Good morning, Lord. Everybody has a story, I know, and I see only one small corner of it. You know it all. Teach me to pause before I judge, to pray before I jump to conclusions, to listen to Your Spirit before I speak.
When someone says something that upsets me, remind me that they see only part of my story. Grant me a gracious attitude, in Jesus’ name.
Sometimes I think I’m smarter than everyone around me. The Bible has an answer to that bad attitude.
Matthew 5:3 (MSG)
You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God.
Compared to God, my know-it-all is next-to-nothing. And next-to-nothing makes room for more of God.
Good morning, Lord. It’s sad how often my first reaction is far from godly. I’m quick to justify my own actions and slow to extend grace, quick to judge others and slow to see the log in my own eye (Matthew 7:3), quick with blame and slow with kindness.
Thank You for the Spirit’s nudge reminding me to line up my attitude with Yours. Teach me, O God, to make Your intention my reaction, in Jesus’ name.
Let me be honest. There are days when my attitude could use some improvement. And what better place for improvement than the Bible? Antidote for a bad attitude … the Beatitudes (Matthew 5). Beatitude, from the Latin beātitūdō, “a state of blessedness.”
Yep, I need to lose my bad attitude and step into a state of blessedness.
I need to lose my desire to be right, and step into a beatitude.
Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.
Hungering to be right–wrong. Hungering to be righteous–blessed.
Good morning, Lord. Thank You for watching over me as I slept last night, as I worked yesterday, and as I shopped, chatted with friends, cooked and cleaned. You never lose sight of me, but I sometimes lose sight of You. Forgive my wandering thoughts, and keep me focused on You no matter what, no matter where.
It’s comforting to know God’s got His eye on me. Nothing that happens to me will be a surprise to Him.
Psalm 31:15 (ESV)
My times are in Your hand.
I am safe.
Good morning, Lord. Every day I have choices. I can choose to listen to the enemy’s lies and give in to temptation, or I can choose to resist evil and listen to Your Word. When I make poor choices, O God, help me accept the consequences without excuse. Let me learn from my mistakes.
Teach me to choose well. Guide me in paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake (Psalm 23:3).
I believe in God, and I believe He has ultimate control. But this belief doesn’t turn me into some sort of puppet, someone with no control. I have free will.
The Bible tells me so.
Joshua 25:15 (MSG)
If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you’d rather serve—and do it today.
I have choices. I am free to choose (and free to live with the consequences).
I choose God.
Good morning, Lord. I thank You for all that’s right with the world: the stars above and the flowers below, the happy sound of children at play, a hug from a friend and a smile from a stranger, the fragrance of fresh bread and roast turkey, my warm bed and hot coffee.
As I ponder and pray over the problems of this world, may I forget not all my blessings.
