The Head of the Body

"Jesus, the Head of the Body, is always with us no matter where we go. Though this ever-present "supervisor" most often stands beside us in silence, He is nonetheless present, available on a moment's notice to those who would simply acknowledge his nearness. Because Jesus is with us today, we have the capacity to 'see from above.' We can see things as Jesus sees them if we look through His eyes."

I forget that Jesus is right here. I think of Him often as distant and removed from my daily life and struggles. It is a comfort (and intimidating) to remember He is right here with me and can see (and hear) all that I'm going through right now.

Lord,
I am complete in you! I enter tomorrow, with its challenges, problems, unknowns, knowing I am linked to You. You are my head - able to protect me, lead me, help me, nurture me. Each step is directed by You. Help me to listen and obey.

The Commander of the Lord's Army

"The victories the Lord wants to give us require that we are both committed and submitted to His plans and purposes, rather than persuaded by our own opinions or interests. The pathway to victory often goes through a valley of sorrow or suffering. But we have this unshakable hope: Jesus knows precisely what to do! Only the people who listen to God and obey will experience the totality of Christ's promised victory."

Lord,
Help me to remember that the battle is not mine, it is yours. Help me to obey.

My Rock

"The best way to insure that God's presence "is enthroned" in our prayers is to fill them with praise."

Lord,
I praise you today because my hope is built on nothing less thank Jesus' blood and righteousness. Help me to fill my prayers with praise. You are an amazing God who has done great things in my life. Thank you!

A Scepter

"Having been 'exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God's right hand,' Christ Himself has become the representation - the Incarnate Scepter - of the living God's total authority over all things in this world and in the world to come, including earth, heaven, and even hell itself."

I wonder how often God wants us to take the authority up that He has given us through Christ and we don't...

Lord,
I reach to touch your power and authority, that my need and my fears may be overcome by those mighty resources. Lord Jesus, I gratefully reach out to touch you, knowing you are touchable.

The Word of God

"When we speak what God's Word says, declaring its truth and its resulting hope into a circumstance, we unleash creative potential. This creative power doesn't come from any of us. Rather, it originates from the person of Christ, the Word of God."

I love the idea of unleashing creative potential. Right now, as I think about my life, I am looking for something amazing to happen. I need to be speaking God's Word in my life as I look for the Word of God to do something amazing!

Lord,
I'm glad I know you as The Word. I'm glad the One who made all worlds is overseeing my life. This gives me great confidence to step into the day. Jesus, speak creative thoughts, orchestrate creative events, flow creative life, let your words flow through me to heal people. Let your ideas call me to serve others. May I produce hope wherever I go, that people see you!

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

"You are important to God, a page on which God longs to inscribe in the very signature of His Son a prescription for a life of purpose."

I am certainly longing for such a purpose right now! I feel like God has given me so much, and I am sadly inept at giving back to Him. It's a good reminder to me that God has a plan and I need to be looking all the time at the way(s) He is providing me with purpose.

Lord,
I love you. I thank you for giving me this life. My prayer is that you would become my way, my truth, and my life. Not that you would conform to me, but that I will conform to you. I want to walk my steps in your way. I want to think my thoughts in your truth. I want my experience to be of your life again...and again...and again.

A Great Light

"How can you expect to God to speak in that gentle and inward voice which melts the soul, when you are making so much noise with your rapid reflections? Be silent and God will speak again." - Francois Fenelon in The Spiritual Letters

"The unreflective person thinks and imagines that when he prays, the important thing, the thing that he must concentrate upon, is that God should hear what he is praying for. And yet in the true, eternal sense, it is just the reverse; the true relation in prayer is not when God hears what is prayed for, but when the person continues to pray until he is the one who hears what God wills."

Wow. In all areas and all ways, God has confirmed to me today that I need to work on actually listening to Him when I pray. I've been so busy telling God all the things I want Him to do (or don't want Him to do) that I've totally neglected listening to Him telling me what He wants me to do. I cannot do it without Him, so I need to be quiet and listen to him!!

Lord,
Teach me to pray the way You desire me to pray.

A Nail in the Wall

"Resting today in Jesus, our Nail in the Wall, helps prevent us from being "let down" no matter what trials we experience. Second, because Christ alone is our security, we don't need to worry about being "put down" by anyone. Finally, there's no negative "fallout" to contaminate our spiritual growth as long as we are confident that Christ is truly our Nail in the Wall."

I like this illustration!! Right now, I feel like everyone and everything has let me down. I love the idea that Christ is the Nail in the Wall because He is what is holding me up. Nothing else can take me down 'cause He's never gonna drop me.

Lord,
In the Name of Him Whose finished triumph bears never-ending witness, and Whose victory - upon which I hang my hopes for tomorrow - is won, I am secure, knowing this Nail in the Wall will never let me down! I praise You for Your security and Your love that is providing it for me!

The Power of God

"Are you so tired that you're about to give in? Be honest and tell Him. Allow His magnificence to flood your spirit. If you face a situation that needs a miraculous outcome, cry to to God who made this promise: "Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come."

Lord,
This day has not gone how I wanted it to go. Right now, I feel like the only way out of my situation is your miraculous hand at work. Perhaps, that's exactly where you want me to today. I cry out to you. You are my hope and my only prayer. You have mastery over my situation. Here I am. I have come to wait...and to receive. I need your power, but I am slowly learning that my need and its supply are different than I thought. I thought I needed the ability to do things, but you wanted to give me the power to become patient, understanding, and forgiving like you. I wanted the power to control things, but you began to teach me that your power, which created all things, sustains all things, and oversees all things, is sufficient to manage my concerns. Your day, your power, have become my day and my joy. Your joy - which I have gained through your power - has become my strength.

The Lord Who Heals

"Any number of things could cause a person's illness - neglect, bitterness, abuse. The first step toward healing is to confess these sins (1 John 1:9). But that's only the beginning. Christ promises health for body, soul and spirit. He heals broken hearts (Ps. 147:3), He frees mistreated people (Luke 4:18) and heals us from our waywardness (Jer. 3:22). In short, Christ responds at every level of physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and personal brokenness."

I feel so broken right now! It's been a loooooong week, filled with disappointments and discouragements. How cool is it that God is in the business of healing broken hearts???

Lord,
I am tired in spirit and weary in soul. Heal me! I cast all this brokenness upon you, who suffered in my place so I could be healed. I relax in your promises and power, knowing all will be well.

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

"Pray the largest prayers! You cannot think of a prayer so large that God, in answering it, will not wish you had made it larger. Pray not for crutches, pray for wings!" - Phillips Brooks

What are my largest prayers? I don't even know anymore! I feel like I'm just asking God to help me survive today, not asking for more than that.

Lord,
Go before me and fight all the opposes the Father's purpose for my life!

A Life-Giving Spirit

"Our Savior is a life-giving Spirit - a revitalizing, breath-of-life-giving "resuscitator" of weary souls. When your spiritual breath rate seems shallow or labored, it's probably a sign that you need "spirit-breath." It's available in Jesus' name, our life-giving spirit."

This is totally something I can relate to this evening. I feel like I've got a very shallow breath right now. Being reminded that there's only one source for renewal is good, but it's vitally important that I take advantage of it!

Lord,
I am very conscious of my limits. Though part of a new creation, I am also part of Adam's race, and the Adam part seems much stronger right now! My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. I come to receive the life-breath of your spirit. Breathe freshness and newness of life into my weariness, and your spirit strengthen me beyond my weakness.

A Wall of Fire

"Jesus' name insulates us against the fiery blasts of Satan or the cold chills of spiritual indifference...as a child of God, no matter where you go, His Wall of Fire surrounds you."

Lord,
I feel like one HUGE thing that has happened this past month+ is that you have caused me to have to face the fact that I need you. More than money, more than food, more than my own way, more than life... I need you. Thank you, Jesus!

The Sacrifice that Atones for Our Sins

"Jesus unconditionally fulfilled His vow to provide the way for us to come back to God. Further, Jesus unconditionally fulfilled any perceived obligation on our part necessary for us to gain acceptance before God."

I constantly forget this. I think I need to do something, be something, be someone that God will accept. I forget that I do not need to gain acceptance before God - Christ did that on my behalf. If I spent less time trying to earn God's love, I would spend a lot more time loving Him!

Lord,
Thank you for my freedom. I am clothed by your sinless excellence because of Christ's work on the cross. I rejoice in my full acceptance by the Father!

The Rescuer

"Your rescue is a multi-faceted, never-ending work of Christ. The Bible tells us Christ "did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him and he will continue to rescue us" (2 Cor 2 vs. 10). It's true that the instant we're saved, we all receive deliverance from sin's past penalty. As we grow in Christ, we can see how He continually rescues us from the power of present sin. And ultimately there will be rescue from sin's future when we meet Christ face-to-face. Hallelujah! Our rescue is complete - past, present, and future."

Lord,
I feel like I'm holding onto my desires far too hard. I feel like I have things I need to be rescued from, including my fear that I will never receive what I believe you have promised. I know you are faithful and will deliver what you have promised. I know I do not need to force your hand to make that happen. Deliver me from my expectations of how you are going to fulfill your work in my life. Deliver me from my doubts and fears. Deliver me from myself, Lord! Break the yoke of anything other than your soul-yoke, which makes me your disciple, your servant, and your friend. Let your Holy Spirit break my bonds and set my spirit free to serve your holy purpose and worship your holy name - my rescuer, mighty Jesus!

The Bridegroom

"This spirit of ours does not belong to this world, nor to temporal objects, it was created for God alone and therefore is capable of enjoying true fellowship with Him. It may be, and it ought to be, His temple and sacred residence. Its occupation is to contemplate, love and enjoy this beneficent Being, and to repose in Him, for this end it was created."

Boy, howdy, I SO forget this! It's so easy to get caught up in all the stuff I feel like God wants me to do and to forget that I was created to enjoy Him forever. I really want to just lay in His arms and focus on His love for me. Not myself. Not my needs. Not my fears. Just His presence.

Lord,
I want to be caught up in the arms of eternal love and purifying fire. By your faithfulness, Jesus, keep me faithful. By your holiness, Savior, make me holy. By your lovingkindness, Lord, make the love I extend to others be like a bridegroom's = both loving and kind. I choose to live in the provisions of your name.

The Bridegroom

"Christ is our Sanctifier who is patiently working with us to separate use completely unto Himself - and win us fully to Him. He patiently and tenderly takes all of His promises and uses them to cleanse our wounds, heal our bruises, and remove our stains."

Lord,
Today, I feel bruised all over. Heal my bruises right now! Take your promises and cover me. I want to be caught up in the arms of eternal love and purifying fire. I come to be embraced by a love so pure and powerful, so comforting and secure, that the world cannot reduce its worth or pollute its preciousness.

The Hidden Manna

"Think of your own needs. Perhaps when God says, 'I'll provide for you,' He expects us to rest and let Him take care of the providing. Don't be surprised if His provisions come when things seem to be at their darkest. Take heart for God is already at work preparing tomorrow's provision today!"

I can so relate to this passage!! It seems like every single time I think I've reached the end of provision, God steps in and makes it happen. Even when I'm down to pennies, God always provides what I need the next day. That's not even accounting for the hidden provisions such as the air I breathe or the health I enjoy! God is an amazing God who delights in taking care of His kids!

Lord,
Come and feed me, blessed Savior, come and fill me. Thou art my soul's supply. Thou hast promised to satisfy my hungry soul. Thou and thou alone will sustain my needs.

The Radiance of God's Glory

"The Son radiates God's glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in a place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. -Hebrews 1 vs. 3

To worship God, effectively, we must have a proper view of Him, not allowing anything to obstruct our vision. That divinely focused view only comes to those who study God's nature and character as revealed in his Word. Anyone who plunges deeply into God's Word rises highest in their praises of His glory."

I want to have a proper view of God!!!!!

Lord,
Right now, I am spending a lot of time focusing on how I am second-rate. I keep giving my best and discovering it's not enough. So I come to You, the Savior of my soul - you who have so saved me that nothing of my own failure or sin could restrict the unlimited power of your salvation. At those points where my own shortcomings prevail, come in the excellence of your nature and power. I choose you today. I both receive and take refuge in your completeness. My todays can't be mediocre anymore. Your excellence is beginning to overflow around me.

The One Who Holds My Head High

"In Philippians 4:13, the apostle Paul destroys the 'I can't' mentality in a single, all-encompassing confession: 'For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength,' Expanding on on Paul's words, the Amplified Bible: 'I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]'

When Paul says we can do anything through Christ, he is reminding us that our confidence and power is in Christ, Who lifts us above circumstances that could defeat us. The psalmist said it simply: 'But you, O Lord, are...the one who holds my head high (Ps. 3:3).

Psalm 3 exalts the One who alone establishes authority, rights, and power. God alone is able to restore what man attacks or steals. We can be confident that no one can take away what God want us to have."

I like this today! Particularly because I am feeling singularly inadequate to perform the tasks I feel God is calling me to do. This isn't a matter of interpretation, confusion, or maturity. God says I can because He said I can. God is going to enable me to do the things He is asking me to do! God ALONE will hold me head up. He is able to give me the hope that He will work things out for His glory and His glory alone!

Lord,
Today, hope rises. I'm reminded that you not only love, save, forgive, and redeem, but you lean over to take me in your arms. You stretch forth your hands to take my despairing spirit and you hold my head high like an assuring father, like a comforting mother.