September 1:  Take Hold of That for which Jesus Took Hold of You

“BUT I PRESS ON TO TAKE HOLD OF THAT FOR WHICH CHRIST JESUS TOOK HOLD OF ME” (Philippians 3:12).

Lord Jesus, thank you for taking hold of me.  Let me take hold of You.  You bought me salvation from my Self: from what I do…and from who I am.  But now I need to take hold of You.  You came to nail my OLD MAN, with its beliefs of “I am not loved, I am not lovable,” on the cross, so that I would not be a slave to the effects of these beliefs on my heart.  Show me how to take hold of You.

“PRAISE BE TO THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST! IN HIS GREAT MERCY HE HAS GIVEN US NEW BIRTH INTO A LIVING HOPE THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD” (1 Peter 1:3).

How my heart leaps within me, when I realize that there is a Living Hope available to me, moment-by-moment, through You, Jesus Christ: a Living Hope for my living despair, a Living Hope for my living fear, a Living Hope for my living grief.  But I need to take hold of You, the Living Hope.

“JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME” (John 14:6).

Jesus, Living Hope, You are my Way to feel acceptable and accepted.  But I need to take hold of You.  May I invite Your Presence and Participation into these places of my heart.  Jesus, Living Hope, You are my Truth to the perception that I am fatally flawed.  But I need to take hold of You.  Remind me, daily, to invite Your Presence and Participation into my perceptions, so You might exchange them for Yours.

JESUS, YOU TOOK HOLD OF ME
MAY I PRESS ON TO TAKE HOLD OF YOU!

Thank you, God, for the Living Hope!

September 2  Take Hold of That for which Jesus Took Hold of You

“BUT I PRESS ON TO TAKE HOLD OF THAT FOR WHICH CHRIST JESUS TOOK HOLD OF ME” (Philippians 3:12).

Lord Jesus, my life has had many opportunities…many courses of action…many options.  However, I realize that there is only ONE PLAN that has contained the THAT for which You, Christ Jesus, took hold of me.  The other plans have not necessarily been bad.  They contained many good works.  They delivered great results.  However, they did not deliver the God-sized results that only Your plan for my life can deliver. 

“FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.”
(Ephesians 2:10).

Lord God, how excited I am about the THAT that is available for my life, the marked-out course that Your mastermind has prepared beforehand for my life.  How I am looking forward to the special projects You have planned for me, the good works You have lined up for me, and the accomplishments that are going to ensue. 

Lord God and Father of our Lord Jesus, I surrender my body, soul and spirit to Your workmanship, so I could be created in Your son, Jesus, because I realize that before I could live out Your Purpose for my life, You need to create the Truth, Love and Hope of the Lord Jesus, in my heart.  I am willing to give up all the other plans I have been following, so I can take hold of the THAT for which You took hold of me.  Guide me into the full purpose that was specifically designed for me.

May I press on to take hold of the That!

September 3  Overcome to Overcome

“JESUS ANSWERED, ‘I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME’” (John 14:6).

Lord Jesus, how encouraged I am that You are waiting for me in my heart when I feel sad, bad, or mad.  Help me to connect with my heart…and with You.

Sometimes, my heart feels so miserable, even when circumstances are good.  During these times, I find myself reacting to everything and everyone, even coming to the conclusion that I am not normal.  Everybody else seems to have it together, why am I falling apart, daily?  My heart seems filled DARKNESS…blackness…no light. 

Lord Jesus, I need light: a way out of my perception that I am not okay…truth for my perception that You have no plan for the future…a life for the deadness in my soul.

I have noticed that it does not help to try and turn on the light in my heart all by myself.  My heart does not feel better if I memorize Scripture…if I tell myself over and over that everything is OK…if I try to avoid feeling bad, mad, and sad by pretending, keeping busy, or just sleeping it off.  I cannot force my heart to see things in a positive, holy way.  My own ways do not work. 

But Lord Jesus, when You speak to my heart…it feels better right away.

Instead of pretending that I am okay, I invite Your Presence and Participation into my perception that I am not okay.  Tell me Your Truth.  Instead of trying to avoid feeling bad, mad, or sad, I invite Your Presence and Participation into my perception that You have no plan for my future.  Show me Your Way.  Instead of throwing memory verses at the deadness in my soul, I invite Your Presence and Participation into the perceptions that are causing the deadness.  Give me Your Life.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You have a Way to make my heart feel better.

September 4: The Two Fathers

“BE VERY CAREFUL, THEN, HOW YOU LIVE—NOT AS UNWISE BUT AS WISE, 16MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE THE DAYS ARE EVIL” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Perfect Father, may I be careful how I live, and thus make the most of every opportunity.  May I live---not as unwise, but as wise, because the father-of-lies is using every opportunity to find a way for me to serve him. 

“FOR FROM HIM AND THROUGH HIM AND TO HIM ARE ALL THINGS. TO HIM BE THE GLORY FOREVER!” (Romans 11:36).

I realize that the father-of-lies is using every opportunity to get me to live FROM him and THROUGH him and TO him.  How he would love to take Your place in my life.  He is the father of the sinful self-nature.

“I KNOW THAT NOTHING GOOD LIVES IN ME, THAT IS, IN MY SINFUL NATURE.  FOR I HAVE THE DESIRE TO DO WHAT IS GOOD, BUT I CANNOT CARRY IT OUT. 19FOR WHAT I DO IS NOT THE GOOD I WANT TO DO; NO, THE EVIL I DO NOT WANT TO DO—THIS I KEEP ON DOING” (Romans 7:18, 19).

Perfect Father, I realize that nothing good lives in my sinful self-nature.  Although it wants to live FOR You and THROUGH You and TO You…it cannot carry it out.  It does not submit to You.  It submits to the father-of-lies.  Therefore, those who live according to the sinful self-nature have their minds set on what that nature desires…to live FROM the father-of-lies…THROUGH the father-of-lies…and TO the father-of-lies.

“THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE SINFUL NATURE HAVE THEIR MINDS SET ON WHAT THAT NATURE DESIRES; BUT THOSE WHO LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRIT HAVE THEIR MINDS SET ON WHAT THE SPIRIT DESIRES” (Romans 8:5).

Perfect Father, You sent your son, Jesus, to make a new life available to us…the Life of the Spirit.  May I live in accordance with Your Spirit, because they that have their minds set on what the Spirit desires…live FOR the Lord Jesus…THROUGH the Lord Jesus… and TO the Lord Jesus.  They give honor to You, Perfect Father, and the father-of-lies has no hold on them!

Glory to Your Name!

September 5  Make the Most of Every Opportunity

“BE VERY CAREFUL, THEN, HOW YOU LIVE—NOT AS UNWISE BUT AS WISE, 16MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE THE DAYS ARE EVIL” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Lord God, remind me every day to be very careful how I live: to make the most of every opportunity…every task…every incident…every conversation…every thought.

“THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE SINFUL NATURE HAVE THEIR MINDS SET ON WHAT THAT NATURE DESIRES; BUT THOSE WHO LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRIT HAVE THEIR MINDS SET ON WHAT THE SPIRIT DESIRES” (Romans 8:5).

Most High, today I realize that it is during all the ordinary little conversations and daily tasks that I have the chance to make the most of every opportunity…that I have the opportunity to either set my mind on what my Self-nature desires…or to set my mind on what Your Spirit desires.

“Man is not fully conditioned and determined but rather determines himself whether he gives in to conditions or stand up to them” (Victor E. Frankl).

What a blessing to know that “to live in accordance with the Spirit” is a moment-by-moment opportunity, and that “to live in accordance with the Spirit” does not only apply to the big incidences of crises and chaos, but to the little daily happenings…the simple assignments…the basic chores…the ordinary errands.

“FOR FROM HIM AND THROUGH HIM AND TO HIM ARE ALL THINGS. TO HIM BE THE GLORY FOREVER!...” (Romans 11:36).

Lord Jesus, remind me to not wait for the big happenings of life before I allow Your Presence and Participations into my life.  May I submit the little moments of each day to You: the moments of disappointment…the moments of loneliness…the moments of fear.  May I live FROM You…THROUGH You…and TO You during my daily thoughts and perceptions.

“BECAUSE THOSE WHO ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD ARE SONS OF GOD”
(Romans 8:14).

May I make the most of every opportunity!

September 6  A Dog Returns to its Vomit

“NOW THE MIND OF THE FLESH [WHICH IS SENSE AND REASON WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT] IS DEATH [DEATH THAT COMPRISES ALL THE MISERIES ARISING FROM SIN, BOTH HERE AND HEREAFTER]. BUT THE MIND OF THE [HOLY] SPIRIT IS LIFE AND [SOUL] PEACE [BOTH NOW AND FOREVER]” (Romans 8:6 AMP).

Lord Jesus, thank you for showing us that our natural mind, the mind of the flesh, reasons without the influence of the Holy Spirit.  When we lean on our own perceptions, we operate under the control of a power...our own mind... that is void of the influence of Your Holy Spirit.  Therefore, we obtain misinterpreted conclusions, false deductions, and wild suspicions. 

“THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE SINFUL NATURE HAVE THEIR MINDS SET ON WHAT THAT NATURE DESIRES; BUT THOSE WHO LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRIT HAVE THEIR MINDS SET ON WHAT THE SPIRIT DESIRES” (Romans 8:5).

Lord Jesus, thank you for showing us that as long as we have our minds set on reasoning without the Holy Spirit, we will behave in the patterns comprising of all the miseries arising from this reasoning.  This is the way of the mind that operates from its own perceptions.  Just like a dog returns to its vomit, and a sow that is washed returns to its wallowing in the mud, so also the mind, reasoning without the Holy Spirit, will always return to the same patterns that please the sinful nature.  These irrational, out-of-control, and hateful behavior patterns will return tomorrow…and the day after that…and the day after that.

“"A DOG RETURNS TO ITS VOMIT," AND, "A SOW THAT IS WASHED GOES BACK TO HER WALLOWING IN THE MUD”” (2 Peter 2:22).

Lord God. I would like to change my behavior patterns.  I would like to start living from the reasoning of the Holy Spirit.  Remind me to surrender my own perceptions (reasoning without the Holy Spirit) to You, Lord Jesus, every day, moment-by-moment, a hundred times a day.  I will do this, so that Your Perceptions (reasoning with the Holy Spirit) will renew my mind.  Then You will set my mind free from returning to the same irrational, out-of-control, and hateful patterns…its own vomit.

But the mind of Your Spirit is Life!

September 7  To Name the Pain 

“SEE, I HAVE REFINED YOU, THOUGH NOT AS SILVER; I HAVE TESTED YOU IN THE FURNACE OF AFFLICTION” (Isaiah 48:10).

Lord Jesus, thank you that You care about my heart, and that I can bring any pain to you, just the way it is.  Pain is very real to me.  It is something that can be perceived by my senses…something physical that becomes an agent for identification.  When I have emotional pain, I become aware of its attributes, its intensity and its resemblance to something else I know.  Sometimes, pain feels like a distortion in my heart.  Other times, it felt like a heavy rock at the bottom of my heart.  Yet another time, I identify the pain in my heart as a stabbing knife.  All of these images help me to identify what is causing the darkness in my heart that makes me feel so unloved and unlovable.

Lord Jesus, now that I have identified and named the pain in my heart, I invite Your Presence and Participation into each of these places in my heart.

Come and remove the rock of heaviness that is sitting at the bottom of my heart.  Pull out the knife of unacceptability that is causing the sharp pain of jealousy in my heart.  Erase the distortion in my heart that is twisting Your Truth into lies of “I am a failure, I am alone, and I am unworthy.”

Lord God, as I am being tested and refined in the furnace of affliction, let me stay in Your Presence.  Let me bring each portion of pain to you in the way it was perceived.  Let me hear Your answers.  Let me experience Your deliverance.  Set me on high places, because I know to call on Your Name.

“BECAUSE HE HATH SET HIS LOVE UPON ME, THEREFORE WILL I DELIVER HIM: I WILL SET HIM ON HIGH, BECAUSE HE HATH KNOWN MY NAME” (Psalm 91:14).

I set my love upon You, O Lord!

September 8   The Benefits of God

“BECAUSE HE HATH SET HIS LOVE UPON ME, THEREFORE WILL I DELIVER HIM: I WILL SET HIM ON HIGH, BECAUSE HE HATH KNOWN MY NAME.  HE SHALL CALL UPON ME, AND I WILL ANSWER HIM: I WILL BE WITH HIM IN TROUBLE; I WILL DELIVER HIM, AND HONOUR HIM.  WITH LONG LIFE WILL I SATISFY HIM, AND SHEW HIM MY SALVATION” (Psalm 91: 14-16).

Pay attention that the Most High does not treat everyone the same.  Note that there are special privileges for those who set their love upon Him: for those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High…for those to whom the Lord God is a hiding place.  Those shall call upon Him when they are afraid, alone, or rejected, and He will answer them.  He will make His Presence known to them during their troubled times of sorrow and despair.  He will deliver them.  He will honor them.  He will save them.

“IF YE ABIDE IN ME, AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, YE SHALL ASK WHAT YE WILL, AND IT SHALL BE DONE UNTO YOU” (John 15:7).

Notice that the Lord God does not treat everyone the same.  Note that there are special benefits for those who abide in Him and allow His words to abide in them: for those who continue to do what is right in spite of adversity…for those who remain fixed in God’s Truth, instead of having fellowship with the lies of the father-of-lies…for those who endure their pain by surrendering it to the Lord Jesus Christ.  They will ask whatever they wish, and it will be done for them.

“OH HOW GREAT IS THY GOODNESS, WHICH THOU HAST LAID UP FOR THEM THAT FEAR THEE; WHICH THOU HAST WROUGHT FOR THEM THAT TRUST IN THEE BEFORE THE SONS OF MEN!” (Psalm 31:19).

Take note that the Everlasting Father does not treat everyone the same.  Note that there are special advantages for those who trust in Him: for those who commit their lives to the Perfect Father…for those who rely on the faithfulness of God…for those whose hope for the right outcome is in the Lord.  They will receive the Goodness, which the Perfect Father has prepared for them since the beginning of time.

I bless you

September 9  Prayer…A Place to Hide

“WHERE CAN I GO FROM YOUR SPIRIT?
   WHERE CAN I FLEE FROM YOUR PRESENCE?
8 IF I GO UP TO THE HEAVENS, YOU ARE THERE;
   IF I MAKE MY BED IN THE DEPTHS, YOU ARE THERE.
9 IF I RISE ON THE WINGS OF THE DAWN,
   IF I SETTLE ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE SEA,
10 EVEN THERE YOUR HAND WILL GUIDE ME,
   YOUR RIGHT HAND WILL HOLD ME FAST.
11 IF I SAY, “SURELY THE DARKNESS WILL HIDE ME
   AND THE LIGHT BECOME NIGHT AROUND ME,”
12 EVEN THE DARKNESS WILL NOT BE DARK TO YOU;
   THE NIGHT WILL SHINE LIKE THE DAY,
   FOR DARKNESS IS AS LIGHT TO YOU” (Psalm 139:7-12).

Most High, where can I go from Your Spirit?  Where can I flee from Your Presence?  If I try and hide in the dark dungeons of depression, even there Your answer will find me.  If I run to a faraway place to escape the shame, even there Your solution will be at hand.  If I try to bury myself in work to flee my thoughts of fear, even there Your Truth will set me free. 

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

Lord God, how comforted I am to know that I can hide in prayer…for You are everywhere.  I am never stuck without help.  I can pray in an open field when I am consumed with shame, for You there.  I can pray when I feel alone in the crowd, for You are there.  I can pray during a confrontation when I feel rejected and condemned, for You are there.

“IN MY DISTRESS I CRIED UNTO THE LORD, AND HE HEARD ME” (Psalm 120:1).

In my distress I can cry unto You, Lord God, and You will hear me.  For You are everywhere.  Even the darkness will not be able to hide me from You, for darkness is as light to You. Remind me, every day, to not be anxious about anything, but in every situation…to pray.

September 10   FROM God and THROUGH God and TO God

“BE VERY CAREFUL, THEN, HOW YOU LIVE—NOT AS UNWISE BUT AS WISE, 16MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE THE DAYS ARE EVIL” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Lord God, grant me alertness and awareness to be careful how I live, so I may make the most of every daily, moment-by-moment opportunity.

“FOR FROM HIM AND THROUGH HIM AND TO HIM ARE ALL THINGS. TO HIM BE THE GLORY FOREVER!” (Romans 11:36).

May I ask myself, often, whether what I think is FROM You and THROUGH You and TO You.  Call me, daily, to obtain this quality of life by not believing everything I think, but by taking hold of every thought that enters my mind, and submitting it to You, Lord Jesus.

“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).

May I ask myself, daily, whether what I believe is FROM You and THROUGH You and TO You.  Prompt me with Your Spirit to obtain this quality of life, daily, by not relying on my own perceptions…interpretations…or conclusions, but by actively asking You, Lord God, for Yours, during every moment-by-moment situation I encounter.

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

May I deliberately ask myself, daily, whether what I do,at a given moment, is FROM You and THROUGH You and TO You, O Lord, because those who are led by the Spirit of God…are sons of God. 

From You…and to You…and through You, O Lord!

September 11  Perseverance Is a Tool

“BY FAITH HE LEFT EGYPT, NOT FEARING THE KING’S ANGER; HE PERSEVERED BECAUSE HE SAW HIM WHO IS INVISIBLE” (Hebrews 11:27).

Lord God, help me to keep my eyes on You, even though You are invisible.  Keep me from watching the king’s anger.  Protect me from staring at the circumstances.  Guard me from taking stock of my failures.

“YOU NEED TO PERSEVERE SO THAT WHEN YOU HAVE DONE THE WILL OF GOD, YOU WILL RECEIVE WHAT HE HAS PROMISED” (Hebrews 10:36).

Most High, teach me to persevere, for perseverance is a tool in Your hands.  It is the tool You use to slay my enemies: abandonment, condemnation and shame.  It is when I do not give up, despite the opposition, that You have a chance to do the miracle.  It is when I keep on going, despite discouragement, that You have a chance to accomplish the impossible.  It is when I stand firm and keep doing what is right, despite counterinfluences, that You have a chance to accomplish Your Purpose.

“AS YOU KNOW, WE COUNT AS BLESSED THOSE WHO HAVE PERSEVERED. YOU HAVE HEARD OF JOB’S PERSEVERANCE AND HAVE SEEN WHAT THE LORD FINALLY BROUGHT ABOUT. THE LORD IS FULL OF COMPASSION AND MERCY” (James 5:11).

Lord God, help me to understand that there are many things You want to accomplish with my life, for You are full of compassion and mercy.  BUT I NEED TO PERSEVERE!  It is during perseverance that Your Will is done. 

May I keep on doing what is right.
May I continue to stand firm.
May I persevere!

“BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO PERSEVERES UNDER TRIAL” (James 1:12).

May I keep my eyes on You, O God!

September 12  What if I Did not Have Faith?

“WHAT IF SOME DID NOT HAVE FAITH?  WILL THEIR LACK OF FAITH NULLIFY GOD'S FAITHFULNESS? 4 NOT AT ALL!” (Romans 3:3, 4)

Lord God, I celebrate that my lack of faith will not nullify Your faithfulness. 

“BUT THE LORD IS FAITHFUL, AND HE WILL STRENGTHEN AND PROTECT YOU FROM THE EVIL ONE” (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

In times when I feel inundated with abandonment, You are still faithful.  You have not left me.  You are still Immanuel…God with me.

In times when everything feels hopeless, You are still faithful.  You strengthen me with Your Hope.  You are still the God of Hope.

In times when the evil one accuses me of powerlessness, You are still faithful.  You are still the God of Power who can do more than I can ever imagine.

In times when I feel surrounded by nothing but darkness, You are still faithful.  You shine Your Light on me.  You are still the God of Light. 

“IF WE ARE FAITHLESS, HE WILL REMAIN FAITHFUL, FOR HE CANNOT DISOWN HIMSELF” (2 Timothy 2:13).

In times when I am not faithful, You remain faithful, for You cannot disown Yourself, O Lord.

“GOD, WHO HAS CALLED YOU INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, IS FAITHFUL” (1 Corinthians 1:9).

Thank you, Lord, that You remain faithful!

September 13  The Spirit Helps us in our Weakness

“IN THE SAME WAY, THE SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESS. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE OUGHT TO PRAY FOR, BUT THE SPIRIT HIMSELF INTERCEDES FOR US WITH GROANS THAT WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS” (Romans 8:26).

Perfect Father, how blessed I am that You sent me Your Spirit…to help me in my weakness. 

When I am confused, and do not know what to pray, Your Spirit is ready to intercede for me with groans too deep to express.

When I am overwhelmed with sorrow, and have no words left, Your Spirit is all set to plead for me in His own purposeful way.

When I am encumbered with despair, and do not know what to say, Your Spirit comes to my aid and bears me up to You, Perfect Father, in His own sensible way. 

“AND HE WHO SEARCHES OUR HEARTS KNOWS THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT, BECAUSE THE SPIRIT INTERCEDES FOR THE SAINTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD'S WILL” (Romans 8:27).

How comforted I am that You, Perfect Father, who search my heart, know the intent of Your Holy Spirit, because Your Spirit pleads on my behalf according to Your will.

“MAY THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THE LOVE OF GOD, AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH YOU ALL” (2 Corinthians 13:14).

May I succumb to the Grace of the Lord Jesus, abide in the Love of the Perfect Father, and enjoy the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit. 

 For Your Spirit intercedes for me!

September 14 (Audio) Everything Matters

“WHOEVER SERVES ME MUST FOLLOW ME; AND WHERE I AM, MY SERVANT ALSO WILL BE. MY FATHER WILL HONOR THE ONE WHO SERVES ME” (John 12:26).

Lord Jesus, how joyful to know that if I follow You, I will be where You are…and everything I do when I am in Your Presence…matters.

When I follow You, I am where You are.  Then every smile I give matters…every word I speak matters…every deed I do matters.

When I am where You are, my patience counts…my faithfulness makes a difference…my love carries weight.

I am encouraged, Perfect Father, that You honor those who serve and follow Your son, Jesus.  You applaud their work.  You revere their commitment.  You prize their efforts.

“HIS WORK WILL BE SHOWN FOR WHAT IT IS, BECAUSE THE DAY WILL BRING IT TO LIGHT. IT WILL BE REVEALED WITH FIRE, AND THE FIRE WILL TEST THE QUALITY OF EACH MAN'S WORK. 14IF WHAT HE HAS BUILT SURVIVES, HE WILL RECEIVE HIS REWARD. 15IF IT IS BURNED UP, HE WILL SUFFER LOSS; HE HIMSELF WILL BE SAVED, BUT ONLY AS ONE ESCAPING THROUGH THE FLAMES” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

Lord God, may I be diligent to follow You and only do the work You give me to do, for then my work will be shown as being the will of the Perfect Father.  One day, my work will be revealed with fire, for the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.  And because I dwelled in Your Presence, Lord Jesus, my work will survive, and I will receive my reward.

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

For everything matters where Jesus is!

September 15  Jesus Has the Power to Bring Everything under His Control

“WHO, BY THE POWER THAT ENABLES HIM TO BRING EVERYTHING UNDER HIS CONTROL, WILL TRANSFORM OUR LOWLY BODIES SO THAT THEY WILL BE LIKE HIS GLORIOUS BODY.” (Philippians 3:21).

Lord God, how splendid You are.  You possess the power to bring everything under Your control: darkness…principalities…sin.  You can bring Light into the very shadow of death, for You are the Wonderful Counselor…Mighty God…Prince of Peace.

How glad I am, Lord God, that I am under the protection of someone who can do the impossible.  You are capable of bringing my out-of-control problem under Your control.  You are capable of bringing my out-of-hand dilemma under Your control.  You are capable of bringing my uncontrollable weakness under Your control.

Lord Jesus, I sing with joy!  You are capable of bringing my incorrigible heart and my unruly mind under Your control.  You are able to exercise restraining influence over that which is ungovernable.  You are able to rule over anything which I place under Your control.

“THE LORD ON HIGH IS MIGHTIER THAN THE NOISE OF MANY WATERS, YEA, THAN THE MIGHTY WAVES OF THE SEA” (Psalm 93:4).

Lord on High, I submit my uncontrollable problems to You.  I surrender my unmanageable weakness to You.  I yield my entire life to You.

I Yield my life to You!

September 16 (Audio) The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

"LORD, IF IT'S YOU," PETER REPLIED, "TELL ME TO COME TO YOU ON THE WATER."
 29"COME," HE SAID.
THEN PETER GOT DOWN OUT OF THE BOAT, WALKED ON THE WATER AND CAME TOWARD JESUS. 30BUT WHEN HE SAW THE WIND, HE WAS AFRAID AND, BEGINNING TO SINK, CRIED OUT, "LORD, SAVE ME!"
31IMMEDIATELY JESUS REACHED OUT HIS HAND AND CAUGHT HIM. "YOU OF LITTLE FAITH," HE SAID, "WHY DID YOU DOUBT?" (Matthew 14:28-31)

Lord Jesus, I can hear you calling me to step out of the boat and come to You…to stop focusing on the turbulent water surrounding me, but to walk on water.  However, it feels scary to step out of what I can see, and follow You to what I cannot see.  Lord Jesus, I am afraid.  And I sometimes feel like a fool.  The father-of-lies keeps telling me that “living-by-faith is a trick from God.  He is making a fool out of you.  His goal is to immobilize you…to de-activate you…to annihilate you.  He knows that as long as you trust HIM for the outcome, you will be unable to do something about your problem YOURSELF.”

“WE ARE FOOLS FOR CHRIST…” (1 Corinthians 4:10).

Lord Jesus, bring my faith under Your control.  Strengthen me, so I may live by faith.  Let me be a fool for You.  Call me to follow You and walk on water, even if it feels scary and foolish to trust You and hope for that which I do not see.  Speak to my heart, so I would understand what it means to live by faith…to stop taking matters in my own hands, but to allow You to bring matters under Your control.

"— BUT THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY HIS FAITH –“(Habakkuk 2:4).

Lord Jesus, teach my heart that faith is being SURE of what we hope for…and being CERTAIN of what we do not see.  May I become SURE and CERTAIN that THAT, which I have been hoping for…will happen.

“NOW FAITH IS BEING SURE OF WHAT WE HOPE FOR AND CERTAIN OF WHAT WE DO NOT SEE” (Hebrews 11:1).

May I be a fool for Christ!

September 17  My Sheep Listen to My Voice

Lord Jesus, I want to follow Your Voice.  I do not want to follow the many voices of shame, condemnation and abandonment that beckon me so often to follow them.  Sometimes the voice of the thief would start innocently as a little thought “That person does not like you.”  Then, as I dwell on this thought, a negative destructive belief would grow “You are not worthy to be liked.”  Eventually, after days of following this voice, a pernicious power of hopelessness and meaninglessness would overtake me. 

“I AM THE GATE; WHOEVER ENTERS THROUGH ME WILL BE SAVED.  HE WILL COME IN AND GO OUT, AND FIND PASTURE. 10THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY; I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL” (John 10:9-10).

Lord Jesus.  You are the Shepherd.  Let me be the sheep who knows Your Voice, because I have become familiar with it.  Let me recognize the Hope in Your Voice that fills me with joy.  Let me identify the Love in Your Voice that feeds my heart.  Let me hear the Truth in Your Voice that sets me free.  When I follow Your Voice, I will be saved, but if I follow the voice of the thief, I will be destroyed.

“MY SHEEP LISTEN TO MY VOICE; I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME”
(John 10:27).

Good Shepherd, may I become familiar with Your Voice, for You have come to lead me with Your Voice to pastures where I can go in and out.  Let me listen for Your Voice of Hope, Love and Truth when I rise at the break of dawn, during my coming and going in the middle of the day, and when I lay my head down at night.  If I listen for and follow Your Voice regularly, I will know Your Voice.  When I know Your Voice, I will recognize the voice of the thief, who has come to kill, steal and destroy.  I will recognize the voice of the thief as being an unfamiliar voice, for his voice will lack Your Hope, Truth and Love.  And I will flee from it.

“AND A STRANGER WILL THEY NOT FOLLOW, BUT WILL FLEE FROM HIM: FOR THEY KNOW NOT THE VOICE OF STRANGERS” (John 10:5).

May I listen for Your Voice!

SEPTEMBER 18
YOU MUST HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDE THAT CHRIST JESUS HAD
“YOU MUST HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDE THAT CHRIST JESUS HAD.
6 THOUGH HE WAS GOD,
HE DID NOT THINK OF EQUALITY WITH GOD
AS SOMETHING TO CLING TO.
INSTEAD, HE GAVE UP HIS DIVINE PRIVILEGES;
HE TOOK THE HUMBLE POSITION OF A SLAVE
AND WAS BORN AS A HUMAN BEING.
WHEN HE APPEARED IN HUMAN FORM]
HE HUMBLED HIMSELF IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD
AND DIED A CRIMINAL’S DEATH ON A CROSS.
9 THEREFORE, GOD ELEVATED HIM TO THE PLACE OF HIGHEST HONOR”
(Philippians 2:5-9 NLT).

Most High, may I humble myself in obedience to You.  May I give up my privileges, and quit seeking glory for myself. 
May I stop trying to accomplish the work You need to do in me and through me. 
I realize that I can accomplish nothing on my own:
no Righteousness…no Salvation…no Hope.

“THE WORDS I SAY TO YOU ARE NOT JUST MY OWN.
RATHER, IT IS THE FATHER, LIVING IN ME, WHO IS DOING HIS WORK”
(John 14:10).

“I DO NOTHING ON MY OWN”
(John 8:27).

 Lord God, may I have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had...to humble myself in obedience to You…and allow You to do Your work in me and through me,
You will honor my obedience, and You will accomplish Your Purpose in me and through me.

“Humility is the only soil in which the graces root” (Andrew Murray).

September 19  Jesus, Your Living Hope

Lord God, I have noticed that when I feel hopeless, everything around me feels dead…lifeless…extinct.  My possibilities seem crushed.  My life seems obsolete.  My power seems extinguished.  Hopelessness seems to be associated with termination… expiration…ruin.  Everything has ended.  There is nothing left.

“PRAISE BE TO THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST! IN HIS GREAT MERCY HE HAS GIVEN US NEW BIRTH INTO A LIVING HOPE THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD” (1 Peter 1:3).

Father of our Lord Jesus, thank you that in Your great mercy You have given us new birth into a LIVING HOPE.  Jesus was resurrected from the dead to bring us Life…new beginnings…creation.  Jesus makes alive which is dead.  He creates that, which does not exist.  To Him there is no expiration…no termination…no end.

How comforted I am, Father, that the Hope You have given me through Jesus is ALIVE and LIVING.  Jesus, my Hope, does not end.  My Hope does not grow weary.  My Hope does not sleep.

Lord Jesus, be my Hope.  Speak into my hopelessness, as I lay it before Your Living Hope.  Pull out the arrows of rejection that are stuck in my heart, as I expose my heart to Your Living Hope.  Change the message of abandonment that is part of my mind, as I invite your Living Hope to renew my mind.

“JUST AS THE LIVING FATHER SENT ME AND I LIVE BECAUSE OF THE FATHER, SO THE ONE WHO FEEDS ON ME WILL LIVE BECAUSE OF ME” (John 6:57).

Lord Jesus, You are alive!  Help me to fathom that You have come to bring a Living moment-by-moment Hope for my living moment-by-moment situations.  But I have a responsibility…TO FEED ON YOU.  Show me how to feed on Your Living moment-by-moment Hope when I am sad…when I am bad…and when I am mad.  Remind me, moment-by-moment, that You are ALIVE.  And I, too, will live.

I AM THE LIVING ONE; I WAS DEAD, AND BEHOLD I AM ALIVE FOR EVER AND EVER!
(Revelation1:18)

Behold, You are alive for ever and ever!

September 20   Not For Him but From Him

“FOR FROM HIM ...ARE ALL THINGS”
(Romans 11:36).

Lord God, how often I try to be perfect…being entirely without fault and defect…satisfying all requirements…corresponding to an ideal standard.  I try to be the one who knows, who does, and who achieves.  I believe I am something, and I work to become something more, better, and bigger. 

IF ANYONE THINKS HE IS SOMETHING WHEN HE IS NOTHING, HE DECEIVES HIMSELF” (Galatians 6:3).

But Lord Jesus, You have taught me that apart from You I can do nothing, I know nothing, and I am nothing.

You have shown me that You want to be the I AM in my life who knows, who does, and who achieves.  You have shown me that to be perfect means to be perfectly dependent on You, inviting Your Presence and Participation into each thought and activity of my life. 

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

Lord Jesus, help me to give up trying to be someone perfect in and of myself: someone who is entirely without fault and defect, satisfies all requirements, and corresponds to an ideal standard.  This causes me to be disappointed when I detect a fault in me or those around me.  It causes me to be sad when I cannot satisfy all requirements.  It causes me to be angry when I am not able to correspond to an ideal standard.  Let me come into Your Rest.  Teach me to not live a life FOR You, but FROM You.

May I live a life FROM You!

September 21  Grow into a Full Experience of Salvation

“LIKE NEWBORN BABIES, YOU MUST CRAVE PURE SPIRITUAL MILK SO THAT YOU WILL GROW INTO A FULL EXPERIENCE OF SALVATION.  CRY OUT FOR THIS NOURISHMENT, 3 NOW THAT YOU HAVE HAD A TASTE OF THE LORD’S KINDNESS”
(1 Peter 2:2, 3 NLT).

Lord Jesus, like a newborn baby, I crave pure, spiritual milk, so that I might grow into a full experience of salvation.  Even though I am reconciled to the Father through You, Lord Jesus, my PAST still has a big hold on me, because the father-of-lies had buried many beliefs of shame, condemnation, and abandonment in my childhood heart.  Help me to find all of these negative, destructive beliefs of the past, so that I can surrender them to you, and grow into a full experience of salvation through Your Truth.

Lord Jesus, I cry out for Your nourishment.  Help me to also be on the alert for negative, destructive beliefs suggested by the father-of-lies, during the PRESENT.  Accusatory thoughts enter my mind daily.  They suggest, “God is disappointed in you…God is tricking you…God is not really in control.”  Instead of believing every negative thought that enters my mind, Lord God, let me grow into a full experience of salvation by submitting each negative, destructive thought to You, and ask for Truth. 

Lord Jesus, my desire is to be so filled with the Light of Your Presence, that no darkness---no negative, destructive belief of the father-of-lies---will be able to enter into my mind and heart at all, because Your Light in my heart will keep them out.  May the Light of Your Presence not only supply Light inside my heart, but project far into the darkness, to provide Light for those around me.  THIS IS THE FULLNESS OF OUR SALVATION.

“GROW INTO A FULL EXPERIENCE OF SALVATION…” (1 Peter 2:2).

 I have had a taste of Your Kindness, Lord God!

September 22  Faith…Perseverance…Maturity

“CONSIDER IT PURE JOY, MY BROTHERS, WHENEVER YOU FACE TRIALS OF MANY KINDS, 3BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH DEVELOPS PERSEVERANCE. 4PERSEVERANCE MUST FINISH ITS WORK SO THAT YOU MAY BE MATURE AND COMPLETE, NOT LACKING ANYTHING” (James 1:2-4).

Lord Jesus, I desire to be mature and complete…having attained a final desired state…not lacking anything.  And I understand that there is a recipe to become mature: Faith, which leads to Perseverance, which leads to Maturity.  Before I can reach MATURITY, I need to PERSEVERE, and before I can reach PERSEVERANCE, I need to have FAITH.

“THE SEED THAT FELL AMONG THORNS STANDS FOR THOSE WHO HEAR, BUT AS THEY GO ON THEIR WAY THEY ARE CHOKED BY LIFE'S WORRIES, RICHES AND PLEASURES, AND THEY DO NOT MATURE” (Luke 8:14).

Lord Jesus, help me to realize that each trial that comes my way gives me the opportunity to PERSEVERE...to persist in a state or undertaking, in spite of opposition and discouragement.  But the PERSEVERANCE that leads to maturity calls for a special ingredient…YOU, Lord Jesus.  Therefore, may I ask YOU to make Your Love real to me when the father-of-lies tells me that I am not loved.  May I ask YOU for Hope, when the father-of-lies tells me there is no hope.  May I ask YOU for YOUR WAY OUT of each trial, instead of taking my own way out.

Finish Your work in me, Lord Jesus.  Teach me to not be choked by life’s worries when trials come, but to look for YOU and YOUR WAY OUT…so that I may be mature and complete…lacking in nothing.

Finish Your work in me!

September 23  Consider God’s Purpose when You Pray

“I TOOK MY TROUBLES TO THE LORD;
I CRIED OUT TO HIM, AND HE ANSWERED MY PRAYER.
(Psalm 120:1)

Lord God, thank you that I am never stuck with my troubles.  Thank you that I can cry out to You, and that You will answer my prayer.

Help me, Lord God, to HEAR Your answer to my prayer…to not already have a set answer planned, so that I do not RECOGNIZE Your Answer when it comes…to not visualize my own answer in my mind, so that I do not SEE what You have planned.

“FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU TO WILL AND TO ACT ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PURPOSE” (Philippians 2:13).

Lord God, thank you that I can be certain that You do answer my prayers, but the answer might be different from mine.  It might be radical… revolutionary… extreme.  The answer might not fit my purpose, but it will fit Yours. 

Help me to consider than You might not want to follow MY plan, but that You might want me to follow YOURS. 

When I pray, may I not only consider the things I have ASKED You, Lord God, but be open to the radical, revolutionary ANSWER that You want to give me.  May I allow Your answer to be according to Your Good Purpose…not mine.

Answer me, Lord, according to Your Purpose!

September 24 (Audio) Strength and Beauty

"TO WHOM WILL YOU COMPARE ME?
OR WHO IS MY EQUAL?" SAYS THE HOLY ONE.
 LIFT YOUR EYES AND LOOK TO THE HEAVENS:
WHO CREATED ALL THESE?
HE WHO BRINGS OUT THE STARRY HOST ONE BY ONE,
AND CALLS THEM EACH BY NAME.
BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT POWER AND MIGHTY STRENGTH,
NOT ONE OF THEM IS MISSING (Isaiah 40:25-26)

Most High, I lift my eyes and look to the heavens…the twinkling stars…the majestic Milky Way.  And when I listen, I hear You whisper, “My child, I am He who created the stars and called them each by name.  Because of my great Power and mighty Strength, not one of them is missing.  You will not become lost either.  Trust Me.  My Power is sufficient to take care of you as well.”

“THE LORD ON HIGH IS MIGHTIER THAN THE NOISE OF MANY WATERS, YEA, THAN THE MIGHTY WAVES OF THE SEA” (Psalm 93:4).

Everlasting God, I often stand next to the ocean and observe.  I watch the waves swell and plummet, leaving veils of white surf flying on the wings of the wind.  And when I hear the waves smashing and crashing on the rocks, I hear You exclaim, “Be still, child.  Be patient in affliction.  I am mightier than the mighty waves of the sea.”

THE LORD WILL BE YOUR EVERLASTING LIGHT, AND YOUR DAYS OF SORROW WILL END” (Isaiah 60:1, 20).

Perfect Father, when I feel the moon light shining on my face like a lamp, casting long shadows behind me, I hear You tell me, “My child, I sent you my son, Jesus, to be your everlasting Light, so that you would not have to walk in darkness anymore.  Follow Him as He leads you into belongingness, acceptance and holiness…and your days of sorrow will end.”

To whom will I compare You, O Lord?

September 25  Faith Has a Purpose

“MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YE FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS;
 3KNOWING THIS, THAT THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH WORKETH PATIENCE.
 4BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT WORK, THAT YE MAY BE PERFECT AND ENTIRE, WANTING NOTHING” (James 1:2-4 KJV).

Lord God, how good it is to know that faith has a purpose.  Faith builds patience.  If I would trust You to show me Your way out during hard times, I will learn to become steadfast, despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity.  I will learn not to be hasty, but be willing to bear my pain, while I wait for Your answer.

“IF YOU DO NOT STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH, YOU WILL NOT STAND AT ALL."
(Isaiah 7:9).

Everlasting Father, I realize that if I do not stand firm in my faith, I will not stand at all, because faith is the foundation by which the righteous shall live.  Therefore, may I stand firm in my faith, and not be hasty.  May I wait on You to show me the way out of daily trials, while I trust You with all your heart.  I know that if I were to take my own way out, I will fall.

"— BUT THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY HIS FAITH –“ (Habakkuk 2:4).

Thank you, Lord God, that You will protect me with Your Power, while I am standing in faith, waiting on Your salvation. 

“WHO THROUGH FAITH ARE SHIELDED BY GOD'S POWER UNTIL THE COMING OF THE SALVATION THAT IS READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME” (1 Peter 1:5).

Most High, bring me to the place where I will obey You, moment-by-moment, in what You have asked me to do, even though I do not understand from where the answer and outcome will come.

“BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN CALLED TO GO TO A PLACE HE WOULD LATER RECEIVE AS HIS INHERITANCE, OBEYED AND WENT, EVEN THOUGH HE DID NOT KNOW WHERE HE WAS GOING” (Hebrews 11:8).

May I stand firm in faith!

September 26 (Audio) The Voice in my Heart

Lord Jesus, I have noticed something about my heart.  I have noticed that when I react to something or someone, I do not react to the person or the circumstance, but I react to a voice in my heart.  The voice is very subtle…almost hidden, and if I do not deliberately pay attention to it, I will not notice it at all.  This voice seems to come to me in the form of a thought…a speculation…a judgment.

I have observed that this voice speaks to me during the fraction of time in between a happening and my reaction, which makes it very hard to catch.  In fact, if I do not slow things down and focus on that fraction of time, the voice will go unnoticed and it will seem as if I am reacting to the circumstance instead.

“THE GOOD MAN BRINGS GOOD THINGS OUT OF THE GOOD STORED UP IN HIS HEART, AND THE EVIL MAN BRINGS EVIL THINGS OUT OF THE EVIL STORED UP IN HIS HEART. FOR OUT OF THE OVERFLOW OF HIS HEART HIS MOUTH SPEAKS”
(Luke 6:45).

Lord God, I have noticed that there are many negative, destructive beliefs stored up in my heart, and that I react to someone and something according to the voice of these beliefs.  How encouraged I am that You are able to get rid of the beliefs and their voice of abandonment, condemnation and shame that are stored up in my heart, and replace them with new beliefs and a new voice of belongingness, acceptance, and confidence. 

Guide me to pause the fraction of time between a happening and my reaction, and wait for Your Voice, Lord God, to show me the way.

“WHETHER YOU TURN TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT, YOUR EARS WILL HEAR A VOICE BEHIND YOU, SAYING, "THIS IS THE WAY; WALK IN IT."”(Isaiah 30:21).

Thank you for storing good things in my heart!

September 27  Obedience Has a Purpose

“I WILL NOT SPEAK WITH YOU MUCH LONGER, FOR THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD IS COMING. HE HAS NO HOLD ON ME, 31BUT THE WORLD MUST LEARN THAT I LOVE THE FATHER AND THAT I DO EXACTLY WHAT MY FATHER HAS COMMANDED ME” (John 14:30).

Lord Jesus, may I learn from You.  I have noticed that the evil one had no hold on You, for You ONLY obeyed Your Father.

“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).

Lord Jesus, help my mind to understand how powerful moment-by-moment obedience to You can be.  Obedience will deliver me from the father-of-lies’ grip, because I lean on Your understanding, instead of my own.  Obedience will rescue me from the darkness, because I acknowledge Your perspective, instead of my own.  Obedience will free me from hopelessness and despair, because I regard Your Voice, instead of the voice of the evil one.

MY MOMENT-BY-MOMENT OBEDIENCE RENDERS YOUR MOMENT-BY-MOMENT REVELATION, POWER AND LIFE, O LORD. 

My obedience will unlock the Truth that has been taken captive by the father-of-lies.  My obedience will release the Love that has being hindered by the god of this world.  My obedience will unbind the Hope that has been seized by the evil one. 

“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)?

I rejoice that my obedience will lead to righteousness, O Lord God…AND THE FATHER-OF-LIES WILL LOSE HIS GRIP ON ME.

Thank you that obedience has a purpose!

September 28  Judge Nothing before the Time

“THEREFORE JUDGE NOTHING BEFORE THE TIME, UNTIL THE LORD COME, WHO BOTH WILL BRING TO LIGHT THE HIDDEN THINGS OF DARKNESS, AND WILL MAKE MANIFEST THE COUNSELS OF THE HEARTS: AND THEN SHALL EVERY MAN HAVE PRAISE OF GOD” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

Lord God, I have often judged something or someone at face value…to find out later that things were not at all what they seemed.  I often feel inferior, or overwhelmed, or disheartened by someone’s words or actions, just to find out later that they were not meant the way that I had perceived them.

“I CARE VERY LITTLE IF I AM JUDGED BY YOU OR BY ANY HUMAN COURT; INDEED, I DO NOT EVEN JUDGE MYSELF” (1 Corinthians 4:3).

Teach me and guide me, O Lord, to know that things are not what they seem.  In fact, what I perceive might be the exact opposite from the Truth.  Help me to understand that I cannot form an opinion about someone, based on his words or actions, because I do not know his heart.  But You, Lord, will one day bring to light all the hidden things of darkness, and the motives of each heart, and then you will deal with each man according to his heart. 

“BUT THE LORD SAID TO SAMUEL, "DO NOT CONSIDER HIS APPEARANCE OR HIS HEIGHT, FOR I HAVE REJECTED HIM. THE LORD DOES NOT LOOK AT THE THINGS MAN LOOKS AT.  MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART."” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Lead me, Lord God, not to complain, criticize, or condemn, but to allow myself to understand the other person, even if he complains, criticizes, and condemns.  Let me refrain from coming to hasty conclusions, based on my own perceptions, but depend on Your infinite understanding to be my judge, for You do not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the words and actions, but You look at the heart.

May I judge nothing before the time!

September 29  A Heart of Flesh

“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).

Most High, I have noticed that I need to be very diligent to keep my heart soft.  Often, when the father-of-lies shares his lies with me, I fall into temptation to harden my heart.  I do this to protect my heart from injury and destruction.  However, I have noticed that as soon as my heart starts hardening, Your Voice starts dimming, and my heart becomes filled with destruction.  I have noticed that a soft heart absorbs Your Light to emit it again, but a hard heart sows devastation.

Lord God, I have noticed that when my heart is soft, You bless it with Your Wisdom.   You fill it with Your Joy.  You furnish it with Your Strength.

“THE MAGICIANS SAID TO PHARAOH, "THIS IS THE FINGER OF GOD." BUT PHARAOH'S HEART WAS HARD AND HE WOULD NOT LISTEN, JUST AS THE LORD HAD SAID” (Exodus 8:19).

At the same time, I have noticed that it is the father-of-lies’ goal to harden my heart.  A hardened heart is filled with resentment.  It is infused with animosity.  It is injected with pride.

“TEACH ME YOUR WAY, O LORD, AND I WILL WALK IN YOUR TRUTH; GIVE ME AN UNDIVIDED HEART, THAT I MAY FEAR YOUR NAME” (Psalm 86:11).

Give me a soft heart, O Lord, that I may revere Your Name.  Protect me from the lies of the father-of-lies that could grow a hard defense in my heart.  That defense is counterfeit, since it does not really shield me from injury and destruction. Instead, it only serves as a barrier to block Your Love, Hope and Truth, Lord God.

I capture, Most High, that it is Your Love, Hope and Truth that provides the real cover from injury and destruction.

Teach me Your way, O Lord!

September 30  Are You Looking for You?

“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).

Most High, I would like to find the person I was meant to be.  I would like to know who lives in my heart.  I would like to know the real me.

Perfect Father, I think that right now I might be someone very different from who You have created me to be.  Right now, I am someone filled with lies from the father-of-lies.  I am filled with negative, destructive beliefs about You and about myself.  It seems that the father-of-lies already had a personality picked out for me…a personality filled with abandonment, condemnation and shame.  Because of these negative, destructive beliefs, I have developed a heart of stone…a heart filled with resentment, hatred and jealousy.  This is who I have been for a long time, O Lord.  But I want to find the real me who was created by You, O Lord.

God, I am coming to You.  I surrender my old self to You.  Reveal to me the person You have made me to be.  Strip off the lies, one by one.  Turn my heart of stone into a heart of flesh.  Give me a new spirit…Your Spirit.  Let the wrong beliefs about myself come tumbling down.  Let the scales fall from my eyes…so I could see the person I was always meant to be.

And when I see the new me, I will know that I am very special…that I am worthy…and that I matter. I will have time to live, because I will not be spending all my energy reacting to the stone in my heart anymore, struggling to survive the lies.  I will be free to be me…to be confident with my own special, unique personality…to enjoy the gifts You have given me.

Give me a new heart, O Lord!