The Daily Grace - Not a Simple Story

Life seems straightforward in the laws of the Old Testament. Obey God and get blessed. Disobey Him and expect trouble. It's a satisfying theology. But is it that simple?

King Asa's story seems to fit the pattern. He led his people away from false gods and his kingdom thrived (2 Chron. 15:1-19). Then late in his reign, he depended on himself instead of God (16:2-7) and the rest of his life was marked by war and illness (v. 12). It's easy to look at that story and draw a simple conclusion. But when the prophet Hanani warned Asa, he said that God will "strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him" (16:9). Why do our hearts need strengthening? Because doing the right thing may require courage and perseverance.

Job got the starring role in a cosmic tragedy. His crime? "He [was] blameless and upright" (Job 1:8). Joseph, falsely accused of attempted rape, languished in prison for years - to serve God's good purposes (Gen. 39:19-41:1). And Jeremiah was beaten and put in stocks (Jer. 20:2). What was the prophet's offense? Telling the truth to rebellious people (26:15). Life is not simple, and God's ways are not our ways. Making the right decision may come at a cost. But in God's eternal plan, His blessings arrive in due time. God helps those who depend on Him.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, I give You a million thanks that I have woken up alive this morning, once again to witness the magnificence, the glory of your creation. Even on the dreariest of days, when the weather doesn't suit me, let me rejoice in the taste of heaven You give us on earth. For the hottest, muggiest day; the coldest and most bitter weather; the clouds, the rain, the wind and snow, the lightning and thunder — these are all Your creations, oh Lord, and all of them have a great beauty if I just take the time to see it.

Thank You for the examples of courage and obedience in Your Word. Help us learn from their mistakes and from their wise choices, as we make our choice to serve You. Let me be always filled with gratitude for the world You have given me.

As I talk to You, help me to grow in appreciation of the gifts of communication. Grant that I will speak out for those who have no voice and always have a kind word for those in need. This I pray, in Christ's name.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Titus 3:2

"They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone."

These are the words for the Cretian Christians by Paul. It encourages them not to slander or abuse no one. Instead, they should be kind and conciliatory and gentle, showing unqualified consideration and courtesy toward everyone. They should be gentle and kind.

This message is not just for them, but for us. We should practice kindness and gentleness wherever we will go.  Do not say cruel things or argue. We should be gentle and kind to our fellowmen.

The Daily Grace - Praise from Pure Hearts

During my friend Myrna's travels to another country, she visited a church for worship. She noticed that as people entered the sanctuary they immediately knelt and prayed, facing away from the front of the church. My friend learned that people in that church confessed their sin to God before they began the worship service. This act of humility is a picture to me of what David said in Psalm 51: "My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise" (v. 17).

David was describing his own remorse and repentance for his sin of adultery with Bathsheba. Real sorrow for sin involves adopting God's view of what we've done - seeing it as clearly wrong, disliking it, and not wanting it to continue. When we are truly broken over our sin, God lovingly puts us back together. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

This forgiveness produces a fresh sense of openness with Him and is the ideal starting point for praise. After David repented, confessed, and was forgiven by God, he responded by saying, "Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise" (Ps. 51:15). Humility is the right response to God's holiness. And praise is our heart's response to His forgiveness. Praise is the song of a soul set free.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, as I face this new day, let me be aware of the work You have done for me as I slept. I praise You that Your loving care never slumbers, but has been with me while I was least aware of it. And that, You renew me and the whole world, fresh every day, preparing Your plans for me.

I pray that I may seek Your will this day, Your plan for my life, and carry out Your plan in my every action. I lay my hopes and fears on an altar before You, that Your Holy Spirit may guide my hopes toward the light of Your holiness. And, may quiet my fears with the knowledge of Your infinite peace, in total confidence that Your grace will save me from the evils of this world.

Let me not forget you as I go forth into the world this day, blessed Lord. May my every word be a prayer, and my every act be a testimony to Your love and truth. And may I know Your presence every second of this day.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Matthew 11:28

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Even though you feel tired and weary, He will give you rest. Just come to Him. All who are tired and weary can freely come to Him, and He will give us rest. He will refresh our souls with salvation. Come to Him. Get away with Him and you’ll recover your life. If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to Him and He will give you rest.

The Daily Grace - The Gift of Tears

I called a longtime friend when his mother died. She had been a close friend of my mother, and now both had passed on. As we spoke, our conversation slipped easily into a cycle of emotion - tears of sorrow now that Beth was gone and tears of laughter as we recalled the caring and fun person she had been. Many of us have experienced that strange crossover from crying one moment and laughing the next. It's an amazing gift that emotions of both sorrow and joy can provide a physical release in this way.

Since we are made in God's image (Gen. 1:26), and humor is such an integral part of almost every culture, I imagine that Jesus must have had a wonderful sense of humor. But we know that He also knew the pain of grief. When His friend Lazarus died, Jesus saw Mary weeping, and "he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled". A short time later, He too began to weep (John 11:33-35).

Our ability to express our emotions with tears is a gift, and God keeps track of each tear we cry. Psalm 56:8 says, "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book" (NLT). But one day - we are promised (Rev. 7:17) - God "will wipe away every tear". Our loving heavenly Father, who washed away our sins, will also wipe away our tears.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, have patience with me and forgive me. Do not spew me out, as You have warned You might do with the lukewarm. Fill my soul with the fire of Your Word and help me grow, to put more and more confidence in You and less and less in the world before me

You have made us to laugh, to cry, to year, to love - and to miss those who have gone before us. Help us to love even more deeply, confident in Your goodness and in the resurrection You promise. Like a deer thirsts for the water of a clear cool stream, my soul thirsts for You, my God.

Forgive me of my sins. Help me to live in them less and less today, and every day, that I might more perfectly follow Your commandments. In Christ’s name, I pray.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 56:8

He kept track of our every toss and turn through the sleepless nights. Each tear entered in His ledger, each ache that we encounter are written in His book. Our tears are counted by Him. And, He will store it in His bottle to remember.

God has taken account of all our wanderings. All the tears that we shed are remembered. He preserved it. Keep in mind that whenever we cry out, He understands and will always be there to comfort you.

The Daily Grace - Mysterious Ways

When my son began attending Chinese language classes, I marveled at the papers he brought home after his first session. As a native English speaker, it was difficult for me to understand how the written characters related to the spoken words. The language seemed incredibly complex to me - almost incomprehensible.

Sometimes I feel the same sense of bewilderment when I consider the way God operates. I know He has said, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways" (Isa. 55:8). Still, there's a part of me that feels like I should be able to understand why God allows certain things to happen. After all, I read His Word regularly and His Holy Spirit lives inside of me.

When I feel entitled to understand God's ways, I try to recommit myself to humility. I remember that Job did not get an explanation for all his heartache (Job 1:5, 8). He struggled to understand, but God asked him: "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?" (40:2). Job contritely responded, "How can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth" (v. 4). Job was speechless before God's greatness. Although God's ways may seem to be mysterious and unfathomable at times, we can rest confidently that they are higher than our ways. Since God's hand is in everything, you can leave everything in God's hand.

Today We Pray

Dear God, my Savior, and Master, the model of all perfection, I resolve — and will try this day with my full heart — to imitate Your example, to be like You: mild, humble, chaste, zealous, charitable, and kind. I will redouble my efforts to see Your image in all those I meet and deal with this day — not only people I like — and to be as helpful to them as I would be to You. I resolve to avoid this day all those sins which I have committed heretofore and which I now sincerely desire to give up forever.

Help me never to excuse or minimize my sin. Please meet me in my brokenness. And, let nothing hold me back from praising Your name.

As I travel through the rest of my day, may the God of hope fill me with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit I may abound in hope. “The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. ” In Christ’s name, I pray.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Isaiah 55:8-9

God's way of thinking is higher and better than ours. If we fail, do not lose heart. If we are disappointed, do not lose hope. Behind these frustrations are God's great plan for you.

He knows your needs and He knows everything about you. Every detail in your life, He knows and remembers it. Cheer up if you get frustrated, God will back up you because His ways are perfect like the Heaven and Earth.

The Daily Grace - He Walked in Our Shoes

To help his staff of young architects understand the needs of those for whom they design housing, David Dillard sends them on "sleepovers". They put on pajamas and spend 24 hours in a senior living center in the same conditions as people in their 80s and 90s. They wear earplugs to simulate hearing loss, tape their fingers together to limit manual dexterity, and exchange eyeglasses to replicate vision problems. Dillard says, "The biggest benefit is [that] when I send 27-year-olds out, they come back with a heart 10 times as big. They meet people and understand their plights" (Rodney Brooks, USA Today).

Jesus lived on this earth for 33 years and shared in our humanity. He was made like us, "fully human in every way" (Heb. 2:17), so He knows what it's like to live in a human body on this earth. He understands the struggles we face and comes alongside with understanding and encouragement. "Because [Jesus] himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted" (v. 18).

The Lord could have avoided the cross. Instead, He obeyed His Father. Through His death, He broke the power of Satan and freed us from our fear of death (vv. 14-15). In every temptation, Jesus walks beside us to give us courage, strength, and hope along the way. Jesus understands.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, as I come before You this morning, my spirit is filled with thanks that You have given me a life and filled it with meaning. Knowing that You have a purpose for me is such a gift as I cannot express. Even when the world or my own thoughts fill me with feelings of worthlessness, I can turn to You and know, fully certain, that You are in charge and have filled my existence with meaning and purpose I cannot fully understand.

Thank You for "walking in our shoes" on this earth and for being with us. May we experience Your presence today. Accept my love and be with me, today and always, I pray; not by my merit, but by Your grace.

Most High, Glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my mind. Give me a right faith, a firm hope and a perfect charity, so that I may always and in all things act according to Your Holy Will. In Christ's name, I pray.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Hebrews 2:18

Since in His humanity had suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering. He was tested and tried, so He can immediately run to assist those who are suffering. That’s why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people’s sins, He would have already experienced it all himself—all the pain, all the testing—and would be able to help where help was needed.

He knows what it is like when we suffer and are tempted. And, He is wonderfully able to help us. When He is on our shoes, He knows what is happening. So, when trials come, cling to Him because He knows what is happening and He will be always there to comfort you and give you an assurance that everything will be okay. He got you!

The Daily Grace - Flowing Peace

"I'm not surprised you lead retreats", said an acquaintance in my exercise class. "You have a good aura". I was jolted but pleased by her comment because I realized that what she saw as an "aura" in me, I understood to be the peace of Christ. As we follow Jesus, He gives us the peace that transcends understanding (Phil. 4:7) and radiates from within - though we may not even be aware of it.

Jesus promised His followers this peace when, after their last supper together, He prepared them for His death and resurrection. He told them that though they would have trouble in the world, the Father would send them the Spirit of truth to live with them and be in them (John 14:16-17). The Spirit would teach them, bringing to mind His truths; the Spirit would comfort them, bestowing on them His peace. Though soon they would face trials - including fierce opposition from the religious leaders and seeing Jesus executed - He told them not to be afraid. The Holy Spirit's presence would never leave them.

Although God's children we experience hardship, we too have His Spirit living within and flowing out of us. God's peace can be His witness to everyone we meet - whether at a local market, at school or work, or in the gym. When we keep our mind on God, His Spirit keeps our mind at peace.

Today We Pray

Dear God, blessed are You, to You be praise and glory forever! As once You ransomed Your people from Egypt and led them to freedom in the promised land, so now You have delivered me from the dominion of darkness and brought me into the kingdom of Your risen Son. May I, the fruit of Your new creation, rejoice in this new day You have made and praise You for Your mighty acts. 

Help me to be more conscious of Your presence. Teach me to recognize Your presence in others. Fill my heart with gratitude for the times Your love has been shown to me through the care of others.

And finally, grant me, I pray, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in me and shed its light on those around me. And that by its brightness, I may share a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. This I pray, in Christ's Name.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Isaiah 40:29

If we are tired, God will give us strength. It is one of His promises in the Bible. He will give us power when we are weak. Let us just humbly approach His Throne of Grace. Tell Him openly that you are weary, and He will strengthen you.

The Daily Grace - Blessed Forgetfulness

My office is downstairs, but I make frequent trips upstairs to various rooms in my house for one thing or another. Unfortunately, by the time I get upstairs, I often forget what I was planning to do when I got there. Researcher Gabriel Radvansky has come up with an explanation for this phenomenon. He proposes that a doorway serves as an "event boundary".

After conducting three different experiments, he theorized that a doorway signals the brain that the information held in memory can be filed away - but it's frustrating when I'm standing there trying to remember why I came upstairs. However, forgetfulness can be a blessing. When I shut the door to our bedroom at night and settle down to sleep, it's a blessing to forget the worries of the day.

When I think of the fact that Jesus called Himself "the door" (John 10:7,9), I gain a new appreciation for this metaphor. When sheep enter the pen, they enter a safe place protected from thieves and predators. For believers, the Great Shepherd is the door between us and our enemies. Once we enter the sheepfold, we can "forget" all dangers and threats. We can enjoy divine forgetfulness and rest in the protection of the Great Shepherd. Christ is the door that keeps us in and keeps the dangers out.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, I enter Your presence confessing the things I try to conceal from You and the things I try to conceal from others. I confess the heartbreak, worry, and sorrow I have caused, that make it difficult for others to forgive me; the times I have made it easy for others to do wrong, and the harm I have done that makes it hard for me to forgive myself. Have mercy on me, and forgive me for all my sins against You and against others.

Thank You for the peace of mind that comes from knowing You are standing watch over the events of our lives. Help us to rest securely in Your protection. Grant me the Spirit of Fear of the Lord that I may be filled with a loving reverence for You.

I pray that I may be blessed every step of my path this day, and in the week to come, by the great God of light. May Your sun shine upon me; as the moon moves the tide, may Your Spirit move my emotions with every grace and magic; may my heart sing with the voice of Your angels and my heart be warm; and may this and every blessed day You have given me be filled with joy.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Acts 1:8

God has promised that you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. If you just ask in His mighty name, you will receive it. Then, you will be God's witnesses. You will be the one to tell the people about Jesus.

Make Him famous among the nations. To the ends of the earth, go forth and preach the good news. Everywhere you go, be a witness. Be the salt and light. Be the living testimony.

The Daily Grace - Our Strength and Song

Often called "The March King", composer and band director John Philip Sousa created music that has been played by bands around the world for more than a hundred years. As Loras John Schissel, music historian and conductor of the Virginia Grand Military Band, said, "Sousa is to marches what Beethoven is to symphonies". Sousa understood the power of music to motivate, encourage, and inspire people.

In Old Testament times, the people of Israel were often inspired to compose and sing songs to celebrate God's help during times of need. When the Lord saved His people from certain destruction by Pharaoh's army, "Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: 'I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation' " (Ex. 15:1-2).

Music has the power to lift our spirits by reminding us of God's faithfulness in the past. When we're discouraged, we can sing songs and hymns that raise our eyes from the challenging circumstances we face to see the power and presence of the Lord. We are reminded that He is our strength, our song, and our salvation. Songs of praise raise our eyes to see God's faithfulness.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, what a great day! Thank You for this and every day when I have woken up, with my heart beating and my mind able to read and think. You reign forever and ever!

I ask You to help me to be generous when I think of the attitude and actions of others. Forgiving someone isn’t an easy option, and I know that forgiveness isn’t somehow pretending that something wrong hasn’t happened. For what I have done wrong, forgive me, Father.

Let me live in obedience to Your word, remembering that, as we forgive others, so shall we be forgiven. Bless also all the other people of this earth, O Lord, that they may be filled with the joy of life, and especially know that life eternal, which can come only from Your Son, Jesus Christ. This I pray, in Christ's name.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Exodus 15:18

He shall rule for eternity and beyond. It is because He is God, the Creator of all things who must be worshiped and adored. He is the all powerful and all mighty one. We should show reverence to His name.

His name is powerful and wonderful. Today, let us give Him praise and exalt Him. No matter what is going in your lives, He still reigns and will remain the glorious One. Let Him rule forever and ever.

The Daily Grace - Chipmunk Chatter

I had laid out some landscape netting in my yard, upon which I was going to spread decorative stones. As I was preparing to finish the job, I noticed a chipmunk tangled up in the netting. I put on my gloves and gingerly began clipping away at the netting. The little guy was not happy with me. He kicked his hind feet and tried to bite me. I calmly told him, "I'm not going to hurt you, buddy. Just relax". But he didn't understand, so in fear he resisted. I finally snipped the last restricting loop and sent him scampering home.

Sometimes human feel entangled and react in fear to the Lord. Through the centuries, He has offered rescue and hopes to people - yet we resist Him, not understanding the help He provides. In Isaiah 41, the prophet quotes the Lord as saying, "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you" (v. 13).

As you think about your situation, how do you see God's role? Are you afraid to turn things over to Him - for fear that He might harm you? He is good and He is near, wanting to free you from life's entanglements. You can trust Him with your life. Faith is the best antidote for fear.

Today We Pray

Dear God, as I call on You today, I realize that I often come asking for favors. Today, I'd like just to be in Your presence. Let my heart respond to Your Love.

Loose my tongue Oh God that it may never be still in the face of embarrassment or hostility. Put Your words upon it, that I might serve You and know what to say, that I may never be at a loss of words when I am called upon to help those who seek You. And, let me speak always in love and respect of others, this day and always.

Let me not forget my prayers as I go out into the world. Holy Spirit, be with me and let me praise You and remember You in my every action and thought, for the entire day long. In Christ’s name, I ask this.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 46:1

God is a safe place to hide. He is always ready to help when we need Him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, before the rush and roar of oceans, and the tremors that shift mountains. He is our mighty fortress, always ready to help in times of trouble.

When in distress, call on Him. Through every storm of life, He will be always by our side. Hold on to His promises. He will never let go of us.

The Daily Grace - No Worries

A comfortable plane ride was about to get bumpy. The voice of the captain interrupted in-flight beverage service and asked passengers to make sure their seatbelts were fastened. Soon the plane began to roll and pitch like a ship on a wind-whipped ocean. While the rest of the passengers were doing their best to deal with the turbulence, a little girl sat through it all reading her book. After the plane landed, she was asked why she had been able to be so calm. She responded, "My daddy is the pilot and he's taking me home".

Though Jesus' disciples were seasoned fishermen, they were terrified the day a storm threatened to swamp their boat. They were following Jesus' instructions. Why was this happening? (Mark 4:35-38). He was with them but He was asleep at the stern of the craft. They learned that day that it is not true that when we do as our Lord says there will be no storms in our lives. Yet because He was with them, they also learned that storms don't stop us from getting to where our Lord wants us to go (5:1).

Whether the storm we encounter today is the result of a tragic accident, a loss of employment, or some other trial, we can be confident that all is not lost. Our Pilot can handle the storm. He will get us home. We don't need to fear the storm with Jesus as our anchor. What storms are you encountering today? Perhaps you have lost a loved one or are facing a serious illness. Perhaps you are having difficulty finding a job. Ask the Lord to strengthen your faith and take you safely through the storm to the other side.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, receive my morning sacrifice which I now offer up to thee. I yield thee humble and hearty thanks that thou has preserved me from the danger of the night past. You brought me to the light of the day, and the comforts thereof, a day which is consecrated to thine own service and for thine own honor.

Let my heart, therefore, Gracious God, be so affected with the glory and majesty of it, that I may not do my own works, but wait on thee, and discharge those weighty duties thou require of me. I beseech thee, my sins, remove them from thy presence, as far as the east is from the west. Accept of me for the merits of thy son Jesus Christ, that when I come into thy temple and compass thine altar, my prayers may come before thee as incense.

And as thou would hear me calling upon thee in my prayers, so give me grace to hear thee calling on me in thy word, that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation and peace to the saving of the soul in the day of the Lord Jesus. The blessing of the Lord rest and remain upon all his people, in every land, of every tongue; the Lord meet in mercy all that seek him; the Lord comfort all who suffer and mourn; the Lord hasten his coming, and give us, his people, the blessing of peace.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Luke 6:41

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

This verse is a reminder not to judge quickly. It teaches that the accurate measurement of the magnitude of our own failings should precede our detection of our brother’s. Christ assumes the commonness of the opposite practice by asking ‘why’ it is so. And we have all to admit that the assumption is correct. The keenness of men’s criticism of their neighbour’s faults is in inverse proportion to their familiarity with their own.  

Our actions are our self-revelations. The words are not to be pressed, as if they taught the entire goodness of one class of men, so that all their acts were products of their good character, nor the unmingled evil of another, so that no good of any kind or in any degree is in them or comes from them. They must be read as embodying a general truth which is not as yet fully exemplified in any character or conduct.

The Daily Grace - Wisdom Seekers

Every spring colleges and universities hold commencement ceremonies to celebrate the success of students who have completed their studies and earned their degrees. After the students cross the stage, these graduates will enter a world that will challenge them. Just having academic knowledge won't be good enough. The key to success in life will be in wisely applying everything they have learned.

Throughout Scripture, wisdom is celebrated as a treasure that is worth seeking. It is better than riches (Prov. 3:13-18). Its source is God, who alone is perfectly wise (Rom. 16:27). And it is found in the actions and attitude of Jesus, in whom "all the treasures of wisdom" are found (Col. 2:3). Wisdom comes from reading and applying the Scripture. We have an example of this in the way Jesus applied His knowledge when He was tempted (Luke 4:1-13). In other words, the truly wise person tries to see life from God's point of view and chooses to live according to His wisdom.

What's the payoff for this kind of life? Proverbs tells us that wisdom is like the sweetness of honey on the tongue (Prov. 24:13-14). "Blessed are those who find wisdom" (3:13). So seek wisdom, for it is more profitable than silver or gold! Blessing comes from seeking wisdom and living by it.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, may it please You that there may come a day when I can repay a little of my great debt to you. O Jesus, strengthen my soul, You who are good above all good. And, since You have inclined my soul in this way, show me how I may act for You, whatever it may cost, O Lord. 

Here is my life, my honor, and my will. I have given them all to You and they are Yours. Use me to do whatever You want.

Strengthen my resolve to live by the wisdom that comes only from You. Give me the discernment to live all of life from Your point of view that I might know the blessings of a life lived wisely. This I pray, in Christ's name.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Proverbs 3:13

 A person is to be admired when he finds skillful and godly wisdom. And, also the one who gains understanding and insight. He is blessed when he continues in learning from God’s word and life’s experiences. The man who knows right from wrong and has good judgment and common sense is happier than the man who is immensely rich! 

God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense. He will be joyful in his whole life. If you need wisdom, ask Him without hesitation and He will give it to you. God will freely grant wisdom in your life.

The Daily Grace - New Start for a Broken Heart

The Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb, Croatia, is filled with anonymously donated remnants of love gone wrong. There is an ax that a jilted lover used to destroy the furniture of an offending partner. Stuffed animals, love letters framed in broken glass, and wedding dresses all speak volumes of heartache. While some visitors to the museum leave in tears over their own loss, some couples depart with hugs and a promise not to fail each other.

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah wrote, "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted" (Isa. 61:1). When Jesus read from Isaiah 61 at the synagogue in Nazareth, He said, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21). Extending far beyond help for an emotional wound, Isaiah's words speak of a changed heart and a renewed spirit that come by receiving God's gift of "beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair" (Isa. 61:3).

All of us have experienced regret and broken promises in our lives. Whatever has happened, the Lord invites us to find healing, hope, and new life in Him. God can transform tragedies into triumphs. He makes all things beautiful in His time.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, You are the promise-keeping God who has said He will make all things new. Today, we give You our ashes in exchange for Your beauty, our mourning for the joy of finding comfort in You. Thank you for Your love and care for us.

Grant me by the same Spirit to be guided in my work today, and in my every thought and deed and in everything I say. Let my decisions be wise and holy, and my ears open to Your wisdom. And let me always be open to change; unstop my ears and soften my heart, so that I can learn Your way better and better every hour of this day. 

I dedicate this day to You, mighty God. I pray that Your Spirit will lift me up this day. Let Your face may shine upon me all day long, that I might do Your will and lead a new life in Christ, reborn in the Spirit.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 147:3

Are you feeling broken right now or for the past days? Come to our Father. He will heal you. He will bind up the wounds of your broken heart.

Rest assured that you will feel safe in His presence. In your brokenness, seek Him. You will find comfort. You will find peace.

The Daily Grace - Chili Peppers

"My mother gave us chili peppers before we went to bed", said Samuel, recalling his difficult childhood in sub-Saharan Africa. "We drank water to cool our mouths, and then we would feel full". He added, "It did not work well". Government upheaval had forced Samuel's father to flee for his life, leaving their mother as the family's sole provider. Sam's brother had sickle cell anemia, and they couldn't afford medical care. Their mother took them to church, but it didn't mean much to Sam. "How could God allow our family to suffer like this?", he wondered.

Then one day, a man learned about their plight and brought them some medicine to help with treatment. "On Sunday, we will go to this man's church", his mother announced. Right away, Sam sensed something different about this church. They celebrated their relationship with Jesus by living His love.

That was three decades ago. Today, in this part of the world, Sam has started more than 20 churches, a large school, and a home for orphans. He's continuing the legacy of true religion taught by James, the brother of Jesus, who urged us not to "merely listen to the word" but to "do what it says" (James 1:22). "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress" (v. 27). There's no telling what a simple act of kindness done in Jesus' name can do. Sometimes, the best witness is kindness.

Today We Pray

Dear God, let Your Holy Spirit be powerful to direct my thinking today so that it be empty of self-pity, dishonesty, self-will, self-seeking and fear. Inspire my thinking, decisions, and intuitions. Help me to relax and take it easy. 

Free me from doubt and indecision. Guide me through this day and show me my next step. Show me what I need to do to take care of any problems. 

I ask all these things that I may be of maximum service to You and my fellow man. Let my week be a blessed and favored one. In the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, I pray.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Proverbs 13:12

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."

Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick. If disappointments are always attacking your life, it will indeed put you down. Not getting what you want can make you feel sick. But later on, a wish that comes true is a life-giving tree. A sudden good break can turn life around. So, don't give up. Disappointments sometimes lead us to blessings.

The Daily Grace - A Worthy Offering

I was delighted when a mutual friend gave my neighbor a Bible. But my neighbor told me she couldn't understand why God would be so unfair as to reject Cain's offering. "After all", she said, "as a farmer, he simply brought to God what he had. Did God expect him to buy a different kind of sacrifice?" Sadly, she had missed the point.

It wasn't God that didn't like vegetables. Rather, He knew that Cain's offering was masking an unrighteous attitude. Cain wasn't fully committed to God, as expressed by the fact that he wasn't living according to His ways. It's easy to worship God on the outside while stubbornly keeping territory from Him on the inside. Jude writes about outwardly religious people who use religious activities to cover the reality of their sinful lives: "Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain" (Jude 11). 

We can faithfully serve God, sing His praises, and give sacrificially to His work. But God doesn't want any of that without our hearts. Does the Lord take priority over our plans and dreams? Is He worth more than the sin that tempts us? When we express to Him that He is more worthy than anything or anyone else in our lives, it's an offering He won't refuse. God won't refuse a heart that is surrendered to Him.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, may our worship and our praise from our hearts surrendered to Your ways. May it be worthy offerings of love for all Your blessings from above. Help us to proclaim the good news of Your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to You.

Let Your love possess my whole being - my senses, my powers, my affections, my very life. Let Your love rule my labor and my rest, my going and my staying, and move me as it pleases. Let Your love disquiet or comfort me, humble or exalt me, and burn away all my faults.

O Sovereign and almighty Lord, bless all Your people, and all Your flock. Give Your peace, Your help, and Your love unto us Your servants, the sheep of Your fold. That we may be united in the bond of peace and love, one body and one spirit, in one hope of our calling, in your divine and boundless love.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Exodus 15:26

God's nature revealed is revealed in this verse. This is Jesus' ministry of healing for all, and an abundance of promises in the Word of God combined to convince that it's God's will to heal us physically. If you listen obediently to how God tells you to live in his presence, obeying his commandments and keeping all his laws, there will be healing within you in His name. He will not let you suffer like the Egyptians in the time of Moses if you will just listen to His voice.

God wants to heal you physically, mentally, and spiritually. God can heal you. Understand that your healing in these areas is up to God. It is God who makes those decisions. Trust His plan. He is Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord our Physician!

The Daily Grace - The Bread that Satisfies

I learned to recite the Lord's Prayer as a girl in primary school. Every time I said the line, "Give us today our daily bread" (Matt. 6:11), I couldn't help but think about the bread that we got only occasionally at home. Only when my father returned from his trip to town did we have a loaf of bread. So asking God to give us our daily bread was a relevant prayer to me.

How curious I was when years later I discovered the booklet Our Daily Bread. I knew the title came from the Lord's prayer, but I also knew it couldn't be talking about the loaf of bread from the baker's shop. I discovered as I read the booklet regularly that this "bread", full of Scripture portions and helpful notes, was spiritual food for the soul.

It was spiritual food that Mary chose when she sat at the feet of Jesus and listened attentively to His words (Luke 10:39). While Martha wearied herself with concern about physical food, Mary was taking time to be near their guest, the Lord Jesus, and to listen to Him. May we take that time as well. He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35), and He feeds our hearts with spiritual food. He is the Bread that satisfies.

Today We Pray

Dear Jesus, Your death on the cross has set me free. I can live joyously and freely without fear of death. Your mercy knows no bounds.

I bless You for the day You have made. I pray that I may spend this day rejoicing in Your creation. And, I pray for Your Holy Spirit to fill me with the joy of my salvation, so that Your light may shine through me into the world, that Your honor and glory may be known to all people.

Let me not forget You as I go forth into the world this day, blessed Lord. May my every word be a prayer, and my every act be testimony to Your love and truth. And, may I know Your presence every second of this day.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Luke 1:38

This was the words of Mary when she met the angel that told her that she will about to give birth to a baby. We all know her story. She's not been married to Joseph and yet, she is about to give birth. But, she followed the will of God for her life and she entrusted it to Him alone. And now, her son, Jesus, is famous in the world because He is our Savior, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Mary's born child Jesus Christ is a blessing to the nations from generation to generation.

Like Mary, if you don't know what's happening in your life, trust in the Lord. He has better plans for your life even if you don't know His ways. Remember, His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. Let go and let God. Let His will be done according to His Words. Uphold His promises to your lives.

The Daily Grace - Time to Grow

In Debbie's new home, she discovered an abandoned plant in a dark corner of the kitchen. The dusty and ragged leaves looked like those of a moth orchid, and she imagined how pretty the plant would look once it had sent up new bloom-bearing stems. She moved the pot into a spot by the window, cut off the dead leaves, and watered it thoroughly. She bought plant food and applied it to the roots. Week after week she inspected the plant, but no new shoots appeared. "I'll give it another month", she told her husband, "and if nothing has happened by then, out it goes". When decision day came, she could hardly believe her eyes. Two small stems were poking out from among the leaves! The plant she'd almost given up was still alive.

Do you ever get discouraged by your apparent lack of spiritual growth? Perhaps you frequently lose your temper or enjoy that spicy piece of gossip you just can't resist passing on. Or perhaps you get up too late to pray and read your Bible, in spite of resolving to set the alarm earlier. Why not tell a trusted friend about the areas of your life in which you want to grow spiritually and ask that person to pray for and encourage you to be accountable? Be patient. You will grow as you allow the Holy Spirit to work in you. Each small step of faith is a giant step of growth.

Today We Pray

Dear God, who has been the refuge of my fathers through many generations, be my refuge today in every time and circumstance of need. Be my guide through all that is dark and doubtful. Be my guard against all that threatens my spirit's welfare.

Be my strength in time of testing. Gladden my heart with Your peace. Let me be the thing I meant.

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep me from falling away and will bring me with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time.

Amen