The scripture for today, December 25 is Proverbs 12:25 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:          “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.”

God, you are the potter; I am mere clay for you to form exactly what you have in mind just as you did long ago in Eden.  You are the cleanser; I am the one with murky sins that need washing away, just as you did on the cross that day long ago.  You have the Master Plan of the universe; I am the one stumbling through life not quite understanding which way to go. You are the compass; I gladly cling to you as you take me one step at a time safely Home.

You were in that grave, your body still and lifeless. The soldiers outside paced with their weapons and dared anyone to take that body away. Your followers hid and prayed that no one would disturb the fleshly form of the one they had lived with and loved those three years. Both worried in vain. Like a lightning flash, you re-entered that body and showed yourself triumphant over Satan and over Death. Everything was under your control as it always is.    Thank you for being strong for me.  You who were born to die.

The scripture for today, December 24, is Luke 12:24 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:          “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!”

Ah, my God, I live in an era of airplanes and rockets, televisions and computers. They are mind-boggling how they work. Just how do people doing things together jump into a tiny wire, travel hundreds of miles, and pop up out of that wire as a picture on my TV screen? And to think you are so far above the most technical thing mankind has invented. I can only begin to grasp your power ~ a universe with two trillion galaxies. I cannot fathom just one galaxy. My mind becomes dizzy just in the trying. So, I give up and smile and know you are smiling too. Someday I will understand. Someday.

My Creator and Maker, you love me as your child. I look up to you in awe and try to follow in your footsteps and be like you. But your footsteps are so large. I flounder and often have to take many steps to your one and trip along the way. You just smile and take my hand. Someday I will face the journey you are leading me on.  I have no fear of death, for there awaits me no punishment, only more exciting things and a sweet forever with you. Thank you.

The scripture for today, December 23, is 1st Samuel 12:23 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:          “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.”

Jehovah God of the universe with its two trillion galaxies, you have all things ultimately under your control, even tiny specks in the universe ~ humans.  You gave us free will, but you have the master Plan that nothing and no one can stop from being carried out. You delegate and we try to understand. Sometimes we refuse to carry out our assignments, preferring to wallow in our problems and blame you. Sometimes you step in and adjust things.  Always you are working to carry out your glorious Plan to the finish ~ of saving us from Satan and chaining him forever. You work whether or not we do. You love whether or not we do. You stay on course, no matter how much we get sidetracked and follow Satan’s offers of pleasures. Onward you go, despite politics and disasters and selfishness and Satan’s diversions. You are the brightness of the stars, the depths of the oceans, the height of mountain tops. You are the glory of the universe and I adore you.

Forgive my hypocrisy, Father. I sing on Sunday “I Love to Tell the Story,” then don’t do it. I sing on Sunday, “Bring them in,” then I don’t.

You, Lord, are the light that leads me through the gloom of night as I walk the path you have given me in this world. One step at a time until I am home. Sometimes you lead me through torrents of storms and other times through sunny meadows. Thank you. May I never be too proud to take your will as my own and keep following. Lead on, my Lord. One step at a time lead on.  Then, some day we will be home.

The scripture for today, December 22, is 1st Samuel 12:22 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:          “For the sake of his great name, the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own.”

Jehovah God, you are my guiding star. Without you I am lost. You are my hope. When my eyes drift from you, you step down and walk silently beside me until I can see and feel you again.  You are my strength. When I am tired, you continue my work for me. You are my light among the shadows. When I sometimes lose faith in you, you never lose faith in me and you forgive my doubts. How can you love me so perfectly? I offer you my soul and worship.

Father, I was a real coward the other day. I was at a diner alone and heard some people talking about the meaning of life. I should have gotten up and asked to join them. But I did not. Forgive me for passing up this opportunity.

Ah, my Lord,, it is morning. The sun is not quite up yet but it will be. It always does. You keep your promises. You never change. I can always trust in you, hope in you, rely on you. No matter how much I change and want you to change, you remain stable, my sure anchor. Thank you for being my God.

The scripture for today, December 21, is Matthew 12:21 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:          “In his name the nations will put their hope.”

Ah, my Lord, I am tired and afraid to hope. The hopes I shouted about before are now just a whisper in the mist.  What shall I do? I will rest and wait in you. I will hope in you. Oh!  What is that?  It’s you! I hear you now, “Come to me. Are you languishing in helplessness? Come.” Lord, I bring to you my wounded heart. I will sit at your feet and lean on you. You will lift me up and comfort me. I will be refreshed. Then, once again, my heart will soar.

Father, I am holding a grudge against someone who said something that offended me. That person probably didn’t even know it had that effect on me. Help me let it go.

I feel a kind of peace right now. Past turmoils seem lost in a fog and wandering farther and farther away. I will rest in this new peace. I will not hope or dream or desire. I will just sigh and bask in your love. It feels warm and good. Is that you smiling, my Lord? Thank you. You always know just what I need.  I bow my head and in my quiet, worship you.

The Scripture for today, December 19, is Romans 12:19 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:          “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

My soul takes flight, my God, and soars to your throne. I leap from star to star in wonder. I arrive at your gate of priceless pearl and it is opened for me. I rush up your street of gold and purity, lined with the tree of life until I see ahead of me ~ ah, I see ahead of me your throne. There, in tears of love and rapture, I bow at your wounded feet. The feet that were impaled in agony in my place. You reach down and place your hand ~ the nail-pierced hand ~ under my chin so I can look at your lovely face. I ask your forgiveness once again as I have so many times in my life for my many sins. You smile and wipe away my tears, then invite me to sing a song with you.  What joy. What unimaginable joy.

Father, someone told me something the other day and, without allowing them to explain further, I became angry. I did not wait. I just interrupted and became judgmental. Later I learned the rest of the story and became so ashamed. Forgive me. I need to ask their forgiveness and set things right.

I was sad and you became sorrowful with me. I was overjoyed and you celebrated with me. I was tired and you rested with me. I was energetic and you ran with me. I was bereaved and you grieved with me. I was confused and you pondered with me. I was awestricken and you marveled with me. My Lord, you treat me as though I am the only person in the world. You are everywhere at once. You are in my heart, my spirit, my soul. Thank you for being God of the universe. 

The scripture for today, December 24, is Luke 12:24 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:          “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!”

My Maker and my God, I surrender my life to you.  You have prepared me from the womb to accomplish something for you, whether it be a day-by-day thing or an only-one-time thing. I accept it.  Whatever it is, I surrender all that I have and am to you. My hands to work for you, my feet to go for you, my eyes to seek for you, my lips to speak for you. Mostly, I surrender my will to you. May I be able to comprehend your will so I may follow your lead with all the spiritual vigor and physical energy I have. Why? Because I love you.

Father, someone told me the other day that something was in the Bible that I did not realize was there. I refused to listen. I was opposed to the truth. But when I got home and looked it up, it was indeed there. Forgive me when I put my ego before truth.

Before Jesus came, the world was wrapped in the darkness of sin. When you ~ the Light of the world ~ came, dawn came with you. The world blinked in wonder at the glare when you died, then returned to life.   Ten thousand tongues of the world rejoiced, welcoming the morn, and sang aloud “Praise the Lord!” The world still stands in awe of you, and I with them. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for revealing God to us.

 

The scripture for today, December 17, is Revelation 12:17 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:          “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring ~ those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

Ah, my Lord, my life, thus far, has made turns in directions I had not planned or even dreamed of. Sometimes I ended up in places I did not want to be. That is where you had led me and had wanted me.   I do not know what the future will bring. But wherever you lead me, I will follow you, however unknown and frightening it may be to me. If you lead me to joblessness, to famine, to wars, to prison, I will follow you. Someday while I follow you up unknown paths, you will pause, turn, smile, and say, “We’re here.  Welcome home.”

Father, someone had a ring on the other day that I noticed. It was the most striking and beautiful ring I have ever seen.  I think about it all the time now. It would be a waste of money for me. Help me not lust after other people’s possessions

Lord, I was sick last week.  I was lying there thinking about how miserable I was. I rolled in it. Wallowed in it. Savored in it. Then a new thought occurred to me. If I thought about how blessed I am, it would take my mind off my misery. It worked, Lord! It really worked! I even got up, fetched a piece of paper, and began listing my blessings. Pretty soon I was smiling. You were smiling too. Now I was able to fall asleep. When I awoke, I felt healed.  The touch of your heart to mine had healed me. Thank you.

The scripture for today, December 16, is Romans 12:16 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:          “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” 

All continents of the earth praise you, God of Glory. Every tongue on earth praises you, Lord of Splendor. Mountains, valleys, swamps and deserts praise you, the great I AM.  The moon, the sun, and stars on high praise you, Divine Maker. All thrones, both great and small, praise you, King of the Cosmos. My mind, soul and body praise you now and forever, Most Holy One

Father, I slandered someone in my public prayer. I asked you to guide someone through a problem no one else knew that person had. I revealed too much and hurt their good name. I am so sorry.  Help me become a better friend to that person and keep my mouth shut.

You saved me from Satan’s clutches, Lord God. Not only that, but you made me your personal priest to offer you the sacrifices of my words and deeds every day. Then you gave me a crown and made me a king among mankind to represent you to the world. Someday I shall walk through your gate into your home, approach your throne, bow at your feet, and give that crown back to you, satisfied to at last just be in your presence.

Praise God who makes all things magnificently beautiful. Sometimes I wonder what you are thinking. Each soul you invite into heaven brings along the brightness of their faith in you. Each soul who returns to their Maker brings along the brilliance of their love for you. Heaven grows brighter than before as your children return to you.  And you laugh and rejoice that your family is all together and with you at last. Oh, for the day when I can join your children there and laugh with you. Oh, for the eternal day when I can sing praises to you.  Do you sing, Lord?  Your Bible says you do. Will you be the director of our heavenly chorus? Wonderful, incredible day when I close my eyes in weakness and open them in your everlasting strength and ceaseless joy.

Lord, there are people in my life I never show my gratitude to. They work hard and I take them for granted. The janitors, the trash collectors, the maids, the farmers, the cooks, and so many more. I have neglected them. Make me notice them and express my gratitude to them. Can you forgive me for this, yet another sin?

Thank you for your promises. You always keep your promises. You are my protector, my helper, my shield, and keep me safe under the shadow of your wing.  But the greatest promise of all is that you will return in the clouds someday and bring those still on earth up to you. Will I be among them? When all who have loved and obeyed you arrive, you will take us with you the rest of the way to heaven. What an amazing and comforting promise. You will take us to the new and glorious body you are preparing for us and we shall walk streets of your golden purity. I cannot begin to conceive what heaven will be like, but with you, I am always in heaven. Thank you.