Shirlee Abbott

God’s Rhythm of 50

Posted on November 10, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

50 is an important number in Scripture.

There’s the Year of Jubilee, when slaves were freed and debts were cancelled.

Leviticus 25:10 (ESV)
You shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land.

And there’s Pentecost.

In Exodus, the Feast of Weeks celebrated the wheat harvest, seven weeks after the First Fruits barley harvest. In the New Testament, Jesus rose from the dead on the Day of First Fruits. and the Spirit came seven weeks later. Pentecost (in Greek, pentékosté) means 50th day — seven weeks from Easter to Pentecost Sunday.

March to God’s rhythm of 50 — it’s a powerful beat.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged Feast of Weeks, first fruits, God's rhythms, Leviticus 25:10, Pentecost, Year of Jubilee | Comments Off

Morning Prayer: The Rhythm of Work

Posted on November 9, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Good morning, Lord. From the beginning, You planned for us to work. Our culture seems to scream, “Work less! Work is bad.” Teach me to see work as my opportunity to obey You and serve others–in Jesus’ name.

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God’s Rhythm of 7

Posted on November 9, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Genesis 20:9-10 (ESV)
Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.

Six days for us and our work. One day for God.

Let’s do it God’s way. Live out the rhythm of seven.

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Morning Prayer: Body, Soul and Spirit

Posted on November 8, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Good morning, Lord. I want to be more like You–body, soul and spirit. I want to love and obey You with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind and with all my strength (Mark 12:30). I want to age graciously, learning from You and leaning into You more and more every day.

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God’s Rhythm of 3

Posted on November 8, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

God works in threes:

God: Father – Son – Spirit.
Us: body – soul – spirit

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (ESV)
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The rhythm of three.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged 1 Thessalonians 5:23, body-soul-spirit, Father-Son-Spirit | Comments Off

Morning Prayer: God’s Rhythm of Rest

Posted on November 7, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for sleep, for dreams, for recharging me body and soul. You hard-wired me for rest, yet so often I try to work against Your plan. Forgive me for thinking rest is a waste of time, for thinking I don’t have time to sleep.

Even when sleep doesn’t come easily, teach me to rest my soul in You, to use the time to commune with You, to praise You and pray.

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God’s Rhythm of 2

Posted on November 6, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Day and night, morning and evening, sunrise and sunset–God’s rhythm of 2.

Genesis 1:5 (ESV)
And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Evening and morning … seems backwards, right?

Maybe I should start my “day” with a good night’s sleep. That’s how God set it up in the beginning.

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Morning Prayer: God’s Rhythm

Posted on November 6, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Good morning, Lord. The world says, “March to your own drumbeat.” You say, “Walk with me and work with me” (Matthew 11:28 – MSG). You made me, You know me. Teach me to march to Your rhythm, the drumbeat You set for me from the start.

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God’s Rhythms

Posted on November 5, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

The words of Jesus (from a paraphrased version of the Bible):

from John 11:28-30 (MSG)
Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

“Rhythms of grace.” The Lord’s heartbeat.

Are you walking in step with God’s rhythms?

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Morning Prayer: For Christ’s Sake

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

Good morning, Lord. Let me do all the good I can to all the people I can–for Christ’s sake. Let me be an encouragement to those who believe and an example to those who don’t. Let my light shine before others, so that they may see my good works and give You the glory (Matthew 5:16).

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