Shirlee Abbott

Sweet to the Soul

Posted on July 24, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Do you think the Bible is dull, boring, not worth your effort?

The more you read the Bible, the better it is.

Psalm 19:9-10 (TLB)
God’s laws are pure, eternal, just … They are sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.

God’s Word … like cherry pie or a hot-fudge sundae for your soul. Don’t give it a quick glance and move on. Don’t settle for a sample spoonful. Go for the whole thing. It’s all good.

Good morning, Lord. Forgive me for neglecting Your Word. Forgive me for treating Bible study like a duty, not a delight. Thoughts from Your mouth to my heart — priceless. Wise whispers from the Holy Spirit to my soul — life-changing. Your guiding light shining on my path — glorious!

I am grateful. Thank You, Lord, for every word.

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Good Food for the Soul

Posted on July 23, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

All too often, a student will tell me, “I don’t do books.”

I tell them, “You’re breaking my heart!” Why? Because someone who doesn’t read any books won’t read the most important book — God’s Word, the Bible. They will miss out on the most important story of all — God’s big, beautiful love story.

They’re feeding their souls short snippets, quick texts, funny memes, pictures galore. What are they missing? They’re missing their morning wisdom, their daily bread, their nighttime assurance.

Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for the Bible. It is the source of wisdom, correction and assurance. Forgive me for ignoring it or rushing through it without paying attention. I know it’s good for me. Like vegetables, I sometimes pass it up for something I think I’ll like better. Truth is, every moment I spend on it makes me a better person.

I want to be a better person, O God. Let’s sit down together for a good helping of Your Word.

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The Value of the Soul

Posted on July 19, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

“The real value of an object is that which one who knows its worth will give for it. He who made the soul, knew its worth, and gave his life for it.”
Arthur Jackson (1593-1666)

Good counts my soul worthy of Christ’s death — amazing love!

Good morning, Lord. You are the breath of life to my soul here and now. You are eternal life for my soul now and forever.

Bless You, Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless Your holy name (Psalm 103:1).

Posted in Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Amazing Love, Arthur Jackson, Psalm 103:1, soul | Comments Off

Restoring My Soul

Posted on July 18, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

My husband and I restored the home we live in. It started in the 1800s as a post-and-beam barn. In the 1970s, someone made it into a house and covered every hand-hewn beam with drywall.

We tore out unneeded and damaged drywall. We updated the plumbing and electricity. We tweaked the floorplan.

Psalm 23:3 (KJV)
He restoreth my soul.

God restores my soul, tearing away the misguided thinking of our culture. He updates my connection to His Word with less milk, more meat (Hebrews 5:13-14). He rearranges my priorities. I am His work in progress.

Good morning, Lord. Restore my soul! Remove everything that is not of You — all false beliefs and worldly notions, all bitterness and resentment, every self-serving and arrogant attitude. Sweep away the bad habits and secret sins. Clean the space by the power of Your blood. Fill it with the breath of Your Spirit and wisdom from Your Word.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Hebrews 5:13-14, Psalm 23:3, restore my soul, soul | Comments Off

Reviving the Soul

Posted on July 17, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

What’s the antidote to a sagging soul?

Psalm 19:7 (ESV)
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

God’s Word … it’s good for what ails you.

Good morning, Lord. Sometimes I’m reluctant to study Your Word. I think I’m too busy, too tired or simply not interested. That happens because I’m listening to the enemy’s whisper. Forgive me.

Tune my ears to hear Your voice. Tune my heart to study Your Word. Fill my mind with Your wisdom. Revive my soul!

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged God's Word, Psalm 19:7, soul, the law of the Lord | Comments Off

Ignoring the Soul

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

3 John 1:2 (TLB)
Dear friend, I am praying that all is well with you and that your body is as healthy as I know your soul is.

How often do we pray for the health of the body while ignoring the state of the soul? Maybe our priorities are upside down.

Good morning, Lord. I am quick to pray for the state of someone’s body — that is, quick to pray for physical healing. I’m slow to pray for the state of their souls. Forgive me for ignoring the souls of others (and ignoring my own soul).

Teach my soul — my mind, will and emotions — to be sensitive to others’ souls. Teach me to think about more than their bodies, to do what I can to help and to acknowledge their feelings and my own — in Jesus’ name.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged 3 John 1:2, body, mind-will-emotions, soul | Comments Off

Body and Soul

Posted on July 15, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Genesis 2:7 (MSG)
God formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive—a living soul!

Without the breath of God in me, I would be an empty, lifeless body.

Good morning, Lord. I am more than the shell that is my body. It is Your breath that makes me a living soul. It is through You I live, move and have my being (Acts 17:28). I am Yours, O God, body and soul.

Fill my soul–my mind, will and emotions–with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Teach me think, act and feel in ways that are pleasing in Your sight.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Acts 17:28, body, Genesis 2:7, mind-will-emotions, soul | Comments Off

Appreciating My Body

Posted on July 12, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

This Scripture is about the Church, the body of Christ. But let’s not miss the other wisdom herein.

1 Corinthians 12:12 (ERV)
A person has only one body, but it has many parts. Yes, there are many parts, but all those parts are still just one body.

As I’ve aged, I focus on my aches and pains. I overlook other body parts.

- - - My heart pumps
    - My lungs move oxygen in, carbon dioxide out
    - The synapses in my brain connect
    - My mouth chews and speaks
    - My gut turns food into energy
    - My limbs move

One body, so many parts still working. And I’m grateful.

Good morning, Lord. Forgive me for complaining about my aging body. Truth is, more parts work than don’t. I am an amazing collection of cells quietly doing their jobs, day after day. They keep working, whether I appreciate them or not. Thank You!

You call me to do likewise, to be a cell in Your amazing body of believers, quietly doing what You created me to do, day after day. Let me do it, not for praise from other people, but out of love for You.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged 1 Corinthians 12:12, body, body of Christ, gratitude | Comments Off

Training My Body

Posted on July 11, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

1 Timothy 4:7-8
… train yourself to live a godly life. Training the body helps a little, but godly living helps in every way. Godly living has the promise of life now and in the world to come.

Training the body is good, training the soul is better. It’s not either/or, it’s both/and.

Good morning, Lord. Show me how to live a godly life, training my body and my soul. I know I should eat better and exercise more — for the sake of my body. I know I should study Your Word and pray more — for the sake of my soul. Grant me strength, body and soul, to fulfill Your purpose and plan for me today and every day.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged 1 Timothy 4:7-8, body, godly living, physical training | Comments Off