Ephesians 3:7 “Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power.”

Doubt whispers in my ear.  Who am I to think I could write daily devotions?  How do I possibly think I am worthy?  As I read this passage of Paul’s letter I wonder if he heard the same voices occasionally.   We can wallow in those dark voices and allow them to stall us or we can listen to the voice of truth that reminds us we are forgiven children of God.  The grace of God overrides any voices of doubt or condemnation.  Paul was a persecutor of the gospel and the followers of it.  God struck him blind on the road to Damascus and brought healing and true sight to him over time.  As Paul began to understand and believe, he followed his calling to teach others what he now knew.  After years of living in ignorance I cracked open my bible and began to study God’s word.  God finally got my attention and his grace brings healing and true sight to me.  I cannot help but share what I experience.  It is through the grace of God that I have become a servant of the gospel.

Lord,

You have given so much to us.  We trudge through our days unaware of the gifts we do not use.  Open our eyes as you did Paul’s so we truly see you and what you call us to do.  Pour your grace on us again so we become willing servants of your gospel truth, servants of you.  Amen.

John 3:1 “Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.”

Nicodemus had a quandary.  As a Pharisee there were expectations he had placed upon him, rules he was expected to follow and lead others to follow as well.  The rules had been written long ago and he was expected to help keep the status quo.  Jesus was stirring things up.  He was causing unrest in the people and unrest in Nicodemus.  Something was different about this man, Jesus.  Nicodemus meets with Jesus under cover of night.  I believe he did not want to be seen by anyone, he did not want to have to explain his actions.  He knew Jesus came from God, he proclaimed it that very night.  From then on Nicodemus is torn between what he believed and what he led others to believe.  He lived out his expectations as a Pharisee but two more times he is mentioned in the book of John stepping out of his role into faith in Jesus.  I am too much like Nicodemus.  I come to Jesus under cover of night.  During the day I live as people expect me to.  No one knows the struggle I hold in my heart between doing what is expected and following Jesus with abandon.  He calls to us, “Come.  Follow me.”

Lord,

Your disciples followed you at all cost.  I live my comfortable life and follow you in a comfortable way.  When you call me out of my safe boundaries I balk.  Give me the courage to step out in faith; out of the darkness and into the light.  Lift my voice to shout from mountain tops, I am yours!  Amen.

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.  And be thankful.”

I woke with the song “O Holy Night” resonating in my heart and mind.  I do not remember the dream that preceded this song but the song continues on a repeating loop as I write.  It is strange to think of Christmas in August but the gift of Jesus at Christmas is something worth remembering all year long.  The peace of Christ that Paul writes to the Colossians about in this letter came on that Christmas night long ago.  It has never left.  Throughout his life he lived in peace and taught others the same.  Even in the garden when he was being arrested, he called off his disciples when they fought back; he knew his peace would reign forever.  We look at our world today and there is much strife, war never ceases.  In the midst of strife and war, if we look closely, we see peace intertwined.  In this battle of spirits there may be moments of to anger and hatred, but peace and love sweep in and turn the battle back.  Call on His name; let His peace fill you once again.  When we claim Jesus, his peace fills our hearts and souls.  Of this, we are thankful indeed.

Lord,

World peace seems like a pipe dream but someday it will become a reality.  In the meantime, I ask you to fill my heart, fill the hearts of all who will receive, with your peace.  Let your peace rule our days.  Thank you for your everlasting grace and love.  Thank you for your peace.  Amen.

Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

I had just walked back down the stairs after quietly telling my son he needed to stay in his room.  I walked down the stairs in prayer asking that I would be granted a quiet time despite my boy already being awake.  When I looked up this Psalm I felt ashamed.  All through scripture there are reminders to praise and worship; extol and lift up the Lord.  Be thankful always and be joyful.  Paul tells us these things again in 1 Thessalonians.  Be joyful, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything, do good things...  As the Lord lifts the guilt from my heart for not always being thankful and I feel the gentle nudge of joy seeping in I relax into the “sonshine” and warmth of the Lord.  I lift a prayer for family and friends; I lift prayers for my neighbors and nation.  I lift a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for the blessings God has given me.  I lift praises to Him for redeeming me; for redeeming all.  Psalm 34:3 says “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”  Let us lift our hearts, hands and voices in exaltation today!

Lord,

Thank you for forgiving me yesterday, today and tomorrow.  It is only through Jesus that I am made righteous to come into your presence.  I come blessing your holy name, joining together with many voices in praise and adoration.  I pray to you and lift praise to you this moment; this day.  I rejoice in you always and in all ways.  Amen.

1 Peter 2:17 “Honor everyone.  Love the family of believers.  Fear God.  Honor the emperor.”

This verse is easy to say, challenging to follow.  I say I honor everyone but when I review my thoughts and deeper feelings, do I truly honor everyone?  Do I respect each person as I am called to?  I respect a person dressed in business attire and a conservative hair style but do I respect and honor the person who wears torn jeans and has a purple stripe in their hair?  I honor parents and children in the neighborhood but do I honor my husband and my own children?  I love the people in church who I know and get along with but do I love the people in church who rub me the wrong way or don’t have anything in common with me?  Do I honor the leaders of my country?  How do I look past what I disagree with in people and look deeper into the heart?  Peter says “Fear God.”  I believe this is the path to the other challenges he laid down.  Honor God most of all, love and respect and bow to Him; this is where I start.  Through this action I feel love and honor for the people around me.  Through the Spirit of God, I see beauty and the love each person deserves and I am able to honor them, with God’s help.

Lord,

Change my view to see as you see.  Change my heart to live as you guide me to.  I am challenged to honor everyone, love everyone, honor authority and bow deepest to you.  Help me live as you call me to live.  Amen.  

John 11:44 “The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth.  Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’”

Jesus knew Lazarus was sick, he had been sent for by Mary and Martha to come and heal him.  Jesus chose not to come at that time saying Lazarus would not die but his illness would glorify the Lord.  He stayed where he was two days longer before his disciples urged him to go see Lazarus.  When they arrived Lazarus had been dead four days.  Jesus knew he had passed and told his disciples he was going to wake him up.  He saw Martha crying, He saw Mary crying along with many of their friends and because he loved them, he cried.  His heart was burdened and heavy with their grief; his heart is burdened and heavy with our grief.  When Lazarus came out of the tomb I suspect, after the initial shock of it all, there was a great celebration.  The story of Lazarus death and resurrection is a story of new life.  Just as he died and was raised by Jesus, so are we.  When we claim Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we die unto sin and step in a new life with him.  Whenever this happens, there is a great celebration and all the saints rejoice.  Praise be to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Lord,

Thank you for the gift of redemption you brought to us all.  Open our eyes to see our own resurrection and how miraculous it is.  You weep with and you celebrate with us, you are Emmanuel, you are with us.  Hallelujah!  Amen.

Isaiah 35:6-7 “...For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water...”

Great Sand Dunes National Park is in southern Colorado.  In the middle of a mountain range there is this 29 miles of desert.  People visit there and climb the vast hills of nothing but sand.  The sand gets very hot in mid-day but if you visit at the right time of year there is a stream of water that runs at the base of the dunes.  Up on the dunes all you see is sand.  When you climb back down there is water, trees, life springs forth.  God’s grace is like a refreshing stream of water cooling the burning hot sand in the wilderness.  His grace brings foliage and growth, pools of water in the midst of a desert.  Our spiritual wilderness can be a chosen time that we step away from everything for some solitude.  It can also be a time of trial and loneliness we have not chosen.  Either way, the Lord is with us during these times.  We may feel the hot sand burning our feet but his cool waters are nearby and will soothe and cool us; He will refresh us.  He promises to deliver us and bring us everlasting joy.  Step out of the desert and into the oasis of God’s grace today.

Lord,

Thank you for refreshing streams and pools of cool water in the midst of deserts.  Thank you for your grace that refreshes our souls wherever we are and whatever we are going through.  Lift our hearts in joy as we receive renewal from you today.  Amen.