The Daily Grace - Fly the Flag

Queen Elizabeth II has reigned for more than 60 years. Her monarchy has been characterized by grace and class. She has diligently given her life to serve her people well, and as a result, she is deeply loved and highly revered. So, you can understand the importance of the flag flying above Buckingham Palace. When the flag is flying, it means that she is in residence in the heart of London. The flag is a public statement that the queen is present with her people.

As I was thinking about that, it occurred to me that our King Jesus is in residence in our hearts as our "never leave you nor forsake you" Monarch (Heb. 13:5) As wonderful as that is to us personally, I wonder if those around us would recognize that He is in residence based on the way we live? If He is within us, that will show on the outside. As Paul says, we are to be "imitators of God" and to "walk in love, as Christ also has loved us" (Eph. 5:1-2). As we do so, we will display joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23). So let's fly the flag of His presence - the flag of His grace, righteousness, and love - so that others may see Him through us.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, Your love embraces everyone. Through the Resurrection of Your Son, You call me and all who pray with me into Your wonderful light. Dispel our darkness and make us a people with one heart and one voice, forever singing Your praise.

Remind me that Your presence in my heart is intended to be a public reality. May I so value all the blessings of Your presence that I am willing to share them generously with others. Guide my mind with Your truth. 

I pray to You for all the graces I need to know You, to love You and serve You faithfully unto death, and to save my soul. Give me a tender and fervent devotion to Your sacred passion by which I was redeemed, venerating You each day in prayer, and teach me how to unite sorrows and sufferings of my life with Your own. In Christ's name, I pray.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Hebrews 13:5

 Let your character be free from the love of money. Shun greed—be financially ethical. Let your moral essence and inner nature be clean. Be content with what you have, God promised us that He will never, under any circumstances, desert you nor give you. God will never leave us without support or in any degree, leave us helpless. Be assured that He will not forsake or let us down or relax in His hold on you, assuredly not!

Today's Godly Reminder - Proverbs 23:12

Give yourselves to disciplined instruction. Open your ears to tested knowledge. Don’t refuse to accept criticism. Get all the help you can.

Listen to instruction. Commit to it. Do your best to learn. Listen carefully to words of knowledge.

The Daily Grace - In the Storm

A storm was brewing - not just on the horizon but also in a friend's home. "When I was in Hong Kong", she shared, "the local meteorological service announced that there was a superstorm approaching. But more than the storm that was looming outside my window, there was a storm brewing at home. While my dad was in the hospital, family members were trying to balance their home and work responsibilities while also traveling to and from the hospital. They were so tired that patience was wearing thin, and the situation at home was tense".

Life can feel like a storm - tossing around with winds of misfortune, grief or stress. Where can we turn? When Jesus' disciples were caught in a great windstorm and wondered if He cared, they still knew where to turn. He demonstrated His power by calming the howling storm (Mark 4:38-39). 

But often He does not calm the storm immediately. And, like the disciples, we may feel that He doesn't care. To calm our fears, we can cling to faith in who God is and what He can do. We can take shelter in Him (Ps. 91:1). We can find His help to relate to others with grace. We can rest in an all-powerful, all-wise, and all-loving God. He is with us in the storm and cradles us through the storm.

Today We Pray

Dear God, You alone gave me the breath of life, and alone can keep alive in me the holy desires Your Spirit brings. I pray to You, in the name of Your infinite compassion, to sanctify my thoughts and endeavors this day. Let me not begin to act without a pure intention or continue it without Your blessing. 

Grant that, having the eyes of my mind opened to behold things invisible and unseen. I may in heart be inspired by Your wisdom, and in work be upheld by Your strength. And in the end, be accepted by You as Your faithful servant.

I ask to be called as a witness to Your love by the love I extend to others. Let me be a precursor of Your justice by my unfailing commitment to what is right and good; a lamp set on a hill, reflecting the light of Christ in my forgiveness, mercy and compassion; and a harvester of souls through my humble and dedicated servanthood. In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 91:1

You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in His shadow. We live within the shadow of the Almighty, sheltered by the God who is above all gods. Always live under the protection of God Most High. Stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful.

We can always find help in Him. Find rest in Christ alone. He will always protect you. He will be with you wherever you go, in darkness or in the light.