Every Breath
Genesis 2:7, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Good Morning Friend! How are we all today on another blessed day to say God awakened me to this new day? Today let us reflect on how every breath is a gift from the almighty. In the beginning, God created all things and then last but not least He created human beings. At that moment when God himself said He wanted to have a companion He breathed the breath of life into Adam and then He saw that Adam needed a companion so He took a part of Adam, then breathed life into Eve! As we ponder on every breath; let us grasp that each one is a gift from God. We literally have no existence without breathing! Another thought would be to search out the meeting of Jesus and the disciples after He rose. He breathed on them the Holy Ghost signifying a new spiritual creation! This breath would empower them to do the mission that was planned for them all along! We become Christians; children of God thus receiving a new body, new life, and a new path! Knowing that through generations you and I have received God’s breath, and become a new creation with a new spirit, with a vision of hope and restoration! Wow! Can you not feel that divine reminder as you breathe in and out? Our dependence is truly relying on Him for our ongoing existence in this world. Today as we breathe; let’s remember our calling; let’s remember to be thankful for breath; let’s use that breath to spread the news of how precious each breath is! Use your breath to speak out about the savior and show and tell others just how blessed you are; give them a desire to find that same vision of hope and restoration that you have found! Find time to cherish every breath!
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 46:10, Job 33:4, Psalms 150:6, John 20:22, Isaiah 42:5-6, Acts 17:24-28, Psalms 33:6, Job 32:8, Job 12:10-13, Isaiah 11:2, Ecclesiastes 12:7, Ezekiel 37:4-6, I John 4:6, Psalms 139:13-17
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you sincerely for giving us the breath of life! Thank you for the knowledge of how we as your children can use that breath to further the mission set forth by Jesus to His disciples; that today we can do as they did. Lord, please continue to give us guidance in how we can help others receive that same breath of life. Thank you again Lord for that first breath breathed into Adam and Eve; but thank you for that Holy Ghost breath that Jesus placed on the disciples. Lord breathe that same breath on us today that will allow us to become better disciples for you. Amen.
Faithful and Good
Deuteronomy 7:9, “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generation.”
Morning to all! Let us start the day with the prayer that will help us to gain faithfulness and goodness! Let’s take what that devil, the enemy, wanted to steal to make evil and turn it around into something good! As we start the day, let us remember to use our God-given abilities to bring glory to Him! When we use outward actions like spreading the gospel or helping others, we are going to receive the joy of the Lord. Also, if we remember that God rewarded us with great responsibilities when we accepted the call and chose Him to enter into our hearts to make us brand new! Bringing that faithfulness into our daily lives gives us the desire to be more like Him. A faithful servant can be characterized by humility, obedience, diligence and integrity; all while exhibiting compassion and commitment. Find your inner joy by showing the devil he cannot still your joy, because your joy comes from the Lord! When you start showing your actions as being loyal with a selfless attitude, you are letting others see that the goodness of the heart can please God and help you gain a closer walk with Him. By continuing to maintain a focus on good works, whether at the job, at school functions, at family outings, church functions, even vacations; you are modeling that behavior for others to see, thus showing them how much better life is when we are doing good! In every day, we must remember that unbelief and disobedience can lead to unhappiness; dragging us back into the abyss that God with His mercy saved us from! God tested the Israelites time and time again. We face trials daily but when we put the devil behind us and realize the importance of faith and obedience; our goodness will come alive and show outwardly! As a faithful and good believer, we will then see God’s blessings show up. Do not rely on quick fixes when the devil comes at you but rely on God’s blessings; even if it takes a little longer! Sometimes it’s the waiting that is blessing you! Stay faithful and good; the beauty is in doing what is right however long it takes!
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 119:90, Proverbs 3:5, I Peter 4:19, Romans 4:20-21, Romans 3:28, I John 4:17-19, Hebrews 2:13-15, Matthew 17:20, Psalms 23:4, I Corinthians 4:2, I Corinthians 10:13, I John 1:9, II Timothy 2:15, Hebrews 10:22-25, Revelations 2:10, Matthew 25:21, I Corinthians 1:9, II Thessalonians 1:3-5, Revelation 17:14, Galatians 5:22-23, Proverbs 28:20, Psalms 36:5, Psalms 40:10-11, Deuteronomy 32:4
Prayer:
Precious Father, we come to you believing that in all things your goodness and mercy is everlasting. We ask humbly that you continue to create in us a clean and good heart. We thank you for daily helping us through the evil of this world by surrounding us with your love and protection. As we go through each day please guide us in the goodness that can come from our faithfulness. Lead us Lord, even in troubles so that we know that goodness is waiting up ahead for us. Amen.
All My Life
Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Hello again! May this be a Day of Reconciliation, or revelation with your own life and the journey you are on! It takes strength to overcome the negative. We laugh when children say something with the phrase “all my life”, for they haven’t even begun to have life at its fullest! But, their view of life is simple and filled with honesty, empathy, joy and love. Jesus quoted, “And said, Verity I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 8:3-4 KJV Such innocence, yet true understanding of how life should be held. Children are not concerned by what yesterday was or what tomorrow will be. They are just taking in the moments of today and all the adventures, experiences, ups and downs, that this day holds! We find ourselves bringing negative vibes through focusing on what was; not on what is! God allows the life we lead; and gives you the opportunity to make the best choices. What we get out of life is what we GIVE in life. All our lives have been designed with all kinds of obstacles just so we can decide what path we should take. You cannot say that the better path wasn’t offered. You cannot say God allowed the bad times; when you chose to not follow His path. He didn’t leave you or forsake you; He is always beside you. He allowed you those opportunities so you would find your way back to the path He created. He knows your heart better than you do. Had He only let you receive good things, where would you have developed strength, resilience, stamina, honor or love? For you to become your true self, you must push through the bad decisions and reach the good ones. The secret is to find Him first, then give up the old self so the new, improved self can begin. What you can take from the knowledge of what a child says? You must become a child again with God as your Father! All your life you will struggle to find you; until you remember who made you first! So, find Him and begin all your life again in a renewed spirit that will lead you to eternity! Place your life in the hands that created you so you can travel the path already mapped out!
Scripture:
Read: Genesis 2:26-27, Matthew 10:39-40, Matthew 16:25-27, John 14:6, John 3:16, John 6:35, Romans 6:23, John10:10, John 8:12, Galatians 2:20, Proverbs 21:21, James 1:12, John 11:25-26, I Timothy 6:12, I Peter 3:10-11, Proverbs 10:17, Proverbs 14:21, Philippians 1:20-21, Jeremiah 29:11-13.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, please continue to help us to find the right paths, the right choices. Guide us daily to achieve what you knew was our destiny from the beginning. Help us Lord to show others how much better all our lives can be when you are the teacher, the comforter, the healer, the provider. Thank you, Lord for the choices, the failures and the successes. Amen.
Sing Goodness of God
Nahum 1:7, “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust him.”
Greetings friends! Today let’s lift praise to the one who is providing us with another day in which we can continue life’s journey. Let’s start out knowing that with God all things are possible if we give them to Him. Every day is another day worth all the moments of challenges, obstacles, the pains, the hurts, the joys and successes. Even in the down times we must be assured that God has a reason and that all things work for the good of those who love Him. Many times, in distress we blame God, or we blame others; then we call on God; all of which shows our human weaknesses. The truth is, when we have good times, successes, achievements; do we praise Him? Do we remember where our help comes from? In everything we need to sing to the goodness of God. During the hard times and the good, we need to realize our journey has already been planned. In reality, we need to blame ourselves when the journey gets too hard, too easy, seemingly unbearable. Every time you begin something new, do you not rely on God’s timing, or His guidance? Do you remember all the people who made even the smallest impact on your life as you were growing? Have you said thankyou to any of those who were a part of your journey? The big question, did you thank God for placing those people, those obstacles, those failures in your path? Even strangers who offered such small gifts; do you sing your praises to all those parts too? At some moments in life a song brings joy, or sadness, or encouragement, or release. The music whether upbeat or peaceful fills our souls with grace, understanding, then enlightens us. Find relief in knowing you need to be thankful of all things great and small! CeCe Winans’ song “Goodness of God”, says it all! God has been faithful all our lives through every moment; so, find time to sing of the goodness of God even when you are at the lowest; then He will show you the highest!
Scriptures:
Read: Exodus 34:6, Psalms 145:5- 9, I Chronicles 16:34, Ezra 3:11, Psalms 25:8, Psalms 23:6, Mark 10:18, James 1:17, Psalms 143:10, Matthew 7:11, Psalms 27:13, Psalms 33.9, Psalms 34:8, Psalms 100:4-5, Psalms 107:8-9, Psalms 103:13-14, Psalms 119:68, Psalms 69:16, Nahum 1:7, Psalms 31:19-20
Prayer:
God today we are asking forgiveness for not being more thankful. We humbly ask for your continued guidance through the good times and especially the hard times. We thank you for the obstacles you place in our path and especially for those people who show up during that journey; even if but a moment. Help us Lord to keep singing the goodness of all your blessings! Amen.
Mountains Awakening
Matthew 17:20, “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
Morning! Welcome to today and all that it may hold for each of us! Let’s start with a positive attitude, and a positive mindset. For every mountain we have to climb today, let the world know that nothing is going to stop that forward motion to succeed in getting over and through to the other side. Most of us know that walking, hiking, climbing; all take certain skills, equipment, shoes, and clothes, to actually be more comfortable in the journey. Daily life is the same way! There are routine actions taken on a daily basis to ensure that the day begins as scheduled, with hopes of no interference of any sort! I am sure that we all can attest to the fact that nobody has a perfect journey, however long or short it may be. Be thankful even for the little hiccups that might occur just to test you. Having the right skills in everyday life seems to be the easiest, but are they? Finding the right equipment to aid in the struggles definitely gives way to easier travels. Making sure you are dressed appropriately and wore the right shoes gives you another advantage in the details of the outcome of the journey also. In truth, every moment of every day requires direction, teaching, learning, then gaining the knowledge to choose the best route to your destination. You wouldn’t want to wear winter clothes in the spring or summer, or a bathing suit on a thirty-five-degree winter day! It does take a degree of common sense to realize being correctly dressed does add to the skills department! Finding the right education or knowledge about everyday situations as well as planned out trips will give you more stress free journeys. This being said, today find yourself trusting in God to have the answers. While we usually place big questions into God’s hands, we need to realize, He can also place needed advice into your small needs too! Though you feel they may be insignificant, you will be amazed at the God winks that awaken just like the miracles. Simple little things will arrive at just the right time to give you more trust in what God is capable of! Trust today to give all your needs, whether it be a mountain or a jog in the park, to the one who sends answers. Awaken to the ways He can equip you in all situations!
Scriptures:
Read: Mountains- Psalms 16:7-11, Isaiah 54:10, Isaiah 2:2, Mark 11:22-26, Psalms 121:1-2, I Corinthians 13:2-8, Jonah 2:6-10, Micah 4:1, Nahum 1:5-7, Psalms 90:1-2, Isaiah 52:7, Psalms 72:3, Isaiah 55:12, Isaiah 2:2-5, Psalms 95:3-6, Job 9:5-6, Amos 4:13, Matthew 21:21-22, Awakening- Ephesians 5:14-17, Romans 13:11-14, Titus 3:5-7, I Peter 1:13-16, Matthew 24:42-44, I Thessalonians 5:5-11, Revelations 3:3, Ephesians 6:18, Luke 21:36
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for equipping us daily in all things pertaining to life’s journey. Thank you for guiding us through all things, even the small ones. Thank you for the mountains, the valley’s, the journey. Continue to be our comforter, teacher, deliverer and lift us so we can lift others. Amen.
Love You Lord
Mark 12:33, “And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Good Morning! Today is a blessed day just because we are in it, we are accepting it, we are going to cherish every moment of it! We want to rejoice in everything by being thankful. Find your meditating spot; whether it’s in a room, outside on the porch or in the car on the way to work! Take time and just openly say how much you love the Lord! Tell yourself and God just how much loving the Lord has changed every moment since you accepted salvation and made the changes to your life! Realizing the true benefits of what the real meaning of loving the Lord brings out within your life and others who see your life changing daily; it is awesome and mind blowing. Daily we tell loved ones how we love them; then we tell friends we love them; imagine if we tell strangers they are loved! The power of love is beyond merely understanding. It can bring the lowest person up to the highest. It can bring hope even in the darkest moments. Finding out that you were loved even before you were formed, brings feelings of total completeness. This brings us to the knowledge that even before we were born, God loved us; even before our mistakes, before our transgressions, even in our failures, even through our joys! God has always been inside of all of us, waiting for us to accept the love He had already given within us. This brings us to what Jesus said to the Pharisees, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all your heart…then He said to love thy neighbor as thyself ”… thus showing us that love is universal and all consuming. Without loving God, we cannot have love for ourselves or others. Placing our love in the one who loves us daily can only lead us into the ability to love ourselves, then gives us the need to love others. So today, tell the Lord how much you love Him, and need Him; then tell others how much you love them; even strangers!
Scriptures:
Read: Deuteronomy 6:5, Deuteronomy 7:9, Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Romans 8:28, I Peter 4:19, I John 4:19, John 14:15, I Corinthians 13:4-7, 13, John 13:34-35, Isaiah 54:10, Joshua 22:5, Mark 12:30, I Corinthians 8:3, James 2:5, Jude 1:21
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your all-consuming love. Thank you for showing us love in the worst times and in the best times. Thank you for never leaving or forsaking us. Thank you for the teachings of how much your love can change our lives, thus allowing us to love ourselves. Thank you for providing love that needs to be shared with all mankind. Continue to share your love and presence within our hearts. Amen.
Sing Good Morning
Psalms 143:8, “Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”
Hello friends! Let’s start our day on a positive note; pushing aside any negative thoughts that may want to enter our minds. No matter what task are needed for completion today, take a moment to just meditate and asking God to enter in and fill you with peace, tranquility, strength and love. Making time for you first thing is a necessary tool to endurance. Even if there is a dark cloud hovering nearby, use positive thoughts to tell the devil, not today! Every cloud has a silver lining, a way to stop the storms that want to take your joy. Sometimes finding a joyous song to listen to or even to take your voice and sing along; leads your heart into a place of satisfaction. It will build on each note to find the melody, then the words, then the song! Every step of positive thinking leads to the inner self finding joy in all things, not just the happy ones; but peace about the sad ones. Even sad songs give words of love, promise, releasing endorphins that though you cry or shed tears; your body has released negative feelings. Singing good morning, like making up positive reinforcement of joyous words, releases happiness in all sorts of ways! It can catch others off guard, yet it will stimulate in them a need to find out what is causing your joy. Seeing someone happy, just singing or whistling a tune; you can’t help but feel it too! Yes, you will question the how and why; but do you really need to? The secret to receiving joy is returning the joy, and sharing that joy; even if you only sing it! Seeing others rejoice for no reason means there is a song for you out there; one that will help you be more positive, more giving, more humble; just MORE! So, today, let’s find that song, that melody, those words that lead to singing good morning! You never know who is watching, listening or receiving that needed song!
Scriptures:
Read: Genesis 1:5,31, Psalms 57:7-11, Psalms 59:16-17, Proverbs 8:17, Psalms 5:3, Lamentations 3:22-25, Psalms 30:5, Psalms 130:5-6, Psalms 91:9-11, Psalms 118:24, Isaiah 50:4, Mark 1:35, Psalms 23:1-6, Isaiah 33:2, II Timothy 1:7, Revelations 22:16, Psalms 55:17, Psalms 92:1-2
Prayer:
Lord, today bring out that melody, that song, those words, that will lift my spirits as we begin the day. Help us Lord to show others the joy of song that we are extending their way. Thank you, Lord for the gift of songs, melodies, music. Thank you for those who create those musical melodies that bring us to the releasing of pain, or joy. Continue Lord to create in us a sweet melody of praise for all you do, teaching us to share the joy of what wonderful lives we have by giving ourselves to you. Amen.
You Hold It In Your Hands
Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”
Greetings Friends! We are again allowed another day in which to give you honor and praise. Let us today go willingly into this day with an open mind and heart to all that it holds. The thoughts of being molded and shaped into the person we are called to be just gives insight to many things we are experiencing daily. Have you thought for a moment how God holds us? How He manages to take each of us and plan our journey already knowing the outcome of our futures? The Bible describes it so well by relating our bodies to the church so as to be one. This means that a church cannot function without all the members and yet will die if they do not come together and then work together to build the body. Each individual plays an important part in the growth of a church. Another way that the Bible uses a description, is to form an image of God’s hands as He holds clay. He becomes the potter; pinching, coiling, molding, forming, hand-building, then placing on the rotating wheel for better results. We as his followers become the clay; which His hands begin working daily to form each of us into the product that will best serve him in a large capacity. His hands are our lifeline to becoming a molded piece of clay; perfect, yet imperfect form of His likeness. He then provides the guidelines that will help us to navigate through life and all the struggles that will come during our journey while here. In each scenario, we are held in His hands, being molded, formed into disciples; each learning, then practicing what we learn. We are all in His hands being protected, provided for and taught what it takes to become skilled disciples. Do you know what kind of vessel you want to become? Have you got what it takes to be the vessel God is forming in you? Take today and realize how God has you in His hands, and is working in you and through you, providing the necessary molding you need to succeed! When you feel afraid or lonely, remember who holds you in His hands!
Scriptures:
Read: Isaiah 41:10, Psalms 104:27-28, Isaiah 64:7-8, Job 12:9-10, Psalms 145:16-18, I Peter 5:6-7, Isaiah 40:10-12, Psalms 95:3-6, Ecclesiastes 9:1, Isaiah 48: 12-13, Psalms 118:14-17, I Chronicles 29:11-13
Prayer:
Father, thank you for holding each of us in your hands. Thank you for protecting, providing and molding us into your disciples. Thank you for the guidelines you provide in your word so that we can become the vessel you have molded and be used by you for your purpose. Continue to bring your presence into our hearts when we need a hand of comfort or healing. Help us Lord to become potters and aid in the building process of others, helping them to find your hands of protection and direction. Amen.
Hallelujah
Psalm 117: 2, “For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.”
Good Morning! It is definitely a daily prayer that each of you will have a great day no matter where you are. Truth is, we need to constantly be in prayer for everyone to have positive thoughts as they begin every day. Trying to succeed in being happy and joyful takes a great amount of effort from each of us. We all seemingly start out the day just by saying thank you Lord for waking me! Don’t you think that as the disciples woke each morning on that journey with Jesus, they felt a hallelujah jump up in their souls? Just knowing they were in the presence of Jesus and He was teaching and leading them to become fishers of men! Should they have held some ecstatic feelings that couldn’t be contained? Or rather did that knowledge leave them so in awe that they had no words or emotions to express? Were they holding back due to being reverent, or being mature, maybe just fearful? So many times, during moments in life we want to shout those feelings of elation, joy, excitement. God wants us to say hallelujah in praise to Him and to any accomplishment which He provided the way to. Lifting your voice in hallelujah shows worship, praise and admiration to the one true God! Praising even when we are in the valley, or trudging up the mountain; sing hallelujah! The more you praise the comforter, the way maker, the miracle maker; the more blessings will flow to you. Awake every morning knowing that you are given one more day to sing His praise; one more day to thank Him for His presence when you are weak; one more day when you may be fearing that medical news; one more day missing that loved one; just sing hallelujah! Lift His name in every moment so the next moment will feel closer to His coming. Just one more moment until the celebration of all God’s people together as one; praising, singing, lifting hallelujah! Be joyful every moment inside your heart or happily sharing that feeling with those around! Just sing hallelujah!
Scriptures:
Read: Revelations 19:1, 5-6, Psalms 150:1-6, Psalms 106:1, Isaiah 12:2-6, Psalms 112:1, Psalms 146:1-2, Isaiah 44:23, Psalms 111:1-4, Colossians 3:16, Psalms 135:1-3, Psalms 148:1-5,13-14, Zephaniah 3:17, Psalms 117:1-2, Ephesians 5:19-20
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for the feelings of hallelujah, the feelings of joy and celebration. Thank you, Lord, for all the things you provide. Thank you for all the obstacles that keep us praising through to the positive outcomes. Lord, teach us how to be joyful in all things, through all things; just giving you the glory for each and every day you allow us to share your love and kindness to others, while cherishing that relationship with you. Amen.
This Side of Grace
II Corinthians 12:9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Morning! Thankful for another day. We are looking to find peace and tranquility even in the storms. There will always be times to need understanding into the meaning of what the events happening in our lives are truly leading up to. Even in the good times, there was always something negative or positive that was leading up to those moments. Our relief comes when we realize God has a plan all along. He wants us to celebrate the successes, but not let those accomplishments change our perspective on how life will go on now! If we still have the misconception that everything will be better now that we have overcome an adversity in our journey, we lose track of how to deal with future obstacles. You have to have two mountains to form a valley. One mountain is where you’ve come from; then the valley is everything leading to the next mountain on which you are headed to. We cannot climb the first mountain without difficulty; to achieve that we need God’s grace. Then when we’ve made that initial mountain, we then come to the valley; again, relying on God for help and guidance to forge that valley in route to the next mountain. Bearing in mind that nothing comes easy, but finding grace in the battles with God’s help, leads to victories over every obstacle! If you find yourself being overconfident and thinking you’ve made it; you will then get the mindset of not needing God. The mindset of achieving is okay except when we forget who makes the ways possible. This side of grace allows you to be in celebration of the good things but also celebrate the bad things. Every adversity has an accomplishment, every accomplishment has a destination and every destination has an arrival time. Today be open to getting the negative turned around to the positive. Pushing the positive to grow within and without, will keep providing room for the grace of God to show up just in time. Start today celebrating this side of grace, acknowledging grace is why you keep “making it”!
Scriptures:
Read: Ephesians 2:8-9, James 4:6-7, Hebrews 4:16, I Corinthians 15:9-10, John 1:16-17, Titus 2:11-14, II Corinthians 9:7-9, II Peter 3:9, Isaiah 40:31, I Peter 5:9-11, Acts 20:24, Ephesians 2:5-8, Romans 5:20-21, Romans 3:22-24
Prayer:
Precious Lord, thank you for your grace in times of troubles and adversities. Thank you for allowing us to grow through the journey by accepting your grace. Thank you for being our everlasting help in times of good and bad. Thank you for keeping the promises you gave so many years ago. Continue to be present daily in our lives allowing us to understand how much we need to be humble in all things. Continue to show us the difference between this side of grace and the other side. Amen.
Good Morning Mercy
Psalm 25:6, “Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and they lovingkindnessses; for they have been ever of old.”
Greetings! Are we starting today on a positive note? Can we brush aside anything negative so we can receive God’s blessings that are waiting for us? Many times, even as we wake in the morning, our minds quickly jump to the negative. In life, our journey has moments of the unknown which we need to seek guidance with. Though we went to bed with positive affirmation, we awoke with apprehension again. Finding trust in the outcome takes a building up of our faith within so we can produce it on the outside. We need to remember all the grace and mercy God has shown us during our lives; even the mercy He provided before we became His children. During our time before salvation, God was always there protecting and reaching out for each of us to come into the folds of His arms. Choosing to accept salvation brought you out of a path of destruction and into the journey of completeness. We choose to walk the right path whether anyone else follows. When we accept God’s mercy and grace we have the desire to love like He says, and trust like He says. He just doesn’t meet you half way, He comes directly to you, accepting you as you are, offering a new beginning and a better ending! Every person has the opportunity to make the right choice; because this world has nothing lasting to offer. Daily we are being shone grace and mercy, even when we deny Him. Maybe today, when the negative thoughts appear, stop and say good morning mercy, let’s get started!
Scriptures:
Read: Matthew 5:7, Hebrews 4:16, I Peter 1:3, Lamentations 3:22-23, Psalms 23:6, Psalms 103:8,11,17, Proverbs 28:13, Luke 6:36-38, Titus 3:4-7, Colossians 3:12, Psalms 25:6-7, Ephesians 2:4-6, I Corinthians 10:12-13, Jude 1:20-22, Micah 7:18
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for your daily dose of grace and mercy, even in our moments of denial. Thank you for offering salvation that grants us a way to build up our faith and trust. Thank you for coming directly to us, showing us, you were just a step away, waiting and watching. Continue to guide us in this life even when we fall. Please God stay close with open arms and catch us when we forget where mercy comes from. Amen.
Stop Overthinking
Psalm 34:4, “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
Good Morning! Just want to tell you that you are loved and that you can do all things if you trust in the one who is in control! Daily we find ourselves bringing the negative when pondering on how to get things done. Everyone is reluctant to believe that they over think about even the smallest decisions. We have all done it. We take a mole hill and then make a mountain out of it. Finding the longest way around something when there was already an easier way to complete the task. By pushing our minds to gather information that was really unnecessary to complete the job, we ruin the simplest task. The majority of the time when we are overthinking, we are really trying to find excuses to why we shouldn’t just do something! While we are doing this, it just looks like we have run a goose chase around the actual task so that we ultimately will not do it. Finding ways to stop the overthinking is a slow process; sometimes needing professional help. Take a moment to see what the primary emotion is behind the thoughts that are producing overthinking. Usually what is the main cause is that you are playing that thought repetitively and need to let go and actually have concrete action. By allowing negativity to use these overthinking moments, you are allowing it to contribute to developing depression and anxiety. First, we need to know that God is working with you. Our mind needs to find new tools to help change our mindset by pushing negative out with a positive thought. Once you submit a positive thought to counter the attack of the negative; you become stronger. God can provide the peace you need in your mind to conquer any negative thoughts so you can replace them with positive. When you become willing to face the problem of repetitive thoughts, place a positive in, you can then stop the overthinking! It is all part of the mind; once you get the thoughts working together positively to become one, everything will get done!
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 28:7, Psalms 46:1, Romans 14:22-23, Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:6-9, 13, Jeremiah 29:11-13, II Timothy 1:7, Joshua 1:9, John 16:33, Colossians 3:1-2, Hebrews 11:6, Proverbs 28:25-26, Proverbs 3:5, Zephaniah 3:17, Isaiah 1:18, II Timothy 3:15-17, Psalms 34:4, Psalms 59:9
Prayer:
Precious Father above, we come to you now thanking you for your love and ever-present hope to help us in times of need. Thank you for helping us to learn ways to control our overthinking so that we can rest easy from worry. Remind us daily to lay those worries or burdens at your feet. Continue to stay within our hearts and minds helping us to push out the negative. Amen.
You Were Always Working
Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Hello Friends! So glad to have another day in which we can celebrate just being alive and thankful in all things. Many thoughts come to mind on how we got to where we are today. There were hard times and there were good times. Every journey will have those obstacles the devil throws out to test your faith. But there is peace in knowing that God never leaves us; sometimes we leave Him. So many times, we feel that no one is there, no one is encouraging, no one understands, and how will we get through. For a moment, stop and close your eyes. Start asking yourself if He walked away or did He just give you that moment to bring your focus back to where you needed to be? What if you chose to try working out things in life on your own? Maybe, you weren’t seeing the good that He was bringing because it didn’t come when you wanted it to or in the answer you chose! The hardest part of accepting God’s promises is the waiting. The waiting is for your own benefit; a faith building moment. God never leaves; He just needs us to place that trust into what He has already planned for your life. That job opportunity that just showed up; that friend who cried along with you, that test result that turned out okay, that spouse you met by chance; could we not go on and on about God always working in the moments we forget. Let us take today and focus on the waiting and realize that good things do come to those who trust in God during the waiting! God is always providing, improvising, breaking from the norm; just always working for each of us in some way or another. Just think how miserable life would be if we didn’t let God keep working.
Scriptures:
Read: Jeremiah 1:5, Psalms 139:1-4,14-17, Philippians 2:13, John 14:12, Matthew 5:14-19, Galatians 2:20, Jeremiah 29:11-12, John 15:1-13, Philippians 4:13, Hebrews 13:21, Matthew 7:7-8, Philippians 1:6, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalms 90:17, Ecclesiastes 3:10-11, Jeremiah 33:3, Romans 8:27-31, Romans 9:11
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the waiting and thank you for showing us daily how you keep working to provide all our needs. Help us Lord to not forget that your time is not ours. Continue to teach us to have faith and trust in your plans, for you already know the outcome. Go with us today and always so we can dwell with you in eternity. Amen.
Be My Life
John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Hello Friends! Today is another day given by the Father in heaven so that we can use it in positive ways to further the spreading of His message. Some of you may be the only Bible many people will read. This meaning, that when you live a Godly life, others see it, then acknowledge that God makes life better. If you take a moment to remember how dull, meaningless, hollow, and fruitless your life really was; a light bulb will click above your head! Even Solomon in the Bible realized how life has no purpose or hope, and man’s worth comes only from the Lord. Today let us gain knowledge in the facts that before you were saved, you were dead in your sins. Not physically dead but spiritually, in your life. The unbelievers are living in the worthlessness of their minds, not understanding that with God all things are changed for the good. In Ephesians Paul wrote the contrast of unsaved people with the lives of saved people. It is the before and after of our lives that needs to be recognized. The Bible teaches us to renew the spirit of your mind so that your life is changed and the “old man” has been put away and the new life in Christ now abides within us. Each disciple after receiving the call became on fire with the spirit which led them to be excited to have been brought from their old life to the new one! Once you ask God to be your life, everything around you becomes new; you see life through God’s eyes. The changes you now want will lead you down the better paths. Blessings will come when you least expect them. You will want the feeling of the new life to continue and you will want to only do things in the manner in which the word teaches. Even when you slip, or falter; God will still be there with open arms to help you remember how much better a renewed life can be. When I look back, I no longer want the old life or the dark struggles; I want God to be my new life. Where are you with your life? Do you need a refresher or are you ready to give it all to God? All you have to do is ask God to be your life!
Scriptures:
Read: John 14:6, John 3:16-17, Romans 6:23, John 10:9-10, Romans 12:2, John 8:12, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 5:15-16, Isaiah 41:10, Psalms 23:1-6, Proverbs 21:21, I John 5:20, Isaiah 40:28-31, Proverbs 14:26-27, John 11:25-26, Philippians 4:13, Deuteronomy 30:16, 19-20, Matthew 16:24-26, Hebrews 11:6
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for salvation and all that comes with putting away the sinful life. Thank you for giving us a renewed spirit and the guidelines by which we can be continuously developing new life with you. Lord, please continue to be our constant and reminding us how the old self is worthless but the new life in Christ is the most precious gift. Amen.
What Tomorrow Brings
James 4:14, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
Good Morning! It is today that was once a tomorrow, but for now it will be a today in this moment! So many times, we let ourselves find worry in thinking ahead. It wouldn’t be such a bad thing if we just wouldn’t find fault, find negativity, or create those two in our thoughts! As the above scripture relays; tomorrow hasn’t arrived, neither have we been promised that day, nor do we know if it will actually come. Being totally assured of the arrival of tomorrow is not something God gives any of us insight into knowing! Though the psychics, or the horoscopes have placed insignificant ideas toward predictions of such matters; we must not rely on them. Placing your trust in a human who has been created by God but doesn’t trust God’s purposes, will lead you down a path of wrongful trust. Why can’t we just be present in today and every moment that this one day holds? Must we create negative auras to push out our positive ones? I am pretty convinced that God gave each of us today to be glad in, to celebrate in, to delight in, and to find peace in! He placed each day in order as they come so that each would have meaningful significance for every one of us. Don’t dwell on what was, because it will never come again. Don’t focus on what will be tomorrow, because we have no clue as to whether we will see tomorrow. Fix your thoughts on what can be started today, completed today, loved today. Try to remember that old song, “I don’t know who holds tomorrow; but I know who holds my hand!” Trust in the knowledge that God is here now and if He allows you a tomorrow, He will be there too! Let us find the ability to stop focusing on tomorrow so that we can really focus on the here and now. This way you will be open to all the possibilities that tomorrow could bring!
Scriptures:
Read: Proverbs 27:1, James 4:13-14, Matthew 6:30-34, II Peter 3:9, Jeremiah 29:11, Philippians 4:6, Proverbs 3:5-6, John 16:33, Hebrews 13:5-8, Isaiah 46:9-10, Romans 8:28, Proverbs 16:9, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Psalms 23:1-6, John 10:27-29, Ecclesiastes 6:8-12, Ephesians 5:15-17, John 3:16,17
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for today and all it offers. Thank you for helping us to know that yesterday is gone. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to live today and be happy in every moment this day brings. Dear God, please help us to not let worries of tomorrow cloud out what joy we can have in today. Teach us God to have faith and trust in what you will let tomorrow bring. Amen.
I Will Trust You
Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all thing heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.”
Morning! I hope today finds you beginning a new day on a pleasant note. Through every day our thoughts and wonderings bring us to finding trust. We all have difficulty in trusting people, job security, family and even God. Once we give our hearts to God, we tend to just believe that life will turn out to be a bed of roses with thorn less flowers! Not even the most religious or devout Christian can honestly say that life has not had obstacles along the way. When we look closely at how our journey has been throughout this life; we will find that many obstacles were there for a reason. God placed a few things in the way because He was witnessing our faith and trust slipping away; or we went askew on the path He had carefully laid out for us! Our confidence and trust are what gives us our faith. Though our faith is the stronghold with acceptance of Jesus, our trust can never be guaranteed. Being human, we have willful choices, deliberate actions; all of which will help in growing your faith. When we let the anxieties of finances, health, or future plans crowd out our trust, it hinders our faith, and this not characteristics of people who have a confident trust in God. God has faithfully carried out His promises time and time again; even when we failed. Knowing God provides can build our trust. Understanding just how trust improves our faith in God, allows us to see how His plans for us are greater than our own expectations. Regardless of circumstances we endure through life, we are able to trust in the hope that we will one day spend eternity with God. Let us take today and work toward building our trust in God and all He is providing, and that He will be providing in the future!
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 16:7-11, Psalms 56:3-4,11, Psalms 37:5, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 26:3-4, Psalms 13:5, Psalms 9:10, Philippians 4:6-7, Jeremiah 17:7, Isaiah 40:31, Hebrews 11:6, Isaiah 12:2
Prayer:
Lord, today we want to thank you for helping us to find trust in all you have planned in our lives. Lord, thank you for allowing us to build our faith by trusting in your words, your promises, and the hope of eternity one day. Please continue to bring understanding and acceptance to your hearts. Amen.
Part Those Waters
Isaiah 43:2, “When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
Hello friends! May we find blessings in today that will bring positive vibes all through each moment. Have you ever felt you were just drowning in life? Like, maybe you are just reaching for the that life buoy they threw, but it’s just at the tips of your fingers? So many times, we become so wrapped up in our day to day lives we forget to speak softly to God and receive His reassurance on our destiny. When the waters are starting to climb, find a way to bring positive thoughts so you can find positive solutions to what has caused the flood water to expand. Finding ways to prioritize our schedules, plans, work life from home life can be a challenging endeavor. Sometimes we need God to help provide someone to step in and help us reach that life buoy so we can start treading the waters with slow even strokes! We have already figured out that thrashing about in the waters hasn’t brought us closer to the boat or even after a little work; anywhere near the shore. Finding time for just you and God must be the first item on everyone’s list! It is so worth it to give yourself time to meditate, pray and be regenerated so that we can learn that if the butterfly stroke is too much; then the breast stroke may be too fast; so then do the back stroke to relax and flow through the motions! Many times, God had to bring His people to the understanding of how much He can offer to them that will provide a safer journey in life, just by letting Him take care of the water’s depths[o1] . Each time, they were ignoring His word, forgetting His power, and not trusting or having faith to accept His promises. But, once they were knee deep, then waist deep, finally thrashing about in the flood waters; their eyes were opened! Total acceptance of God providing, His deep concern, His unfailing love, and trust in His power; brought them closer to the buoy, then onto the boat, therefore bringing them to the shore! It just takes prioritizing you daily needs by allowing Him to come in and help you adjust to following His guidance. Once you allow Him to part the waters between the big things and the little things; your strokes against the waves will be steadied and then placed evenly along your path. So, today, let’s take time to let God do the parting of the waters so we can relax and do the back stroke!
Scriptures:
Read: Genesis 1:6-7, Exodus 14:15-16, Hebrews 11:29, Psalms 46:1-3, Isaiah 43:2, Revelation 21:4-7, 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, Revelation 22:1-3, Psalms 37:7-9, Ephesians 5:26-27, Jeremiah 33:3, Acts 22:14-16, Psalms 46:1-2, John 4:13-14, Psalms 51:2-3,7,10-12
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for helping us by parting the waters we tend to try treading alone. Thank you for offering us your guidance and protection when we find ourselves neck deep in the floods of life. Continue to teach us the way to swim to the shore using your protective love and nurturing. Amen.
Sing Good Morning
Psalms 59: 16, “But I will sing of thy power, yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.”
Morning! Be thankful for this new day and start believing it will be a great one! When you get out of bed just try singing a joyful song, any song with an upbeat rhythm to get you pumped up and on the move. I find that music is a pathway to the soul and even sad ones can bring you to positive thinking. Find someone to share a happy melody with, whether them hearing you or send them a video of the song that is touching your heart this morning. David wrote song after song to the Lord, even in his despair, in his loneliness, and in his triumphs! Every day he found a way to praise God as he arose in the morning or lay down in evenings. Mornings are the best time to be praising because it’s new and fresh. Not saying that we cannot praise in every moment of every day; just that knowing the day has been given to us to begin again brings out a whole new type of praise! There probably isn’t any human that does not have a song or a tune that plays in their mind at some point during their day. I don’t believe God wanted a dull worship service at any church He created. Though there are some cathedrals that don’t shout and sing, they do still have music to bring out the core of worship in the heart. When you find yourself up against the world, don’t let the devil steal your song! When you think you are too winded, breathe in God’s breath of relief and sing! I also believe that God was humming a joyful tune as He created the heavens and earth; then as He created every being. His delight in what He had accomplished gave Him a song in His heart that now He had creation to worship with Him! So today, while you are considering the beginning of the day, SING! Sing in the morning, sing in the afternoon, sing in the evening and sing at night! Play upon the heartstrings so that a joyous melody will uplift you into positivity! So now, just sing good morning; it’s a start!
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 68:3-4, Psalms 147:1, Zephaniah 3:17, Psalms 95:1-3, Psalms 105:1-5, Psalms 13:5-6, Colossians 3:14-17, Isaiah 12:1-6, Ephesians 5:19-20, Romans 15:5-6, Isaiah 42:10, I Chronicles 16:8-12, 23-25
Prayer:
Precious Lord, thank you for the sounds of music and songs in our hearts. Thank you for creating sounds of nature that bring melodies even to the animals. Thank you for providing the talents of those who make musical instruments, play joyous lyrics; for the ones who prepare the words to that song. Thank you for the melodies we create within our souls so we can rejoice in your presence. Continue Lord to lift us with your song so we can in turn share that music with the world. Amen.
Move That Moutain
I Corinthians 13:2, “And though I have the gift of prophesy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity(love), I am nothing.”
Greetings Friends! I pray today that this finds you content and happy in all you have. Today may we find ways to move mountains that may be standing in the way of achieving happiness, success, or a closer walk with God. Sometimes, as we go through life we continue to have obstacles get in the way of plans we have made. Many times, those bumps in the road keep growing until they feel like mountains protruding up from the very depths of the earth. We are succeeding in moving several mole hills, and pushing through the holes and bumps along the road. Several times we found no way around them until we put our focus back on God and allowed Him to guide us over the obstacles. Figuring out that, had we not chosen His way of survival in this world first, maybe those bumps wouldn’t have turned into mole hills. Sure, we need to make choices and we feel that we have what it takes to make the right ones; everyone does. But soon we realize that maybe there would have been so much less pressure on our hearts, minds, families; had we just sat down and conversed with the one constant who gives us all knowledge. So glad we have a God who lets us try the roads less taken so we can see the road He already has smoothed out. Making it through the little hills can allow you to search God for the necessary tools to get through and over the mountains. We all struggle with leaving it at Jesus feet; giving Him the opportunity to enlighten us on how He can help you climb. Climbing mountains are not for the weak. Climbing mountains also takes the right equipment and when you search God’s word, they will be found. Once you have the resources and the information about your mountain; God will provide the necessary equipment to scale the utmost parts and find victory. Move your mountain with the right equipment; then enjoy the trip!
Scriptures:
Read: Isaiah 54:10, Philippians 4:6-8, Mark 11:22-23, Matthew 17:20, Psalms 121:1-2, Romans 8:37-39, Jonah 2:6, Micah 4:1, Nahum 1:5,7, Psalms 90:2, Psalms 72:3, Isaiah 55:12, Isaiah 2:2, Psalms 95:3-6, Amos 4:13, Isaiah 41:10
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for the small hills, the valleys and most of all for the mountains along life’s journey. Thank you for giving us the necessary tools in which that distance from the bottom to the top gets shorter and shorter. Thank you for the tools you provide in your word to help us along this journey so we can scale the mountains. Amen.
Win The War
Deuteronomy 20:4, “For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”
Good morning! So today we will want to bring our positivity out of the closet and into the world around us. Let’s reach for the win today in everything we set out to do. If we are just starting the day with cleaning, then prepare to complete it! Maybe you are just running errands, paying bills, then reach for completion! Could be that you are just trying to get to work and pushing out the negative thoughts of the things that may go wrong; then push through it! Never allow the devil to sneak in by using fear, doubt or dismay! Take on the positive by letting God take over the battle, showing you how to win. With every action there will be a reaction; it’s all in how you receive it. All battles we face need a plan to work with in order to find victory. Check your armor and see just what God has given you to wear against anything that is negative. By forcing yourself to become acceptable to the leadership, and guidance He has provided, you allow Him to work through you, and with you, for positive results. The way to win any battle is to have the right armor. Trying to create your own plan will not work as well as the plans God can help you to prepare. His success rate is beyond comparison to anyone else! To start winning the wars of this world we must start looking to Him for the necessary equipment in order to accomplish anything in life; including the simple ones! With God we cannot remain defeated, but we can win the war!
Scriptures:
Read: Deuteronomy 20:4, II Kings 6:15-16, I Corinthians 2:14-16, Exodus 15:2, II Timothy 2:5, Exodus 14:14, Hebrews 12:1-2, Psalms 73:26, I John 5:4, I Corinthians 10:13, Romans 8:37, Romans 14:8, II Chronicles 15:7, Ecclesiastes 9:10-11, John 16:33, Ephesians 6:13, I Peter 3:18
Prayer:
Lord, today we come to you asking for guidance in all things, whether great or small. Thank you, Lord for providing the armor we need to win the wars of this world. Lord continue to prepare us by supplying the right plans for our lives. God please be with us today and every day, strengthening us as we face the enemy. Help us Lord to continue to call on you for the means by which we may prevail against the evils of this world. Amen.