Quiet Waters

Posted on October 19, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott


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.  

Share
Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Who’s to Judge?

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott


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.

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

What’s the Sin?

Posted on October 15, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott


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.

        • Did the party planner doubt the plan?
        • Did any attendees think there might be better ways to spend their time?
        • Did any partygoers think they’d already had enough to drink?
        • Did anyone think leaving early would be a good choice?
        • Did the hosts consider closing down the party because things were headed in the wrong direction?

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.

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

Who’s to Blame?

Posted on October 14, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

 

When things go wrong, I look for someone to blame. I declare, “It’s all their fault!” But is it ALL their fault? Am I part of the problem?

 

Proverbs 17:15 (NIV)
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—
the Lord detests them both.

 


Good morning, Lord. I can lie to myself, but You know the truth. Teach me to honestly evaluate my own actions and take responsibility for my own mistakes. Show me when I’m in the wrong, when I need to seek forgiveness — first from You, then from others. And grant me the grace to forgive others as I have been forgiven by You.

 

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

Who Knows?

Posted on October 13, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott


Brains overloaded with alcohol and drugs are unreliable. Judgment is skewed, memories muddled. The recollection of who did what, when and how may not tell the true story. Who knows what really happened?

 

God knows.

Psalm 139:3-4 (NIV)
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.

 

Good morning, Lord. My mind can play tricks on me — tweaking my memory so I don’t look so bad, or assigning me blame when it’s not my fault. You are all-seeing and all-knowing. Even at my best, my recollection is one-sided. Teach me to look to You for wisdom as I listen to other sides of the story. When needed, grant me the grace to say, “I’m not sure.”

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

Wild Partying and Scripture

Posted on October 12, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott


Recent news stories focused on wild partying, drunkenness and casual sex — not the usual topics for my posts here. But I felt the nudge to see what the Bible has to say on the subject.

 

Romans 13:13 (NLT)
… we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.

Other passages deliver the same message: just don’t.

 


Good morning, Lord. Sometimes Your Word simply says, “Don’t.” Teach me to accept this — no bending the rules, no excuses, no compromising with the ways of the world. At the same time, remind me that all have sinned, including me (Romans 3:23). Enable me to look at others with eyes of grace, in Jesus’ name.

 

Share
Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The Voice of Peace

Posted on October 9, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott


Hearing the gentle nudge of the Spirit can be tricky. It gets better with practice.

Romans 8:6 (ESV)
… to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Sometimes it’s easier for me to hear God’s no than His yes. 

The Holy Spirit’s no feels like two sandpaper blocks rubbing together in my chest. A friend calls it God’s thumb in her back — she can’t get comfortable till she deals with it.

On the other hand, God’s yes feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s peace in my soul.

 


Good morning, Lord. I long for peace in my soul, and I know this peace is tied to my obedience. Tune my heart to hear Your voice and grant me the willpower to follow Your instructions — even when I don’t understand the how and why. Teach me to trust and obey.

 

Share
Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

The Audible Voice

Posted on October 8, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Ezekiel 43:2 (NIV)
I saw the glory of the God of Israel …
His voice was like the roar of rushing waters.

 

Ezekiel recognized the Lord’s voice when he heard it.

Only once have I heard the audible voice of God. While this is neither the time nor place for the whole story, I’ll share this much: I was in my car and I looked at the other drivers, certain they must have heard it too. But no, they all continued on their ways unmoved. The voice that filled my space spoke to me alone, one life-changing sentence.

 


Good morning, Lord. I’m grateful for Your voice of guidance, correction and love — be it loud as rushing waters or gentle as a whisper, words on the page or a nudge in my soul. Pour Your wisdom into my heart and set my feet on the path of righteousness, in Jesus’ name.

Share
Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged , | 4 Comments

The Voice in the Vision

Posted on October 7, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott


God spoke to Ezekiel and other prophets in visions.

Ezekiel 1:1, 4 (NIV)
… the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God … I looked, and I saw …


Read the whole first chapter of Ezekiel for his astounding vision from God.

Sometimes God speaks to me in images (nothing as dramatic as Ezekiel’s vision): the location of my lost keys or a lesson for my Sunday School class. I know these visions come from God because they’re like movies filmed from His point of view. Pictures from my imagination would be at my eye level.

Look and see.

 


Good morning, Lord. You speak in a multitude of ways: in words, in dreams and visions, in my thoughts and memories, through the wisdom of others. Help me recognize Your voice amidst the noise of my culture and my own imaginings. Open my eyes and ears, in Jesus’ name, amen.

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

The Voice on the Page

Posted on October 6, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

 

“Thus says the Lord.”

Repeated many times in Scripture, this is God’s voice at our fingertips, written in the Bible.

 

Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)
So is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Note to self: God’s voice accomplishes His purpose, not mine — I have to align my purpose with His.

 


Good morning, Lord. I am thankful for Scripture, for Your voice in the pages of my Bible. Teach me to study Your Word and take it to heart, to remember and obey its wisdom and truth. Give me eyes to see, ears to hear and the willpower to follow Your directions.

Share
Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged , , | 1 Comment