Chosen & Blessed
Category: Mercy
Spiritual Hunger
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for providing Jesus as the bread of life. All of humanity needs to recognize the necessity of trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation from sins. Thank You that once we are saved we will always be saved. Please help those of us who have trusted in Jesus to share the good news with others. Please show the unsaved that they have a hunger for the bread of life so they can glorify Your name for all eternity.
I pray this in Jesus name.
God is so good.
Purpose
Restore Joy
Always Faithful
It is rare that we can legitimately use terms like always and never. We sometimes use those terms when we are frustrated with things that don’t seem to be going well. One time we can use the term always is in regards to God’s faithfulness. I am so thankful that despite my lack of faithfulness, God is still faithful. This gives me daily hope.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your faithfulness. I am grateful that You remain faithful despite my lack. The hope You provide is so needed for the challenges we face. Please help us to cling to Your faithfulness and remember that hope.
I pray this in Jesus’ name.
God is so good.
Number of Days
Christmas this year was bittersweet for me. I love the opportunity to spend time with family, but this year my 100 year old grandmother’s health declined. We spent some days sitting in her apartment and at her bedside. Watching loved ones fade is a hard thing to do. Hospice workers can tell you that dying is hard work.
For my grandmother to live 100 years is an amazing lifespan. And yet according to the Bible that is a fleeting or short amount of time. Knowing that life after death is for all eternity (also in the Bible) puts our lives here on a different scale. 100 years isn’t even a full drop in the bucket in comparison.
While watching my grandmother die was a hard thing to do, I am so thankful that she trusted in Jesus to save her from her sins. I am confident she is in heaven. I know without a doubt that my soul will be in heaven when my body dies. I think that we will have some fun conversations again some day.
If you haven’t trusted in Jesus Christ, I pray you will today. It doesn’t matter how long you live, death comes all to quickly. Please find out Who God truly is and accept His way. I truly believe you will find God’s way is worth it.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love of my precious grandmother. Thank You that Christ’s love is offered to all. Please guide those of us who have accepted Christ’s love to share the truth with others.
I pray this in Jesus’ name.
God is so good.
Righteous Cry
What is Good
God has given us information about what is good. God has given commands – commands that He has the right to give. This verse gives a simple list. Act justly. Love faithfulness. Walk humbly with God.
I’ll admit it is not always simple to follow those things. Pride in self interrupts other serving humility. Faithfulness requires hard work. Living justice when that is not what is happening around us can become tiring. However, God promises to be with those who trust in His Son. He promises the grace we need to obey His commands.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for telling us what is good. Thank You for providing the help we need to obey Your commands. I ask for strength to act justly, love faithfulness and walk humbly with You.
I pray this in Jesus’ name.
God is so good.
Call
Strengthened for Joy
I don’t know about you, but I often feel weak. Life is filled with challenges (I think I may be sounding like a broken record – if there was sound to writing). Some days those challenges become overwhelming. Have you ever quit? I have.
When we feel weak, joy and thankfulness can be hard to come by. When I find it hard to be joyful or thankful I start with what verses 13-14 tell us. “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. In Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” God’s undeserved gift is easy to be thankful for.
Today’s verses talk about being strengthened. We need God’s strength to have endurance to make it through the challenges. God knew there would be many and so he sent the Holy Spirit to help us. Here is another reason to be joyfully thankful.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the strength that You give. Please help us to look to You for the endurance only You can provide. Please help us to be joyfully thankful. We know You give good gifts.
I praise this in Jesus’ name.
God is so good.
Pleading in Prayer 