Shirlee Abbott

Now Is the Time

Posted on May 23, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Ephesians 2:10 (EXB)
God has made us what we are [For we are his handiwork/workmanship/work of art]. In Christ Jesus, God made [created] us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.

God crafted me (ahead of time) and put me in this place at this time. I’m uniquely designed to fit perfectly into God’s big plan for the world.

Good morning, Lord. Now is the time for me to do the good works You prepared in advance for me. I have the skills, the experience and the gifts of the Spirit to accomplish that work. The question is, do I have the willingness, the obedient heart? Can I stick to the plan even as the enemy thwarts and tempts and sets me up for failure? Grant me the faith to persevere, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Ephesians 2:10, good works God planned, obedient heart | 4 Comments

Such a Time

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

The book of Esther tells a story of Jewish persecution and restoration. Mordecai encourages Esther to take the risk and speak for her people.

Esther 4:14 (ESV)
“… And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Likewise, I am in this place at this time — not by accident — but according to God’s plan.

Good morning, Lord. I am at this place at this time for a purpose. And yet, I have freedom of choice, the option to step into Your will or step away. Because You know the end at the same time as the beginning, You already know what I will do — but Your foreknowledge doesn’t dictate my choice. Grant me the spiritual strength to choose wisely.

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God’s Time

Posted on May 21, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

2 Peter 3:8 (ESV)
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

I’m stuck in my time. I try to squeeze God into an earthly timeline. But that’s not how He works.

God’s time is different. I don’t understand it.

Good morning, Lord. Time, as You created it, works for me: minutes, hours, weeks, years — thank You. I can’t understand how time works for You. Past, present and future are all the same to You. You are never rushed, never late, always on time, with a plan for all time. You hold eternity in Your hand like a pocket watch. Teach me to trust You, all the time.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged 2 Peter 3:8, God's time, one day and a thousand years | 2 Comments

Ahead of Time

Posted on May 20, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Genesis 1:14, 19 (ESV)
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years” …And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

The sun, moon and stars mark our hours, days, months and seasons. In the creation account, time as we know it started on Day 4. God and light, water and land, even plants predate time. The creation of mankind came on Day 6. We exist on a timeline. God exists outside of time.

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for the gift of time. I rush, I wait, I regret, I anticipate … all on my timeline. You see and know everyone and everything at the same time. I make time for You, spending chunks of time in prayer and Bible study. You are with me all the time, even when I don’t notice. I squeeze You into my timeline; Your timeline wraps around me like a security blanket.

I am blessed, all the time.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Day 4 of Creation, Genesis 1:14-19, the gift of time, Time | Comments Off

Before My Time

Posted on May 19, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 139:16 (NLT)
You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

The timeline of my life is measured from the moment of my birth — counted in days, weeks, months and years. God saw me before my time. How much before? More than we know.

This week, we’ll focus on time: our time and God’s time.

Good morning, Lord. You are eternal … before my time, before all time. I count my experience chronologically; You see it — beginning, middle and end — all at the same time. With all that has ever been, is and ever will be, You still have more than enough time for me. I am amazed and grateful.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged before my time, God's time, lifetime, my time, Psalm 139:16 | Comments Off

The True Story

Posted on May 16, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Deuteronomy 4:9 (NLT)
Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.

God didn’t write your story for you alone. Pass it on!

Good morning, Lord. My story is filled with lessons learned the hard way. I would prefer to tell a cleaned-up version of my life and skip over the ugly parts. But You are a God of truth, and You want me to share the true story. You never closed the book on me, God. Make me an open book for others, in Jesus’ name.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Deuteronomy 4:9, lessons learned, pass it on, the true story | 2 Comments

A Good Story

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

God has already written my story. I live it out, page by page, day by day.

Psalm 118:24 (MEV)
This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Even if today is a terrible, no good, very bad day, it’s one day closer to eternity in heaven. And that’s something to be glad about.

Good morning, Lord. I know how my life story ends — in heaven, with You, for eternity. I don’t know what I’ll find on the next page or in the next chapter. I do know that it puts me one page, one chapter closer to the glorious end. All good, in Your good time, thank You.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged a good end, my story, Psalm 188:24, this day | 6 Comments

A Better Story

Posted on May 13, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

If I were writing my own story, it would be different — different, not better.

I would have written my story blindly, not knowing what was ahead.

Psalm 139:16 (TLB)
You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!

God saw me before I existed. He knew my story before it started. God’s got the better perspective on my life.

Good morning, Lord. You wrote my story before I was born, thank You. There are parts of my story I don’t like … there are parts of me I don’t like. But my story is Your story, thus it is a love story. You love all of me — the good and the bad. You have recorded my progress — more good and less bad. I trust You for a good end to my story.

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My Story

Posted on May 12, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

My story is really God’s story:

Hebrews 12:2 (MEV)
Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith …

My story isn’t a feel-good novel. It isn’t fantasy or science fiction. It’s a real-time documentary.

But it’s also a love story. A story of God’s love … for me, for my friends and family, for the world.

I’m not in charge of my story. I don’t pick the time and place. I don’t pick the main characters. I don’t dictate the plot.

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for writing my story. Granted, there are chapters I didn’t like, but they got me to the person and place I am today. On my own, I would have edited the hard parts to be easier, which would have made the main character (me) a weaker soul. Each page shaved away a bit of my selfishness, greed and arrogance. You are the Author of my faith … and I’m better for it.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Author of my faith, God's story, Hebrews 12:2, love story, my story | Comments Off