Shirlee Abbott

Using My Mind

Posted on June 30, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

“Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose.”
Frances Havergal, 1874
From the hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be”

The wisdom of the world says that faith and intellect can’t coexist.

Matthew 22:37 (NIV)
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God … with all your mind.”

God and mind … together! So be it.

Good morning, Lord. You gave me a mind, teach me to use it well. I can remember, organize, problem-solve, plan ahead and think creatively. The inner workings of my brain are more complex than I know, and it handles the mundane, the extraordinary, even the divine in ways I cannot fathom. How can it be? I am grateful.

Posted in Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged intellect, Matthew 22:37, mind | Comments Off

Giving Is Good for Me

Posted on June 27, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

God doesn’t need my offering.

Psalm 50:9-10 (NLT)
But I do not need the bulls from your barns
or the goats from your pens.
For all the animals of the forest are mine,
and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.

He already owns it all.

Good morning, Lord. You command us to give, not because You need our offerings, but because it is good for us — individually and collectively. It is good for those of us with more than enough and for those of us who come up short. It is good for all of us to understand that everything we have comes from You. It is good for us to see wealth as a gift, not an idol.

It is good for us to put our trust in You, not money. I want to be good — here’s my offering. Use it for good.

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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.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged 2 Corinthians 9:7-8, cheerful giver, generousity | Comments Off

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.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Deuteronomy 26::2, faith, first fruits and leftovers | Comments Off

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.

Posted in Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Frances Havergal, Luke 21:1-4, mite, money, silver and gold, Take My Life and Let It Be | Comments Off

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.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged acceptable words, Psalm 19:14, spoken words | 2 Comments

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.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged lying lips, Psalm 120:2, truth and lies | Comments Off

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.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged a mouth full, praise, Psalm 34:1 | 4 Comments