Half-Hearted

Posted on July 16, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

The book of Revelation records this complaint against the Church at Ephesus:

Revelation 2:4 (AMP)
… you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me].


I ask myself: Do I love God more or less than I used to?
Is my love wholehearted or halfhearted?

 

Good morning, Lord. There have been, I confess, seasons when my love for You wavered, when I loved You halfheartedly — forgive me. These were apt to be times when all was going well, when I thought I had things under control. But in the hard times I leaned on You wholeheartedly. Thus, O God, I am grateful for the hard times. It was in times of trouble that I learned to love You more and more.

 

 

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Whole-Hearted

Posted on July 15, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.


Whole-hearted faith … for my own good.

 

Good morning, Lord. When I trust You with all my heart, You show me the way. When I trust my own judgment, I wander off the narrow path. What I think is a shortcut turns out to be a tangled trail leading nowhere — or worse, it ends in trouble. As I slip into the slimy pit, I call out to You … and You save me, thank You. Teach me, dear God, to follow You whole-heartedly, start to finish.

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Whose Heart?

Posted on July 14, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

“Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.”
Frances Havergal, 1874
From the hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be”

 

Acts 13:22 (NIV)
God testified concerning him: “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.”

I want to be a person “after God’s own heart,” a person who does everything God wants me to do. I want Jesus to take charge, give the instructions and make the decisions — to be Lord and King of my flesh, my thoughts and my deeds. 

 

Good morning, Lord. I declare You to be Lord of my life. And then I push You off the throne, take over and do things my way. Forgive me, O God. When I take charge, I make a mess of things, and then I ask You to fix it — thank You for grace and mercy. Please! Teach me to do things right the first time. Teach me to step aside and let You take charge.

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God’s Will

Posted on July 11, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


I sometimes think God’s will is too hard.

Hebrews 13:20-22 (TLB)
And now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will …

The same power that raised Christ from the dead equips me to do God’s will. It’s more than enough.

 


Good morning, Lord. You give me everything I need to do Your will — but all too often, I don’t feel ready. Teach me to follow Your lead, not my feelings. Teach me to lean on Your Spirit and not my own understanding. Teach me to trust that You know what You’re doing even when I don’t.

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Good Will

Posted on July 10, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

God’s will — good for us, good for our friends and family, good for society.

 


1 Peter 2:15-17 (MSG)
It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.

 


Good morning, Lord. You grant me the ability to choose how to live, to do good or evil, to be kind and respectful or to be mean and selfish. I want to be a force for Your glory and the common good. Teach me to choose well.

 

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Wrong-Willed

Posted on July 9, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Here’s a hard fact. When it comes to my own will, I’m strong-willed. When it comes to God’s will, I’m weak-willed. I’m in good company. The apostle Paul had the same problem.

 

Romans 7:19 (NIV)
For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

Thankfully, I have help.

Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

 

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for Scriptures that tell me how to live. And thank You for the Spirit who empowers me to follow through. Left to my own wisdom and will, I would make a mess of everything. Guided by insight from Your Word and the nudges of Your Spirit, I do better. Teach me to walk in Your way, staying between guardrails of Your will for me.

 

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Will What?

Posted on July 8, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


“Will” is an interesting word. It can be a noun, as in the will or desire to do something. It can also be a verb: I will. I want. I choose.

Will, in Greek, theléma, a noun.


Luke 22:42 (NIV)
… not my will, but yours be done.

 And also a verb, theló.

Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

 

Good morning, Lord. I will (verb) do Your will (noun) — at least, that’s the goal. But all too often, I don’t. I make the wrong choices; self-serving desires get in the way. I pray for Your will to be my guide, that Your wisdom will empower me. Lead me in the path of righteousness for Your sake (Psalm 23:3) and Your will be done. 

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Thy Will, Not Mine

Posted on July 7, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

“Take my will and make it Thine;
it shall be no longer mine.”
Frances Havergal, 1874
From the hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be”

 

We know the inspiration behind this verse in our familiar hymn:

Luke 22:42 (KJV)
… not my will, but thine, be done.

From the lips of the Jesus to His Father in heaven.

 

Good morning, Lord. I pray, “Thy will be done,” and then I go off and do what I want. Forgive me for taking these words from the Lord’s prayer lightly. When I stop to think, I know Your will is best — but all too often, I plunge ahead with nary a thought of You. Teach me to stop and ask, ‘What should I do?” Teach me to wait and listen for Your answer.

 

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Of Scorpions and Eggs

Posted on July 4, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


Today’s Proverbs 31 Ministries daily devotional features my musings on stinging scorpions and wholesome eggs.

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My Mind at Work

Posted on July 4, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

“So even though I do not understand myself fully, I experience so much that I marvel at you even more because of that ignorance. Without understanding fully, my mind can still perceive stars in motion or growing things in the earth–and I owe this ability to you.”
Hilary of Poitiers (circa 310-367)

1700 years after this prayer was written, we know more about the movement of stars and the growth of plants — but still we don’t understand fully.

 

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for this complex world, from the stars in the skies to the plants under our feet. Throughout history, they’ve testified to Your power and wisdom. As research reveals more details about their form and function, we learn more about Your consistency and attention to detail. Science doesn’t diminish my faith, it reinforces it. Great are You, O God.

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