Does God Not See?

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Isaiah 29:15-16 (NLT)
What sorrow awaits those who try
to hide their plans from the Lord,
who do their evil deeds in the dark!
“The Lord can’t see us,” they say.
“He doesn’t know what’s going on!”
How foolish can you be?

God sees. God knows. There are no secrets. Sooner or later, dark deeds will see the light of day.

 


Good morning, Lord. Sometimes I pretend You’re not watching. Silly me, like a toddler closing her eyes thinking we can’t see her. I forget what I did yesterday, You remember eternally. And yet, You forgive my foolishness and send my sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Gratitude is not enough. I owe You all that I am.

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God Sees

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

God sees all. God sees me.

Psalm 139:3 (NLT)
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.

I’m always amused when someone criticizes politicians for their faith in God. Considering all the corruption in government, I think a leader who believes God is watching their every move is a good thing.

On a personal note, there are moments when I wish He wasn’t watching me. But no, He never takes His eyes off me.

 

Good morning, Lord. You see my every move, know my every thought. It’s both scary and comforting — You see me at my worst and still love me. I want to be good, really I do, but here I am falling short … again. I look to the cross with gratitude and awe. “Amazing love! How can it be, that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? “ (Charles Wesley, 1738)

 

 

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Seeing God during Lent

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Lent is the perfect time to put in the extra effort — look for God with all your heart.

 


Jeremiah 29:13 (MSG)
“When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”

 

Good morning, Lord. I see You in the light of the sunrise and in the dimness of night. I hear You in the Words of Scripture and in the chatter of friends. I sense Your presence in a crowd and alone in my car. You are consistent, I am flighty. When I think You’re far off, I’m the one who has stepped away. Your eyes never lose sight of me, keep me forever focused on You.

 

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Fasting: More than Food

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

“Let the hands fast by being pure from plundering and avarice. Let the feet fast by ceasing from running to unlawful spectacles. Let the eyes fast, being taught never to fix themselves rudely on handsome faces, or to busy themselves with strange beauties . . . Let the mouth also fast from disgraceful speech.”
 St. John Chrysostom (349-407)

 


Good morning, Lord. May the words of my mouth be acceptable in Your sight (Psalm 19:14). Let me fix my eyes on You and Your Word. May the work of my hands be honest and honorable. Let my feet walk in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake (Psalm 23:3). amen and amen.

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What Are You Losing for Lent?

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Lots of folks (including me) give up some kind of food during Lent. You could call it a weight-loss program — you lose the weight of your bad habits and sins.


Joel 2:12 (AMP)
“Even now,” says the Lord,
“Turn and come to Me with all your heart
[in genuine repentance],
With fasting and weeping and mourning
[until every barrier is removed
and the broken fellowship is restored].”

The Amplified version of the Bible adds words to clarify the meaning of a passage. Here, it connects fasting with repentance. The loss: the weight of my sin. The gain: fellowship with God.

 


Good morning, Lord. I pray, “forgive me,” and You do. And then I sin again, and You forgive again. I’m so sorry. Break the cycle, Lord! Teach me to think the way You do, to use my time well, to speak the truth in love, and to walk in obedience to Your commands — today and every day.

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What Are You Changing for Lent?

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Lent begins today. It’s the season of fasting, right?

Not necessarily.

 

Isaiah 58:6 (MSG)
This is the kind of fast day I’m after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.

Maybe Lent is a time to do something new. Maybe it’s time for a change.

 


Good morning, Lord. You gave up the glories of heaven to come to earth and change our world. You call me to make changes — to give up what isn’t good and take up what is better. What is it You want me to put aside this Lenten season, and what do You want me to take up? 

Change my heart, O Lord, change my actions, change me — for the better.

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Overindulgence

Posted on March 4, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


It’s Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), a day of feasting and wild partying before Lent’s fasting and sacrifice. 

Not quite what God had in mind.


Amos 5:21 (NASB)
I [the Lord] hate, I reject your festivals,
Nor do I delight in your festive assemblies.

God is not honored by our overindulgence.

 

Good morning, Lord. Tomorrow marks the start of Lent, a season of sober reflection on Your sacrifice. The day before Your crucifixion, You celebrated the Passover. The focus was on Almighty God’s love and power, not man’s overindulgence. Likewise, may I focus on You today, not by indulging my desires but by obeying your commands.

Fix my thoughts on You, dear Jesus — today, tomorrow and through all eternity.

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Indulge!

Posted on March 3, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Psalm 34:3,8 (NIV)
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together …
Taste and see that the Lord is good.

 

Following the Sunday worship service, our congregation shared a potluck luncheon. Come supper time, my husband suggested we go out for dessert.

So he and I indulged in different versions of chocolate (cake for him, pie for me). We tasted goodness of the Lord — at church and a restaurant. 

 

Good morning, Lord. It is easy to mindlessly thank You for our food, without considering what goes into it: the eggs, the flour, the sugar, the seasoning. Your people ate the same thing in the wilderness for forty years and thrived. I eat something different every day. You are behind the nutritional content, the texture and flavor. I taste Your goodness in every bite. Thank You!

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Perfect Knowledge

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

“Most high and glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me, Lord, a correct faith, a certain hope, a perfect charity, sense and knowledge, so that I may carry out Your holy and true command. Amen.”
Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)

 

 


Good morning, Lord. Perfection is Yours, not mine. My love, common sense and knowledge fall short — and yet they improve as I study Your Word, rejoice in the glories of Your creation and listen to the nudges of Your Spirit. The better I know You and Your Word, the more I reflect Your light in this dark world. Shine, Jesus, shine in and through me.

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Speaking Knowledge

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Proverbs 2:6 (NIV)
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come
knowledge and understanding.


From God’s mouth to my ear (or His Word to my eyes).

 

Good morning, Lord. Focus my eyes on Your Word and the wonders of Your creation. Tune my ears to heal the whisper of the Holy Spirit. Fill me with knowledge and wisdom I wouldn’t find on my own. Forgive me for focusing on foolish and worldly distractions. Teach me to be a good steward of my time, treasure and talent — for Your glory, not mine.

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