A Tale of Two Cities

Posted on June 8, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

 

This week, we’ll take a look at two Old Testament cities. The first is Babylon, the site of the Tower of Babel.

 

Genesis 11:4 (NIV)
They said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves …”

The second city is Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 3:17
At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the Lord.

Babylon: built to honor men. Jerusalem: built to honor the Lord.

 

Good morning, Lord. Where’s the line between doing good for Your glory and doing good for my own glory? It comes down to pride and motivation. You see both, even when those around me don’t. Fill me with the desire to honor You in all things. Without the talents You’ve given me and the power of the Spirit to put them to good use, I accomplish nothing.

Share
Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Comprehensive Prayer

Posted on June 5, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
Don’t worry about anything;
instead, pray about everything.

 

If it’s on your mind, talk to God about it. There’s no problem too small, no person too well-connected, no predicament too complicated to discuss with Him.

 


Good morning, Lord. I replay my words and actions. I worry about future events. I plot fixes for every problem. Forgive me, O God, for seeing You as my last resort. Teach me to always start with prayer. I know I should talk with You before, during and after every problem.

Share
Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Corporate Prayer

Posted on June 4, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

 

After Christ’s ascension, the believers kept each other company.

 


Acts 1:12-14 (NLT)
When the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives … they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying … They all met together and were constantly united in prayer.

How did that work? Surely they came and went, ate and slept, shopped and did chores … while being constantly united in prayer. I imagine them talking with one another, letting the conversation morph into prayer and then back to conversation. 

 


Good morning, Lord. As I pray, whether privately or in the presence of others, remind me that You are near. I’m not sending my prayers to a far-distant ear, but to God-at-my-side, Emanuel, God with us. Anytime, anywhere, here You are. Thank You.

Share
Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Public Prayer

Posted on June 3, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

 


How NOT to pray in public.

 


Matthew 6:5 (MSG)
And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for fifteen minutes of fame!

Are you reluctant to pray in front of others? Fear not, it isn’t a speech. You simply talk to God while others listen in on the conversation.

 


Good morning, Lord. Teach me, when I pray, to focus on You and not the people around me. Help me shut down the enemy’s whispers telling me my words aren’t good enough or that others will think less of me. Banish my self-consciousness, fill me with an awareness of Your presence.

Share
Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Private Prayer

Posted on June 2, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Mark 1:35 (ESV)
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he [Jesus] departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.


Jesus set a high standard for private prayer. He didn’t squeeze it into his spare time. He didn’t look for a convenient moment. He didn’t make a big show of it.

He planned ahead, got up early and found a place free from distractions. Then he prayed … likely for hours, not minutes. 

 

Good morning, Lord. I thank You for these morning conversations. Albeit short, they are consistent. What I lack, O God, are longer spaces of time devoted to prayer. Teach me to make a date with You and keep it, over and beyond the quick prayers I squeeze into my schedule or my frantic callouts in moments of crisis. You hear my every prayer, and I am grateful.

Share
Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Prayer Songs

Posted on June 1, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott


As I stood singing along at church Sunday, I suddenly realized the words on the screen were directed TO God, not ABOUT God. They were, in essence, a prayer. My mind, however, wasn’t engaged in a conversation with God.

Psalm 138:1 (ESV)
I give you thanks, O Lord,
with my whole heart.

A song can be my prayer, and my prayer can be a song — as long as I sing from the heart.

 

Good morning, Lord. I can sing my prayers, whisper my prayers, think my prayers, shout my prayers. No matter how, You’re always listening … thank You. Forgive me for producing words on autopilot, for focusing on getting the notes perfect, or making it into a performance for others. Teach me to pray whole-heartedly.

 

Share
Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

My Teacher

Posted on May 29, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

I have the world’s best Teacher. I should leap out of bed every morning, raring to get started. Truth is, I long to hit the alarm’s off button, roll over and snooze. I drag myself to the coffee pot, fill my cup and swipe my phone. I put the Holy Spirit on hold.

Friends, it should not be this way! 

John 14:26 (NIV)
… the Holy Spirit … will teach you all things.

The Spirit is ready, willing and able to teach. The question is, am I ready to learn?

 


Good morning, Lord. Thank You for my great Teacher, the Holy Spirit. Open my eyes to see the wonders of Your Word, open my ears to hear Your direction for my life, fill my mind with Your wisdom. Pour into my heart love for You, others and myself (Mark 12:30-31). Teach me everything I need to know, in Jesus’ name. 

 

Share
Posted in Morning Prayer, Pentecost | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

My Advocate

Posted on May 28, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott


John 14:26 (NIV)
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

“Advocate,” paraklétos in Greek, means helper, comforter, counselor, intercessor. Para—to the side of, klē—to call. The Holy Spirit is God-at-my-side, in my corner, answering my call. He’s my shoulder to cry on, my strong support when I’m weak. He speaks the words I can’t say for myself, the heart-prayers I don’t even know I need.

 


Good morning, Lord. Your Spirit is by my side as I trudge through my trials and celebrate my successes. You put good words in my mouth, You help me hold my tongue if necessary. And when I don’t know what or how to pray, Your Spirit speaks for me (Romans 8:26). Thank You.

 

Share
Posted in Morning Prayer, Pentecost | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

My Breath of Life

Posted on May 27, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

 

John 20:22 (ESV)
… he [Jesus] breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

 

The word “spirit” is tied to “breath.” The Old Testament Hebrew word ruach is translated breath, wind or spirit. The New Testament Greek pneuma also means wind or spirit. The Holy Spirit is God’s breath in me. That’s the way it’s been from the beginning:

Genesis 2:7 (GNV)
The Lord God also made the man of the dust of the ground, and breathed in his face breath of life, and the man was a living soul.

 


Good morning, Lord. Just as the oxygen I breathe keeps my body alive, Your Spirit empowers my soul. I recognize when I am short of breath physically, but I often fail to notice when I’m short of breath spiritually. Fill me with the Breath of Life. Holy Spirit, dwell in me.

 

Share
Posted in Morning Prayer, Pentecost | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

It’s All about the Holy Spirit

Posted on May 26, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott


Last Sunday commemorated Pentecost, the anointing of the Holy Spirit as recorded in Acts 2 — the birthday of the Church (upper-case C, meaning all believers in Christ, over time and around the world). 

“Without the Spirit of God we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind or chariots without steeds. Like branches without sap, we are withered. Like coals without fire, we are useless.”
Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Happy birthday, Church! God gave us the gift of power.

 


Good morning, Lord. Thank You for the wisdom of the Father, the love of the Son and the power of the Spirit — at work in Your people, at work in me.  Every day, everywhere, You are with me and in me. I am not alone.

Share
Posted in Morning Prayer, Pentecost, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments