doing good to me.

Perfect Father, may I ONLY follow YOU in everything I THINK.  I invite Your Truth into the accusatory destructive thoughts that reside in your mind, because these come from the father-of-lies.  Bless my obedience with singleness of heart and action.

I will follow You!

June 9: God’s Goodness and Love Will Follow You

“I WILL REJOICE IN DOING THEM GOOD AND WILL ASSUREDLY PLANT THEM IN THIS LAND WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL” (Jeremiah 32:41).

Dear God, I often run into situations where circumstances become too hard for me…where too many things have gone wrong…where I have messed up too many times…where the darkness is too dark or the fear is too severe.  In times like these, I tend to think that I have come to a dead end.  My resources have dried up.  I am at wit’s end.

“I WILL NEVER STOP DOING GOOD TO THEM, AND I WILL INSPIRE THEM TO FEAR ME, SO THAT THEY WILL NEVER TURN AWAY FROM ME” (Jeremiah 32:40).

Perfect Father, Your Goodness is unmatched. Thank you that Your Goodness prevails…even at the dead ends…to make a way where there is no way.

”THE HUMBLE WILL SEE THEIR GOD AT WORK AND BE GLAD.
LET ALL WHO SEEK GOD’S HELP BE ENCOURAGED” (Psalm 69:32).

Abba, I humble myself before You and seek Your help in my dead ends. Encourage me by showing me how You are going to provide, so I may be glad.  Show off Your Power, Your Love and Your Goodness.

“SURELY GOODNESS AND LOVE WILL FOLLOW ME
ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE (Psalm 23:6).

May Your Goodness and Love follow me wherever I go…whatever I do…to make a way in the dead ends of my life.

Your Goodness is unmatched!

June 10: Take Time to Wrestle with God

“THEN JACOB WAS LEFT ALONE; AND A MAN WRESTLED WITH HIM UNTIL THE BREAKING OF DAY. 25 NOW WHEN HE SAW THAT HE DID NOT PREVAIL AGAINST HIM, HE TOUCHED THE SOCKET OF HIS HIP; AND THE SOCKET OF JACOB’S HIP WAS OUT OF JOINT AS HE WRESTLED WITH HIM. 26 AND HE SAID, “LET ME GO, FOR THE DAY BREAKS.” BUT HE SAID, “I WILL NOT LET YOU GO UNLESS YOU BLESS ME!” (Genesis 32:24-26).

God, I will not let You go until You bless me…until Your Hope penetrates my hopelessness…until Your Truth permeates the accusatory voice in my mind …until Your Presence fills my loneliness.  I know that the reason I need to wrestle with You is not because You are reluctant to meet my needs, but because the deceit of the father-of-lies is so extensive in my life that it stands between You and me.

“THE LORD LOOKS DOWN FROM HEAVEN ON THE SONS OF MEN TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY WHO UNDERSTAND, ANY WHO SEEK GOD” (Psalm 14:2).

Look down from Heaven and see that I am seeking You.  Shine Your Light of Truth on the darkness of deception. Make your Comfort known to my innermost being.  Work Your Power in my weakness.

I desire for more of Your Presence and Participation in my life, God.  Nothing satisfies my longing, but You.  Bring my heart into Your wholeness.  Let me stay in Your Holiness.  I will not let You go until You bless me.

“HE REWARDS THOSE WHO EARNESTLY SEEK HIM” (Hebrews 11:6).

June 11:  Everything Has Its Time

[ EVERYTHING HAS ITS TIME ] TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON, A TIME FOR EVERY PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

God, I realize that TIME is very important to You.  You are very organized. You are very time-specific.  You are very structured.  You have allocated to everything…A SEASON.

Dear God, my heart is encouraged that You have a specific purpose for me for THIS segment of time in my life.  Help me to accept the season of time in which I am living right now and to embrace the purpose You have in mind for THIS season.   Help me to not exchange this season for a different season of time… running ahead into the season that lies ahead…staying behind in the season that is over.

My heart sings with Joy as I realize that You are with me in THIS season of time, whether it is a time to break down or a time to build up…whether it is a time to keep or a time to throw away…whether it is a time to weep or a time to laugh.  Your Grace is sufficient for this season of time…even if I am weak.

“But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
(2 Corinthians 12:9).

If it is time to be healed…may I succumb to it.  If it is time to lose…may I accept it.  If it is time to keep silent….may I surrender to it.  If it is time to speak…may I agree to it.  If it is time to love…may I submit to it. 

“HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Thank you God for every season!

June 12: Carry around in Your Body the Death of Jesus

“WE ALWAYS CARRY AROUND IN OUR BODY THE DEATH OF JESUS, SO THAT THE LIFE OF JESUS MAY ALSO BE REVEALED IN OUR BODY” (2 Corinthians 4:10).

Savior, I have discovered that to be alive…to carry around in my body Your Love, Truth and Hope, there are obstacles in me that need to be given over to death first.  Sometimes it is my belief that You do not favor me…that You do not take care of me…that You do not love me.  Sometimes it is a general sense of irritability, discontent and despondency.  Sometimes it is jealousy, fear or animosity.  Whatever it is, I know that before I can expect relief and revelation from You, I need to be willing to give these hindrances over to death first.

“FOR WE WHO ARE ALIVE ARE ALWAYS BEING GIVEN OVER TO DEATH FOR JESUS' SAKE, SO THAT HIS LIFE MAY BE REVEALED IN OUR MORTAL BODY”
(2 Corinthians 4:11).

Jesus, I have found in my own life that death precedes life.  You make alive what is dead.  Something needs to be surrendered and destroyed for the sake of something new to be created.  I offer my own self-nature in exchange for Your Nature…my own sinful habits and behavior patterns in exchange for Your behavior patterns of Love…my own understanding in exchange for Your Truth.

“MOST ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS A GRAIN OF WHEAT FALLS INTO THE GROUND AND DIES, IT REMAINS ALONE; BUT IF IT DIES, IT PRODUCES MUCH GRAIN” (John 12:24).

God of Light, I realize that unless I let the jealousy, fear and animosity in me fall into the ground and die, I will remain alone…without You Love, Hope and Truth in my heart.

“FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN.” (Philippians 1:21).

May we, who are alive, always give over to death everything that hinders and hurts…so that Your Life may be revealed in our bodies.

May Your Life be revealed in me!

June 13: Your Steps Are Directed by God

“A MAN'S STEPS ARE DIRECTED BY THE LORD.  HOW THEN CAN ANYONE UNDERSTAND HIS OWN WAY?” (Proverbs 20:24).

Dear God, how my heart fills with Hope when I ponder that my steps are directed by You, even if I do not understand why I am at specific places at specific times doing specific works.

AND “THE LORD WILL GUIDE YOU CONTINUALLY, GIVING YOU WATER WHEN YOU ARE DRY AND RESTORING YOUR STRENGTH.  YOU WILL BE LIKE A WELL-WATERED GARDEN, LIKE AN EVER-FLOWING SPRING” (Isaiah 58:11).

Abba, guide me continually, even though I do not understand.  Give me water when my Hope has dried up and restore my strength when I am immobilized with fear.  Let me be like a well-watered garden, flourishing in Your Presence.  Let me be like an ever-flowing spring, flowing with Joy!

“I WILL INSTRUCT YOU AND TEACH YOU IN THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO; I WILL GUIDE YOU WITH MY EYE.” (Psalm 32:8).

Nothing satisfies my longing, but You, God.  How my heart lifts with Hope when I ponder that You guide me with Your eye, even when I cannot see and that You instruct me in the way I should go, even when I do not know where I am going. You are the Perfect Father.  I am Your child.

 Guide my desires.  Teach me Your Truth.  Instruct me to not have fellowship with the darkness, but to expose the darkness to Your Light.

Guide me with Your eye!

June 15: Apart from Jesus You Can Do Nothing

“…APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING” (John 15:5).

Jesus, I have been trying to do everything in my own strength, but it is not working. I have been trying to live a holy life without Your Participation.  I have been trying to think all the right thoughts without Your Opinion.  I have been trying to fill myself with hope, joy and trust.  I cannot do it.  Would You take over?  Would You instill Hope into the hopeless places, Joy in the joyless places and Trust in the trustless places of my heart?

“Lord Jesus, I can’t;
You never said I could.
Lord Jesus, You can;
And always said You would!!” (Major Ian Thomas)

Jesus, I give up.  I throw in the towel.  I call it quits.  I know that I have been leaning on my own strength if I have been trying to go FORWARD…but have been going BACKWARDS instead.  Apart from You I can do nothing!

“NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKS IN US, 21 TO HIM BE GLORY IN THE CHURCH BY CHRIST JESUS TO ALL GENERATIONS, FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Savior, You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I ask or think.  Do IN me and FOR me and TO me according to Your Power that works in me.

June 16: Forgetting the Past

“BUT I FOCUS ON THIS ONE THING: FORGETTING THE PAST AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT LIES AHEAD” (Philippians 3:13).

Most High, I realize that some people had a very good childhood with favorable circumstances.  Others had a horrible past.  Some had a good childhood with only one horrible experience.   Yet, regardless of the circumstances, I have noticed that a lot of pain is retained from our childhood.  As adults, we often feel rejected, condemned, abandoned and shamed. 

 Nevertheless, people have told me to put the past behind me…that I should move on.  And I would like to let go of your past, but the past does not want to let go of me.

“FOR HE IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF LIES” (John 8:44).

Dear God, I realize that it is not the PAST that is holding on to us, but the painful BELIEFS of the past.  The father-of-lies handed out lies whenever he found an opportunity, regardless whether our childhood circumstances were good or bad.  The circumstances were always favorable to him.

Precious God, I know that if I want to forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead, I need to exchange the lies of the past… FOR YOUR TRUTH.  Teach me Your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to Your Truth…and the past will lose its grip on me.

“TEACH ME YOUR WAYS, O LORD, THAT I MAY LIVE ACCORDING TO YOUR TRUTH!  ” (Psalm 86:11).

May I live according to Your Truth!

June 17: The Sins of the Fathers

“YOU SHALL NOT BOW DOWN TO THEM NOR SERVE THEM. FOR I, THE LORD YOUR GOD, AM A JEALOUS GOD, VISITING THE INIQUITY OF THE FATHERS UPON THE CHILDREN TO THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATIONS OF THOSE WHO HATE ME” (Deuteronomy 5:9).

Dear God, how encouraged I am that the sins of my ancestors do not need to carry over to me.  How comforted I am that the way my ancestors reacted to life situations does not need to determine how I react to life issues.  Even if my ancestors chose to serve the father-of-lies and his lies of abandonment, shame and condemnation with sinful defense pattern of rage, alcoholismor other dependencies, I do not need to do the same.  I can choose to serve You! 

“WHOEVER HAS MY COMMANDS AND OBEYS THEM, HE IS THE ONE WHO LOVES ME. HE WHO LOVES ME WILL BE LOVED BY MY FATHER, AND I TOO WILL LOVE HIM AND SHOW MYSELF TO HIM"
(John 14:21).

Jesus, I make You my refuge instead of choosing substance abuse, rage or any other sinful defense behavior to deal with my feelings of abandonment, condemnation and shame.  Let me live in the shadow of Your Presence and I shall not lack anything.  Honor my obedience and show Yourself to me.

I love you!

June 18: The Many Voices of Accusation

“IF I AM GUILTY—WOE TO ME!  EVEN IF I AM INNOCENT, I CANNOT LIFT MY HEAD, FOR I AM FULL OF SHAME AND DROWNED IN MY AFFLICTION”
(Job 10:15).

Most High, I have noticed that when someone accuses me, I am not only being charged by a human, but also by the father-of-lies.  When someone accuses me of wrongdoing, the father-of-lies uses the opportunity to bring his own charge.  A person charges me with an offense  “You did something bad.”  The father-of-lies charges me with a fault “You ARE bad.”   And THIS heavy  charge fills me with shame and drowns me in affliction, even if I am innocent.

“NO WEAPON FORGED AGAINST YOU WILL PREVAIL, AND YOU WILL REFUTE EVERY TONGUE THAT ACCUSES YOU. THIS IS THE HERITAGE OF THE SERVANTS OF THE LORD, AND THIS IS THEIR VINDICATION FROM ME,” DECLARES THE LORD” (Isaiah 54:17).

Thank you Jesus that no weapon forged against me will prevail…not even the charge “You ARE bad!” The father-of-lies does not have the power to incriminate me.  He does not have the power to make me bad by laying his charge on me.  Just because the enemy brings a charge against me, does not mean I am guilty of it.

May I refute every tongue that accuses me.   May I refute the charge of incrimination the father-of-lies tries to lay on me when someone accuses me of wrongdoing.  May I surrender those voices of incrimination to You, God, and listen for Your Truth, because this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.  This is my vindication from You!

I honor You!

June 19: May Christ Make You Complete

Dear God, I am incomplete and imperfect…lacking many things.  And because of my deficiency and inadequacy, I often run into situations where I feel controlled by manipulative people… overpowered by controlling folks…violated by a friend’s lack of respect.

“CHRIST, WHO FILLS ALL THINGS EVERYWHERE WITH HIMSELF”
(Ephesians 1:23).

Jesus, I invite You to fill me with Yourself so I would become complete…whole…Christ-contained.  Fill the gaps that leave me susceptible to feel overpowered and domineered whenever someone tries to exercise directing or restraining influence over me.

“NOW MAY THE GOD OF PEACE WHO BROUGHT UP OUR LORD JESUS FROM THE DEAD, THAT GREAT SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP, THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT, MAKE YOU COMPLETE IN EVERY GOOD WORK TO DO HIS WILL, WORKING IN YOU WHAT IS WELL PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, TO WHOM BE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER”(Hebrews 13:20, 21).

God of Peace, make me complete in every good work to do Your Will.  Work in me what is well pleasing in Your sight, through Jesus Christ, so I may feel entirely fulfilled…lacking nothing…leaving no gaps to feel violated and controlled by manipulators.

 
“BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE ITS PERFECT WORK, THAT YOU MAY BE PERFECT AND COMPLETE, LACKING NOTHING’ (James 1:4).

Dear God, let patience have its perfect work in me, that I may be perfect and complete, filled with Jesus Christ, so that next time someone tries to control and manipulate me, he will find me complete in every good work, leaving no gaps to feel used and domineered.

Jesus, fill me with Yourself!

June 20:  Rule in the Fear of God

THE GOD OF ISRAEL SAID,
THE ROCK OF ISRAEL SPOKE TO ME:
‘HE WHO RULES OVER MEN MUST BE JUST,
RULING IN THE FEAR OF GOD’
(2 Samuel 23:3).

Most High, work Your Righteousness in me.  Whenever I rule over someone, whether it is as a parent…a teacher…a landlord...an employer…a caregiver…an overseer…or a babysitter, let me be just…fair…honorable, ruling in the fear of God.  Let me treat those who are under my authority with fairness and respect, so they would treat others with respect and fairness as well.

“NO TEMPTATION HAS SEIZED YOU EXCEPT WHAT IS COMMON TO MAN. AND GOD IS FAITHFUL; HE WILL NOT LET YOU BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU CAN BEAR. BUT WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED, HE WILL ALSO PROVIDE A WAY OUT SO THAT YOU CAN STAND UP UNDER IT” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Majesty, I invite Your Presence and Participation into the places of my heart that have gotten wounded through people’s unfairness and disrespect. Thank you that You are fair and faithful, even when people are not.  Keep me from becoming rebellious and disobedient, looking for my own way out of the pain of unfairness.  Show me Your way out, so I can stand up under the temptations of unfairness and disrespect.

“IT IS A JOY FOR THE JUST TO DO JUSTICE, BUT DESTRUCTION WILL COME TO THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY” (Proverbs 21:15).

May I rule in the fear of God!

June 21: Call to Me When You Are Confused

“FOR GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION BUT OF PEACE…”
(1 Corinthians 14:33).

God of Peace, I come to You when life gets very confusing to me…when I know something is wrong, but I do not even know where to begin to find the PROBLEM, let alone the SOLUTION…when I know I am feeling sad or mad or bad, but I do not know which one it is…when I am willing to take responsibility for my thoughts and surrender my own understanding to You, but I do not know what those thoughts are…when it seems as if there are several misinterpretations mulling around in my mind at the same time, but I cannot tell them apart.

“CALL TO ME AND I WILL ANSWER YOU AND TELL YOU GREAT AND UNSEARCHABLE THINGS YOU DO NOT KNOW” (Jeremiah 33:3).

Most High, I call out to You to answer me in my state of confusion.  Come into the deepest places of my heart and mind to detect and discern the unsearchable things I do not know… the emotions that are unclear…the thoughts of my mind that are impenetrable…the beliefs of my heart that are concealed.

ONLY IN RETURNING TO ME AND RESTING IN ME WILL YOU BE SAVED.  IN QUIETNESS AND CONFIDENCE IS YOUR STRENGTH” (Isaiah 30:15, NLT).

Perfect Father, You are not the author of confusion…but of Peace!  I return to You to find rest for my weary soul.  In quietness and confidence is my strength!  Thank you that You desire Truth for the inner parts of my heart and Wisdom for the inmost places of my mind.

“SURELY YOU DESIRE TRUTH IN THE INNER PARTS; YOU TEACH ME WISDOM IN THE INMOST PLACE” (Psalm 51:6).

June 22: The Whole Gospel

“IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS” (1 John 1:9).

Jesus, Your forgiveness is unmatched!  How my heart rejoices when I ponder that if we confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive us our sins…but this is only the first part of what You came to do for us.  There is MORE. 

Savior, my heart marvels at Your Glory as I realize that You did not only come to forgive us our sins…but to cleanse us…to decontaminate us…to purify us.

“CHRIST, WHO FILLS ALL THINGS EVERYWHERE WITH HIMSELF”
(Ephesians 1:23).

How good to know that You purify us by filling us with Yourself.  You do this moment-by-moment whenever I allow You …all through my life.

“Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16).

Thank you Jesus that each time I obey by surrendering my beliefs of hopelessness and powerlessness to You, You fill me you with Yourself.  Each time I obey by yielding my beliefs of unworthiness and abandonment to You, You fill me with Yourself.  Each time I obey by offering my beliefs of condemnation and shame to You, You fill me with Yourself. 

Each time I obey counts toward Righteousness, because my self-nature is being exchanged for You, Jesus.  And THIS is how You cleanse us from all unrighteousness…little by little, one obedience at a time.

“FOR HE MADE HIM WHO KNEW NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US, THAT WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus, fill me with Yourself!

June 23   “Lord, What about Him?”

“WHEN PETER SAW HIM, HE ASKED, "LORD, WHAT ABOUT HIM?"  JESUS ANSWERED, "IF I WANT HIM TO REMAIN ALIVE UNTIL I RETURN, WHAT IS THAT TO YOU? YOU MUST FOLLOW ME."
(John 21:22).

God of Hope, I often get distracted by other people’s actions and character.  I get distracted by the person in the fancy clothes in the fancy car who seems to have it all together, and then I want to know, “Lord, what about him?  Why can’t I be like him?”  But Your answer to me is always the same, “What is that to you? Your Hope comes from Me.  Don’t look around.  Keep your eyes on Me.  YOU must follow Me.”

God of Righteousness, I remember meeting these flawless parents who seemed to do everything perfectly.  Their marriage seemed flawless.  Their children seemed flawless too.  I felt so much less of a good wife and a mother after I watched what they could do.  I want to know, “Lord, what about them?  I am not like them.”  But Your answer is always the same, “What is that to you?  Your Righteousness comes from Me.  YOU must follow Me.”

God of Truth, I often look at ministers and people involved in church ministry, and then I want to know, “Lord, what about them?”  But Your answer is always the same, “What are they to you? Some of those people work for Me, but do not even have a relationship with Me. Your Truth comes from Me.  YOU must follow Me.”

“THEREFORE, MY BELOVED, AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED, NOT AS IN MY PRESENCE ONLY, BUT NOW MUCH MORE IN MY ABSENCE, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING” (Philippians 2:12).

Lord of Lords, now I know the answer… that each person is responsible to work out His own salvation, regardless of what other people are doing.  Each person is responsible to follow You and bring his own beliefs of shame, abandonment and condemnation to You, regardless of what other people do with their heartache, their character and their lives...because each person’s Truth, Hope and Righteousness come from You.

I will follow You!

June 24:  The Strongholds…the Hailstones in Your Life

“I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU LIFE AND DEATH, BLESSINGS AND CURSES. NOW CHOOSE LIFE, SO THAT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN MAY LIVE AND THAT YOU MAY LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD, LISTEN TO HIS VOICE, AND HOLD FAST TO HIM. FOR THE LORD IS YOUR LIFE….” (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20).

Dear Lord my God, today I am reminded that a big hard hailstone starts as a speck of dust.  Under the right circumstances, a layer of ice builds up around the dust speck.  Then, as the little ice pellet cycles through the thundercloud multiple times, more and more layers accumulate, until a huge stone the size of an egg forms that can do a lot of damage.

I realize that this is the way a stronghold is built in my life.  It would start innocently as a speck of a thought, “Why did he betray me?”  Then, as I dwell on these thoughts, layers of beliefs build, each one more potent than the one before, “I am not worthy…I am not loved…I am bad.”  Following that, these beliefs billow into a pernicious POWER, “I DO NOT COUNT; LIFE IS HOPELESS!”  And thus a stronghold is formed that will keep me captive for the rest of my life…unless You set me free.

Dear Lord my God, You are my Life.  I invite You into the strongholds of my life…to peel back the layers, one belief at a time.  I am willing to listen to the Truth as You break down the lies the father-of-lies built around my own understanding...my own interpretations…my own conclusions.

“FOR I WILL SURELY DELIVER YOU, AND YOU SHALL NOT FALL BY THE SWORD; BUT YOUR LIFE SHALL BE AS A PRIZE TO YOU, BECAUSE YOU HAVE PUT YOUR TRUST IN ME,” SAYS THE LORD” (Jeremiah 39:18).

God, I hold fast to You.  Deliver me from my strongholds, because I have put my trust in You.

I hold fast to You!

June 25:  Strength to the Powerless

Perfect Father, help me to know the Truth when someone attacks me verbally or emotionally…that it is not the attack of the person that affects me the most…but the attack from the father-of-lies. Help me to realize that it is not what people say to me that hurts the most, but what I come to believe about myself as a result of what someone said or did.  Sometimes this means that I feel powerless…helpless…hopeless.

HE GIVES POWER TO THE WEAK AND STRENGTH TO THE POWERLESS.
(Isaiah 40:29).

Everlasting Father, I will not be dismayed at the powerlessness I experience during verbal and emotional attacks. I will not be distraught that I cannot  help myself feel safe.  I will not be distressed that I feel defenseless… unarmed…attackable.

“BUT HE SAID TO ME, "MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

How encouraged I am that when I am weak, You are strong, because Your Power if made perfect in my weakness.

“AND IF THE SPIRIT OF HIM WHO RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD IS LIVING IN YOU, HE WHO RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD WILL ALSO GIVE LIFE TO YOUR MORTAL BODIES THROUGH HIS SPIRIT, WHO LIVES IN YOU” (Romans 8:11).

Almighty God, I capture the immensity of Your Power.  My hope soars as I realize that the same Power who raised Jesus from the dead…has overcome the father-of-lies.  The same Power who raised Jesus from the dead… can overcome my weakness.  The same Power that raised Jesus from the dead…can overcome my powerlessness.

May I receive Your inexhaustible Power when I feel powerless.

Your Power is made perfect in my weakness!

June 26:  More than Conquerors

Most High, how I love living in Nova Scotia on Cape Breton Island with the ocean in my back yard.  This means beauty…awesomeness…excitement, but it also means sea breezes… gales… hurricanes.  For years, I have watched the old apple tree in my back yard only bear fruit on one side.  Because of the exposure to the sea storms, the apple tree has a hard time bearing fruit, because it uses most of its limbs to build a shield against the storms.  Those limbs do not bear fruit.  Only the few limbs on the protected side of the tree have enough energy to bear fruit.

“HERE ON EARTH, YOU WILL HAVE MANY TRIALS AND SORROWS” (John 16:33).

Majesty, You have warned me about the many trials and sorrows I would experience here on earth…storms of life that will come against me.  And when these storms come, I am tempted to build my own defense mechanisms …shelters to cover myself against busybodies…shields to ward off attacks from blamers…barricades to keep myself safe from evildoers.  Sometimes, I am so busy building walls of defense that there is no energy left to bear fruit.

“BUT TAKE HEART, BECAUSE I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD” (John 16:33).

Jesus, how comforted I am that You have overcome the world and through You I am more than a conqueror.  You have become my defense…so I could bear fruit.  Thank you that You have rebuked the devourer for my sake, so I do not have to use my own energy to create a defense mechanism, but use it all to bear fruit.

“ AND I WILL REBUKE THE DEVOURER FOR YOUR SAKES, SO THAT HE WILL NOT DESTROY THE FRUIT OF YOUR GROUND, NOR SHALL THE VINE FAIL TO BEAR FRUIT FOR YOU IN THE FIELD,” SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS”
(Malachi 3:11).

I am more than a conqueror!

June 27:  God, I Praise You

“PRAISE BE TO THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER OF COMPASSION AND THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT, WHO COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TROUBLES…” (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4).

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praise be to You for being the God of Compassion and the Lord of all Comfort.  You comfort me when I feel lonely.  When I go through the valley of the shadow of death, You assure me of Your Presence.  I have never been abandoned by You.  You have always been with me.  When I think everybody has left me, You are there.

“LET THEM PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD, FOR HE COMMANDED AND THEY WERE CREATED” (Psalm 148:5).

Perfect Father, I praise You, for when I am hopeless, You command…and Hope is created.  When I am powerless, You command…and Power is brought to life.  When I am in darkness, You command…and Light shines out of darkness.

“FOR AS THE EARTH BRINGS FORTH ITS BUD, AS THE GARDEN CAUSES THE THINGS THAT ARE SOWN IN IT TO SPRING FORTH, SO THE LORD GOD WILL CAUSE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PRAISE TO SPRING FORTH BEFORE ALL THE NATIONS”
(Isaiah 61:11).

I praise You, Lord God, for You cause Your Righteousness to spring forth in me.  You fill me with Your Wisdom when I do not lean on my own understanding.  You give me Peace…all the time and in every way.

“THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SHIELD; MY HEART TRUSTED IN HIM, AND I AM HELPED; THEREFORE MY HEART GREATLY REJOICES, AND WITH MY SONG I WILL PRAISE HIM” (Psalm 28:7).

God, my heart greatly rejoices, for You are my Strength when I am bent over in my own weakness.  My heart trusts in You and I am helped.

God, You are my Strength!

June 28:  The Presence of God

“YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE PATH OF LIFE;
YOU WILL FILL ME WITH JOY IN YOUR PRESENCE” (Psalm 16:11).

God of Hope, I invite Your Presence into the circumstances that have left me hopeless.  You are mighty to save.

God of Comfort, I invite Your Presence into the sadness that makes my heart tremble.  Fill me with Joy in Your Presence.

“THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU,
HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE.
HE WILL TAKE GREAT DELIGHT IN YOU,
HE WILL QUIET YOU WITH HIS LOVE,
HE WILL REJOICE OVER YOU WITH SINGING"
(Zephaniah 3:17).

God of Peace, I invite Your Presence into the rejection and condemnation sizzling in my heart.  Quiet me with Your Love.

God of Truth, I invite Your Presence into the pit of despair that reigns in my heart.  Make known to me the path of Life.

God of Presence, I invite Your Presence into the loneliness and abandonment that rule in my heart.  Fill my heart with Your Spirit.

JOY IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF TROUBLE,
BUT THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST.
William Vander Haven

You are with me!

June 29: The Path of Life

“YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE PATH OF LIFE;
YOU WILL FILL ME WITH JOY IN YOUR PRESENCE” (Psalm 16:11).

I often hear people say, “Pain is part of life…and needs to be accepted.”  Dear God, thank you for Your version, “Pain is part of life…and needs to be exchanged!”

Father of Compassion, You deliver my mind from the painful beliefs from the father-of-lies that cause my feet to stumble…those beliefs that I am not needed here on earth…that I am unnecessary…that I am dispensable. Thank you that you have made known to me the Path of Life…Joy in Your Presence!

“FOR YOU HAVE DELIVERED ME FROM DEATH AND MY FEET FROM STUMBLING, THAT I MAY WALK BEFORE GOD IN THE LIGHT OF LIFE” (Psalm 56:13).

Perfect Father, You sent Your Son, Jesus to bear our pain for us…to bear the negative destructive beliefs from the father-of-lies…and exchange them for Truth, so we could walk the Path of Life with with Joy in Your Presence.

“WHEN JESUS SPOKE AGAIN TO THE PEOPLE, HE SAID, "I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. WHOEVER FOLLOWS ME WILL NEVER WALK IN DARKNESS, BUT WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE" (John 8:12).

Jesus, how my heart sings with Joy that the Path of Life is filled with Light, because You are the Light of Life.  I realize that in order to stay on the Path of Life, I have a responsibility: to follow You…not the father-of-lies, to follow the Light…not the darkness, to follow the Truth…not the negative destructive beliefs from the father-of-lies.  And I will be filled with Joy in Your Presence.

Keep me on the Path of Life!

June 30:  Your Heart is the Wellspring of Life

“A MALICIOUS MAN DISGUISES HIMSELF WITH HIS LIPS, BUT IN HIS HEART HE HARBORS DECEIT.  THOUGH HIS SPEECH IS CHARMING, DO NOT BELIEVE HIM, FOR SEVEN ABOMINATIONS FILL HIS HEART” (Proverbs 26:24, 25).

Dear God, I understand that my heart is a reservoir that either holds deceit from the father-of-lies…or Truth from Christ, and that I will know who has filled my heart by looking at my actions that result from the abominations that fill my heart.

“CHRIST… FILLS ALL THINGS EVERYWHERE WITH HIMSELF” (Ephesians 1:23).

Jesus, remind me daily to listen to my heart and find out if it is harboring bouts of unworthiness…condemnation…rejection, because I know that this is an indication that my heart is filled with deceit from the father-of-lies.  Jesus, You yearn to fill all things everywhere with Yourself.  Fill my heart with Yourself.

Jesus, may I be willing to listen to my heart often and examine it for traces of anger or jealousy, since this is an indication that my heart is filled with deceit from the father-of-lies.  Jesus, fill my heart with Yourself.

Jesus, lead me to listen to my heart repeatedly and look for signs of hopelessness and depression, for this is an indication that my heart is filled with deceit from the father-of-lies.  Jesus, fill my heart with Yourself.

“ABOVE ALL ELSE, GUARD YOUR HEART, FOR IT IS THE WELLSPRING OF LIFE” (Proverbs 4:23).

May I guard my heart!