Shirlee Abbott -Shirlee Abbott

Repentant Child

Posted on March 25, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Luke 15:21 (NIV)
The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”

Jesus told the well-known parable of the prodigal son. This rebellious young man foolishly claimed his inheritance and blew it on wild living. When his money disappeared, so did his friends. Alone and hungry, he engaged in somber after-the-fact thinking and changed his mind. That is, he repented.

During this Lenten season, be like this young man. Think … repent, change (the Father is waiting).

Good morning, Lord. I can be so rebellious and stubbornly follow my own way, even though I know I shouldn’t. Later, when I’m stuck in a mess of my own making, I call, “Help me, God!” You’d be justified in turning Your back, but no! You embrace me and help me untangle the web of trouble I created. You are merciful, and I am grateful. Thank You for loving me when I least deserve it.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged Luke 15:21, Prodigal Son, repent | Leave a comment

Repent for Lent

Posted on March 24, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Acts 3:19 (NIV)
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

Repent — metanoeó in Greek, from the words meta (after or beyond) and noeo (to think) — to think after the fact or beyond the moment. To change my mind.

Lent is a perfect time to think carefully about what I’m saying and doing. Is it bringing me nearer to God or moving me further away? Is it time to change my mind, change my plan, change my heart?

Good morning, Lord. I want to learn from my mistakes, not repeat them. But first, I have to admit my missteps … to myself and to You. Teach me to think after the fact and recognize the error of my ways — not to be stuck in regret, but to change my motivation or behavior. Then I can move forward, forgiven and refreshed.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged Acts 3:19, change my mind, Lent, repent | Leave a comment

Step up to the Throne

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

I imagine stepping up to Gods’ throne:

Praise.

Repentance.

Submission.

In humble submission, I kneel before the Lord, my Maker.

Good morning, Lord. I come to You with praise on my lips, repentance in my heart and submission on my mind. “Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.”

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged God's throne, Holy Holy Holy, Psalm 95:3-7 | Leave a comment

Lord God Almighty

Posted on March 20, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

In my imagination, I approach the throne of grace, starting with praise, followed by repentance. As I get closer to God’s throne, I’m totally in awe of His power. The only response I can imagine is to fall to my knees in submission. I can’t picture standing there and arguing with the Lord God Almighty. There’s only one thing to say.

Your will be done (Matthew 6:10).

Good morning, Lord. May all that I say and do today line up with Your will. If I start to stray from Your plan, nudge me back into place. Keep my every step within the guardrails of Your commands. I want to be a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You. Transform me, renew my mind so that I may know and do Your good and perfect will (Romans 12:1-2).

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged Holy Holy Holy, Lord God almighty, Matthew 6:10, Romans 12:1-2, submission | Leave a comment

Holy … and Merciful

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

The second of my three imaginary steps to the throne of grace: repentance.

Luke 18:13 (ESV)
God, be merciful to me, a sinner!

We recognize our sin and look to Holy God for salvation and forgiveness.

As the old hymn says, “Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!” We repent and He is merciful.

Good morning, Lord. In Your great mercy, You don’t give me the punishment I deserve — thank You! I stand before the throne of grace, not because I am good, but because You are merciful. As Elvina Hall wrote so many years ago, “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.” Yes indeed, Lord, I owe it all to You.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Elvina M. Hall, Holy Holy Holy, Jesus Paid It All, Luke 18:13, merciful, repentance | Leave a comment

Praise Thy Name

Posted on March 18, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Continuing to focus on God’s holiness as described in Reginald Heber’s hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy: “All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea.”

In my imagination, there are three steps to the throne of God. The first step is praise.

Psalm 148:13 (NLT)
Let them all praise the name of the LORD. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven!

Good morning, Lord. I want my life to bring honor to Your holy name. Forgive me for the many moments when my words and deeds have dishonored You. Teach me to start and end every day with praise. Fill me with awe and gratitude. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight (Psalm 19:14) and praise Your name.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged Holy Holy Holy, praise Thy name, Psalm 148:13, Psalm 19:14 | 2 Comments

Holy, Holy, Holy

Posted on March 17, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

“Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name,
in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.”
Reginald Heber, 1826

Lent is the perfect time to ponder the holiness of God. The words of this familiar hymn are a good place to start.

Good morning, Lord. You are all loving and all holy. Sometimes I focus so much on Your love that I overlook Your holiness — forgive me. There You are on the high throne of heaven, surrounded by armies of angels, with the earth as Your footstool and light as Your robe. Here I am, speaking to the One who spoke the universe into being. How is it even possible? I stand amazed in Your holy presence.

Posted in Lent, Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Holy Holy Holy, Lord God almighty, Reginal Heber | 2 Comments

God Sees Me

Posted on March 14, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Lent is a good time for private, secret prayer. Fear not, God sees and hears.

Matthew 6:6 (AMP)
But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.

Good morning, Lord. Here I am, in my secret prayer closet. Here You are, seeing and hearing. I am not alone, I am in the presence of the Creator of the universe! What can I say?

Have mercy on me, a sinner. I love You, I praise You. Your will be done — in my life, in the world.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged God sees in secret, Matthew 6:6, prayer closet, Your will be done | Leave a comment

God Who Sees

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Genesis 16:13 (NLT)
Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?”

Hagar thought she was running away. Instead, she ran to God.

This Lenten season, make an effort to run to God. He sees you coming.

Good morning, God-Who-Sees. When I’m scared, I run to You. When I’m lost, I run to You. You see me coming, and You never turn me away. You know the way through, You know the way home — You are the Way! (John 14:6). Thank You for watching and waiting.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged Genesis 16:13, God Who Sees, Hagar, John 14:6 | Leave a comment

Does God Not See?

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Isaiah 29:15-16 (NLT)
What sorrow awaits those who try
to hide their plans from the Lord,
who do their evil deeds in the dark!
“The Lord can’t see us,” they say.
“He doesn’t know what’s going on!”
How foolish can you be?

God sees. God knows. There are no secrets. Sooner or later, dark deeds will see the light of day.

Good morning, Lord. Sometimes I pretend You’re not watching. Silly me, like a toddler closing her eyes thinking we can’t see her. I forget what I did yesterday, You remember eternally. And yet, You forgive my foolishness and send my sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Gratitude is not enough. I owe You all that I am.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged God forgives, God sees, Isaiah 29:15-16, Psalm 103:12 | Leave a comment

Shirlee Abbott