Shirlee Abbott

Recommitted to Service

Posted on March 26, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Joshua 24:15 (NLT)
But if you are unwilling to obey the Lord, then decide today whom you will obey. Will it be the gods of your ancestors beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites here in this land? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

Service isn’t a one-time commitment. It’s a day-by-day, moment-by-moment commitment.

Good morning, Lord. You died for me, I live for You. I chose to serve You yesterday. I choose to serve You today. I will choose to serve You tomorrow. Help me be as faithful to You as You have been to me.

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Recommitment to God’s Kingdom

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Matthew 6:33 (EXB)
Seek first [Be concerned above all else with] God’s kingdom and what God wants [his righteousness]. Then all your other needs will be met as well [these things will be given to you].

Where’s my focus? What are my priorities?

Good morning, Lord. It’s easy to let my to-do list order my priorities — I focus on tasks of little consequence and miss the eternal picture. The routine items like dusting and laundry must be done, of course, but not at the expense of (or instead of) deeds that carry spiritual impact. Teach me to study Your Word, pray, connect with others and do good in Your name, amen.

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Recommitment to the Son of God

Posted on March 24, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Galatians 2:20 (NLT)
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Is my commitment to Christ changing … for the better?

Good morning, Lord. You gave Your life for me, I should commit every moment of every day to You. And yet, I often seek my comfort above Your will. Forgive my selfishness and forgetfulness. Show me the way to go, the actions to take, the words to say. Lead me in paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake (Psalm 23:3), amen.

Posted in Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged Galatians 2:20, Lent, Psalm 23:3, recommitment | 2 Comments

Lent — A Season of Recommitment

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

“I wish that saints would cling to Christ half as earnestly as sinners cling to the devil. If we were as willing to suffer for God as some are willing to suffer for their lusts, what perseverance and zeal would be seen on all sides!”
Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Lent is the perfect time for an honest assessment of our commitment to God. Let’s ask ourselves:

Am I as earnest about my faith as I used to be?
How much am I willing to give up for Christ’s sake?

Good morning, Lord. I admit to seasons of reluctant faith. Forgive my flagging zeal, spark my enthusiasm and restore my perseverance. I look back on my life and see that my best times weren’t the easiest ones, but rather the times when my faith was strongest. Teach me to cling to You in good times and bad, now and forever, amen.

Posted in Lent, Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Charles Spurgeon, Lent, perseverance, zeal | 3 Comments

Message of Reconciliation

Posted on March 20, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

2 Corinthians 5:19-20 (NIV)
And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

Be reconciled with God! … Pass it on.

Good morning, Lord. Forgive me for treating the message of the cross as though it’s a secret. I should be shouting it from the rooftops: “Be reconciled to God!” It’s the best invitation in the world, thank You.

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Reconciliation with Others

Posted on March 19, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Reconciliation starts with God, but it doesn’t end there.

Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Reconcile with others as God has reconciled with you.

Good morning, Lord. Teach me to offer reconciliation to others as freely as You have offered it to me. Forgive me my trespasses as I forgive those who have trespassed against me (Matthew 6:12).

Posted in Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged forgiveness, Lent, Matthew 5:23-24, Matthew 6:12, reconciliation | Comments Off

Reconciliation Instead of Alienation

Posted on March 18, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Colossians 1:21-22 (MEV)
And you, who were formerly alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and above reproach in His sight.

From alienated to holy … now that’s a change for the better.

Good morning, Lord. You transform me — through Your Word, through prayer, by the persistent nudge of the Holy Spirit. I am not the person I used to be, nor the person I will become in future days. Thank You for Your patience, Your presence and Your power at work in me.

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Reconciliation with God through Christ

Posted on March 17, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Romans 5:10 (NIV)
For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

Reconciliation is God’s doing, not mine.

Good morning, Lord. I am reconciled with You, not by my good deeds, but through Christ’s death on the cross. Any good deeds I do are my way of saying “thank You.” Fill me, O God, with gratitude; grant me countless opportunities to show my appreciation.

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Lent — A Season of Reconciliation

Posted on March 16, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

“[God’s] glorious wisdom has devised a plan whereby, without violating His justice as the Judge of all the earth, and without tarnishing His perfect holiness, He can meet man upon the ground of mercy, and man can again become the friend of God.”
Charles Spurgeon, 1877
The Ministry of Reconciliation

We are “friends of God.“ How amazing is that?

Good morning, Lord. I can sing, “What a friend we have in Jesus” and know it is true. I am counted as a friend of God, not because I am worthy, but because You are merciful. Your love is beyond amazing, and I am grateful.

Posted in Lent, Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Lent, reconciliation, What a Friend We Have in Jesus | Comments Off

Wisdom Revealed

Posted on March 13, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

I’ll never fully understand Scripture on my own.

Ephesians 1:17 (NIV)
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

God provides the revelation and the Spirit of wisdom to help me understand.

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for Your Word and the wisdom it reveals. As I read it, Holy Spirit, enlighten my mind — embed the words into my thoughts, my decisions and my actions. Teach me to study it, not just as information and interesting stories, but also as a lifestyle. Transform me.

Posted in Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged Ephesians 1:17, God's Word, Spirit of wisdom and revelation | Comments Off