Category: Control

Daily Bread

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Jesus’ example prayer continues with “Give us this day our daily bread.” We are instructed to ask for God to provide our needs. This is another area of life, where I believe we need to seek balance. Today’s passage talks about how God provides even for the lilies. We know God is in control, but we can fall into worry about the future. That being said, we don’t sit down and do nothing. The Bible also tells us that if we don’t work, we shouldn’t eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10) .

Verse 31 tells us that seeking God’s kingdom is the most important pursuit we have in life. God’s Word tells us how to do that. Then we will find the passages such as 2 Thessalonians 3:10 that give us the day to day instructions.

Dear Heavenly Father, we need Your help to know what to do. Please guide us to seek Your kingdom and study Your Word. Please help us to remember these verses when we are prone to worry. We are often afraid of the future, and we need to remember how much You love us.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Be Filled

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Too many times we want details about God’s will. What job should I have? Whom should I marry? What car should I buy? The Bible doesn’t go into the detail we tend to want. God does give us principles to use when asking those questions. One of the principles is to be filled with the Spirit. When a person trusts in Jesus Christ for salvation from sin, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us. The verb in this passage is passive. This isn’t something we do – although we can fight against the Holy Spirit’s work. Our passage today tells us that we need to walk in wisdom understanding God’s will.

This is one passage out of many that gives principles to follow when looking for God’s will. We need to keep searching Scripture to understand what God wants for our lives. Our decisions need to be driven by the work of the Holy Spirit, not our selfish desires. God’s way is always better.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us direction about Your will. Please help us to allow the work of the Holy Spirit so we can be wise. We need Your help.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Established by God

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This is a continuation of Psalm 37:4. We are told to delight in the Lord. In these verses we are told that God establishes the steps of those who delight in God’s way. God gives wonderful gifts, but we need to seek Him with joy.

Christmas is a wonderful time to remember the joy of the angels announcement that the Messiah had been born. If we read and study the Bible, we can find many reasons for joy and delight.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your word. Thank You for giving many reasons to delight in You. Thank you for Your provision. Please help us through this season and every season to spend time delighting. We often need help to keep looking into what You have for us.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

What Sticks

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People spend a lot of time and money on plans. Planning is a good concept, but Proverbs 19:21 reminds us that the only ones that stick are the plans of God. Does this mean we don’t make plans? No, there are plenty of times where the Bible tells us to be prepared (1 Peter 3:15, Proverbs 6:8; 24:27). As a believer I prayerfully make plans and remember that God is in control.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making plans that will stand. Please help me to make plans that are in line with Your will.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Fear and Shame

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The last three weeks I have had to fight fear over a “lump” that I found. This felt similar to what I had 2 ½ years ago. I had visions of surgery and potentially other treatment. As I made diagnostic appointments (and waited about 1 ½ weeks to go to the appointments), I chose this verse. There is worry involved in medical issues. I had to pray my way through allowing God whatever He chose.

Praise the Lord, he allowed me to only have 2 cysts and a non-malignant spot. No surgery or medical treatment needed. I am grateful for God’s kindness in allowing this news.

I have prayed many times in recent years that I am willing and able to endure whatever God asks of me. I was wrestling with that prayer before finding out the prognosis. I appreciate these verses. Seeking God helps deliver us from our fears. I know that I can feel shame as I wrestle with my fears – verse 5 reminds us that we can be radiant and unashamed as we look to God.

The simple reminder is to seek God and I can be delivered. The difficult reality is that I need to keep working hard to give my fears and worries to God and leave them there. I am glad God is patient and kind in providing for my weakness.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for closing this chapter in health issues. Please help me to continue to give all of my fears to You. Please help me to encourage others to do the same.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Seeing Security

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I enjoy the word pictures Proverbs gives.  We are admonished to keep the principles of wisdom in our line of sight.  This brings life and stability. 

I often think I have to provide my own security.  However, I don’t have the ability to see past the short term.  God knows how every decision I make fits with everything happening in my little piece of the world as well as the entire world.  As I submit to God, He gives what is needed for every step of my life.  He knows the final outcome of every situation.  I can trust Him.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for providing wisdom and reminding me to hold on to Your way.  Please help me to look to You in every situation.  Please guide me according to Your discretion.  Thank You for all You’ve done and will do.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Less of Me, More of Jesus

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We live in a terrible world.  We are watching so many battles fought in front of us.  I often wish I could be a part of the solution – be an influencer to help change the world.  One of the issues I find is that my heart wants to make a difference to feel good about myself.  I am praying that God would continue to direct my heart to make a difference for the sake of Jesus.  There is no greater goal. 

In order to make a difference for Jesus Christ, I need to have less of me.  I must allow God to rule in every area of my life.  As God takes over, my life will be more usable.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your patience as I let go of my wishes.  Please take over my life and give me courage and strength for whatever You allow to come my way.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Praise for Daily Help

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I survived another week working smack dab in the middle of supply chain.  Things are still crazy due to the upheaval over the last year and a half.  And no, supply chain professionals aren’t going to fix it all.  When you look at many of the reasons behind the issues, we don’t have control over those things.  But I digress.

The reality, no matter the reasons, is that life is still tough.  I am so thankful that God is willing and able to hold me up throughout the challenges I face.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing me through another challenging week.  I praise You for the salvation You have so freely given.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Complete and Total Trust

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This last week I have been fighting a different battle.  The company that manages my employer’s disability policy does not have the information they want to process my claim.  I have been confused and felt hassled trying to be the go-between to get this situation resolved.  I have needed the reminder to pray and trust the Lord completely.  God has this situation in hand, just as He had my surgery and recovery taken care of.

Life is full of various challenges.  God has the ability to take care of us through anything He allows in our lives.  I need to rely completely and totally on God to be able to make it through those situations.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for providing secure footing when I rely completely on You.  Please help me when I struggle to trust You completely.  I know You are trustworthy. 

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

All Sufficiency

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God’s grace is an amazing gift.  2 Corinthians 9:8 tells us that God’s grace gives us all sufficiency…in all things…at all times.  All is a big concept in a little word.  All or nothing is rarely true – it IS true when talking about God.  Only God can be that consistent. 

When times are tough it can feel like we don’t have enough.  Worry and fear set in and we don’t respond well or do well in trials.  I want to live this verse especially in the next week as I have pre-op appointments and surgery.  There will be plenty of challenges, but my God is bigger than the challenges and my fervent prayer is that God’s name will be glorified through my life. 

Dear Heavenly Father, please show Yourself strong in the upcoming week.  I want to see and show others that Your grace will give all sufficiency in all things at all times.  I know You will as I give my circumstances to You.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.