Shirlee Abbott

I’ll Be Away from this Blog

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

See you in a couple weeks!

Posted in other | Tagged vacation | 1 Comment

God’s Goads and the Devil’s Darts

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

You feel a heart-stab. Beware … it may not be coming from God.

Ephesians 6:16 (ESV)
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.

God pricks our hearts for our good. The enemy does it for our destruction.

Good morning, Lord. I know the enemy has an evil version of everything that is godly and good. Show me the difference between the poke of the Shepherd’s goad and Satan’s destructive darts. You pierce my heart to draw me closer to You. The enemy pierces my heart to put distance between You and me. Make me wise to his schemes, keep me true to Your Word.

Guide me in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake, O Lord (Psalm 23:3).

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Goaded onto the Right Path

Posted on July 31, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 23:6 (ESV)
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Decades ago, I heard a pastor describe Psalm 23’s Goodness and Mercy as two sheepdogs. Their job is to keep us on the right path. Sometimes they bark, sometimes they stand in our way, sometimes they snarl, sometimes they nip at our heels. They might even draw blood. Sharp goads, for our own good.

Good morning, Lord. As I look in the rearview mirror of my journey, I’m grateful that You’ve kept me on the right path. Looking through the windshield, I sometimes wonder which way to go and I sometimes wander the wrong way. Based on past experience, I should trust You to lead. Truth is, I don’t always. Forgive me.

Show me the right way, O Lord. And when I get off-track, do what it takes to set me right.

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Goaded Hearts

Posted on July 30, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

God’s sharp goads were at work when Peter spoke to the crowd at Pentecost:

Acts 2:37 (NASB)
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?”

God poked, and people were eager to get in line.

Good morning, Lord. When I get out of line, as I too often do, pierce my heart. Shepherd me back to the right path. If the process is painful, I know it’s my fault and not Yours. I can be stubborn and rebellious, determined to go my own way — forgive me. Thank You for Your persistent, persevering love.

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Kicking Against the Goads

Posted on July 29, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Saul described his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus:

Acts 26:14 (ESV)
And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

God used goads (sharp sticks for herding animals) to get Saul’s attention. Apparently, Saul not only ignored these spiritual goads, he kicked back.

Picture this: the Spirit “herds” me in the right direction. Sometimes He uses a sharp stick. I have a choice — do I change direction or kick back?

Good morning, Lord. Saul missed the goad of Stephen’s final words (Acts 7), thinking he was right and Stephen was wrong. Forgive me for the many times I’ve been so sure I was right that I missed the nudge of Your Spirit. Teach me to listen with an open mind and heart, to check what I hear against Your Word, to follow Your lead in all things.

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Sustaining the Soul

Posted on July 26, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Jeremiah 15:16 (TLB)
Your words are what sustain me; they are food to my hungry soul.

Sustain — to keep up and keep going. My soul is sustained by the power of God’s Word, nothing more, nothing less.

“Just as you feed me day by day with the food that sustains my body, keeping me alive on earth, I pray that you will feed my soul with the spiritual bread of eternity, making me ready for heaven.”
Basil of Caesarea (330-379)

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Daily Bread for the Soul

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Matthew 6:11 (ESV)
Give us this day our daily bread.

Food for our bodies, daily.

Food for our souls, also daily. Not an hour on Sunday and we’re good for the week. Not Christmas and Easter and we’re good for the year.

God’s Word, food for our souls — 365 days a year.

Good morning, Lord. Teach me to study Your Word … not just now and then, but daily. Fill my soul with Your encouragement, correction and wisdom. Even if it’s one short verse, grant me new insight every time. Show me how words written so long ago apply to me, right here and right now. Train me to weave this divine knowledge into my every-day prayers for myself and others.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Bible study, daily bread, food for the soul, Matthew 6:11, prayer | Comments Off

Sweet to the Soul

Posted on July 24, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Do you think the Bible is dull, boring, not worth your effort?

The more you read the Bible, the better it is.

Psalm 19:9-10 (TLB)
God’s laws are pure, eternal, just … They are sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.

God’s Word … like cherry pie or a hot-fudge sundae for your soul. Don’t give it a quick glance and move on. Don’t settle for a sample spoonful. Go for the whole thing. It’s all good.

Good morning, Lord. Forgive me for neglecting Your Word. Forgive me for treating Bible study like a duty, not a delight. Thoughts from Your mouth to my heart — priceless. Wise whispers from the Holy Spirit to my soul — life-changing. Your guiding light shining on my path — glorious!

I am grateful. Thank You, Lord, for every word.

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Good Food for the Soul

Posted on July 23, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

All too often, a student will tell me, “I don’t do books.”

I tell them, “You’re breaking my heart!” Why? Because someone who doesn’t read any books won’t read the most important book — God’s Word, the Bible. They will miss out on the most important story of all — God’s big, beautiful love story.

They’re feeding their souls short snippets, quick texts, funny memes, pictures galore. What are they missing? They’re missing their morning wisdom, their daily bread, their nighttime assurance.

Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for the Bible. It is the source of wisdom, correction and assurance. Forgive me for ignoring it or rushing through it without paying attention. I know it’s good for me. Like vegetables, I sometimes pass it up for something I think I’ll like better. Truth is, every moment I spend on it makes me a better person.

I want to be a better person, O God. Let’s sit down together for a good helping of Your Word.

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