Today We Pray

Dear Jesus, as I spend these days waiting to celebrate Your birth, give me the grace to greet You without suppressed sighs of weariness. Grant me the spirit of generosity. Let me open my front door to You, without any thought of inconvenience.

Let me work every teaching and commandment You gave us. Let me know Your love and share it abundantly with all I may meet, remembering throughout this time Your message and example of long-suffering love and infinite patience. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, renew me afresh in Your Word and power, today and every day, energizing me in Your great commission. 

Thank You for dying on the cross for me and covering my sins so that I can have a relationship with You. I love the life You’ve given to me, Lord, yet I wonder what it will be like to see You personally. Help me to trust You with the future. I look forward to that day when I meet You.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Habakkuk 2:3

Are you waiting for something to happen? Do you feel any delay in your requests? Even though it delays, wait patiently for it. God is just practicing your patience.

Your requests will certainly be granted. It will certainly come; it will not delay. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time. 

The Daily Grace - Watch and Wait for God

Psalm 5 begins with a straightforward request: "O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning" (v. 1). The psalmist, King David, was in a gloomy place. We don't know his situation, but David was experiencing some measure of loss, sorrow or torment. He was in pain, "groaning". And in his difficult place, David wanted God to hear his agony. He needed God to listen to his "cry for help" (v. 2).

David didn't run to his advisers or his wife or the many wise sages of his court for aid. None of them could help him. He didn't roll up his sleeves and pore over documents, figuring out some solution to his predicament. David knew he couldn't help himself. He went directly to the only One who could meet him in his darkness.

"I pray to no one but You", David said (v. 2). David waited, watching for God. David's only work was not to work. He decided to bring his heart and his hope to God and then to "wait expectantly" (v. 3).

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, give ear to my prayer. Attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for You will answer me.

Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; and no works like those You have done. All nations whom You have made will come and worship before You, O Lord; and will glorify Your name. For You are great, and do wondrous things: You are God alone.

Teach me Your way, Lord, and I will walk in Your truth. Unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart. I will glorify Your name forever.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 5:3

Always prepare Him a prayer and sacrifice. God loves those things. First thing in the morning, He loves that we will talk to Him first before doing our daily tasks. Prayer is a powerful armor.

Wait for Him as He speak into your hearts. Wait expectantly. He'll make it happen. He'll make all things beautiful in His time.

The Daily Grace - Hope To Continue On

The solar-powered airplane Solar Impulse can fly day and night without fuel. Inventors Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg hope to fly it around the world. While the plane flies all day by solar power, it gathers enough energy to be able to fly all night. When the sun rises, Piccard says, "It brings the hope again that you can continue".

The idea of sunrise bringing us hope can relate to Lamentations 3:21-23, "This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassion fail not. They are new every morning". Even when God's people were in the depths of despair while the city of Jerusalem was being invaded by the Babylonians, the prophet Jeremiah said they had reason to hope - they still had the Lord's mercies and compassion.

Sometimes our struggles seem worse at night, but when sunrise comes it brings hope again that we can continue. "Weeping may endure for a night," the psalmist says, "but joy comes in the morning" (Ps. 30:5). His mercies and compassion are new every morning. Each new day gives us new reasons to praise the Lord.

Today We Pray

                                      

Dear Heavenly Father, I know that prayer isn’t a good-luck charm. But, I come to You now because there’s no one better to talk to. Let my heart become one with yours.

Help me to be fully alive to your Holy presence. Enfold me in your love everyday, Lord. Inspire me to live in the freedom you intended, with a heart untroubled and with complete trust in You.

Lord, I know that when I turn to you there is no need for words. You can see into my heart, You know my desires and you know my needs. I place myself into Your loving hands.



Amen