“Who does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.” (Job 5:9, NKJV) When I read the Bible, I am always amazed—although I shouldn’t be—with the perfection of God’s creation. Everything, from the way He tilted the earth to give us seasons and designed gravity to keep things in the right place, speaks of a God of precision. It was not luck or chance that created our universe. It was God, and everything He did was perfect. “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all…
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24, ESV) The longer I live, the more I’m convinced that gratitude is a key element in living a happy life. It’s difficult to be grumpy and grateful at the same time. It’s also difficult to be selfish and grateful. Or angry, rude, or thoughtless and grateful. You get the idea. A thankful spirit is the perfect antidote for a lot of our everyday irritations and attitudes. Someone once compared gratitude to a muscle that grows stronger the more we exercise it. If we aren’t careful, we can allow our gratitude muscle to grow weak from disuse. It’s something we need to practice daily. Here are some ways to grow in gratitude. Recognize it. Learn to look for something good in every situation. We are quick to find the bad, but we should also look for the good. What can I learn from this? Can it help me grow? Will it increase my faith? Can I recognize God’s hand at work? “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). Speak it. Say “thank you.” Verbally expressing our thanks makes the person we are…
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18, ESV) The tormented Man “As soon as he got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him. He lived in the tombs, and no one was able to restrain him anymore — not even with a chain — Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.” (Mark 5:2-5, CSB) Legion was a broken, tormented man. The Bible doesn’t tell us his background prior to his life among the tombs. The townspeople saw him as a wild, demon-possessed man who could not be constrained or controlled. They saw no hope that he would ever be different. But hope found him! Legion—not his birth name but the name of his torment—needed deliverance. Jesus came to set the captive free. When he met Jesus, everything changed. the suffering woman “A woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years, who had spent all she had on doctors and yet could not be healed by any, approached from behind and touched the end of his robe. Instantly her bleeding stopped.” (Luke 8:43-44, CSB) The woman with…
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8, NKJV) Recently four of us met for lunch. We do it fairly often, and it has become a great time to relax and catch up on what’s happening. We have our own special corner of a nearby fast-food restaurant where no one minds us just sitting and chatting for a while. Our conversations can go anywhere and everywhere—new recipes, gardening tips, church news, prayer needs, childhood memories, latest travels. What does not happen is constantly staring at our phone screens. We actually talk to each other. This…
“Our LORD, I will remember the things you have done, your miracles of long ago. I will think about each one of your mighty deeds.” Psalms 77:11-12 CEV There is an old song titled “Count your blessings, name them one by one” and the scripture above brought it back to mind. Sometimes, especially in the midst of chaos, we need to remember past miracles. We are absolutely surrounded by confusion and weariness right now, and it’s so easy to become consumed with all the wrong things. It’s so beneficial for us to take a few minutes each day and remember all God has done for us. Even though it may seem like evil has won, He is still the same miracle working God that He has always been. What has God done for you? Remember it, tell it, write it down and declare it. Absolutely no one or nothing can steal your testimony from you, and it’s a powerful weapon we have been given. Prayer: God, I’m choosing to remember all that You have done for me. Every blessing, miracle and provision. Thank you for always working on my behalf.
“But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence” Luke 11:8 NLT The previous verses to this one tell us the parable of a man who went to a friends house at midnight to borrow a few loaves of bread. He had a surprise visitor show up and apparently had nothing to feed him, and I guess three loaves of bread would have done the trick! Now, if someone came to my door at midnight asking for three loaves of bread to feed their friend I think I might turn them away too, a girls gotta sleep. But the scripture referenced tells us that he might not get up and open the door because of your friendship, but he will do it if you are shamelessly persistent. The chapter goes on to tell us to keep asking, and we will receive. Keep seeking, and we will find. To keep knocking, and the door will be opened for us. We must ask, and ask again. Keep bringing your needs to the Father, keep calling out names in…