I receive this day of life as a precious gift from You. I want to treat it as the treasure it is by seeking Your Face and prayer-fully prioritizing. As I look at the day that stretches out before me, please help me discern what is most important. Show me how to set priorities according to Your will- using them to guide me as I go along my way. This will enable me to make good choices about the use of my time and energy. Then, when I reach the end of the day, I can feel at peace about the things I have done- -and also about the things I have not done.
You’ve been teaching me to include You in everything I do. I’ve seen that even the briefest prayer is sufficient to invite You into my activities. By praying about everything, I acknowledge my continual need of You. I’m even learning to rejoice in my neediness–viewing it as a strong link to Your glorious Presence.
Although living in a dependent manner is countercultural, I’ve found that it’s a blessed way to live-exulting in Your boundless sufficiency and Your unfailing Love.
In Your delightful Name, Jesus, Amen.
“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24
“Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!”
1 Chronicles 16:10-11
“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy”
Jude 1:24
“Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”
Help me to worship You only- making You first and foremost in my life. The Bible teaches that You are a jealous God and that idolatry has always been the downfall of Your people.
Current idols are more subtle than ancient ones because today’s false gods are often secular. People, possessions, status, and wealth are some of the most popular idols these days. To avoid the pitfall of bowing down before these things, I must be self-controlled and alert.
You’ve been showing me that false gods never satisfy; instead, they stir up lust for more and more. When I seek You instead of the world’s idols, I experience Your Joy and Peace.
These priceless intangibles quench the thirst of my soul, providing deep satisfaction. The glitter of the world is tinny and temporal. The Light of Your Presence is brilliant and everlasting. I want to walk in the Light with You-becoming a beacon through whom others are drawn to You.
In Your priceless Name, Jesus, Amen.
“(for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God)”
Exodus 34:14
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Romans 15:13
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
You’ve been showing me that thankfulness takes the sting out of adversity. Moreover, the Bible instructs me to give thanks for everything. I see an element of mystery in this transaction:
I give You thanks, regardless of my feelings, and You give me Joy, regardless of my circumstances. This is a spiritual act of obedience-at times, blind obedience. Thanking You for heart-rending hardships can seem irrational or even impossible. But I’ve learned that when I obey You in this way, I am blessed, even though difficulties remain.
Thankfulness opens my heart to Your Presence and my mind to Your thoughts. I may still be in the same place-facing the same set of circumstances-but it’s as if a light has been switched on, enabling me to see from Your perspective more clearly. It is this Light of Your Presence that removes the sting from adversity. Help me, Lord, to walk in the Light with You more and more!
In Your luminous Name, Amen.
“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”
Ephesians 5:20
“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
Psalm 118:1
“How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all the day, And by Your righteousness they are exalted.”
I give thanks to You, for You are good; Your Love endures forever. I want to take time to think about the many blessings You provide. Thank You, Lord, for the gift of life-for every breath You give me. I’m grateful also for everyday provisions: food and water, shelter, clothing, family and friends. But the greatest gift I’ve received from You, my Savior, is everlasting Life!
As I consider all that You have done for me, I delight in who You are–the great I Am! You are one hundred percent good. There is not even a speck of darkness in You, the Light of the world! Moreover, Your Love is unending; it goes on and on throughout eternity.
Because I belong to You, I am never separated from Your loving Presence. I know that You are always near, so I don’t need to worry about whether or not I sense Your Presence. Instead of focusing on my feelings, help me to simply trust that You are with me-and to thank You for Your unfailing Love.
In Your blessed Name, Amen.
“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”
Psalm 107:1
“Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.””
John 8:58
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””
John 8:12
“Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!”
I want to live close to You and open to You-aware of, attentive to, trusting, and thanking You. I know You are always near me. So I open myself fully-heart, mind, and spirit-to Your living Presence.
Please help me stay aware of You as I follow my path through this day. I’m comforted by knowing there is never a moment when You are not fully aware of me. I want to be attentive-alert and listening carefully- not only to You but to the people You bring into my life. I’ve found that listening to others with full, prayerful attention blesses both them and me.
The Bible is full of instruction to trust You and thank You. Because You’re supremely trustworthy, believing in You and Your promises provides a firm foundation for my life. Moreover, You understand my weakness and You help me overcome my unbelief.
You’ve been teaching me the importance of thanking You throughout the day. This delightful discipline blesses me greatly–keeping me close to You and increasing my joy!
In Your trustworthy Name, Amen
“And the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”
Revelation 1:18
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;”
James 1:19
“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!””
Mark 9:24
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”
Do you remember the time when you came into realization of how much God’s loves you?
I remember the time when I went through so much struggle as a teen. I think not knowing God as a teen was particularly very difficult.
That was until I came to the grace of God. I suddenly learned to forgive. I began to talk about God’s grace, and how much he has compassion on me.
However, in our Christian life, we often forget about that moment when we know the truth. We either began to live a performance based Christian life, or we just do not watch our Christian conduct, and moral. We forgot why we do certain things, which should be with loving intention and with Jesus in our heart.
In his letter to Timothy, Paul address similar issues. He taught Timothy that we must have a loving intention, which comes from pure heart, good science, and sincere faith.
When Paul met Timothy, he was going through Derbe and Lystra in his second missionary journey. Luke in Chapter 16 of Acts mentioned that Timothy was half Greek and half Jewish. He was well spoken by the disciples. This was circa 49 AD, more than 15 years after Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Upon hearing about Timothy, immediately, Paul made him his missionary companion along with many other Greek, Asian, Macedonian, and other Jewish believers. Timothy himself often acted as his apostolic representative in many churches.
Now, many years after Timothy joined him, for about the same length of time as when he first met Timothy, Paul reminded Timothy the reason why he was sent to Ephesus, which is to rebuked false teaching. The gospel does not change, the message of the gospel does not change. He invoked three statements that Paul considered trustworthy.
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15).
“Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:7b-8).
“f we have died with him, we will also live with him;if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful.” (2 Timothy 2:11-13)
First, we must remember that Jesus came to save sinners. Our conducts, no matter how godly they are, do not save us. Rather, it is the saving grace of Jesus that saves us from condemnations of sins. Secondly, we must continue to train ourselves in godliness. It is rather very easy for us to be distracted, and got sidetracked with many issues that the world handed us. Sometimes, we forgot that godliness has value and also contain promises from God. Paul taught Timothy that godliness has value in today’s life as well as our future life in Christ. Lastly, we must remember that one day we will receive the eternal promise to reign with him. Our confession and belief of Jesus as the Christ and savior saved us from the condemnation of sins, but is also enables us to reign with him. Our sincere faith allow us to make this confession that “Jesus is Lord.” Jesus will always be faithful with His promise.
So, remember the next time you have doubt and when you feel that your faith is being shaken through circumstances that challenge your faith, remember that the gospel is trustworthy, and God’s promise is trustworthy.
“That by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience.” 1 Timothy 1: 18.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me remember when I am doubting your goodness. Help me not to rush through my day, and help me to remember to share your love with other. Encourage me in my faith. When I caved in to doubt and condemnation, help me remember that you have redeemed me. Help me to be quick to forgive, and quick to repent from self-righteousness as well as being quick to repent from sins that sadden your heart. Help me to continue to train myself in godliness, not as something that I could boast about, but to glorify your name. Help me and guide me so that I could help others whose life is shattered, and in need of your grace. In everything I do and say, teach me to have a good conscience and be sincere in showing love. Lord, may my life be overflow with your love. I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.” 1 Timothy 1:1-20 ESV
Please help me to linger in gratitude. This is a most delightful place–where the Joy of Your Presence shines warmly upon me.
Often, I pray fervently for something and wait hopefully for the answer. If You grant my request, I respond joyfully and thankfully. But my tendency is to move on rather quickly to seeking the next thing. Instead of experiencing only a short-lived burst of gratitude, I want to remain in an attitude of thankful Joy–letting my gratefulness flow freely into the future. I need to train myself to remember Your gracious response to my request. One way is to tell others about the blessing I’ve received from You. Another way is to write down the prayer-answer someplace where I’ll see it again and again.
Lord, teach me to remember Your marvelous works with thankfulness. You’ve been showing me that gratefulness blesses me doubly-with happy memories of answered prayer and with the delight of sharing Joy with You!
In Your joyful Name, Jesus, Amen
“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!”
Psalm 95:2
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57
“Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered,”
Have you ever have a time when you escaped troubles after troubles, only to find yourself in another one. During that time, our souls could be crushed, our spirit wavers, and strength gives in. David in the old testament felt the same way too.
In the story of David in 1 Samuel 21 David was in the territory of Gath. Prior to that time, he had just barely escaped from the hand of Saul the king, and had eaten the show bread that was not lawful for him to eat according to the law of Moses. Saul was so obsessed to destroy David that he went beyond logic to pursue him whenever he heard of David’s whereabouts. His problem with David is that he knew that David was chosen and favor by God to potentially took his place. Although, he failed to pin him down with spears many time, he never give up on hunting down David.
Then, he went to Achish, the King of Gath, possibly in thought of obtaining favor from him. Achish knew that David is Saul’s mighty warrior and David himself have the sword of Goliath in his possession.
David then, decided that he should acts loke a mad man so that Achish would not suspect him to be a treat to his kingdom. For much of the time after that, David was in hiding, on the cave of Adullam.
Imagine, if you are running for your life, and fall into discouragement after another. What could you do?
Throughout my life, I find that finding the presence of God is the best recipe for our troubles. But if we have the peace of God, God will give us the strength to face our troubles. In some cases, he may even come in to interfere to help us. That is the best encouragement we can receive, when we felt God is walking with us.
Would you trust in Jesus in your troubles? David said, The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” When we seek the Lord, we will lack no good thing.
Lord Jesus, help us to seek your face when we go through the troubles of our life. Help us to trust you when we struggle. Help us to thank you when you pour your blessing in our life. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.
Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” Psalm 34:1-22
I ask You to increase my thankfulness. I’ve learned that being thankful not only brightens my day but opens my heart more fully to You. I long to encounter You in the midst of my circumstances. So I’ll look for signs of Your Presence as I walk along the path of Life. A grateful attitude opens both my heart and my eyes-enabling me to see You in myriad tiny details as well as in the big picture of my life. I need to slow down and take time to notice all Your blessings- thanking You for them and enjoying Your many gifts.
I ask You also to train me in trusting You more consistently. Well-developed, sturdy trust enables me to walk across treacherous terrain without stumbling. The more challenging my journey, the more frequently I need to voice my confidence in You: “Lord, I trust in Your unfailing Love.” This short prayer reminds me that You are with me, You are taking care of me, and You love me forever!
I have good reason to be joyful because You are absolutely worthy of my thankfulness and trust!
In Your great Name, Jesus, Amen
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Colossians 4:2
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalm 16:11
“But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.”
Thank You for showering so many blessings on me! Everything I have is a gift from You, including each breath I breathe. I rarely think about the wonder of inhaling Your Life continually. Yet it was only when You breathed the breath of Life into Adam that he became a living being. Sometimes I like to sit quietly in Your Presence, thanking You silently each time I inhale and affirming my trust in You as I exhale. I’ve found that the longer I do this, the more relaxed I become.
Lord, please help me to appreciate and thank You for blessings I often overlook–birds and trees, light and colors, loved ones and daily comforts. The list is endless! The more I look for good things in my life, the clearer my vision becomes. Of course, my greatest gratitude is for eternal Life, which is mine because I believe in You. This priceless forever-gift fills me with ever-increasing Joy in Your Presence!
In Your generous Name, Jesus, Amen
“then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”
Genesis 2:7
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
joyfuljoseph 