Shirlee Abbott

The Spirit of Self-Control

Posted on May 7, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

“We must have a spirit of power towards the enemy, a spirit of love towards men, and a spirit of self-control towards ourselves.”
Watchman Nee (1903-1972)

Power, love and self-control — working together for good.

Good morning, Lord. How many times each day do I make choices that don’t reflect Your truth? Too many! I get distracted by the enemy’s whispers, or I look at others with envy or judgment. Jumpstart my spirit of self-control, O God. Show me how to keep my thoughts, words and actions in line with Your Word.

Posted in Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged 2 Timothy 1:7, self-control, Watchman Nee | Leave a comment

The Gift of Self-Control

Posted on May 6, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (MEV)
Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God … For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and self-control.

The spirit of self-control is a good gift. God offers me the opportunity to exercise my free will.

Free will and self-control … they work well together.

Good morning, Lord. If I had no free will, I would not need self-control. If I had no free will, I would be a puppet of the one with control, be it You or the enemy. With no self-control, my free will would lead me into chaos. Teach me to exercise self-control and use my free will for good — good for me, good for others, good for Your kingdom.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged 2 Timothy 1:6-7, free wo;;, self-control | Leave a comment

Self-Control or God-Control

Posted on May 5, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Who’s in control?

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

My self-control is the product of God’s control.

Good morning, Lord. When I let You take control, I see an increase in my self-control. The tighter I hold on to control, the more out-of-control I feel. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for working Your way in me. Keep up the good work, in Jesus’ name.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23, self-control | 2 Comments

No Self-Control

Posted on May 4, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Proverbs 25:28 (ESV)
A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

“Broken into and left without walls” — in other translations of the Bible: breached, helpless, without protection, defenseless, conquered.

Without self-control, I leave myself defenseless, unprotected, open to the enemy.

Good morning, Lord. Teach me self-control. Without it, I am open to the enemy’s attacks, and I know he comes to steal my peace, kill my joy and destroy my hope (John 10:10). Show me the path of righteousness, help me establish safe boundaries, and empower me to live within the guardrails of Your truth.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged John 10:10, Proverbs 25:28, self-control | Leave a comment

Face to Face

Posted on May 1, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Exodus 33:11 (NIV)
The Lord would speak
to Moses face to face,
as one speaks to a friend.

Friends with God … face-to-face conversations … anytime, anywhere.

Good morning, Lord. I am grateful for our friendly conversations — at daybreak, midday, evening and in the dark of night. Round the clock, You are willing to listen to me. Forgive me for failing to be equally attentive to You. Tune my ears to hear Your words of guidance and encouragement … even correction … all the time, everywhere.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged conversation with God, Exodus 33:11, face to face, friends with God | 2 Comments

Downcast Face

Posted on April 30, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Cain had an attitude problem, and he let it come between him and God.

Genesis 4:5 (NIV)
Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

I imagine Cain trudging along, slumped shoulders, eyes fixed on the ground. He was angry at the world, angry with God.

His downcast face wasn’t seeking God’s face.

Good morning, Lord. Sometimes I’m stuck in a bad mood, walking in a shroud of my own doom and gloom. Deep in the shadows of my personal pity party, I refuse to seek Your face. Shine Your light into my darkness, O God. Catch my attention with a glimmer of hope. Renew my spirit, restore my soul.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Cain, downcast face, Genesis 4:5 | Leave a comment

The Lord’s Face

Posted on April 29, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you
and give you peace.

Does God move to make His face shine on us? Or does He move us out of darkness into the light from His face?

Good morning, Lord. I want to live in the light from Your face. If I start to step away, turn me around. When I’m stuck in a gloomy place, shine Your light into my darkness. Bless me, O God with Your precious grace and peace.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Numbers 6:24-26, The Lord bless you, the Lord's face | 2 Comments

The Face of the Deep

Posted on April 28, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Genesis 1:1-2 (ESV)
In the beginning … darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

The Hebrew word used here for face of the deep and face of the waters is paniym. It is the same word used for the face of God. When I imagine the “face of God,” I tend to think mouth, eyes, nose. But like the “face of the deep,” the “face of God” is not the face of a human. Frankly, I have no idea what it looks like.

And yet, I know it when I see it.

Good morning, Lord. I can picture Jesus’ face. He was God with the face of a man. The Triune God — Father, Son, Spirit — is beyond my imagination. And yet, I seek Your face, not to know what it looks like, but to know You better. Day by day, bit by bit, may it be so, amen.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged face of God, face of the deep, Genesis 1:1-2 | Leave a comment

Seek God’s Face

Posted on April 27, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 27:8 (ESV)
You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

When I want to be sure a child is listening to me, I say, “Look at me.” In essence, I’m saying, “Seek my face.”

God says, Seek my face. Are we looking and listening?

Good morning, Lord. I want to seek Your face, really, I do. And yet, I’m distracted by the noise of the world and by my own thoughts and desires. I forget to look towards You, I fail to concentrate on Your words. Open my eyes and ears, O God. Teach me to seek, look and listen.

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My Name on God’s Hand

Posted on April 24, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Isaiah 49:15-16 (NIV)
… I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you
on the palms of my hands.

God sees my name on His palm — engraved (better than permanent marker).

Good morning, Lord. Sometimes I wear a cross around my neck as a symbol of my love for You. You carry my name on Your hand, a symbol of Your love for me … wow! I didn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it. Amazing love, engraved by grace.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Amazing Love, Isaiah 49:15-16, Palm of God's hand | Leave a comment