Divine Intelligence

Posted on April 24, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

God’s thoughts are higher than my thoughts.

 

 

1 Corinthians 2:9-10a (ESV)
But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. 

Not just higher intelligence — divine intelligence, more than I can think or imagine on my own.  And it’s available to me through the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God!

 


Good morning, Lord. Thank You for granting me insight into Your divine wisdom and knowledge. The more I study Your Word, the more I know and understand. Forgive me for placing too much value on the so-called wisdom of our culture. Teach me to weigh it against Your Word and follow what is good and godly in Your eyes.

When my thoughts start to wander astray, Holy Spirit, lead them back to the path of righteousness, for Your name’s sake (Psalm 23:3).

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Transforming, Not Conforming, Intelligence

Posted on April 23, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

When AI finishes our thoughts and sentences, won’t we all sound alike?

 


Romans 12:2a (NIV)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Renew your mind, transform your thoughts, refine your voice. Be the unique person God created you to be.

 

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for always listening when I talk to You. Teach me to listen when You speak to me: through Scripture, circumstance, godly advice and the gentle whisper or startling nudge of the Spirit. Align my thoughts and desires with Yours. Break through my false assumptions, chip away my self-centeredness.


Transform my soul, in Jesus’ name.

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Higher (Not Artificial) Intelligence

Posted on April 22, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott


Like it or not, artificial intelligence (AI) is part of my daily routine — choosing the news stories popping up on my screen, printing discount coupons at the store, even finishing my sentences as I write on this website.


AI doesn’t make me any smarter.

Colossians 3:1-2 (MSG)
… Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.

The more I see things from God’s big-picture perspective, the smarter I become. I want higher intelligence!

 


Good morning, Lord. Teach me to walk through this world with one eye focused heavenward, ever conscious of Your perspective. Guide me as I listen, read, think, and act. Help me see how my doings impact those around me. I hope to leave a trail of blessings — and I can do that only through Your wisdom and power.

“Be Thou my Wisdom, be Thou my true Word; be Thou ever with me and I with Thee, Lord” (Mary E. Byrne, 1880-1930).

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Spiritual Sufficiency and Prosperity

Posted on April 19, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

My posts for this week have been about sufficiency and prosperity. Spiritually, I think, they are the same.

 

Ephesians 1:3 (NLT)
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

In Christ, I have more than enough. In Christ, I have spiritual sufficiency and prosperity — thanks be to God!

 


Good morning, Lord. Sometimes I focus on what I don’t have, instead of what I do have. It stems from comparison. I look at someone else and want to be like–or better than–them. You tell us to be content with what we have (Hebrews 13:5).

 

Teach me to be content–not only with what I have, but for where I am, for what You grant and what You deny, the doors You close and the doors You open. I have more than enough, Lord, thank You!

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Sufficient Grace

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Paul asked God for more, and this was the answer.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (AMP)
He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation].”

I say, More please.

God says, You already have more than enough.


“Oh, to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.”
Robert Robinson, 1758
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

 

Good morning, Lord. You have given me amazing grace and unfailing love. I have more than enough, more than I can ask or think. Yet here I am again, with my list of desires. And here You are, ready to listen. You are so gracious and patient with me, grant me the same grace and patience. Help me accept “Not yet” and “No” as answers.


Teach me to trust Your wisdom and not my own.

 

 

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Personal Prosperity

Posted on April 17, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

What is it to prosper personally, to be prosperous? Let’s take King David, for example.

1 Saurel 18:14 (AMP)
David acted wisely and prospered in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.


“Prospered” — in Hebrew, sakal, meaning to have insight and intelligence, to act wisely, to be prudent, to understand, to have success.

To prosper, as this verse says David did, involves behavior, not riches. It’s not what we own, it is how we think and act.

I want to prosper like David.

 

Good morning, Lord. As the song says, “we’ve come this far by faith” — it’s not my own doing, but Your plan and Your power. Forgive me for taking credit for work You have done through me. My deeds prosper only because You have granted me the inspiration, skills, wisdom and opportunity. Thank You.

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National Prosperity

Posted on April 16, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

How would you measure the prosperity of a nation? Here are some possibilities.

 

 

        • Total wealth
        • Economic output
        • Employment rate
        • Average income

How does God evaluate a nation’s prosperity? Perhaps he looks at justice and righteousness.

Proverbs 17:15 (EXB)
The Lord hates both of these things: freeing the guilty and punishing the innocent [judging the righteous wicked and the wicked righteous].

Now that’s something to think about.

 

Good morning, Lord. I pray for my nation: may we people of justice and righteousness, maintaining moral order by loving one another as You love us — without regard to race or economic status. Give us eyes to see Your image stamped on every person, give us the discipline and good will to bring out the best in everyone.


May we do onto each other as we would have them do onto us.

 

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Sufficiency or Prosperity

Posted on April 15, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

I pray,

“Give us this day our daily bread.”
(Matthew 6:11)

 

It is a request for sufficiency–for what I need. But sometimes I make it into a request for personal prosperity–for me to provide for myself everything I want. I’m asking God to grant me self-sufficiency, I’m asking for the ability and resources to fill my every desire.

I need an attitude adjustment.

 

Good morning, Lord. Forgive my desire to accumulate more and more. Fill me with gratitude for what You have provided. Teach me to be content with what I have. Help me understand the concept of “enough.”

Give me this day enough to get me through this day.

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Earthquake and Darkness to Come

Posted on April 12, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

The book of Revelation gives us a peek into the future:

Revelation 6:12 (NLT)
 I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. 

In the span of a few days, I experienced a small earthquake and a partial eclipse–a brief preview of what’s yet to come.

 

Good morning, Lord. Your Word tells us that things will get worse before they get better, before You come again and establish Your kingdom. Frankly, I’d like an easy transition, where things get better and better till they reach perfection. But I understand that evil won’t go away gently. When I pray, “Your kingdom come,” give me eyes to see it coming Your way. Your will, not mine, be done.

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Shaky Ground and Darkness

Posted on April 11, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott


“On shaky ground” means I’m in an uncomfortable position. “In the dark” means I don’t know what’s going on. Johnson Oatman, Jr. (1856-1922) knew the feeling and wrote these words:

 

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground. 

Like Oatman, I’m aiming higher, above earthquakes and beyond eclipses — where the ground is solid and the light is always bright.

 

Good morning, Lord. I read the news and hear updates from around the world, and I see creeping chaos. If I dwell on it, I’m terrified. Fill me with hope, O God! Place in my heart a sincere longing for Your coming kingdom, for eternal peace and rest — no more pain, no more conflict, no more power grabs, no more lies, no more destruction. Fill my soul with the hope of heaven.

 

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