October 1 Your Will Be Done!

“YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN” (Matthew 6:10).

Everlasting Father, bring my heart to the place where it has nothing to pray other than asking for Your Will to be done in my life.

Let me experience the depth, the breadth, and the height of Your Love, so I would stop praying for my own will to be done…for my own desires to be fulfilled…for my own plans to succeed.  Let all my plans and desires become quiet in my heart, so that all I really want will be for YOUR WILL TO BE DONE IN MY LIFE, even as it is done in Heaven.

“FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU," DECLARES THE LORD, "PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Perfect Father, let me taste and see that You are good, and that I am safe when I take refuge in You.  Let me not be afraid of Your Will.  Let me see Your Faithfulness, so I can know You as my Perfect Father: someone who wants to bless me…someone who wants to protect me…someone who wants to save me.  Deliver me from the lies of the father-of-lies, so I would perceive Your Will as something good…something hopeful…something that will give me a purpose and a future. 

“TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD; BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO TAKES REFUGE IN HIM” (Psalm 34:8).

Most High, may I taste so much of Your Goodness in my own life that I will come to the place where I trust You with all my heart.  Then the desires in my heart will become silent and all I will ask is, “GOD, MAY YOUR WILL BE DONE IN MY LIFE.”

Your Will be done!

October 2 “Did God really Say?”

"‘BUT YOU MUST NOT EAT FROM THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL, FOR WHEN YOU EAT OF IT YOU WILL SURELY DIE’" (Genesis 2:17).

Lord God, help my mind to understand that the father-of-lies likes to contradict Your Counsel.

“NOW THE SERPENT WAS MORE CRAFTY THAN ANY OF THE WILD ANIMALS THE LORD GOD HAD MADE. HE SAID TO THE WOMAN, "DID GOD REALLY SAY, 'YOU MUST NOT EAT FROM ANY TREE IN THE GARDEN'?"” (Genesis 3:1)

Lord God, protect me from the evil one and his thoughts of fear, hopelessness, and unworthiness.  He loves to attack Your Counsel with the proposal, “Did God really say?”

Help me to recognize that these words of doubt, “Did God really say?” come from the father-of-lies when I least expect them.  Create in me an alert mind to understand that Satan’s counsel is cunning and subtle, and that he always distracts from the Truth.  Deliver me when he tries to separate me from Your Counsel of Hope, Light, and Life. 

May I always be ready to answer the crafty one with the very words of the Lord Jesus Himself, “'MAN DOES NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD' ” (Matthew 4:4).

Bring me to the place, O Lord, where I will stop accepting and believing the thoughts of fear, hopelessness, and unworthiness from the crafty one.  Instead, let me bring each disturbing and degrading thought to You, God, and ask You for Your Truth. This way I will live from every word that comes from Your mouth.

May Your Counsel prevail!

October 3  Persecuted, but not Forsaken

“THE GOD OF THIS AGE HAS BLINDED THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS, SO THAT THEY CANNOT SEE THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL OF THE GLORY OF CHRIST, WHO IS THE IMAGE OF GOD” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Lord Jesus, thank you for making me aware of my enemy: the god of this age…the accuser of brethren…the father of lies. 

Thank you for showing me that the god of this age loves to darken my understanding, so that I would not recognize the Light of the message concerning You, my Lord: that You offer Hope during despair…that You offer Love when I feel unloved…that You offer Truth for my negative, destructive thoughts.

“WE ARE HARD-PRESSED ON EVERY SIDE, YET NOT CRUSHED; WE ARE PERPLEXED, BUT NOT IN DESPAIR; PERSECUTED, BUT NOT FORSAKEN; STRUCK DOWN, BUT NOT DESTROYED” (2 Corinthians 4:8, 9).

Lord Jesus, bring me to the place where I would always recognize the voice of the deceiver…the father-of-lies:
For when I am hard-pressed,
he will demand that I am crushed.
When I am perplexed,
he will declare that things are hopeless.
When I am persecuted,
he will proclaim that I am forsaken.
When someone strikes me down,
he will claim that I am destroyed.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you came to save me from the father-of-lies and his negative, destructive beliefs.  But I realize that You can only save me from these beliefs if I stop offering my mind to the father-of-lies to be used for his wickedness, but instead offer my thoughts and reasoning to You as instruments of Your Righteousness.

“DO NOT OFFER ANY PART OF YOURSELF TO SIN AS AN INSTRUMENT OF WICKEDNESS, BUT RATHER OFFER YOURSELVES TO GOD AS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FROM DEATH TO LIFE; AND OFFER EVERY PART OF YOURSELF TO HIM AS AN INSTRUMENT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Romans 6:13).

I am hard-pressed, but not crushed!

October 4  I Gave my Heart to Jesus

Lord Jesus, I hear many people say, “I gave my heart to Jesus!”  Well, I did too.  I gave my heart to You…but not all of it.

In my heart, there are many spots that belong to You, Lord Jesus.  Those spots are filled with Your Love, Your Hope, and Your Truth, because You live there.  I have surrendered the belief that used to live in a particular spot…that I am not loved…to You.  I have submitted the conclusion that used to live in that spot…that I do not count…to You.  I have exposed the perception that used to live in that spot…that my heart will always be bad…to You.  When I am required to react from these parts of my heart, I react with Your Love, Your Truth, and Your Hope.

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

However, I still have spots in my heart that are not filled with You, yet, Lord Jesus.  They are still filled with the lies from the father-of-lies.  When I am required to react from these parts of my heart, I react with anger, jealousy and bitterness, because of the negative, destructive beliefs that still reside there. 

“THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL CIRCUMCISE YOUR HEARTS AND THE HEARTS OF YOUR DESCENDANTS, SO THAT YOU MAY LOVE HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND LIVE.” (Deuteronomy 30:6).

Lord God, I give my heart to You.  This time, I do not only give my heart as an entire entity, but I do it one spot at a time…one lie at a time…one negative, destructive belief at a time.

Fill each spot in my heart with Yourself, my Lord, as I lay these parts of my heart at Your feet.  Circumcise these painful spots in my heart, by obliterating the lies that live there, so I may love You with ALL my heart…and live from Your Love, as well.  May my whole heart belong to You.

May I love You with ALL my heart!

October 5  The Veil is Taken Away

“FOR I AM CONVINCED THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NEITHER ANGELS NOR DEMONS, NEITHER THE PRESENT NOR THE FUTURE, NOR ANY POWERS, 39NEITHER HEIGHT NOR DEPTH, NOR ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION, WILL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD” (Romans 8:38).

Dear God, although nothing and nobody can separate me from Your Love, Truth and Hope, I have found in my life that I do not always experience those attributes.  They exist, but they are not part of my world. It is as if these attributes had been taken hostage by the father-of-lies and hidden behind a veil of deception.  We read about them, but we cannot reach them…and they cannot reach us.

How joyful I am, Lord Jesus, that the veil of deception can be lifted if I turn to You…if I lay down my own perceptions at Your feet.  For whenever I am willing to surrender my understanding of a situation to You, the veil of deception is lifted, and Your Love, Truth and Hope become accessible to be experienced. 

“BUT THEIR MINDS WERE MADE DULL, FOR TO THIS DAY THE SAME VEIL REMAINS WHEN THE OLD COVENANT IS READ. IT HAS NOT BEEN REMOVED, BECAUSE ONLY IN CHRIST IS IT TAKEN AWAY. 15EVEN TO THIS DAY WHEN MOSES IS READ, A VEIL COVERS THEIR HEARTS. 16BUT WHENEVER ANYONE TURNS TO THE LORD, THE VEIL IS TAKEN AWAY” (2 Corinthians 3:14-16).

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You yearn to show Yourself to me in the smallest and biggest of my daily situations.  But I realize the condition…to turn to you and forfeit my own conclusion of a circumstance.  This will unlock the Truth that is being held captive by the father-of-lies.  My obedience to submit a thought to You before I believe and react to that thought,releases Your Love that has been veiled by the god of this world.  My obedience to yield my interpretations to You, Lord Jesus, unbinds and dispenses Your Hope that has been taken hostage by the evil one.  And You will show Yourself to me!

“’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).

October 6   Grace Abounds More

“BUT WHERE SIN INCREASED, GRACE INCREASED ALL THE MORE…” (Romans 5:20).

Lord Jesus, how my heart leaps with joy when I understand that Your Grace covered my past…because it was MORE.  Your Grace covers the present…because it is MORE.  Your Grace will cover my future…because it will be MORE.

How comforted I am that Your Grace is MORE than anything that has ever happened to me, and MORE than anything I have ever done.  And Your Grace is MORE than anything anyone has ever done or said to me.

“FOR SIN SHALL NOT BE YOUR MASTER, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT UNDER LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE” (Romans 6:14).

Thank you, my Lord, that Your Grace abounds MORE than any painful belief of shame I have at the moment.  Your Grace abounds MORE than any painful belief of condemnation I have right now.  Your Grace abounds MORE than any painful belief of abandonment I have in my mind.  I only need to invite You to cover these beliefs with Your Grace.

I jubilate, my Savior, that Your Grace is MORE than any sinful habit or pattern I have developed in response to the negative, destructive OLD MAN beliefs, which were instilled in my mind by the father-of-lies.  I only need to place them under Your Grace.

I rejoice, O Lord, when I ponder that Your Grace in MORE than despair…MORE than anger…MORE than animosity…MORE than jealousy…and MORE than fear.

I accept and receive Your Grace, my God.  It is always sufficient.  It is always available.  It is always MORE.  And it will never run out.

May Your Grace abound MORE!

October 7:  Be Obedient to God’s Counsel

“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, thank you for the life-changing lesson of OBEDIENCE: that whoever obeys Your Counsel, will see You, and experience the Truth…for You ARE the Truth.

“TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Lord Jesus, thank you for Your Counsel: to not lean on my own understanding.

Whenever I obey Your Counsel---to not lean on my own perceptions, but to surrender my perceptions to You,---show me the Truth about a particular person,  situation, or me, just like You promised You would do…“AND I TOO WILL LOVE HIM AND SHOW MYSELF TO HIM"

Each time I obey You, Lord Jesus, by forfeiting my own assumptions, conclusions, or interpretations, let me see situations, others, and me in a new and different way.  And the Truth shall set me free to love my neighbor… as myself.

“TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES" (Mark 12:33).

And I will not hate a particular person anymore, because I will know the Truth about him.  I will not covet my neighbor’s stuff anymore, because I will know the Truth about me.  I will not want to give false testimony against someone, because I will know the Truthabout the situation.  I will know the Truth, because You will show Yourself to me…when I obey Your Counsel of forfeiting my own understanding.

And the Truth shall set me free!

October 8  Overcome the Voice of Temptation

“I USED TO WANDER OFF UNTIL YOU DISCIPLINED ME; BUT NOW I CLOSELY FOLLOW YOUR WORD” (Psalm 119:67 NLT).

Lord Jesus, how many times I have wandered off, following the voice of temptation.  I used to not understand the voice of temptation.  I never understood where it came from, and what it tried to achieve.

Now I understand that the voice of temptation is the voice of the father-of-lies.  It is the voice of the accusatory beliefs of condemnation, abandonment, and shame instilled in my mind by the father-of-lies, since childhood.  He uses these accusatory thoughts to draw me into hopelessness, hatred and hard feelings.  The father-of-lies knows that if he can get me to the place of hopelessness, hatred and hard feelings, he can entice me to adopt his escape routes of “relief” that will lead me away from Your Presence…into sin. 

“THOSE WHOM I LOVE I REBUKE AND DISCIPLINE. SO BE EARNEST, AND REPENT. HERE I AM! I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK. IF ANYONE HEARS MY VOICE AND OPENS THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN AND EAT WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME. TO HIM WHO OVERCOMES, I WILL GIVE THE RIGHT TO SIT WITH ME ON MY THRONE, JUST AS I OVERCAME AND SAT DOWN WITH MY FATHER ON HIS THRONE”
(Revelations 3:19-21).

Lord God, thank you that you discipline those You love.  When we wander off to follow the voice of abandonment, condemnation and shame, You knock on the doors of our hearts, and call us with a different Voice…the Voice of Truth.

Teach me, O Lord, to listen carefully when I am tempted with the accusatory voice of condemnation, shame and abandonment.  Grant me patience and endurance to pause and listen for Your Voice of Truth, instead.  Guide me to open the door, so You could come into my heart and have fellowship with me.  Then You will turn the condemnation into acceptance, the abandonment into belonging, and the shame into honor.

Let me overcome the desire to listen to the voice of temptation.

October 9: Created in Christ Jesus

“SO GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD HE CREATED HIM; MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM” (Genesis 1:27).

Most High, I often wonder what man was like right after You created him.  What was it like to not only be created in Your image, but to be living in You image, and acting in Your image, as well?  It must have been a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

But then the father-of-lies lured us into belittling beliefs of abandonment, condemnation, and shame…the OLD MAN.  These beliefs generated hopelessness, hatred and fear.  Then the father-of-lies stood ready to offer his routes of escape to ease the pain his lies had caused...SIN.  Your image became distorted…maimed…disabled in man. 

“THAT YE PUT OFF…THE OLD MAN, WHICH IS CORRUPT…; AND BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND; AND THAT YE PUT ON THE NEW MAN, WHICH AFTER GOD IS CREATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS" (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Perfect Father, thank you that the story does not end there, but that You sent the Spirit of Your son, Jesus, to live in our hearts, to become the NEW MAN.  Not only is Jesus created in Your image, but He also lives in Your image, and acts in Your image, as well. 

“AND HAVE PUT ON THE NEW MAN, WHICH IS RENEWED IN KNOWLEDGE AFTER THE IMAGE OF HIM THAT CREATED HIM” (Colossi ans 3:10).

Lord Jesus, I invite Your Spirit into my heart to live and act in the image of God in and through me.  Please exchange the OLD MAN, with its distorted image of God, with the NEW MAN, who is renewed in the image of its creator.  Abolish the beliefs of abandonment, condemnation, and shame that the father-of-lies has engrained in my mind since childhood, and replace them with new beliefs of belonging, acceptance, and worth. 

And I will live a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

October 10  What about the Pain in my Heart?

Lord God, thank you that sin is not something mysterious.  It does not stand alone.  It does not happen by itself.  Sin sits on a pillar of beliefs suggested by the father-of-lies: beliefs of abandonment, beliefs of condemnation, and beliefs of shame.  And these beliefs cause anguish in my heart: anger, animosity, jealousy, sadness, and despair. 

“THEREFORE DO NOT LET SIN REIGN IN YOUR MORTAL BODY SO THAT YOU OBEY ITS EVIL DESIRES” (Romans 6:12).

How comforted I am, O Lord, that I do not have to feel guilty whenever I experience pain in my heart, because it is not a sign that I am bad.  Pain is only my heart’s natural response to the disheartening beliefs of abandonment, condemnation, and shame, instilled in my mind by the father-of-lies, since childhood.

How good to know that the pain in my heart will not harm me, unless I react to it by following the evil one’s solutions to still the pain in my heart.  For in my haste to flee from my anguish, I am in great danger of accepting any route of escape the father-of-lies would offer.  And anything he offers kills, steals, and destroys.

“IN MY ANGUISH I CRIED TO THE LORD, AND HE ANSWERED BY SETTING ME FREE” (Psalm 118:5).

Lord God, teach me Your ways.  Teach me to cry out to You, when I am in anguish because of the negative, destructive beliefs of abandonment, shame, and condemnation.  Thank you that You will answer by setting me free from these negative, destructive beliefs of the father-of-lies.

I cry out to You, Lord!

October 11  He Answered by Setting Me Free

“IT IS WRITTEN: 'MAN DOES NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD' ” (Matthew 4:4).

Lord Jesus, I have noticed that one of the mistakes I often make is to expect my husband to be my Truth.  I expect him to talk to my heart and solve the lies that the father-of-lies had dumped there since childhood.  I expect him to be my Comforter when I feel comfortless, my Hope when I feel hopeless and my Love when I feel unloved and unlovable.  I do this because I want the pain in my heart to disappear as soon as possible.  I do not want to take the time to talk to You about the anguish in my heart.

“HE SAID TO ME: "IT IS DONE. I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END. TO HIM WHO IS THIRSTY I WILL GIVE TO DRINK WITHOUT COST FROM THE SPRING OF THE WATER OF LIFE” (Revelations 21:6).

Lord God, help me to understand that human counselors, friends and my spouse hold a certain place in my life.  They can encourage, instruct and admonish me.  They can teach me in the ways that You have taught them, sharing with me the truths You have told them.  They can advise me in how to avoid future failure.  They can pray with me.  However, they cannot be my Truth, Hope and Love.

Lord Jesus, call me to come to You when I feel unloved and unlovable, to tell You how I feel.  You are the Alpha and the Omega.  Let me wait patiently for You to furnish me with a permanent answer.  Let me run to You when I feel hopeless, and tell You exactly what is on my heart and why I feel hopeless.  Let me persevere, because You are the Beginning and the End, and You will fill me with the real solution.  Let me come to You when I feel lost and confused, and tell You what is bothering me.  Let me wait for Your answer, because You will give me a drink of Comfort without cost.

“IN MY ANGUISH I CRIED TO THE LORD, AND HE ANSWERED BY SETTING ME FREE” (Psalm 118:5).

Lord Jesus, let me cry out to You whenever my heart hurts.  My friend, counselor, or spouse can encourage, instruct and admonish me.  But You can set me free.

Answer, by setting me free!

October 12 To Him who Overcomes

Lord Jesus, I need to overcome the belief that I am not acceptable.  I need to overcome the belief that I am forsaken.  I need to overcome the belief that I do not count.

“HE THAT OVERCOMETH, THE SAME SHALL BE CLOTHED IN WHITE RAIMENT; AND I WILL NOT BLOT OUT HIS NAME OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, BUT I WILL CONFESS HIS NAME BEFORE MY FATHER, AND BEFORE HIS ANGELS” (Revelation 3:5).

Lord Jesus, how encouraging to know that You regard overcoming as something very valuable.  If I live a life of overcoming, my name is so commendable to You that it will not be removed from the book of Life, but, instead, be confessed before the Perfect Father…the Most High…the Creator of all things. 

“BECAUSE THOU HAST KEPT THE WORD OF MY PATIENCE, I ALSO WILL KEEP THEE FROM THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION, WHICH SHALL COME UPON ALL THE WORLD, TO TRY THEM THAT DWELL UPON THE EARTH” (Revelation 3:10).

Lord Jesus, teach me to be patient during affliction: to not run to sinful defense habits and patterns to escape the pain of temptation…to not hide the pain in my heart by pretending that I am okay, or wear a mask to pretend that I am not who I am…to not blame others for my own pain.  Instead, call me to run to You, so You can show me how to overcome the temptations in my life.

“TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH WILL I GRANT TO SIT WITH ME IN MY THRONE, EVEN AS I ALSO OVERCAME, AND AM SET DOWN WITH MY FATHER IN HIS THRONE” (Revelation 3:21).

Thank you, my Lord, that You can keep me from the hour of temptation. You can give me Truth for the belief that I am not acceptable, and for the belief that I have been forsaken, and for the belief that I do not count.  I realize my responsibility: to admit that I am who I am…that I feel unacceptable, unworthy, and forsaken…and to submit these beliefs to You.  For If I overcome by submitting these negative, destructive beliefs, instilled in my mind by the father-of-lies, to You, You will set me free, and You will let me sit with You in Your throne.

Clothe me in white raiment!

October 13  The Will of the Father

“YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN” (Matthew 6:10).

Perfect Father, I have noticed that Your Will is the highest Power in Heaven and on earth.  Nothing can extinguish it…except my own will.

“ARE NOT TWO SPARROWS SOLD FOR A PENNY?  YET NOT ONE OF THEM WILL FALL TO THE GROUND APART FROM THE WILL OF YOUR FATHER” (Matthew 10:29).

Lord God, even though by Your Will I have my being, the father-of-lies is always trying to persuade me to do his will, instead…to follow his negative, destructive thoughts of “God does not love you…God wants to harm you…God wants to punish you.”  He is always fighting for my will, so I would submit it to him, instead of to You, Most High.

Lord God, I have noticed that the father-of-lies always tries to persuade me that his will is good for my life, and that Your Will is bad.  However, I have observed from my own life that whenever I believe the father-of-lies’ negative, destructive thoughts, I am filled with suspicion, hatred, jealousy, and anger.  On the other hand, the more I surrender these thoughts to You, my Lord, the more I am filled with Your Hope, Truth, and Love.  Every moment I choose to do Your Will, the will of the father-of-lies has no effect on my life

"YOU ARE WORTHY, OUR LORD AND GOD, TO RECEIVE GLORY AND HONOR AND POWER, FOR YOU CREATED ALL THINGS, AND BY YOUR WILL THEY WERE CREATED AND HAVE THEIR BEING" (Revelation 4:11).

You are worthy, Perfect Father.  I wish for my life to be like that of a little sparrow…completely dependent on Your Will.  Therefore, I lay my own will down at Your feet.

By Your Will I have my being!

October 14 Good Works for your Personality

“FOR WE ARE GOD'S WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS TO DO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO” (Ephesians 2:10).

Lord of Lords, how often it is that we find fault with our own personality.  If someone is an introvert, she regrets not being an extrovert.  If a person is an extrovert, he regrets not being an introvert.  Some people feel they are not interesting enough.  Others feel they are too superficial.  Regardless of the personality, people do not seem to be satisfied with who they are.

Lord God, keep me from thinking that my personality is a mistake: that I do not belong…that I am fatally flawed…that I am not good enough.  Show me that You have a set of good works that You have prepared for me in advance, according to my specific personality.  Show me that my personality is perfect for these works, because You have designed my personality specifically just for them.

"NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS TO ME, 'LORD, LORD,' WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT ONLY HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN” (Matthew 7:21).

Thank you, my Lord, that Your Will for me is the highest purpose for my life.  It is the best plan for my life, because it is based on a plan that was created before the beginning of time.  It is not something that just happened haphazardly.  It is not a hit or miss situation.

How encouraged I am that Your plan for my life is a master plan, created in Christ Jesus, that is very specific to my personality and gifts. 

Instead of trying to change my personality, help me to focus on who I am, instead of focusing on who I am NOT.  Let me not be afraid to know myself and the set of good works that requires my personality and gifts.  Then, let me forsake all the other good works I have invented for myself, and cling to the good works that You have prepared specifically for my personality.

October 15  I Am Serving You

Dear God, keep me from focusing on how a spouse, relative, or friend is NOT serving me.  Keep me from focusing on how they do NOT provide for my needs…how they do NOT understand…how they do NOT…

“FOR WE ARE GOD'S WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS TO DO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO” (Ephesians 2:10).

Most High, teach me to change my focus.  Let me see that You have created my husband, or relative, or friend for a set of good works that had been prepared for him or her since the beginning of time.  Help me to see this individual for the person he or she was meant to be.  Although my husband might not necessarily be serving me with the good works I want from him, he might be serving me with different good works that I do not appreciate. 

“THE WORLD AND ITS DESIRES PASS AWAY, BUT THE MAN WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD LIVES FOREVER” (1 John 2:17).

Perfect Father, let me always remember that every good gift is from above, coming down from You, the Father of the Heavenly Lights, who do not change like shifting shadows.  Help me to see that the people in my life might be serving and blessing me with these good gifts that come from You.  Let me appreciate the personality, gifts, and skills You have given them, and always remember that the man who does the Will of God lives forever. 

“EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE, COMING DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF THE HEAVENLY LIGHTS, WHO DOES NOT CHANGE LIKE SHIFTING SHADOWS” (James 1:17).

Father of the Heavenly Lights, please supply me with the needs which my spouse, relative, or friend is not able to provide.  Let me appreciate those in my life for the way they ARE serving me…and receive the rest from You.

For every good gift is from You!

October 16  The Arrow that Flies by Day

“YOU WILL NOT FEAR THE TERROR OF NIGHT, NOR THE ARROW THAT FLIES BY DAY” (Psalm 91:5).

Thank you, Lord God, that I do not have to fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day. 

“THEREFORE, SINCE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY SUCH A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES, LET US THROW OFF EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS AND THE SIN THAT SO EASILY ENTANGLES, AND LET US RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE THE RACE MARKED OUT FOR US” (Hebrews 12:1).

Lord Jesus, many arrows fly by day.  Some arrows are aimed to harm my heart.  They are shot on purpose.  They are meant for revenge.  Other arrows are shot by accident.  They just happen.  Regardless why and how an arrow was shot, help me to realize that if an arrow strikes my heart, it is my responsibility to have it removed.  If not, it will hinder me from enjoying Your Love, Hope and Truth, and it will cause me to react with sinful defense habits and patterns of hiding, running, and blaming.

“IN ADDITION TO ALL THIS, TAKE UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH, WITH WHICH YOU CAN EXTINGUISH ALL THE FLAMING ARROWS OF THE EVIL ONE” (Ephesians 6:16).

Lord Jesus, teach me to admit when an arrow strikes my heart.  Guide me to make the decision to throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and run the race that You have marked out for me.

Instead of focusing on the person who shot the arrow, let me focus on my own heart, and on my Savior.  Let me take up the shield of faith, and bring my wounded heart to You.  You will pull out the arrow, and bathe the wound with Heavenly salve.

I will not fear the arrow that flies by day!

October 17  The Two Sources of Counsel

“THE WOMAN SAID TO THE SERPENT, "WE MAY EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREES IN THE GARDEN, BUT GOD DID SAY, 'YOU MUST NOT EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREE THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN, AND YOU MUST NOT TOUCH IT, OR YOU WILL DIE.' "

"YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE," THE SERPENT SAID TO THE WOMAN”
(Genesis 3:2-4).

Most High, I have noticed that there are two sources of counsel available to me: Your counsel of Truth…and the father-of-lies’ counsel of lies. 

“WE DEMOLISH ARGUMENTS AND EVERY PRETENSION THAT SETS ITSELF UP AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND WE TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT TO MAKE IT OBEDIENT TO CHRIST” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

I have also noticed that the father-of-lies uses MY MIND as a vessel for his arguments against Your Counsel of Truth.  He uses my understanding as a garden to plant his lies of unworthiness, non-acceptance, and guilt.

Most High, call me to become willing to take each thought captive that sets itself up against Your Counsel of Truth.  Help me to recognize the counsel of lies from the father-of-lies, right when it enters my mind. 

Often, I feel bad for days before I notice that I have been living in the counsel of lies from the father-of-lies.  Remind me, Lord, that even in these cases it is not too late to return to Your Counsel of Truth.  All I need to do is to return to the moment when I started feeling bad, in order to find the counsel of lies that had set itself up against Your Truth. 

May I always remember that it is only after a perturbing thought has become obedient to You, Lord God, that Satan’s counsel will leave.

May I follow Your Counsel of Truth!

October 18  Whose Counsel Do You Heed?

“THE WOMAN SAID TO THE SERPENT, "WE MAY EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREES IN THE GARDEN, BUT GOD DID SAY, 'YOU MUST NOT EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREE THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN, AND YOU MUST NOT TOUCH IT, OR YOU WILL DIE.' "

"YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE," THE SERPENT SAID TO THE WOMAN”
(Genesis 3:2-4).

Most High, I have noticed that there are two sources of counsel available to me: Your counsel of Truth…and the father-of-lies’ counsel of lies.  Your Counsel directs me to Your Infinite Understanding, O Lord:

“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.

DO NOT BE WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES;
FEAR THE LORD AND SHUN EVIL”
(Proverbs 3:5-7)

But the counsel of the father-of-lies directs me to my own understanding:

“Do not trust God,
but lean on your own understanding,
Rely on your own insight and believe everything you think.
Acknowledge your own perceptions in everything you do,
for your mind is sufficient to supply all the explanations you need.
Be wise in your own eyes.
Then everything will turn out OK”

May I heed Your Counsel, my Lord, because the mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by Your Spirit…is Life and Peace.

“THE MIND OF SINFUL MAN IS DEATH, BUT THE MIND CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE” (Romans 8:6).

May I heed Your Counsel!

October 19 I Will Give You Rest

Dear Lord, I have discovered that the things in life that burden me the most are Satan’s lies.  They are relentless.  They kill, steal and destroy.  They cause defeat…depression…death.

Two of the father-of-lies’ favorite lies are “You are not loved” and “You are bad.”  I realize that these cause great pain, and that many arguments start because of them.  Sometimes my husband and I spend hours fighting about something.  However, the things we fight about are not the things we fight about.  We think we are fighting about the situation, but I am fighting for my heart.  I am fighting to keep my heart from being labeled as “bad.”  I am fighting to prove to my husband that I am worthy.  And he is doing the same.  Neither husband nor wife wants to let the other one win the battle, because that would leave the loser with Satan’s lie of unworthiness and not being good enough.  And that hurts more than the fight.

"COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND BURDENED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST AND YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS” (Matthew 11:28, 29).

Most High, the lies from the father-of-lies are causing me to be weary and burdened.  I need rest for my soul.

“YOU, DEAR CHILDREN, ARE FROM GOD AND HAVE OVERCOME THEM, BECAUSE THE ONE WHO IS IN YOU IS GREATER THAN THE ONE WHO IS IN THE WORLD”
(1 John 4:4).

Thank you, King of Kings, that You sent the Spirit of Jesus into my heart.  And He who is in me is greater than the father-of-lies, and greater than any lie that lives in my mind.

But I realize that it is my responsibility to surrender these lies, which are under the authority of the father-of-lies, to You, Lord God.  It is only when these beliefs come under Your authority that they will leave, because they will realize that the one who is in me is greater than he who is in the world.

October 20  Become Mature through Constant Use

“THE WOMAN SAID TO THE SERPENT, "WE MAY EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREES IN THE GARDEN, BUT GOD DID SAY, 'YOU MUST NOT EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREE THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN, AND YOU MUST NOT TOUCH IT, OR YOU WILL DIE.' "

"YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE," THE SERPENT SAID TO THE WOMAN”
(Genesis 3:2-4).

Lord God, I realize that there are two sources of counsel available to me…Your holy Counsel of Truth, and Satan’s deceitful counsel.

“ANYONE WHO LIVES ON MILK, BEING STILL AN INFANT, IS NOT ACQUAINTED WITH THE TEACHING ABOUT RIGHTEOUSNESS. 14BUT SOLID FOOD IS FOR THE MATURE, WHO BY CONSTANT USE HAVE TRAINED THEMSELVES TO DISTINGUISH GOOD FROM EVIL” (Hebrews 5:13-15).

Lord Jesus, teach me to become mature by distinguishing between Your Counsel…and the father-of-lies’ counsel.  Make me sensitive to take notice of the suggestions that enter my heart at all times, so I may classify my thoughts into categories of good and evil…into categories of Your Counsel of Truth, and Satan’s Counsel of deception.

Most of all, train me to catch Satan’s lies as soon as possible.  Let me catch Satan’s counsel of deception right when it knocks on my heart’s door, so I might still have time to surrender it to You, Lord Jesus, and so overcome evil.  I know that the deeper I allow Satan’s counsel to penetrate my heart, the harder it becomes to surrender it to You…and the easier it becomes to react sinfully to his painful words of deception.

By training myself to distinguish between Your Counsel and Satan’s Counsel, I will become mature, and I will become acquainted with the teaching of Righteousness.

Make me acquainted with the reaching of Righteousness!

October 21  The OLD MAN and the NEWMAN

“IF INDEED YOU HAVE HEARD HIM AND HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY HIM, AS THE TRUTH IS IN JESUS: 22 THAT YOU PUT OFF, CONCERNING YOUR FORMER CONDUCT, THE OLD MAN WHICH GROWS CORRUPT ACCORDING TO THE DECEITFUL LUSTS, 23 AND BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND, 24 AND THAT YOU PUT ON THE NEW MAN WHICH WAS CREATED ACCORDING TO GOD, IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS” (Ephesians 4:21-24).

Lord Jesus, I see that I have an OLD MAN living inside of me…a corrupted person who was formed through deception …a being who was shaped by the lies of the father-of-lies.  My OLD MAN consists of negative, destructive beliefs of abandonment, condemnation and shame, all of which were instilled by the father-of-lies. 

Because of the OLD MAN that was formed in me by the enemy’s lies, I have built a defense mechanism around me to protect me from these painful beliefs of abandonment, condemnation, and shame.  These habits and patterns of defense include mind-reading, withdrawing, and always taking the blame for everyone’s faults.  Because I believe that my heart is bad, I spend a lot of time trying to prove that it is good. 

KNOWING THIS, THAT OUR OLD MAN IS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, THAT THE BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE DESTROYED, THAT HENCEFORTH WE SHOULD NOT SERVE SIN” (Romans 6:6).

How thankful I am for the GOOD NEWS: that You, Lord Jesus, nailed the OLD MAN, with its painful beliefs of abandonment, condemnation and shame, to the cross with Yourself.  You ended the reign of the OLD MAN with the words, “It is finished!”

Thank you that not only did You nail my negative, destructive OLD MAN beliefs to the cross, but You also came to create a NEW MAN in me…one who is created without the lies of the father-of-lies…in true righteousness and holiness. 

But I have an obligation: to invite You, Lord Jesus, to exchange my negative, destructive OLD MAN beliefs …for new beliefs of righteousness and holiness.

That henceforth I should not serve sin!

October 22 Lean on God with Your Entire Personality

“IN ORDER THAT YOU MAY NOT GROW DISINTERESTED AND BECOME [SPIRITUAL] SLUGGARDS, BUT IMITATORS, BEHAVING AS DO THOSE WHO THROUGH FAITH (BY THEIR LEANING OF THE ENTIRE PERSONALITY ON GOD IN CHRIST IN ABSOLUTE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN HIS POWER, WISDOM, AND GOODNESS) AND BY PRACTICE OF PATIENT ENDURANCE AND WAITING ARE [NOW] INHERITING THE PROMISES” (Hebrews 6:12 Amp).

Most High, bring me to the place where I would lean with my entire personality on You in absolute trust and confidence in Your Power, so that my faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on Your Power.

“SO THAT YOUR FAITH MIGHT NOT REST ON MEN'S WISDOM, BUT ON GOD'S POWER”
(1 Corinthians 2:5).

God of Heavenly Lights, bring me to the place where I would lean with my entire personality on You in absolute trust and confidence in Your Wisdom, for You give words and wisdom that none of my adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

“FOR I WILL GIVE YOU WORDS AND WISDOM THAT NONE OF YOUR ADVERSARIES WILL BE ABLE TO RESIST OR CONTRADICT” (Luke 21:15).

How great is Your Goodness, O lord, which You have stored up for those who take refuge under Your wings.  Lord God, bring me to the place where I would lean with my entire personality on You in absolute trust and confidence in Your Goodness.

“HOW GREAT IS YOUR GOODNESS, WHICH YOU HAVE STORED UP FOR THOSE WHO FEAR YOU, WHICH YOU BESTOW IN THE SIGHT OF MEN ON THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE IN YOU” (Psalm 31:19).

Lord Jesus, build Your Faith in me, so that by practice of patient endurance and waiting, I might inherit Your promises to me.

How great is Your Goodness, Wisdom, and Power!

October 23  Is Your Heart Bad or Good?

Lord God, all my life I have been wanting to be good.  I want a good heart.  I want a heart filled with goodness, righteousness and holiness.  However, my heart is bad.  It is filled with evil thoughts.  It is as heavy as stone.  Because I feel so ashamed of my heart, I desperately try to hide it.  Sometimes, it becomes a matter of life and death to prove that my heart is good…so that people would not find out that it is bad.  That makes matters worse, for I end up with many sinful habits and patterns that fight for my heart.  Consequently, I feel even more ashamed.

“THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS AND BEYOND CURE. WHO CAN UNDERSTAND IT?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Lord God, I understand that the father-of-lies is responsible for my bad heart.  While I was growing up, he filled me with deceit…one lie after the other: that I am a failure…that I have no worth…that I am not loved.  Eventually these lies all accumulated, until a heart was formed that became as hard as stone.  Out of this heart came evil thoughts and bad conduct.

“FOR OUT OF THE HEART COME EVIL THOUGHTS, MURDER, ADULTERY, SEXUAL IMMORALITY, THEFT, FALSE TESTIMONY, SLANDER” (Matthew 15:19).

My Lord, I cannot remove my heart of stone, but You can.  Thank you that You sent the Spirit of Your son into my heart, to replace my heart of stone with Your very own heart that is filled with Goodness, Righteousness, and Holiness.

“GOD SENT THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON INTO OUR HEARTS…” (Galatians 4:6).

Lord, I accept the Spirit of Your son, Jesus, into my heart, to exchange my heart for Your very own.  Bring me to the place where I would stop living from my own heart of deceit, but only live from Your heart of Goodness, Righteousness, and Holiness.

“I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART AND PUT A NEW SPIRIT IN YOU; I WILL REMOVE FROM YOU YOUR HEART OF STONE AND GIVE YOU A HEART OF FLESH”
(Ezekiel 36:26).

Thank you for my new heart!

October 24  Refurbished by the Spirit of Life

Lord God, I have heard many ministers preach, “Get rid of anger.  Release your bitterness.  Forgive yourself.”  Others preach, “Don’t care what others think.  Do not let others manipulate you.  Rid yourself from the expectations of others.”  Then again, I hear, “Get rid of your fears.  Break past bondage.  Free yourself from blocks.”

I have tried all the above.  I tried for twenty years.  It did not work.  I could not do this by myself.  I needed a Savior who could break my bondage for me…who could get rid of my fears for me…who could release my bitterness for me.  I needed You, Lord Jesus.

"I AM THE VINE; YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. IF A MAN REMAINS IN ME AND I IN HIM, HE WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT; APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING” (John 15:5).

Lord Jesus, I am not able to get rid of my fears.  I am not able to free myself from bondage.  I am not able to get rid of anger.  You have to do it for me.

FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS HAS MADE ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.  (Romans 8:2)

Lord Jesus, I invite Your Spirit into my heart to free me from my iniquities.  I submit all the parts of my heart that have been numbed by the pain of abandonment, rejection, and shame to Your Spirit, Lord Jesus, to be resurrected…to be revived…to be restored.

I submit my mind that has been deadened by fears, blocks and bondage, to Your Spirit, Lord Jesus, to be renewed…to be reshaped…to be refurbished.

Lord Jesus, I also bring my heart that cares so much what others think of me, to Your Spirit, to be repaired…to be re-created…to be replaced, for Your Spirit can set me free from all the iniquities I am not able to get rid of myself.

Apart from You I can do nothing!

October 25 A Light Has Dawned

“INDEED, THE DARKNESS SHALL NOT HIDE FROM YOU, BUT THE NIGHT SHINES AS THE DAY; THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT ARE BOTH ALIKE TO YOU” (Psalm 139:12).

God of Light, how encouraged I am that I do not have to despair during times of darkness, because my darkness is not hidden from You.

How good to know that my heartache is not buried so deeply that You would not be able to find it.  How much I am comforted to know that Your Light can light up any darkness…past, present, and future.  How glad I am that my deepest sorrow is accessible to Your healing, even if a protective coating has formed around it.

Thank you, God of Light, that You can see deep inside my wounded heart.  You are able to find wounds that are too deep for me to access.  You are powerful enough to know where to look, when I do not even know where to start looking.  You can see through my protective coating, even when I cannot.

“HE BROUGHT THEM OUT OF DARKNESS AND THE DEEPEST GLOOM AND BROKE AWAY THEIR CHAINS” (Psalm 107:14).

God of Light, when I live in the land of the shadow of death, You can see what I cannot see.  When I am surrounded by the deepest gloom, You can recognize what I cannot recognize.  When I am walking in darkness, You can understand what I do not understand.  Darkness does not hide from You.  Gloom does not intimidate You.  The land of the shadow of death is not unfamiliar to You.

God of Light, I invite You into my darkness.  Show me the way out.  I invite Your Presence into my deepest gloom.  Break away my chains.  I invite Your Light into the land of the shadow of death, where I have been living.  Shine Your Light on me, so I can see You, and crawl under Your wings.

“THE PEOPLE WALKING IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT; ON THOSE LIVING IN THE LAND OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH A LIGHT HAS DAWNED” (Isaiah 9:2).

You break away my chains!

October 26  The Serpent Deceived Me, so I Ate

“THEN THE LORD GOD SAID TO THE WOMAN, "WHAT IS THIS YOU HAVE DONE?" THE WOMAN SAID, "THE SERPENT DECEIVED ME, AND I ATE."”  (Genesis 3:13).

“My friend was rude to me, so I ate of the fruit the enemy offered me.”
“My boss made a snide comment, so I ate of the fruit the enemy offered me.”
“My husband did not love me, so I ate of the fruit the enemy offered me.”
“My wife disrespected me, so I ate of the fruit the enemy offered me.”

Lord God, I understand that the enemy, the father-of-lies, will offer me his fruit, every day, to cause sin to reign in my mortal body, so I would obey its evil desires.

“SO THAT YOU OBEY ITS EVIL DESIRES” (Romans 6:12).

I understand that the evil one will offer me the fruit of enmity, strife, fear, jealousy, mistrust, anger, fits of rage, animosity, and selfishness.  Moreover, he will offer his fruit along with the excuse, “She gave me some of the fruit, so I had to eat.”

Lord God, thank you that I DO NOT HAVE TO EAT THE FRUIT THE ENEMY OFFERS ME, even when someone is hateful, manipulative, or condemning toward me.

“SUBMIT YOURSELVES, THEN, TO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU” (James 4:7).

How good to know that I have a choice:  I can eat of the fruit the enemy offers me when someone says or does something to me…or I can resist obedience to the father-of-lies, and submit my pain to You, instead, O Lord, and receive Your Fruit of Love, Hope, and Truth.

I submit myself to You, Lord God!

October 27  Those Who Fear Him Lack Nothing

“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 3:5-7).

Most High, it has been a great encouragement to me to discover that there are many promises available to those who trust You with all their heart...who lean not on their own understanding.  They will lack nothing.

“FEAR THE LORD, YOU HIS SAINTS, FOR THOSE WHO FEAR HIM LACK NOTHING” (Psalm 34:9).

My Lord, how my heart leaps with joy when I consider that from everlasting to everlasting is Your Love to those who acknowledge Your Counsel above the counsel of the father-of-lies.  Even their children will be filled with Your Righteousness.

“BUT FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING THE LORD'S LOVE IS WITH THOSE WHO FEAR HIM, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN”
(Psalm 103:17).

How blessed I am that Your Kingdom is an everlasting kingdom to those who trust You with all their heart.  Your dominion endures through all generations to those who rely on Your Love, even when things do not work out the way they had expected.  You are faithful to all your promises to those who rely on Your Power, even when circumstances are against them…to those who rely on Your Purpose, and not on their own…to those who rely on Your Divine Timing, and not on their impatience.  Hallowed be Thy Name!

“YOUR KINGDOM IS AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM, AND YOUR DOMINION ENDURES THROUGH ALL GENERATIONS. THE LORD IS FAITHFUL TO ALL HIS PROMISES AND LOVING TOWARD ALL HE HAS MADE” (Psalm 145:13).

I revere Your Name!

October 28  Seek and You Will Find God

“YOU WILL SEEK ME AND FIND ME WHEN YOU SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART”
(Jeremiah 29:13).

Lord of the Heavenly Lights, how encouraged I am that I will find You when I seek You with all my heart.  You might not always answer in the way I expect You to answer.  You might not always answer in the timing I allow You.  You might not always answer in the place I watch for You.  However, You always answer.

Sometimes, Your Answer will hit suddenly and vividly like a lightning bolt.  Sometimes, Your Counsel will come quietly in a whisper like a gentle sea breeze.  Sometimes, Your Truth will trickle in drop by drop, until my bucket is full and my answer is complete.

May I remember, my Lord, that when I do not hear from You, and it feels like You have abandoned me…that You ARE working on my case.  May I understand that I might not see You working, but that You ARE working behind the scenes.  May I be encouraged that You ARE busy moving my mountains, even when I do not see the results, yet. 

Help me to, O God, to not always expect an instant answer and an instant solution, and that my every mountain be moved in a second.  Sometimes, the mountain that needs to be moved is my heart…and hearts are slow to be moved.

“AND WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD, BECAUSE ANYONE WHO COMES TO HIM MUST BELIEVE THAT HE EXISTS AND THAT HE REWARDS THOSE WHO EARNESTLY SEEK HIM” (Hebrews 11:6).

Lord Jesus, build Your Faith in my heart, so that I may never forget that the Perfect Father DOES reward those who earnestly seek Him, even if it takes some time. 

I seek You, my Lord!

October 29 When I Fail

Oswald Chambers once said, “When a person fails in his personal Christian life, it is usually because he has never received anything.”

“JOHN ANSWERED AND SAID, A MAN CAN RECEIVE NOTHING, EXCEPT IT BE GIVEN HIM FROM HEAVEN” (John 3:27).

Lord Jesus, I realize that I will be empty, unless You come and fill me up.  I will have nothing…unless it be given me from Heaven.  I will fail to love, until I have received Your Love into my heart.  I will fail to be patient, until I have received Your Patience into my heart.  I will fail to be faithful, until I have received Your Faithfulness into my heart.

“HITHERTO HAVE YE ASKED NOTHING IN MY NAME: ASK, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE, THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL” (John 16:24).

Lord Jesus, thank you that I may ask…so that I may receive…so that my joy may be full.

There is so much I ask in Your Name…so that I may receive…so that my joy may be full.  I ask that Your Goodness eradicate and exchange all my badness.  I ask that Your Kindness conquer my harshness…my insensitivity…my carelessness.  I ask that Your Humility overcome my pride…my selfishness…my boastfulness.

Lord Jesus, it is only when I have received from You…that I will not fail in my personal Christian life.

“PRAISE THE LORD, MY SOUL, AND FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS—
WHO FORGIVES ALL YOUR SINS AND HEALS ALL YOUR DISEASES,
WHO REDEEMS YOUR LIFE FROM THE PIT
AND CROWNS YOU WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION,
WHO SATISFIES YOUR DESIRES WITH GOOD THINGS
SO THAT YOUR YOUTH IS RENEWED LIKE THE EAGLE’S”
(Psalm 103:2-5).

Praise the Lord, my soul!

October 30  Redemption

Lord God, once upon a time in a place far away, humans lived according to spiritual principals…indwelled by Your Spirit…covered by Your Love, Hope and Truth.  They thought Your thoughts and lived in Your Light, uninterrupted by negative thoughts, far-fetched imaginations, and senseless arguments.  There was no darkness in their mind and no pain in their heart.  They were whole and holy.

“FOR WE KNOW THAT THE LAW IS SPIRITUAL: BUT I AM CARNAL, SOLD UNDER SIN” (Romans 7:14).

But then something happened.  Humans decided that they would disobey You by listening to someone else’s counsel…THE FATHER-OF-LIES.  And they became naked!  They were stripped of Your Truth, Hope, and Love.  Although these attributes were still available to them, they were now only seen through a veil, because humans were sold into slavery under the control of sin.

“WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR US, THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM ALL INIQUITY, AND PURIFY UNTO HIMSELF A PECULIAR PEOPLE, ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS” (Titus 2:14)

But because of You, Lord Jesus, we get a second chance!  You gave Yourself for us, that You might repurchase us from the father-of-lies…and so redeem us from all iniquity, and purify us unto Yourself.

“BUT GOD WILL REDEEM MY SOUL FROM THE POWER OF THE GRAVE: FOR HE SHALL RECEIVE ME…” (Psalm 49:15)

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You came to redeem my soul from the power of the grave, where it was sold under sin to the father-of-lies.  How joyful I am that I have a second chance.  But I also have an obligation…to follow Your Counsel.  For even though You redeemed my life from the pit, the father-of-lies’ counsel will not quit.

Lord Jesus, bring me to that place where I will only be obedient to Your Counsel, so I might be crowned with Your Nature.

October 31 Put Off the OLD MAN

“THE OLD MAN WHICH GROWS CORRUPT ACCORDING TO THE DECEITFUL LUSTS” (Ephesians 4:22). 

Dear God, one of the revelations that opened my eyes was the discovery that I have a CORRUPTED PERSON living inside of me…a being shaped by the father-of-lies…a being full of negative, destructive beliefs of condemnation, shame, and abandonment…the OLD MAN.  When these OLD MAN beliefs of condemnation, abandonment, and shame are triggered, they hurt so much that I want to bandage the pain as soon as possible.  And the father-of-lies stands ready with the SOLUTION… sinful habits and patterns of hiding, running, and blaming others.  THESE ARE THE DEEDS OF THE OLD MAN in me.

I have noticed that people think that in order to become holy, they should only put off the DEEDS of the OLD MAN...to only stop their sinful defense habits and patterns of hiding, running, and blaming.

“PUT OFF THE OLD MAN WITH HIS DEEDS” (Colossians 3:9).

But Lord, I have discovered that it does not help to only put off the DEEDS of the OLD MAN.  I have to put off the OLD MAN first.  If I only put off the DEEDS of the OLD MAN, the OLD MAN is still in me.  He is a deceived personality, who is void of Your Love, Hope, and Truth, and feels very unacceptable and unlovable. HE NEEDS HIS DEFENSE PATTERNS, so he can take care of his pain.  If I take his defense patterns away, he will find new ones.  I cannot do this backwards.

Lord Jesus, come and put off the OLD MAN in me, and put on the NEW MAN in me, who is filled with new beliefs of Love, Truth, and Hope…then my defense patterns will disappear.  It is only if there is someone NEW living in me with whole and holy beliefs that I do not need my sinful defense patterns anymore.  I cannot better myself from the outside; I need to be exchanged on the inside.  You, Lord Jesus, the NEW MAN, is my hope of glory!

“CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY” (Colossians 1:27).

Jesus, You are the Hope of Glory!