Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." These profound words usher us into the cosmic narrative of divine craftsmanship, a narrative that not only initiates the story of the universe but also sets the stage for our own existence. "In the beginning" marks the inception of time itself, a moment when God, in His infinite wisdom and boundless creativity, embarked on the grandeur of creation. Before the mountains stretched their towering peaks, before the oceans roared with their mighty waves, and before the stars adorned the night sky, there was God, the Master Artisan, fashioning the tapestry of existence. The act of creation is a testament to God's intentional design. Every detail, from the microscopic intricacies to the vastness of galaxies, bears the imprint of His divine craftsmanship. As we ponder the expanse of the heavens and the richness of the earth, we glimpse the fingerprint of a God whose imagination exceeds the boundaries of our comprehension. Yet, the narrative of creation is not merely a display of divine power but a manifestation of boundless love. God, in His sovereign majesty, did not create out of necessity but out of a desire to share the beauty of existence. The heavens and the earth, crafted with meticulous care, become the canvas upon which God reveals His glory. As we contemplate Genesis 1:1, let us not be confined to the temporal dimension of creation. Beyond the physical realm, this verse invites us to consider the spiritual implications. In the beginning of our lives, God is present, shaping our destinies with the same loving hands that formed the cosmos. Just as the earth was formless and void before God spoke light into existence, our lives find purpose and meaning when illuminated by the divine presence. Moreover, the story of creation transcends the first chapter of Genesis. It extends into the ongoing narrative of redemption, where God continues to create beauty out of brokenness and order out of chaos. The Creator who spoke the universe into existence is the same God who speaks into the depths of our hearts, bringing forth new life and transformation. As we meditate on Genesis 1:1, let it be a reminder that our lives are intricately connected to the divine narrative. In the beginning, God created, and in each new day, He continues to create, inviting us to join Him in the ongoing work of redemption and restoration. May we marvel at the magnitude of our Creator and find purpose in being part of His unfolding story. Let's Pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for including me into the story you have created. Remind my spirit that this story is for your glory and reveal to me where I can show you glory throughout my day and in my life. Bring people into my life that can help show me your story in a new way. Amen.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." This verse encapsulates the essence of God's grand narrative, woven through the tapestry of time, and echoes the eternal yearning within the human soul. In the enigmatic wisdom of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon reflects on the rhythm of life – a series of appointed times and seasons. Yet, amidst the ebb and flow of existence, there is a profound acknowledgment that God has intricately crafted every moment to be beautiful in its appointed time. This divine orchestration extends beyond the individual threads of our lives; it encompasses the entire panorama of creation. The story of God unfolds in the vast expanse of time, revealing His sovereignty over every season, every joy, and every trial. From the dawn of creation to the culmination of history, God's handiwork is evident. His providence weaves a narrative that transcends the limitations of human understanding, inviting us to trust in the beauty of His divine timing. The verse further unveils a mystery – the placing of eternity in the human heart. God, the Master Weaver, has embedded within us a longing for something beyond the temporal, a yearning for the eternal. It is a divine signature, a mark of His authorship on the very fabric of our being. In our pursuit of meaning and significance, we discover that true fulfillment lies in aligning our lives with the eternal purposes of the Creator. The story of God encompasses both the seen and the unseen, the known and the unknown. As finite beings, we cannot fully fathom the entirety of God's plan from beginning to end. However, we are invited to trust in the goodness and wisdom of the One who holds time in His hands. In the midst of life's uncertainties, we can find assurance in the truth that God, who has set eternity in our hearts, is the anchor of our souls. As we navigate the various seasons of life, let Ecclesiastes 3:11 be a source of comfort and inspiration. Embrace the beauty of each moment, recognizing that God is at work in ways beyond our comprehension. Surrender to His timing, and let the eternal longing within your heart draw you closer to the One who is the Alpha and Omega, the Author and Finisher of our faith. In every chapter of the unfolding story of God, may we find our purpose and peace in His everlasting love. Let's Pray: Heavenly Father, you are the sovereign author of all creation as well as the author of every season of life. Thank you for the seasons of life that are full of hope and the seasons that are difficult. Let the Holy Spirit remind us that you are present and a firm foundation no matter what life throws our way. Even in times of what is known and unknown you son grants peace in the storm. It's in Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Judges 6:12-16 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” “Pardon me, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “Pardon me, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” Have you ever felt like Gideon? Perhaps the Lord has spoken to you; But you immediately question what He is saying. In this text, the Israelites are under oppression. Their crops are desolate, they are living in constant fear, they have run out of options. And here we find Gideon, hiding, trying to make some flour to get by. In the midst of this crisis, God calls out to him: “God is with you, mighty warrior!” Gideon’s immediate response? - “Are you sure about that?” Did you catch that? The Angel of the Lord is literally standing in front of Gideon saying “God is with you.” And Gideon responds with doubt. It is easy for us to read about Gideon and cast judgment. However, I have to admit I have acted strangely similarly. God speaks truth to me, but the lies in my mind are so overpowering, I can’t hear Him clearly. I immediately argue. He reminds me He is for me, not against me. I rebuttal with the list of all the wrongs I have endured. “How can you be for me, God, when I have been so mistreated, taken advantage of, left in this miserable place?” What I love about this story is the Angel of the Lord’s response. He does not deny anything about the situation. He does not argue with Gideon or try to make him believe anything is different. Because the truth is, the Israelites are in a bad place, they need saving, they need solace, they need solutions. God does not deny the hardships they are facing, instead He calls Gideon to action - “Go in strength…Am I not sending you?” Again Gideon responds with doubt. He argues that He cannot save Israel… he is weak, the weakest of his family, in fact! The least of the least, “you’ve got the wrong guy, God!” Again, God does not argue with Gideon. He does not tell him how great he is or tell him he can do it on his own. No, He reminds him that God will be with him. In the midst of our trials, hardships, and painful seasons of life - how often do we cry out to God expecting Him to simply take the source of our struggles away. Only to be met with frustration when the situation does not change. We feel abandoned and overlooked, unimportant in the eyes of God. I want to challenge you that God has not abandoned you in this season of life. He is for you. What if instead of taking away your hardship - God is calling you to action? He is not ignoring what you’re going through, it is very real to Him. But perhaps He is calling you to action rather than passively hiding from the source of your trouble. When you are asking who will resolve these issues, what if He is saying “Am I not sending you?” So today let’s pray and ask God to be with us as we face the many trials life throws at us. Let us approach God boldly and ask Him to show us what He is sending us to do. Maybe our action is simply forgiving someone who had wronged us so we can heal. Maybe it is setting a boundary in a relationship in order to protect ourselves and our family. Maybe it is having a difficult conversation at work or at school. Whatever God is calling you to, He will be with you. Let’s Pray: God, I thank you that you are the God of truth. Thank you that you will never leave me nor forsake me. I pray that you will be with me today in whatever I face. Give me your power, wisdom, and courage to overcome any hardship in my life. Let me be active in my faith and help me to do what I need to do. Bring me your peace in the midst of chaos. I trust you Lord and your will for my life. Remind me of who you say I am today. Amen.
Genesis 1:26-27 26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” 27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Our story begins with His Story or more aptly named “History”. 1. Reference to the Trinity This is the very first reference to the trinity: “our image” and “like us.” God is three-part in one: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This will be described later and hinted at throughout the rest of the bible, but it is important to remember that this is all a part of God’s plan and has been since the beginning: the creation of all, the guidance and provision of His chosen people, the coming and life of Jesus Christ, Jesus’s death and forgiveness of our sin, the provision of the Holy Spirit, and all the rest that is to come. 2. God made us in His image. It is so very important to remember that we were made in the image of God. We were made to be reflections of Him. May we live in such a way that when people look to us, the very best qualities that we possess and our actions can point back to our creator. We are not perfect and we never will be, but thankfully we were given Jesus to be our perfect example, advocate, and to give us the gift of mercy and forgiveness, so long as we ask for it and say yes to Him. Once we ask God into our lives, we also have the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us on God’s path and plan for our lives. God created us and we are all a part of His plan. Remember, you are so important and you matter. You were not a forethought but were meticulously planned and prepared for by the Creator Himself. Let’s Pray: Thank you for bringing us into this world and for giving us this gift of life. We pray that we remember that you made us in your image and that we seek you first in our lives. You planned for us and have prepared for us and will provide for us when we ask for your help. We pray that we seek you and ask for you to come into our lives to guide and direct us on your path and plan. Lord, we pray that we can remember even in our darkest, loneliest moments that each one of us is special and so very precious in your eyes. We love you, thank you for loving us. Amen.
Romans 4:1-3 “Abraham entered into what God was doing for him, and that was the turning point. He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own.” So how do we fit what we know of Abraham, our first father in the faith, into this new way of looking at things? If Abraham, by what he did for God, got God to approve him, he could certainly have taken credit for it. But the story we’re given is a God-story, not an Abraham-story. If you are unfamiliar with the premise of Romans, Paul spends the early part of this letter tearing down the notion that the Christian faith was based on works. The Jewish leadership of that early Roman Church was putting forward that Christians still had to abide by many of the Jewish laws and customs in order to be saved. He brings his argument home by referencing the “first father in the faith” Abraham and by stating that Abraham was not saved by works, but he was saved by faith. At the end of the day, this is God’s story, not ours. Our only job is to trust in God and that He will set us on the right path. And that’s a good thing! Humans have a horrible track record when allowed to set their own path. I would much rather put my trust in God and follow His path than one that I have been trying to forge myself. Let’s Pray: Lord, thank you for taking the burden off of my shoulders and letting me place it on yours. I trust that you have the correct path laid out for me and that if I walk that path, things will work out in the end. Amen.
Ephesians 4:21-24 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy. Meeting Jesus and following him are two completely different things. The first is a simple but important choice. Either I continue life the way I’ve been living it or I choose to live the life he has called me to live. Although it does take some time to reach the moment of decision, and hopefully some serious mulling over, it’s either yes or no. There’s no middle ground. (like “kinda pregnant”). Following Jesus, that’s where the rubber meets the road. Letting him renew our thoughts and attitudes is the work of God. And again, we are faced with a choice. When the time comes will we “let him” change us? Let’s be real, change is hard, takes time and most of us really don’t want it. I’m so guilty of this and yet I long to be changed. Why? Because most of the time, (and I’ll be VERY real), I’d rather not be in my own head. Bleh. I’m reminded of when Naomi (not Judd) told Orpah (not Oprah) and Ruth to return to their former lives and families. Naomi planned to return to Bethlehem after all three of the women were widowed in Moab. Orpah and Ruth faced a choice, return to their old (former) way of living or something new. Orpah didn’t hesitate and I imagine her spinning on her heels and heading home. She “wanted” her old life. It was comfortable and EASY. Ruth also chose; a new life, new surroundings, people and a new God. That took faith and some graceful grit! I believe she never looked back. The end of her story is one of redemption, (like ours), and healing and restoration of family. She entered a new life empty handed and ended up smack in the middle of God's blessings. How? She chose to throw off her old life and fully embraced the new life God had for her. What will we choose? Selah - (fancy word to pause and think about it) Let’s pray: Lord, we ask for help throwing off our old nature like old clothing that no longer fits. Help us to fully embrace this new life You desire to give us. Help us as we surrender to Your will and make us more like You, in Jesus name, Amen.
Matthew 13:34-35 34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” Everyone loves a good story. Gripping stories can launch us to the edge of our seat championing for the underdog to win the big game. They bring us to tears when injustice befalls the innocent. And they make us sigh with content when everything turns out alright in the end. Jesus told 38 parables, or stories, during His three-year ministry. He used storytelling to relate to us and communicate three facts about Himself: 1. Jesus knows what you’re going through. In parables, Jesus used commonly known places and practical real-life examples to teach us about Him and how to have a relationship with God. 2. Jesus loves you. Jesus didn’t come into the world to condemn us, but to save us (John 3:17). He didn’t push people away but spoke truthfully by using stories, which would more often result in conviction instead of condemnation. 3. Jesus has a purpose for your story. In Mark 4:21-34, Jesus reminds us of the power He has given us in our personal story. If we don’t share the story of how we met Jesus and how He’s changed our lives, we limit the purposeful impact Jesus wants to make through us. What we think is boring about our stories can be the thing people relate to and the thing Jesus uses to draw them to Himself. Our story of how we met Jesus is our greatest tool to reach those far from Jesus and teach them to follow Him step by step! Following Jesus is not a religion; it’s a relationship. When we tell others about Jesus and how he has changed our lives, we are sharing more than words — we’re sharing the most valuable gift, the good news about Jesus! Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for the story of your love for me through Jesus Christ. Let your Holy Spirit use me and my story in a way that brings glory to you. Would you show me who to share part of my story with today? So that I can help others know you better. Amen.
Psalms 66:16 "Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me." This verse resonates as an invitation to share the transformative power of personal testimony—a unique and compelling expression of God's faithfulness in individual lives. The psalmist's call to "come and hear" underscores the communal nature of sharing our stories. Our testimonies are not meant to be kept in the shadows but are lights to guide others through the darkness. When we bear witness to the work of God in our lives, we participate in a sacred exchange, contributing to the collective tapestry of faith. The act of sharing our testimony is not a boastful proclamation but a humble recognition of God's grace. It is an acknowledgment that, despite our flaws and shortcomings, God intervenes in our lives with mercy and love. Our stories become a testament to His enduring faithfulness, demonstrating the transformative power of a relationship with the Creator. Moreover, personal testimony is a powerful tool in the hands of God for the encouragement and edification of others. In a world often marked by uncertainty and adversity, hearing how God has intervened in someone else's life can be a source of hope and inspiration. As we share our testimonies, we become vessels through which God speaks to the hearts of those who may be grappling with doubt or despair. The psalmist's invitation is not restricted to those who already believe but extends to "all you who fear God." Our testimonies have the potential to bridge the gap between believers and seekers, fostering an environment where faith can take root and grow. When we open our hearts and share the genuine struggles and triumphs of our faith journey, we create a space for others to encounter the living God. In a world inundated with diverse narratives, our personal testimonies serve as beacons of truth. They declare that God is alive and active, working miracles in the lives of ordinary people. As we reflect on Psalms 66:16, let us embrace the call to share our stories boldly and authentically, recognizing the profound impact our testimonies can have on the lives of those around us. In doing so, we contribute to a chorus of voices that echo the goodness of God and draw others into the transformative embrace of His love.
As we enter the New Year, I realize how important it is that I hang onto and be grateful for the miracles God has already performed in my life. Some of the seasons we go through are challenging and uncomfortable. Paul demonstrated for us how to navigate uncomfortable places. No matter whether he was in prison or on a sinking ship, Paul chose to praise God at all times. I have spent a lot of my life living with fear, guilt, and shame. My anxieties have had their own anxiety. I’ve had a deep sense of feeling unwelcome that I have carried since I was a young child. God has poured His grace on me in such a way that these things don’t have the grip on me that they used to. Sometimes there’s a hard day and some of that old stuff comes up again, but that’s when I have to remind myself that we don’t give God glory with our lives when we continue to carry things He has already healed us from. I love how Jesus let Peter know in such an intimate and personal way in John 21:15 that he was forgiven, still welcome, and that there were people Peter needed to love and serve. Peter had to choose to accept Jesus’ grace and move forward. Like it says in Hebrews 12:1, "So, since we stand surrounded by all those who have gone before, an enormous cloud of witnesses, let us drop every extra weight, every sin that clings to us and slackens our pace, and let us run with endurance the long race set before us." Hebrews 12:1 This is my favorite Bible verse: 1 Peter 5:10 In his kindness, God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So, after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
Isaiah 43:2-3 “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” I first held on to these promises from God when I was experiencing severe anxiety in my 20’s. I had always been a fearful kid, but had not dealt with anxiety and panic attacks before then. During that season of my life, I did a lot of things to work through the anxiety - including seeing doctors and counselors and starting medication - but the best solution I found was reading and learning God’s word. I poured over Scriptures that talked about peace and comfort and having a sound mind. It was the truth of God’s words that helped pull me out of those dark days. When my mind ran to the worst places and wasn’t telling me the truth, I could hold on to the truth of the words God spoke through Scripture. Years later, I went through a heartbreaking divorce and experienced unimaginable grief, but again I could hold on to God’s promises: “I will be with you; you will not drown; you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” I knew I would not be left alone to die in my grief. God was with me. No matter what you have faced or will face in life you can trust in God’s promises. He is faithful and will always be with you. He is our comforter, strong tower, and our Prince of Peace. Hold on to His word and be encouraged to continue living out your days in faith and strength. Let’s pray: God, thank you for the gift of Your Word. And thank you for always being with me even on my darkest days. Surround me with your love and comfort and help me to keep trusting in you and your plans for me. Amen.
1 John 4:9-10 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. [10] This is real love-not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. The day I decided to follow Jesus was the first day I truly believed someone loved me. By that time in my life, 25, I had already formed a worldview of what love was. It was a distorted view that I formed through the experiences I had up to that point. I got my first bible and soon realized that what I called love and what God calls love were polar opposites. The world had taught me: If you love me, then you’ll do it. If you want it, take it and shove them out of your way. If you are a woman, you give yourself away to truly be loved. If you’re young, older people take advantage of you and you don’t tell or something worse may happen. If you’re in pain, kill it with alcohol and drugs You are a doll that gets abused and thrown to the side. No one loves you because you’re too ugly to love. Why are you alive anyway? God doesn’t love you, he hates you. God is love, and He taught me: I want relationship with you. A real one. You’ve been lied to, tricked into believing I hate you or that I’m distant, unknowable. Not so! In fact I love you so much, I’m sending my only Son to help you. He isn’t afraid of your mess, in fact he welcomes it. He’s the only one who can handle it. He’ll take your pile of shame, pain, loneliness, self-doubt, abuse and hatred. He’ll take it all and with one drop of his blood it will all be gone. I will see you as I see him, spotless. The love of God changed the trajectory of my life forever. I don’t view the world or myself as before. I traded my view for his view and he wants EVERYONE to come to repentance, through Jesus' death and resurrection. Let’s pray: Lord, you loved us first. Thank you for expressing your love for us through your Son Jesus Christ. Help us express your love to those who don’t yet know you by telling them about Jesus, Amen.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” - Romans 8:28 (NLT) Ever since I was a kid and accepted Jesus into my heart, this has been the verse that I have clung to. It has given me hope and has been the foundation for my life. “And we know…” this means that the statement that follows is to be a core foundational pillar of the Christian faith. God will cause things to work for good for us so long as we love Him and live according to God’s calling on our lives and by following His purpose for us. This does not mean that we will win the lottery or that nothing bad will ever happen, but if we live according to God’s purpose and submit ourselves to follow His calling on our lives, we will have such things as true joy in life and a place with Him in heaven. This won’t be easy though. I mean, just look to the story of Job. Not everything is sunshine and rainbows. Even though this was my mantra since childhood, I also whole-heartedly agree with the words of Pastor Brian, “I did all of my sinning after being a kid.” Thankfully though, a few verses later in Romans chapter 8, we find that nothing can separate us from God. “ 38 …nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:38-39 (NLT) Once we truly accept Jesus as our savior: by asking for Him to come into our hearts, believing that Jesus is God’s son, and confessing our sins asking for forgiveness, there is nothing that can separate us from God. We might need some help along the way to realign our lives according to His plan and purpose, but that’s why He also sent the Holy Spirit – to help guide and direct us along His path. Let’s Pray: Thank you for sending your Son to live a life that can be an example for us and for dying on the cross to serve as the penalty for our sin. Thank you for loving us and for forgiving us for our sins. We pray that we can live our lives according to your purpose and we pray that we seek your help when we may stray from your path. We love you, thank you for loving us. Amen.
Proverbs 17:17 Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble. Have you ever felt like an outsider? Like you just don’t really belong in the place that you are? You aren’t alone, believe me. This is something I struggle with and in the spring of 2018 it was never stronger. While away at college, I had never found a church to call home and as a last ditch effort, I made the hour and a half drive down to Oklahoma City to give The Bridge Bricktown (then it was called The Bridge OKC) one last try. I sat alone in the back of the room and at the end of the worship, my friend - who at the time I barely knew - did one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. He finished playing the guitar for worship, came over and sat down next to me, so I wasn’t alone. I instantly felt like I belonged at that church at that time. This led to me coming back the next week, which led to me getting my faith back on track. Proverbs says “Friends love through all kinds of weather” and that is so incredibly true. But friends are also there for the quiet moments too. Like when you just need someone to sit next to in a room full of strangers. So today, what quiet, small thing can you do for someone in your life? Let’s Pray: Lord, what small act of kindness can I do for someone who feels like they don’t belong? Please show me someone who needs to feel your kindness and love. Please use me to deliver your kindness. Amen.
Psalms 51:10-12 ”Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.“ What does it mean to be steadfast? These verses have been my prayers consistently throughout my life. One day, I was unsure what I was asking for. Did I really want a steadfast spirit? What does that look like? Did I consider what I was asking God to do within me that would cause steadfastness? Merriam-Webster defines “steadfast” as “firmly fixed in place : immovable: not subject to change.” How do I apply this to my spirit? If I ask God to create a steadfast spirit within me, what will he allow to happen in order for this to take place? I am very inconsistent by nature. Please don’t ask why, no one quite knows the reason. I have difficulty with routine and discipline. I prefer spontaneity and last minute plans (to the detriment of my type A husband). I hate schedules and I get bored of the same tasks quickly. So when I learned what it means to be steadfast, my first thought was there is something wrong with me. I also unsure if I could achieve this spirit David speaks of in his cry to God. Then I realized, maybe that is the point. All of us are inconsistent in some ways, because we are human. No matter how planned and managed your life is, there will always be things you cannot control, cannot plan for, even within your own behavior. And maybe that is why we are to seek a steadfast spirit. Not because it is easily achieved in our own will, but because it is mirroring the nature of God. God is steadfast, he is immovable, not subject to change. My prayer is not to simply be steadfast, but to be like Christ. Because in my inconsistencies, He is consistent. Where I fall short, He always comes through. This makes sense as to why we are so inherently drawn to God’s spirit. In a world of constant shifting, changing, and failing, he is always steadfast. So as I ask for a steadfast spirit, I do not seek to discipline my self for the goal of perfection. I ask God to make me like Him. That when trouble of this world comes I am unshakable in him. I pray my spirit is steadfast not to mean that I am so consistent I never have issues; but to mean I consistently run to him when I am disappointed, dissatisfied, or crushed. I pray that I am steadfast in seeking Him daily and talking to Him consistently as I do a friend. In this steadfastness, I pray I become more like him and blossom in all the fruits of the Spirit. It is not lost on me that the verse directly after David asks for a steadfast spirit, He cries to stay in Gods presence and with His Holy Spirit. I think David knew God is the only constant we can count on. Apart from Him we cannot hope to live consistent or steady lives. Let’s pray: God, thank you for your immovable presence in our lives. Thank you that when we are inconsistent, you are our constant. I pray that today you renew a steadfast spirit within us. That we would learn to run to you for our every need. That your mercy would cover over all our mistakes and you would teach us your ways which are higher than ours. We love you, Jesus. Thank you that your mercies are new every day. Amen.
When we look at Jesus’ life, we easily notice how much He loved people. He went out of His way even when tired to be with people to encourage, teach, and heal them. We have to remember to include ‘people’ in what we do every day. I love to make lists and ‘get things done.’ Sometimes I have to step away from the list and see if I’ve included ‘people’ on the list. We need each other. There is love, grace, strength, and power in WE. In Acts 2, they were all gathered together in one accord when the Holy Spirit came. I am blessed to have a good community of people at home, at work, and at church. God has slowly provided me with a really tight group of people that I can grow with. So, I give you a new command: Love each other deeply and fully. John 13:34-35 Remember the ways that I have loved you and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways. Everyone will know you as My followers if you demonstrate your love to others. I had a situation recently when we were decorating the Christmas Tree in the lobby, and I stood up on one of the tall bar stools so I could reach some branches up high on the tree. I hung a few ornaments, and then my knees locked up. Kim Wilson walked by, and I immediately told her, “I need you.” I didn’t have time to talk myself out of reaching out. I needed to hold onto her shoulder to get down. We need each other, and that’s o.k. My small group is really good at this. We have given each other permission to truly know each other, and we don’t try to look like we have it all together. We cover each other in prayer. We stretch and challenge each other. We correct each other, and we make sure to laugh together. Ecclesiastes 4:12 By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped. 1 Corinthians 11:1 Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. John 13:34-35 So, I give you a new command: Love each other deeply and fully. Remember the ways that I have loved you and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways. 35 Everyone will know you as My followers if you demonstrate your love to others.
