Revelation 22:13 (NIV)
I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.
Jesus is the first and last word — past, present and future. What more can we say?
Good morning, Lord. The world fills my ears with words: excuses, demands, complaints, lies. It’s only Your words, O God, that matter. Teach me to find Your voice amidst the clamor of our culture. Fill my mind with true wisdom, renew my heart and restore my soul.
John 1:1 (NIV)
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
“Word” — in Greek, logos, meaning something said, communication, a message and, in this case, a divine expression. Our God is not some distant deity, unconcerned and disconnected. His Word is His essence, He lives to communicate with us.
Good morning, Lord. Your words spoke our world into existence. Your words calm my anxious heart, inspire my creative mind and direct my uncertain steps. Your written Word speaks to my soul, changes my behavior and fills me with the hope of heaven.
Sunday’s sermon came from Numbers 22, the account of Balaam’s donkey. Balaam, a prophet and seer, failed to see the angel of the Lord blocking his path. The donkey saw and stopped — and for that, Balaam beat her. The donkey spoke her objections. Words from a donkey’s mouth got his attention.
Numbers 22:31 (NIV)
Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn.
I asked myself, what does it take to get my attention?
Good morning, Lord. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear Your Word. Block off the road leading to temptation, set my feet on the right path for Your name’s sake (Psalm 23:3). Amen.
John 7:38 (NLT)
Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, “Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.”
Good morning, Lord. Fill me with Your living water — enough to quench my thirsty heart, and more. Let this living water flow out of me for the benefit of those around me.
“For a cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, however suddenly jolted.”
Amy Carmichael (1867-1951)
Good morning, Lord. Today I will be rudely interrupted, bumped, cut off or ignored. Fill me with Your grace and goodness, empower me to respond with a kind word and an encouraging smile, in Jesus’ name.
Have you ever felt like these thirsty Israelites?
Exodus 15:23-25 (NIV)
When they [the Israelites] came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter … So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”
Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.
Trust God. He’ll make a way.
Good morning, Lord. Transform me as You did the water at Marah — soften my hard heart, remove all bitterness, fill me with goodness and kindness. Make me fit for Your kingdom, in Jesus’ name.
Mark 4:39 (NLT)
[Jesus] rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
God has the power to transform my stormy waves into still waters. But even if the storm continues, He is with me. Either way, calm prevails.
Good morning. Thank You for peace in the storm, be it Your voice telling the waves to be still or Your voice telling me I’m not alone. You are the compass to guide me, the wind in my sails and the captain of my ship.
It’s beautiful autumn where I live. I walk our dog on a path through the wildlife preserve, beside the quiet, marshy waters. I study the changing colors of the distant hills. It’s good for me, body and soul.
Psalm 23:2-3 (NIV)
… he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
Good morning, Lord. I treasure the quiet waters I found in each place I’ve lived. Thank You for the soft-spoken beauty of creation, for its comfort and encouragement. I can go there — in my mind — and find peace for my soul, even in the stormiest of circumstances.
Romans 14:12 (NIV)
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
Even those of us saved by grace will stand before the throne of judgment. I imagine a movie-like replay of my life. At various moments in my story, God hits pause and asks, “What were you thinking?”
Good morning, Lord. When I see someone get away with wrongdoing, it’s satisfying to know You are the final judge. On the other hand, I will have to give You an honest account of my own choices and actions — no excuses, no pretending, no twisting the facts to make me look better. It’s good to know You love me (as You do others) just as I am, thank You.
Our culture avoids the word sin. We lose sight of right and wrong.
James 4:17 (TLB)
… knowing what is right to do and then not doing it is sin.
Apply this concept, for example, to a wild, out-of-control party.
What’s the sin?
Good morning, Lord. How often do I know the right thing to do and not do it? More times than I can count … sometimes out of pure rebellion, others out of sheer laziness, occasionally from simple inattention. Forgive me. Teach me to take notice, get moving and promptly obey. Your will, not mine, be done.
