Shirlee Abbott

Comparing My Body

Posted on July 10, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Sometimes I look at other people and wish I looked more like them. I envy their slim, trim, athletic bodies.

Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)
A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.

Envying someone else’s body is bad for my own body.

Good morning, Lord. Sometimes I look at my body, focusing on everything I don’t like. I compare myself to others, wishing I looked like them. I criticize Your design for me (as though I could have done better, how presumptuous!). Forgive me.

Thank You, O God, for the ability to walk, touch, think and speak. Thank You for making me the unique person I am — body, soul and spirit.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged comparison, envy, Proverbs 14:30 | Comments Off

Liking My Body

Posted on July 9, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Let’s me be honest. I tend to blame God for the things I don’t like about my body and take personal credit for the things I do like.

John 1:3 (NKJV)
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Truth be told, without God there would be nothing to like.

Good morning, Lord. You see me in intricate detail. I merely see myself in the mirror. You see me as I truly am. I imagine what I’d like to look like. O Lord, teach me to see myself as You see me!

I am not a mistake. I am not assembled from left-over parts. I am Your one-of-a-kind creation, made with a plan and a purpose. Show me Your plan, reveal the purpose You established for me. Set my feet on the path You planned for me from the beginning.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged body, John 1:3, one-of-a-kind | 2 Comments

Ignoring My Body

Posted on July 8, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

I recently read this article by Bob Brody in which he thanks his body for its faithful service and apologizes that he hasn’t treated it better. I could do likewise.

I’m quick to complain, slow with the gratitude.

Psalm 139:14 (ESV)
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

I know this full well, and yet I ignore it. I owe God an apology.

Good morning, Lord. My body has worked wonderfully well for decades, so well that I rarely notice it. Thank You! Forgive me for neglecting and even abusing it. Teach me to treat it like the treasure it is.

I am a walking, talking, thinking display of Your intricate design. May my actions, words and thoughts be acceptable in Your sight, O my Creator and Redeemer (based on Psalm 19:14).

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Bob Brody, body, fearfully and wonderfully made, Psalm 139:14, Psalm 19:14 | 2 Comments

Enjoy a Couple Weeks without Me

Posted on June 20, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | 3 Comments

Stop Pretending Before Others

Posted on June 19, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Matthew 6:2 (MSG)
You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure— ‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds.

All sweet and kind in public. Cranky and judgmental in private — yup. Been there, done that. God is not impressed.

Good morning, Lord. Forgive me for acting one way in public, another in private. Sometimes I’m so nice to strangers, so rude to my nearest and dearest. Teach me to care less about what others will think, more about what You desire. Give me the courage to stand up for right, even when the crowd exalts evil.

I want to be more like You, O God — consistent, faithful, trustworthy, good … all the time.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged good all the time, hypocrite, Matthew 6:2, playactors | Comments Off

Stop Pretending to Myself

Posted on June 18, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Me? Pretend to myself? You bet!

I tell myself, “I’m not so bad.” I look for the worst in others and think I look good in comparison.

Jesus had strong words for folks like me.

Matthew 7:5 (NLT)
Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

Enough with the playacting, He says. End the comparison game. Take a long, honest look at yourself.

Honestly, I’d rather not … I might not like what I see.

Good morning, Lord. Give me eyes to see myself not only as others see me, but as You see me. Help me recognize all the little lies I tell myself. Teach me to be honest with myself, not to shame me, but to better understand Your grace and mercy.

Thank You for loving me just as I am. Thank You for saving me from the fate I deserve. Thank You for transforming me into a better person. Teach me cooperate with that transformation by humbly admitting my failures and striving to be more like You.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged comparison, hypocrite, Matthew 7:5, playacting | Comments Off

Let’s [Not] Pretend

Posted on June 17, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

I learned something new this week — the word “hypocrite” comes from hypokritēs in Greek, meaning a stage actor.

Jesus had harsh words for religious leaders who pretended to be righteous.

Matthew 23:27-28 (NLT)
Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

He called them playactors pretending to be squeaky clean.

What about me?

If I’m squeaky-clean honest, I have to admit to playacting.

Good morning, Lord. Forgive me for playacting through my day, for pretending I’m a better person than I really am. Teach me to be honest about my failings. Show me when I’ve been out of line, and grant me the humility to say, “I’m sorry.” Give me enough grace to be kind, even when others are being unkind.

Fill me with wisdom from Your Word. Show me what’s right and what’s wrong. Teach me to be more concerned about doing right than being right.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged hypocrite, Matthew 23:27-28, playacting | Comments Off

This for Your Own Profit I Say

Posted on June 14, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

When I’m meditating on a single verse, I look for ways to think outside of the traditional box.

Young’s Literal Translation was published in 1848 and sticks closely to the original Hebrew and Greek word order and verb tenses. For you Star Wars fans, it’s Yoda-like. The words are there, shuffled and rearranged.

1 Corinthians 7:35 (YLT)
And this for your own profit I say: not that I may cast a noose upon you, but for the seemliness and devotedness to the Lord, undistractedly.

Thinking backwards, new wisdom I see.

Good morning, Lord. Every day rolls out new beauty. Each sunset is different. I see Your creative hand in the differences.

Likewise, teach me to see Your ancient Word in different ways that help me apply it to my life — right here, right now. Don’t let me bend Your wisdom to fit my desires. Teach me to bend my desires to line up with Your magnificent plan.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged 1 Corinthians 7:35, Yoda, Young's Literal Translation | 2 Comments

Noble Devotion

Posted on June 13, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

This week’s posts all relate to a verse in chapter 7 of the first letter to the Corinthians, where Paul offers his thoughts on marriage. With my role as a wife on my mind, this translation of the verse caught my eye.

1 Corinthians 7:35 (GW)
… I’m showing you how to live a noble life of devotion to the Lord without being distracted by other things.

“A noble life of devotion” reminds me of the “wife of noble character” (Proverbs 31:10). Devotion to the Lord — a noble goal for the Church (the Bride of Christ), a noble goal for me personally.

Good morning, Lord. I say I want to live a noble life of devotion to You, yet my actions say something else. I get distracted by worldly desires. I devote myself to getting my own way. I put myself first. Forgive me. Stop me in my tracks, turn me around.

Teach me to love You, Lord God, with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind and with all my strength. Teach me to love others — including my husband, children, coworkers and neighbors — as I love myself (Mark 12:30-31).

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged 1 Corinthians 7:35, devotion to the Lord, Mark 12:30-31, noble devotion, Proverbs 31:10 | Comments Off

Untangled!

Posted on June 12, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

As part of my study of 1 Corinthians, I’ve looked at different translations of this week’s key verse. Today’s version is the Geneva Bible, published in 1550. It was used by William Shakespeare and came to America with the Mayflower. Old, yes. Outdated, no.

1 Corinthians 7:35 (GNV)
And this I speak for your own commodity, not to tangle you in a snare, but that ye follow that which is honest, and that ye may cleave fast unto the Lord without separation.

God doesn’t entangle me. He untangles me. Thanks be to God!

Good morning, Lord. It is so easy to get tangled up in the snare of worldly desires. How often do I call out to You because I’m caught in a web of trouble? More times than I can count, and yet You never tire of hearing and answering my cry. You never give up on me — thank You.

Show me the path of righteousness. Stop me before I step into the enemy’s trap of foolishness and wrongdoing. Keep my feet on the solid ground of Your commands.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged 1 Corinthians 7:35, Geneva Bible, path of righteousness, tangle | Comments Off