Shirlee Abbott

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.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Psalm 27:8, Seek God's face | Leave a comment

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

God’s Right Hand

Posted on April 23, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Sometimes life is scary.

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

We don’t have go it alone. God walks beside us.

Good morning, Lord. You are right beside me, holding my hand, through good times and bad. When things are hard, I often wish You’d whisk me to a better place, but no — You stick with me through the muck and mess. You lift me up when I fall and You hold me back when I’m about to plunge over the edge. Forgive my whining, God. I’m grateful for Your right hand holding mine.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged God's right hand, Isaiah 41:10 | 2 Comments

Mark the Hand of God

Posted on April 22, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

The prince of preachers, Charles Spurgeon, reminds us to mark the hand of God at work in the past.

“It is a delightful and profitable occupation to mark the hand of God in the lives of ancient saints, and to observe his goodness in delivering them, his mercy in pardoning them, and his faithfulness in keeping his covenant with them.”

Not just back then, Spurgeon suggests, but here and now.

“But would it not be even more interesting and profitable for us to remark the hand of God in our own lives?”
Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
Morning, July 9
Morning and Evening (daily devotional)

Good morning, Lord. Your hand has been at work in my life from the time I was born — no, even earlier. And as I crawled out of bed today, I realized yesterday’s disappointment is Your hand at work offering me an unexpected opportunity. Thank You for new mercies.

Posted in Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Charles Haddon Spurgeon, God's hand, Morning and Evening devotional, unexpected opportunities | Leave a comment

My Breath in God’s Hand

Posted on April 21, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Job 12:10 (NIV)
In his [the Lord’s] hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.

God holds my breath in His hand … amazing!

Good morning, Lord. You are the source of the air I breathe, the water I drink, the food I eat. All that I need physically comes from You. Likewise, You are the source of all I need spiritually: the breath of life (Genesis 2:7), living water (John 7:37-39) and the bread of life (John 6:35). Without You, I am nothing.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Bread of Life, breath of life, Genesis 2:7, Job 12:10, Joh 7:37-39, John 6:35, living water | Leave a comment

The Hollow of God’s Hand

Posted on April 20, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

This week, we’re going to focus on God’s hand. There are over a thousand references to “God’s hand” in Scripture — trust me, we aren’t going to look at all of them. This one from Isaiah is a good starting point.

Isaiah 40:12 (NIV)
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?

At best, I can manage a couple teaspoons in the hollow of my hand. God measures the oceans in His.

Good morning, Lord. You can hold the oceans in Your hand … that puts Your control in perspective. My biggest and best is nothing in comparison to Your power. Teach me to put my trust in the right place.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Isaiah 40:12, the hollow of God's hand | Leave a comment

Highest Praise

Posted on April 17, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 148:1, 3-4 (NIV)
Praise the Lord …
Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens …

Let’s join with the highest heavens and praise our God.

Good morning, Lord. In the words of an old hymn, “In my heart there rings a melody with heaven’s harmony” (Elton Roth, 1924). I hum along with the sun, moon and stars … their ancient tune playing today and every day, a song of praise to You, Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Hallelujah, amen.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Elton Roth, highest heavens, In My Hear There Rings a Melody, praise the Lord, Psalm 148:1-4 | Leave a comment

Sing with the Stars

Posted on April 16, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

In the beginning, stars sang.

Job 38:4, 6-7 (NIV)
Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
…On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
while the morning stars sang together …

Now it’s our turn.

Good morning, Lord. The lights in the heavens sing at Your command. Music matters. Put a song of joy in my heart. Teach me the melody of the stars. I want to join all the works of Your hands in a chorus of praise.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged chorus of praise, Job 38:4-7, stars sang | Leave a comment

The Sun and Moon Sing

Posted on April 15, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

“Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam,
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”
St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)
Paraphrased by Willam H. Draper, 1919

Good morning, Lord. Spring — with its blue skies, warm breezes and flowering trees — makes my heart sing. Let my voice join with that of the sun, moon and stars in praise to You, our glorious Maker.

Posted in Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged All Creatures of Our God and King, St. Francis, sun and moon, William H. Draper | Leave a comment

Big Universe, Small World

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

From space, our big world looks small.

Psalm 8:3-4 (NIV)
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?

God sees us. God sees me. And He cares.

Good morning, Lord. Who am I that You care for me? Out of the vastness of space, why do You notice? All of mankind, I can understand. Even the astronauts streaking away from earth — worthy of Your watch-care. But little ol’ me? You tend to every detail of my life. I am amazed … and grateful.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged heavens, mankind, Psalm 8:3-4 | Leave a comment