For My Own Good

Posted on June 11, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

This week, I’m focusing on Paul’s instructions in his first letter to the people of Corinth.

 


1 Corinthians 7:35 (CEV)
What I am saying is for your own good—it isn’t to limit your freedom. I want to help you to live right and to love the Lord above all else.

God’s rules for living don’t ruin my life. They improve it (now and long-term). It really does work out for my own good — thanks be to God!

 

 


Good morning, Lord. You have a plan for my wellbeing — thank You. Forgive me for the many times I’ve gone my own way, thinking I know better than You. 


I look at the world around me and see confusion, corruption and chaos. It seems like everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). Turn their hearts to You, O God. Open their ears to Your Word. For their own good, teach them to live right and love You.

 

 

 

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Serve the Lord Best

Posted on June 10, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

My Bible reading schedule has taken me to Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians, where this verse grabbed my attention.

 

1 Corinthians 7:35 (NLT)
I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

Questions to answer in my journal: 

        • Does what I’m doing serve the Lord, or is it a distraction?
        • Does what I’m doing serve the Lord best, or is it second-rate?

Wow! I’ve got some heavy-duty thinking to do. 

 


Good morning, Lord. Forgive me for being too busy to check in with You. Forgive me for thinking I’m serving You when, in truth, I’m chasing distractions. Forgive me for doing the bare minimum for You instead of offering You my best. Forgive me for following my own plan and pretending it is Yours.

Teach me to be honest with myself. Teach me to listen for Your direction. Teach me to do Your will and not my own. 

 

 

 

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God’s Hand on Mine

Posted on June 7, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

 

Psalm 73:23 (NIV)
Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.

 


God’s hand held mine on my first day of school and when I got my diploma. His hand was on mine when I brought my first child home and as I helped my last child pack and move out. His hand was on mine when I learned my ABCs and as I typed this post.

He never lets go of me, not even when I try to let go of Him.
[Note to self: letting go of God doesn’t work.]

 


Good morning, Lord. You are right here beside me, all the time. You’re as close as my right hand, all the time. Even when I pitch a fit, You’re here. Even when I’m angry and refuse to talk with You, You’re still here. Even when I’m distracted by the chaos around me and don’t see You, You’re still here. 


Thank You for holding on to me when I try to run away. Thank You for loving me when I’m unlovable. Thank You for being here, all the time.

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God’s Hand

Posted on June 6, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 


Isaiah paints a beautiful picture of God’s hand:

 


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?

My grandmother measured flour by the handful, not the cupful. I use the span between my thumb and pinkie instead of a ruler to quickly estimate a short distance.

God’s hand is beyond the measure of my imagination.

 


Good morning, Lord. Your power is beyond my ability to imagine. You spoke the world into being. You measure the universe with Your hand. You see beyond the horizon of time and space. And yet, there are times when I question what You’re doing and doubt Your plan. Forgive my foolishness. Help my unbelief. 

You are so great, Lord, and I am so small. And yet, You care for me, watch over me and paid Your life for me. How can it be? Amazing love!

 

 

 

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A Handful

Posted on June 5, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 


God arranged a divine appointment between Elijah and a poor widow. He asked her for a bit of bread.

 

1 Kings 17:12 (ERV)
The woman answered, “I promise you, before the Lord your God, that I have nothing but a handful of flour in a jar and a little bit of olive oil in a jug. I came here to gather a few pieces of wood for a fire to cook our last meal. My son and I will eat it and then die from hunger.”

She took a risk and shared her handful. It was more than enough (read the full story for yourself).

 

Good morning, Lord. You are the Great Provider. Forgive me for thinking I am my own provider. All I have comes from You, and I am simply a steward of Your gifts. Grant me the wisdom to use them well, motivated less by selfishness and more by generosity. Teach me to carry what You give me with open hands. Teach me to share.

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A Hand Out

Posted on June 4, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

I want to be like the noble woman of Proverbs 31. 

Proverbs 31:20 (AMP)
She opens and extends her hand to the poor,
And she reaches out her filled hands to the needy.


She reaches out with her hands and touches needy folks, up close and personal. What she gives goes out of her hands into theirs — no middleman, no social workers, no government agency.

Who needs the touch of your hands today? What do you have to offer them?

 


Good morning, Lord. Teach me to walk through life open-handed and willing to share. Forgive me for holding on to things with a tight fist. Transform my scarcity mindset, my desire to hoard. Teach me to trust You, to believe that You will provide what I need. Show me how to multiply my blessings by sharing them with others.

 

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A Hand Up

Posted on June 3, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Acts 3:6-7 (NIV)
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”  Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 

Peter didn’t stop with healing words. He offered a helping hand.

Sometimes it takes more than words.

 


Good morning, Lord. Sometimes I need a hand. Sometimes I’m the one offering the hand. Teach me to be both humble and gracious — that is, to humbly ask for help when I need it and to graciously offer a helping hand when someone else needs it. Forgive me for letting pride or a judgmental attitude get in the way.

Whether I’m needing help or offering help, let my words and deeds honor You. Teach me to both offer and accept a helping hand with a heart of gratitude.

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Acts of [Your Name Here]

Posted on May 31, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

 

God has good acts planned for us to do. Question is, am I doing them? Are you?

 

Good morning, Lord. What do You want me to do today? What plan do You have for me? 

Forgive me for making my to-do list in my own wisdom, filling my day with my own ideas, leaving no room for You and Your plan. Teach me to listen for Your voice. Give me eyes to see Your plan. Open my heart to Your nudge. Grant me the humility and courage to act as You direct.

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Acts of Ordinary Folks

Posted on May 30, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott


Acts of the Apostles … acts of ordinary folks:

Saul (AKA Paul) had an impressive resume even before God got his attention on the road to Damascus. But the rest of the crew featured in the book of Acts, not so much.

Acts 4:13 (NIV)
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished.

“They” who? They, “the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law” (verse 5). The bigwigs stood in awe of ordinary folks acting in the extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit. 

So be it.

 

Good morning, Lord. Sometimes I overestimate my ability to help and cope. But even more often, I underestimate what I can do through obedience and the power of the Holy Spirit. Forgive me for thinking too highly of myself and too little of You. Teach me to call on You from the start instead of plunging ahead on my own and asking for Your help only when things start to unravel.  

Teach me to listen, obey and step out with faith in Your power at work in and through me.

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Acts of the Holy Spirit

Posted on May 29, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 


The book of Acts starts with the promised coming of the Holy Spirit.

 

Acts 1:5 (NLT)
“…  in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:3-4
Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.  And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit.

The rest of the book tells of the amazing things Christ’s followers accomplished in the power of the Holy Spirit.

It’s all about God. It always is.

 

Good morning, Lord. Here I am, making this prayer time all about me. I pray for my needs, the needs of my friends and loved ones, the issues I care about. I tell You what I think should be done. Turn it upside down, O God. Let’s make this all about You. Teach me to listen for Your direction, to ask You to have Your way with folks around me (those I love and those I tend to ignore). Put the issues You care about heavy on my heart.

Your will, O Lord, not mine be done.

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