Shirlee Abbott

Know Better

Posted on May 30, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Nothing I tell God is news to him. But transparency on my part improves our relationship. It doesn’t change Him. It changes me. It opens the door to honest conversation.

Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

I learn to see myself through God’s eyes. I start to know myself better.

Good morning, Lord. Let me see myself as You see me — the good, the sin, the worries, the gratitude. Show me how far I’ve come and what to do next. Walk and talk with me every step of the way. I want to see the world as You see it — with justice, grace and mercy. I want to know You better, know myself better, know the world better.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged know, know better, Psalm 139:23-24, walk and talk with God, yada | Comments Off

I Know God

Posted on May 29, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

I know about God, and I know God. But I don’t know everything about God.

I have questions, sometimes I doubt, I’m often mystified.

Jeremiah 16:21 (AMP)
“Therefore,” [says the Lord] “behold, I will make them know— This time I will make them know My power and My might; And they will know and recognize [without any doubt] that My Name is the Lord.”

Good morning, Lord. I want to know more about You. I want to know You as God Almighty, Savior and Friend. I’m listening. Teach me what I need to know.

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God Knows Me

Posted on May 28, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 139:1-2 (NIV)
You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

God knows me better than I know myself. Nothing I say or do surprises Him.

Good morning, Lord. You see me at my best and at my worst … and it’s all the same to You. At my best, I feel like I know You well. At my worst, I try not to think about You at all. I’m the one who changes, not You. You know my good intentions and my selfish deeds. You love me just as I am, and Your goodness makes me want to be better.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged God knows me, Psalm 139:1-2, to know, yada | 1 Comment

To Know and Be Known

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

“Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know Thee …
Let me humble myself and exalt Thee …
Let me die to myself and live in Thee.“
St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

The Hebrew word for knowing comes from the root word yada. Yada is to know well, to have a close connection, to be intimate friends, to recognize and regard. It’s a two-way connection—to know and to make oneself known.

Good morning, Lord. You are truth, and I want to be honest with myself. You see it all, and I have blind spots. You are all-knowing, and I have secrets I hide even from myself. You seek perfect justice, I make excuses. You are merciful, I play favorites.

The better I know You, O God, the better I will know myself.

Posted in Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged St. Augustine, to know, yada | Comments Off

Remember. Tell Their Stories

Posted on May 26, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Here in the US, today is Memorial Day — a day to remember, honor and mourn those who have given their lives protecting our country and our freedoms.

Over the years, it has become less a day of remembering and more a day of partying, celebrating the start of summer.

Psalm 78: 1-3, 6 (NLT)
O my people, listen to my instructions.
Open your ears to what I am saying,
for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us …
so the next generation might know them—
even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.

Remember. Honor history. Tell their stories.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged honor history, Memorial Day, Psalm 78:1-6, remember, tell their stories | 8 Comments

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.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Esther 4:14, foreknowledge and free will, such a time as this | Comments Off

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