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Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3 (NLT)
The first few minutes of our day can determine how the rest of the day goes. If we wake up excited about the possibilities before us our mood can be happy, and positive. If we awaken to worries and fears about the tasks before us we can be tense and tentative in all we do.
Our attitude about the day can determine how we talk to our children and those we love, how or what we eat, and how we drive in rush hour traffic. Those opening moments just after our eyes open lay the foundation for how we act, react, think and speak!
Nutritionists tell us that breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it prepares the body physically for what lays ahead. Spiritually speaking, spending some time with Jesus as you start your day can make all the difference in the world in how you feel emotionally, spiritually and physically. Take a little time for Jesus before you even get out of bed.
In Psalm 5 David spends most of his time writing about his enemies. People around him are lying about him, criticizing him, questioning his every move. He’s being beaten up and spit out by a bunch of unnamed adversaries’ intent on making sure his life is miserable.
Before he even gets out of bed he speaks to his Lord about the day’s events. He’s not afraid to ask right from the start that God would intervene in the day’s activities. David knew something that each of us must remember: God knows our tomorrows and passionately desires to walk through life with us moment by moment. He listens to each word that is said to us, by us and about us. He watches each attack with interest because He won’t allow us to go through more than we can handle.
David not only begins his day by telling God his concerns, he resolves from the very start to ‘wait expectantly’. David does something here that each of us should strive for. He waits patiently for God’s answer to come forth. It’s not a question of ‘IF’ God will answer. David fully expects that God will take care of the things that need taking care of.
When we are being attacked by others or our own feelings of failure and worthlessness, it’s too easy to pray idle words without really expecting God to act. The book of Acts tells the story of a group of people praying for Peter’s deliverance from prison. When God answered their prayers they didn’t believe it!
Pray with the expectation that God will answer. It’s not a question of ‘if’ but when and how. Sometimes the answer we get won’t be what we want, but if we believe that our Father loves us and only wants what is best for us, then we must patiently wait with expectation for His answer and trust Him to guide us through.
Remember, YOU are God’s number one! You are a child of THE King. He already knows what your day holds for you. Talk to Him first thing in the morning and let Him handle the rest.
PRAYER: Good morning Jesus. As you know I’m worried about today. I want to thank you for seeing me through the night. Thank you for the many, many blessings you have bestowed upon me. Forgive me for the times I’ve forgotten to notice how you’ve taken care of me in the past. Help me now to patiently wait for you to take care of the things that are troubling me. I now place into your hands all the things that I’m worried about. I trust you. Amen.
No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39 (NLT)
What can separate us from God’s love? The Bible tells us that nothing can separate us from His love. The only thing that stands in the way of a love relationship with God is our sin. Sin separates us from God’s love because God can’t look at sin, not because He doesn’t love us. All of us, no matter who we are or what we believe are God’s creation. He made ALL men (mankind) in His image for the express purpose of having a passionate, fulfilling love relationship with us.
Jesus came to earth to give us a living example of God’s love. He died to pay the penalty for our sin. He rose so that even death would have no power over us. Today He is seated at the right hand of His father pleading our case and reminding the Father that He died for us. He works in us though the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us, protect us and assure us of His love.
What can separate us from His love? If we believe that God is the creator of all things then He is also in control of all things created. He created all we see (the earth, universe, life) and the unseen (the spirit world, fear, doubt, etc.). Therefore He will not allow anything He has created to keep us from His love.
What can separate us from His love? Can our past? Can debt? Can illness? Can political agendas that are anti-God? Can present frustrations and disappointments? NO! The enemy uses these things to try to veil God’s love; to make us question His love, His existence and His forgiveness.
The enemy says, “He can’t forgive you this time. You’ve gone too far. You are nothing but a hypocrite.” The enemy says, “If God is a God of love why is there illness and disaster? If your God is alive and loving this would never happen”
But our Father in heaven has always warned us that in this world we will see adversity. We’ll see hatred and disaster and struggle. He’s told us we’ll struggle with sin and with those intent on destroying us. He’s even warned us that we will be unfaithful at times. But even these things will not separate us from God’s love.
Our attitudes towards God may affect our ability to sense His love for us but they will never affect how much He loves us!
What can separate us from God’s love? Nothing. Nothing you can see. Nothing that is hidden. Not the past, not the future. God loves you and He sent His own Son as proof. Your value comes because of God’s love for you and not because of anything you can do to earn it.
PRAYER: Holy Father. I thank you today for the reminder that there is nothing that separates me from you. I get scared sometimes. I get frustrated with my own feelings of inadequacy to follow you the way I want. I’m angry sometimes at the evil and injustice around me. Even during these times I ask that you would help me to live in constant awareness of your undying, eternal and unending love for me. In the name of my Lord and my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 (NLT)
History is strewn with unfinished projects. Dreams people have had that were never accomplished. Books that were started and never finished. Songs no one has heard. Inventions that have never seen a store shelf. Relationships that have never experienced the joy of togetherness.
There are many reasons for people failing to accomplish their dreams. Some ran out of time or money. Others experienced life changes that kept them from achieving their goal. Some just lost interest when the project didn’t take shape the way they’d hoped it would. There are also those that failed because of a failure to plan.
The Apostle Paul tells us we are each an unfinished project. But we are not likely to be cast aside any time soon! Before time itself we were a project in God’s eye. Psalm 139 says that each of our days was carefully planned out with every detail in place.
When God starts a project He has the ability to complete it, the desire to see it succeed and the passion to do it well. He is well aware of our shortcomings and the momentary setbacks. He understands how our feelings and the circumstances of our lives can keep us from staying on course. That doesn’t deter Him from continuing to work in our lives. He is never discouraged or disappointed in what He sees. Nothing we do surprises Him.
Every day of our lives is a step closer to becoming all God has planned for us. He will not abandon you. He will not tire of your shortcomings or lose interest in you and go on to some other, more promising project. You are His number one. You are His masterpiece.
Be patient though. Masterpieces take time. There will be set backs along the way and things won’t go as you’d like. In the midst of the struggle don’t forget who you are, a child of the King. Remember that you aren’t doing the work. God is working in you and through you to make you the finished product.
PRAYER: Dear Father. Thank you for the work you are doing I my life today. I don’t understand all the things that are happening right now. I’m trying so hard to change things in my life and they aren’t working. I praise you for that fact that you have all things in control and that you can use everything that happens in my life for good. Help me to live as the masterpiece I am. Amen.
“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:6
One day the prophet Jeremiah was told by God to visit the house of the local potter. As Jeremiah watched, the potter worked gently shaping a piece of clay. In the process of forming the pot, the potter noticed a flaw in the clay. “This will never do,” he said. With that he began to reform the pot until the flaw was gone and a perfectly useful pot was formed. God said to Jeremiah, “just as the potter shaped this vessel for use, so I can shape my people to be used in the best way possible.”
Just as the potter was able to take the piece of clay in his hands and mold it into something useful, something perfectly able to accomplish the task it needed to accomplish, God shapes us daily so that we are better able to accomplish all that He has desired for us. Like a skilled artist God is molding you and shaping you into the person He wants you to be.
As God the Father is shaping you it’s important to remember some things about how He works. Just as the potter is very deliberate in his work, so our Heavenly Father is passionate about what He is doing in your life. His actions are never arbitrary or random. No movement of His hands is without reason. As a Sovereign God He makes every moment of our lives an opportunity to grow stronger and more effective.
As the potter shapes the clay, he pays attention to detail. No flaw goes unnoticed. He knows that even the smallest of flaws can make a vessel worthless. He knows the limitations of the clay but also knows the possibilities. Our Father is never willing to allow us to be useless vessels due to the flaws in our lives. Rather, he works each flaw out so that we can be strong and useful vessels for Him.
The potter also works patiently. He knows that a strong pot is formed slowly. Only under the direst of circumstances is he harsh and forceful with the clay. When that happens it happens for a reason and for a short time so that the clay can be reformed into something special. Sometimes God has to bring harsh things into our lives to work out the flaws and make us stronger. He does so in love and for our benefit.
Lastly, the potter is proud of his work. He has worked long and hard to make each vessel useful, strong and beautiful. Our Father does the same for us. Some stores sell products that are imperfect, or rejects. You can buy them at a discounted price because they are flawed. God doesn’t send us into the world as rejects or irregulars. We are His prized possessions. With His gentle hands He molds us, shapes us and works out the flaw so that we can be used for Him.
PRAYER: Father thank you for caring enough about me that you will not allow me to be a flawed vessel. I praise you for the fact that you will mold me and shape me to be the best I can possibly be. Help me to be empowered by you to be used in real and mighty ways. I pray this for your name’s sake. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 