It’s easy to get upset when others insult you for your faith. Here’s what Jesus said:
Matthew 5:11-12 (NLT)
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.“
The more they curse, the more we’re blessed. Whodathunk?
Good morning, Lord. I will encounter some grumpy people today. Don’t let their bad attitudes influence mine–may my good attitude influence them. Fill me with joy and let it overflow to others–not as a pasted-on smile, but with Your peace. May my attitude be a breath of fresh air in our stagnant world.
2 Corinthians 2:15 (NET)
For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
We are called to be the aroma of Christ, a sweet fragrance, a breath of fresh air … in a very stinky world.
Things seem to be getting worse at a faster rate. Don’t let it change you.
Romans 12:2 (ERV)
Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.
Let God change you. Be changed for good.
Good morning, Lord. Your timing is perfect, this I know. And yet, I keep hoping You will follow my timeline. I keep asking You to do what I want when I want. Forgive me for thinking You aren’t listening when things don’t go my way.
Teach me to trust You. Teach me to wait patiently and to accept the unexpected. Teach me to walk to the drumbeat of Your eternal plan.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
