Today's Godly Reminder - John 15:5

God is the Vine, we are the branches. When we’re joined with Him and Him with us, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, we can’t produce a thing. Whoever lives in Him and we in Him shall produce a large crop of fruit.

We cannot do anything without Him. So, let us remain in His presence. Let us stay joined to Him. Let Him be a part of our lives.

The Daily Grace - A Lesson in Worry

My friend handed me a tall glass of water and told me to hold it. The longer I held it, the heavier it felt. Finally, my hand grew tired, and I had to put the glass down. "I've learned that worry can be like holding that glass", she said. "The longer I worry about something, the more my fears weigh me down.

King David knew about fear. His whole life had been turned upside down. His son Absalom had stolen the allegiance of the nation of Israel from him and was attempting to take the throne for himself. David didn't know who was loyal to him and who was against him. His only option seemed to be to run. He said to his servants, "Make haste to depart, lest [Absalom] overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us" (2 Sam. 15:14).

In a psalm that David may have written while he was fleeing for his life, he wrote: "I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill" (Ps. 3:4). In the midst of his fear, David looked to the Lord. God showed him grace and restored him to the throne. There are plenty of worries that can weigh us down. But as we release them into God's strong hands, He will help us through our trials. Worry is a burden that God never meant for us to bear.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, thank You that we do not have to be weighed down by worry. Help us to place our concerns in Your care so that we do not fear tomorrow. Lead me, Lord, and let your Holy Spirit guide me.

Let me do Your will in my every action, and know Your will, that I might do it. Help me not be deceived by false assertions or glib intelligence, by those who would excuse or promote sinful actions, by those who simply do not know; and above all, help me not to deceive myself. Guide me away from excuses and rationalizations when I have sinned, but into Your holy truth, that I might know my sin, and correct what I can, and ask forgiveness for what I cannot. 

Thou awakest us to delight in Thy praises; for Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart is restless until it repose in Thee. Now to him who by his power within us is able to do far more than we ever dare to ask or imagine — to him be glory in the Church through Jesus Christ for ever and ever. By the grace and mercy of holy Christ, I ask this.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 3:4

This is a psalm of David asking for help from the Lord. With all His might, He shouts up to God. And, His answers thunder from the holy mountain. He heard David's cries.

David trusted God that He will hear him. He relied on his only source of hope and “cried aloud to the Lord”. Let us do the same when we need help. Do not worry 'coz God will hear your sentiments.

The Daily Grace - A Worry List

I was worried about a few things as I sat in my car under a shade tree at lunchtime. Then a robin, with a fat worm dangling from its mouth, landed near my door and looked up at me. The robin was a vivid reminder to me of Jesus' words in Matthew 6:25-26, "Do not worry about your life. . . Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

Years ago, in an article in the Denver Seminary magazine Focal Point, Paul Borden gave some helpful suggestions for worriers:

Start a worry list. Write down what you're worried about. The bills. Your job. Your children or grandchildren. Your health. The future.

Turn your worry list into a prayer list. Ask the Lord to work in those situations you're concerned about. Pray specifically for your needs and depend on Him.

Turn your prayer list into an action list. If you have any insight that there's something you can do about your cares, do it. As we turn our worries into prayer and action, Borden says, "Paralyzing anxiety can be replaced by concern for the responsibilities of life".

What you have made a matter of prayer should cease to be a matter of care. Don't fret about the future or be consumed by cares. Instead, take all your worries and turn them into prayers. Why not start your list right now?

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, let me this day know You as You are. I want to love You supremely and admire You fully. Let me also serve You completely, Lord.

Give me courage to confess, to bare my sinful heart to Thee. Thank You for Your forgiving love You long to show. Thank You for the freedom from my sins.

I thank you that You have not destroyed me in my transgressions. But in Your love toward mankind, You have raised me up. As I lay in despair, let me glorify Your Majestic Name, forevermore.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Jeremiah 15:16

The Bible is also our spiritual food. It gives us power and strength. It is because the content of it are the promises of the Lord, His Words and stories. Let us eat our spiritual food everyday like a solid food to strengthen us each day.