Shirlee Abbott

Shine and Speak

Posted on September 22, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Last week, we focused on seeing and hearing God ourselves.

This week we’ll consider how others see and hear God through us.

Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Mark 16:15
… Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Shine and speak — for the sake of the kingdom and the glory of the Lord.

Good morning, Lord. Shine though me today, as I work at home and when I step out into the world. Speak through me today — encouraging a coworker, affirming a fellow believer, sharing the hope that is within me (1 Peter 3:15). Nudge me out of my self-centered bubble and connect me with those who need a glimpse of You.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged 1 Peter 3:15, Mark 16:15, Matthew 5:16, see and hear, sight and sound | Comments Off

Rebellious Ears

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Ezekiel 12:1-2 (NIV)
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.

Do I count myself among the rebellious people who cannot hear the Word of the Lord? Possibly. I’m surrounded by competing messages. Am I listening to the right words?

Good morning, Lord. I hear and read mixed messages. I try to make sense of them, but it’s hard to sort right from wrong. Teach me to use the wisdom of Your Word and the nudge of Your Spirit to identify what is right and good. Lead me away from things that sound fine but don’t line up with Your truth. Give me ears to hear Your voice above the clamor of our culture.

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Blind Sight

Posted on September 18, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

John’s gospel applied words from an Old Testament prophet to the people of Jesus’ day. Certainly, these words apply to us too.

John 12:30 (NIV)
He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.
(from Isaiah 6:10)

What am I not seeing? Have I let any worldly wisdom harden my heart?

As a nation, what are we not seeing? What worldly wisdom hardens our hearts?

Good morning, Lord. Open my eyes to the truth of Your Word and the lies of the enemy. Grant me the insight to know which is which.

As a nation, open our eyes to Your wisdom and the world’s foolishness. May we turn to You and find healing.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged eyes that do not see, Isaiah 6:10, John 12:30 | Comments Off

Sight and Sound

Posted on September 17, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Proverbs 20:12 (AMPC)
The hearing ear and the seeing eye—
the Lord has made both of them.

Sight and sound — gifts from God.

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for my eyes that see and my ears that hear. Teach me to use them well, just as You intended from the beginning. Open my eyes to read Your Word and see You at work in this world. Open my ears to hear the nudge of Your Spirit over the clamor of my culture. I want to hear and see You, O God, above all else.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged eyes and ears, Proverbs 20:12, sight and sound | Comments Off

Right for Me

Posted on September 16, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Everybody (including me) has an opinion about the state of current affairs. We think we’re right.

What if I’m wrong?

James 4:14-17 (ESV)
… What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Good morning, Lord. My opinions will pass away like the morning mist, but Your Word endures forever. Teach me to look to Your wisdom to guide my life and not depend on my own understanding (or the so-called “truths” of my culture). I trust You, O God, to direct my path (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged James 4:14-17, Proverbs 3:5-6, right and wrong, sin, Truth | 4 Comments

Getting Right Wrong

Posted on September 15, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Isaiah 5:20 (NIV)
Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.

I gave much thought to right and wrong last week. I read opposing claims regarding good and evil. I felt the darkness and heard the bitterness. Light and sweet were in short supply.

“Woe to us” seems about right.

Good morning, Lord. Woe is me, woe to all of us! Without Your grace and mercy, we would have no hope. Teach me to define good and evil according to Your Word. Rid my heart of all bitterness and let my light shine steadily in this dark world — for Your glory and not my own, amen.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Isaiah 5:20, let my light shine, woe is me, wrong and right | 4 Comments

Nearsighted or Eternal-Sighted

Posted on September 12, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

I’m very nearsighted. Without my glasses, I can’t recognize faces and read signs.

God has eternal vision. He sees every event that led to me being who and where I am now. He sees the impact I will have on the future.

Isaiah 49:9-10 (NIV)
… I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.

Good morning, Lord. I see the here-and-now, I remember the past, and I can only imagine the future. You see it all at once — past, present and future. By Your grace I am here now, and by faith I will trust You for my future days.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged eternal vision, Isaiah 49:9-10, past present future | Comments Off

Making More Room

Posted on September 11, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

1 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)
When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

As I mature spiritually, I let some things go. I’m making more room for God.

Good morning, Lord. When I was a spiritual baby, my soul was cluttered with worldly things. Clean me from the inside out, transform my spiritual space, fill every nook with Your grace and glory. I want to be a sacred temple fit for Your Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged 1 Corinthians 13:11, 1 Corinthians 3:16, make room for God | Comments Off

Space Enough for My Big God

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

You’ve probably seen a demonstration on fitting sand, gravel and rocks into a jar. If we start with the sand and then add the gravel, there’s no room for the rocks. It only works if we start with the big rocks, then add the gravel and end with the sand.

So it is with our lives: fill the space with the small stuff, and there’s no room for our big God. Start with God — the rest will fit.

Psalm 62:7 (ESV)
On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Good morning, Lord. I like to take time for You first thing and let the day flow from there. It’s tempting to let other things — my to-do list, social media, unfinished chores — get in the way of my morning prayer time. Grant me the wisdom to start with You, to give You my undivided focus. Be the center of my day, Lord, and wrap me in Your presence.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Psalm 62:7, space for God | Comments Off

Abundantly More than I Can Think

Posted on September 9, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

The DNA contained in one cell of my body, stretched straight, would be about six feet long. The DNA in all the cells of my body would reach to the moon and back — 1000 times!

I cannot imagine.

Psalm 139:14 (NIV)
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Good morning, Lord. Your creation — from the far reaches of the universe to the DNA in each cell — is amazing, this I know. Over the centuries, we’ve learned so much about it, and I suppose there’s much more we don’t yet know. Indeed, Your power is greater than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Who am I, O God, that You are mindful of me? (Psalm 8:4).

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged DNA, Ephesians 3:20, fearfully and wonderfully made, Psalm 139:14, Psalm 8:4 | Comments Off