Content with Less

Posted on June 26, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Leviticus 23:22 (AMP)
When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the edges of your field, nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the poor and for the stranger. 


I don’t own a field, and I don’t reap a crop. I get a paycheck. I can spend all of ir on myself, or I can plan to give some of it away.

 

 

Good morning, Lord. Teach me to live beneath my means, to spend less than I earn. Protect me from the desire to accumulate more than I need, empower me to be content with less. You are my treasure, O God, and You are more than enough.

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Give Cheerfully

Posted on June 25, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (NIV)
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly.

 

I give, God blesses. The blessings may or may not be financial (many of our blessings cannot be measured).

 


Good morning, Lord. grant me a generous, gracious heart. Teach me to give freely, without judging or a now-you-owe-me-one attitude. At the same time, teach me restraint, giving to help and not to make me feel good.

 

Give me the discernment to know when money is the answer and when it isn’t. Show me when I need to give something else — encouragement, friendship, hospitality — and to do so cheerfully, not reluctantly.

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First Fruits or Leftovers?

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Deuteronomy 26:2 (ESV)
You shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there.

Don’t wait for the harvest to be completed — give off the top. There’s a big difference between first fruits and leftovers. We call the difference faith.

 

Good morning, Lord. Fill me with faith in Your provision. I pray “Give me my daily bread,” but all too often I forget to thank You for the groceries that fill my cupboard. Teach me to give generously from the get-go, not just from money I have left over after buying what I want. When I see a need, give me the faith to fill it then and there. May I trust You, not just with my money, but with all I have. 

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My Mite, My Silver and My Gold

Posted on June 23, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


Continuing with more wisdom from this old hymn:

“Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.”
Frances Havergal, 1874
From the hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be”

These lyrics speak to something Jesus noticed. A poor widow put two mites (two small copper coins) into the collection box. In God’s eyes, she gave more than others.

Luke 21:4 (TLB)
For they have given a little of what they didn’t need, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.

 


Good morning, Lord. Every good thing I have is a blessing from You — even my money is not my own. Grant me a good attitude, like the widow with her mite: not holding anything back, not splitting it with You 50/50 or even 90/10, not claiming it as my own. Make me an honest, honorable steward of Your riches.

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Pleasing Words

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


Psalm 19:14 (TLB)
May my spoken words
and unspoken thoughts
be pleasing even to you,
O Lord my Rock
and my Redeemer.

Pleasing words … not only coming out of my mouth but also floating through my mind.

 

Good morning, Lord. I speak so many words in a day: questions and answers, requests and advice, hellos and goodbyes, deep conversations and passing greetings, prayer and praise. May all these words — and my tone of voice — be pleasing to You, with no biting sarcasm, whining, arrogance, or stubborn pride. Teach me to think before I speak. Ground my words in godly wisdom.

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Misusing My Voice

Posted on June 19, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


One of the 10 Commandments is all about our choice of words.

Exodus 20:7 (NLT)
You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

 

“Oh my God” should be a prayer.  When it’s not, I’m misusing God’s name.

 

Good morning, Lord. Your name is holy, and yet we use it as an expression of surprise, as a swear word, as an exclamation point. May I be sensitive to the sound of Your name, to cringe when Your name is misused. Put Your name on my lips, always as a word of honor and not derision. Teach me to pray for those who dishonor Your name, knowing the day will come when every knee shall bow at the sound of Your mighty name.

 

 

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Lying Lips

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


Psalm 120:2 (ESV)
Deliver me, O Lord,
from lying lips,
from a deceitful tongue.

 

Deliver me from lying lips — my own and those of others.

 


Good morning, Lord. I don’t like it when people lie to me, and I know I shouldn’t lie. But I do! Forgive my face-saving falsehoods, my prideful exaggerations, my half-truths, the fibs I speak to just get along, the lies I tell myself to simply feel better.


Help me discern truth from lies — coming from the mouths of others and from my own mouth. Teach me to tell the truth — honestly, humbly, gently, obediently.

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A Mouth Full

Posted on June 17, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Psalm 34:1 (ESV)
I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

 

What fills my mouth?

        • Junk food
        • Gossip
        • Sarcasm
        • Small talk
        • Praise to God

I’m aiming for more of the praise, less of the rest.

 


Good morning, Lord. My mouth is rarely empty … may my praise outweigh my complaints, my prayerful requests outnumber my foolish daydreams, my gratitude exceed my demands, my encouragement overshadow my criticism, snippets of Scripture prevail over worldly desires. Fill my mouth with messages for and from You. 

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Good Words

Posted on June 16, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


“Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from Thee.”
Frances Havergal, 1874
From the hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be”

Sing to God, speak of God.

 

Good morning, Lord. So many words come out of my mouth every day. How many praise You? How many please You?

Forgive my cranky, judgmental, complaining, prideful words. Pour Your Word into my soul so that my mouth overflows with words of hope, encouragement, gratitude and humility. May my lips speak good words, in Jesus’ name.

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Stumbling Feet

Posted on June 13, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 


I stumble when I hurry, when I don’t pay attention, when I’m on uneven ground. 

 

Psalm 17:5 (NIV)
My steps have held to your paths;
my feet have not stumbled.

I want to avoid stumbling — physically and spiritually. I want to step forward in faith.

 

Good morning, Lord. Sometimes my steps are shaky, sometimes I stumble and fall. Don’t let those mishaps send me to my couch — isolation may feel safe, but it’s lonely and unproductive. Enable me to walk boldly, knowing You’ve got my hand. Teach me to step out in obedience, trusting in You for the strength to keep moving forward. Steady my feet and my resolve, in Jesus’ name.

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