Enjoy a Couple Weeks without Me

Posted on June 20, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

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Stop Pretending Before Others

Posted on June 19, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Matthew 6:2 (MSG)
You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure— ‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds.


All sweet and kind in public. Cranky and judgmental in private — yup. Been there, done that. God is not impressed. 

 


Good morning, Lord. Forgive me for acting one way in public, another in private. Sometimes I’m so nice to strangers, so rude to my nearest and dearest. Teach me to care less about what others will think, more about what You desire. Give me the courage to stand up for right, even when the crowd exalts evil.

I want to be more like You, O God — consistent, faithful, trustworthy, good … all the time.

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Stop Pretending to Myself

Posted on June 18, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Me? Pretend to myself? You bet!

I tell myself, “I’m not so bad.” I look for the worst in others and think I look good in comparison.


Jesus had strong words for folks like me.

Matthew 7:5 (NLT)
Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

Enough with the playacting, He says. End the comparison game. Take a long, honest look at yourself.

Honestly, I’d rather not … I might not like what I see.

 

 

Good morning, Lord. Give me eyes to see myself not only as others see me, but as You see me. Help me recognize all the little lies I tell myself. Teach me to be honest with myself, not to shame me, but to better understand Your grace and mercy.


Thank You for loving me just as I am. Thank You for saving me from the fate I deserve. Thank You for transforming me into a better person. Teach me cooperate with that transformation by humbly admitting my failures and striving to be more like You.

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Let’s [Not] Pretend

Posted on June 17, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

I learned something new this week — the word “hypocrite” comes from hypokritēs in Greek, meaning a stage actor.

 

Jesus had harsh words for religious leaders who pretended to be righteous.

Matthew 23:27-28 (NLT)
Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

He called them playactors pretending to be squeaky clean. 

What about me? 

If I’m squeaky-clean honest, I have to admit to playacting.

 


Good morning, Lord. Forgive me for playacting through my day, for pretending I’m a better person than I really am. Teach me to be honest about my failings. Show me when I’ve been out of line, and grant me the humility to say, “I’m sorry.” Give me enough grace to be kind, even when others are being unkind. 

Fill me with wisdom from Your Word. Show me what’s right and what’s wrong. Teach me to be more concerned about doing right than being right.

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This for Your Own Profit I Say

Posted on June 14, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

When I’m meditating on a single verse, I look for ways to think outside of the traditional box.

Young’s Literal Translation was published in 1848 and sticks closely to the original Hebrew and Greek word order and verb tenses. For you Star Wars fans, it’s Yoda-like. The words are there, shuffled and rearranged.

1 Corinthians 7:35 (YLT)
And this for your own profit I say: not that I may cast a noose upon you, but for the seemliness and devotedness to the Lord, undistractedly.

Thinking backwards, new wisdom I see.

 

Good morning, Lord. Every day rolls out new beauty. Each sunset is different. I see Your creative hand in the differences. 

Likewise, teach me to see Your ancient Word in different ways that help me apply it to my life — right here, right now. Don’t let me bend Your wisdom to fit my desires. Teach me to bend my desires to line up with Your magnificent plan.

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Noble Devotion

Posted on June 13, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott


This week’s posts all relate to a verse in chapter 7 of the first letter to the Corinthians, where Paul offers his thoughts on marriage. With my role as a wife on my mind, this translation of the verse caught my eye.


1 Corinthians 7:35 (GW)
… I’m showing you how to live a noble life of devotion to the Lord without being distracted by other things.

“A noble life of devotion” reminds me of the “wife of noble character” (Proverbs 31:10). Devotion to the Lord — a noble goal for the Church (the Bride of Christ), a noble goal for me personally.

 



Good morning, Lord. I say I want to live a noble life of devotion to You, yet my actions say something else. I get distracted by worldly desires. I devote myself to getting my own way. I put myself first. Forgive me. Stop me in my tracks, turn me around.


Teach me to love You, Lord God, with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind and with all my strength. Teach me to love others — including my husband, children, coworkers and neighbors — as I love myself (Mark 12:30-31). 

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Untangled!

Posted on June 12, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott


As part of my study of 1 Corinthians, I’ve looked at different translations of this week’s key verse. Today’s version is the Geneva Bible, published in 1550. It was used by William Shakespeare and came to America with the Mayflower. Old, yes. Outdated, no.

1 Corinthians 7:35 (GNV)
And this I speak for your own commodity, not to tangle you in a snare, but that ye follow that which is honest, and that ye may cleave fast unto the Lord without separation.

God doesn’t entangle me. He untangles me. Thanks be to God!

 


Good morning, Lord. It is so easy to get tangled up in the snare of worldly desires. How often do I call out to You because I’m caught in a web of trouble? More times than I can count, and yet You never tire of hearing and answering my cry. You never give up on me — thank You. 


Show me the path of righteousness. Stop me before I step into the enemy’s trap of foolishness and wrongdoing. Keep my feet on the solid ground of Your commands.

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For My Own Good

Posted on June 11, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

This week, I’m focusing on Paul’s instructions in his first letter to the people of Corinth.

 


1 Corinthians 7:35 (CEV)
What I am saying is for your own good—it isn’t to limit your freedom. I want to help you to live right and to love the Lord above all else.

God’s rules for living don’t ruin my life. They improve it (now and long-term). It really does work out for my own good — thanks be to God!

 

 


Good morning, Lord. You have a plan for my wellbeing — thank You. Forgive me for the many times I’ve gone my own way, thinking I know better than You. 


I look at the world around me and see confusion, corruption and chaos. It seems like everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). Turn their hearts to You, O God. Open their ears to Your Word. For their own good, teach them to live right and love You.

 

 

 

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Serve the Lord Best

Posted on June 10, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

My Bible reading schedule has taken me to Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians, where this verse grabbed my attention.

 

1 Corinthians 7:35 (NLT)
I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

Questions to answer in my journal: 

        • Does what I’m doing serve the Lord, or is it a distraction?
        • Does what I’m doing serve the Lord best, or is it second-rate?

Wow! I’ve got some heavy-duty thinking to do. 

 


Good morning, Lord. Forgive me for being too busy to check in with You. Forgive me for thinking I’m serving You when, in truth, I’m chasing distractions. Forgive me for doing the bare minimum for You instead of offering You my best. Forgive me for following my own plan and pretending it is Yours.

Teach me to be honest with myself. Teach me to listen for Your direction. Teach me to do Your will and not my own. 

 

 

 

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God’s Hand on Mine

Posted on June 7, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

 

Psalm 73:23 (NIV)
Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.

 


God’s hand held mine on my first day of school and when I got my diploma. His hand was on mine when I brought my first child home and as I helped my last child pack and move out. His hand was on mine when I learned my ABCs and as I typed this post.

He never lets go of me, not even when I try to let go of Him.
[Note to self: letting go of God doesn’t work.]

 


Good morning, Lord. You are right here beside me, all the time. You’re as close as my right hand, all the time. Even when I pitch a fit, You’re here. Even when I’m angry and refuse to talk with You, You’re still here. Even when I’m distracted by the chaos around me and don’t see You, You’re still here. 


Thank You for holding on to me when I try to run away. Thank You for loving me when I’m unlovable. Thank You for being here, all the time.

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