Lay Your Burden Down

TODAY’S VERSE
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”’
Matthew 11:28

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Some days are harder than others. There are so many things that can get us down. Long hours at work, difficult relationships, financial difficulties, medical conditions, emotional stress and family responsibilities are just a few of the pressures that can weigh us down.
Jesus knew the human condition. All around Him He witnessed human suffering. He worked tirelessly to help those that were sick and oppressed. More importantly, He left behind a system to replace His efforts and to expand His influence. He gave us the Church, sent the Holy Spirit and took His rightful place at the right hand of the Father. The church works on His behalf to help us, the Holy Spirit indwells us in order to guide and comfort us and Jesus Himself intercedes for us with the Father. So when Jesus said “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest,” He meant it. What burden do you have? What is weighing you down? Bring it to Jesus. He will comfort you, He will guide you, He will give you rest. 

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, I bring to you my burdens. You know my situation. I cannot make it without you. Comfort my heart today. Guide me. Give me strength. Help me carry on. I give you my burdens; please give me Your rest.
AMEN

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Unimaginable Reality

TODAY’S VERSE
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!”
Ephesians 3:20-21

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I love my imagination. At night I would sit and make up stories for my boys. We would go away to far away places, do things we could never do in this life, be with characters from another world. Every night was an adventure. But at the end of the day it was just imagination. There was no reality. But what if? I have always been a dreamer. I see what others would consider impossibilities and start to wonder what it would be like if it came to pass? But all my dreams, visions, imaginations pale in comparison to what God has in store for you and I. In today’s passage Paul is giving glory to God. But not the God we normally think of. No, he is giving glory to a God “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” What? More than I can imagine? No. Immeasurably more than I can imagine! I don’t know where to begin. What could Paul be thinking of? I can’t put my arms around it, but I know this. If you and I would start to believe that God could, and more importantly wants to do a fraction of what we could imagine let alone what we can’t imagine, it would change our life. Why not start today? Ask God for something “unimaginable” to pray for. Ask Him to give you a dream, a vision, and unimaginable prayer for your life. He will fulfill it according to His power that is at work within you!

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I don’t know where to begin. You said you can do more than I can imagine according to Your power that is within me. So Father, I ask you to show me what to pray. What unimaginable prayer do you want me to believe you for? Speak to my heart I pray. In the precious name of Jesus.
AMEN

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The Father Prayer

TODAY’S VERSE
“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.”’
Luke 11:1-2

TODAY’S THOUGHT
There is much to learn about praying. It seems so easy, “just talk to God”, but then why don’t we do it? Instead we act as if we are calling in a take-out order at a restaurant. Nothing really personal just putting in our request. Or we leave messages on the heavenly answering machine because we don’t expect God to “pick-up”. Where is the relationship? The disciples saw Jesus pray and they knew the impact it had on His ministry. They saw the relationship. Can you imagine how that must have been? It was enough that one of His disciples asked Jesus to show him how to pray. And what was the first thing Jesus modeled? He said, “Father”. Prayer for Jesus was about His relationship with His father. Larry Crabb in his book “The Papa Prayer” writes, “The chief purpose of prayer is to get to know God, to deepen our relationship with Him, to nourish the life of God He’s already placed within us, and to do it all to satisfy His desire for relationship with us.” God wants a relationship with you! He created you for fellowship. Prayer is more than just a shopping list, more than simple confession, more than a one way conversation. It is a dialog, a relationship. It is you getting to know God and fellowshipping “with” Him not “at” Him. Today, picture God with you while you pray. Talk to Him, share your thoughts, ask Him to share His thoughts with you. Be still, listen, share, fellowship with Him. As you do, He will do with you what He did with the disciples. He will teach you to pray!

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I come to you now and ask you to teach me to pray! I want a real relationship with you. I want to know you and fellowship with you. I want to know your thoughts, your desires, your direction for my life. Help me today relate to you throughout the day so prayer becomes second nature to me. Thank you for your love for me. I love you, Father. In Jesus Name.
AMEN

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Be Still

TODAY’S VERSE

“Be still, and know that I am God.”
Psalms 46:10

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Have you ever noticed how we hate silence? I don’t mean the momentary silence after you walk inside from loud street noise. I mean the “quiet yourself down and think” kind of silence. It is so hard to shut off the inward noise. We are obsessed with busyness. It’s as if we are afraid to face who we really are and where we are in our journey. But we must face our loneliness. Leanne Payne makes this point in her book, “Listening Prayer.” She writes, “Our Pastoral task is to help all needy individuals face their inner loneliness, and there begin to hear God and their own true self. Everyone one of us – not just those who are the most visibly wounded by the darkness in humanity and the world – has to face the inner loneliness and separation from God. We all need to begin the rigorous but sternly magnificent work of converting the ‘desert of loneliness’ within into the spaciously beautiful ‘garden of solitude’ where the true self comes forward and flourishes. This is the self capable of friendship and Christian fellowship.” As we face our life, we need to stop filling in the gaps with empty “busyness”. Instead we need to consider who we are and all that God is. This will lead us on a beautiful journey of the soul. Why not start today? Throughout this day, stop and listen to your inner self, bring it to God and dialog with Him. May you begin to hear God and embrace your true self in Him.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, so many times during the day you cry out my name, but I am too busy “keeping busy” that I do not hear you. How many times Lord You have wanted me to turn to You in my loneliness but I fill the void with noise. Lord, I am sorry. I want to hear you, I want to know you. Help me start today to convert my “desert of loneliness” into a “garden of solitude.”
AMEN

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Be Like Elijah

TODAY’S VERSE
“Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”
James 5:17-18

Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”
I Kings 19:3-4

TODAY’S COMMENT
I love the way James starts his example of Elijah and his miraculous prayer life. He says, “Elijah was a man just like us.” No wonder we feel pressure to be a super saint. You know, go to church with the halo just right and “S” on our chest. But that was not the point James was trying to make. James was really saying, “There are no perfect people needed to get God’s work done!” I am sure that the image of Elijah that James had in his mind wasn’t just the praying for rain to stop and start again; not just the fire coming from heaven to consume the altar; not just the flour and oil continuing to be supplied to the widow and her son; nor was it just the image of Elijah asking God to raise the widow’s son from the dead. I am sure that James also remembered the fact that Elijah was afraid of Jezebel’s threat to kill him and ran, fleeing for his life. He knew that Elijah became exhausted and sat down under a tree and prayed that he would die. James knew that Elijah was a person just like you and I. Elijah had emotions that could lead to despair. He had depression, doubt, and fear. Like us Elijah exercised doubt and faith; fear and courage, advance and defeat.  But he also saw God work through Elijah’s life and prayers. God used Elijah even with his imperfections. God can do the same for you and I. We do not have to be perfect. We do not have to pretend to be something we are not. We can be like Elijah, real with God about our deepest feelings and fears. God will meet us where we are and give us strength to live for Him. Be real with God today.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank you for the example of Elijah. What a wonderful testimony of your grace. How you took this person who could be so courageous one moment and so afraid the next, and used him for your glory. Father, use my life. I give it to you, in all its complexity and contradictions. Thank you that I do not have to be perfect, just available. Use me for your glory I pray.
AMEN

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Prayer and Thanksgiving

TODAY’S VERSE
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Prayer changes things. Karl Barth, a twentieth-century theologian wrote, “He is not deaf, He listens; more than that, He acts. He does not act in the same way whether we pray or not. Prayer exerts an influence upon God’s action, even upon His existence. That is what the word ‘answer’ means. The fact that God yields to man’s petitions, changing His intentions in response to man’s prayer, is not a sign of weakness. He Himself in the glory of His majesty and power, has willed it.” Paul knew this. That is why he tells us to stop being anxious. Instead, we are to pray, petitioning God, with thanksgiving in our heart. Why? Because we are coming to our Heavenly Father, who loves us, cares for us, is all powerful and will work everything according to His will. We can trust God with the ultimate outcome and in exchange He gives us something greater than any answer we could ever ask for. He gives us a promise. A promise to guard our heart and mind with His own peace. Not just any peace, but a peace that transcends anything that we can imagine. What is bothering you? What is it you need? What is breaking your heart? Talk to God about it. Today, right now, bring your requests to God and let His peace guard your heart and mind.
 
TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, you know my needs. You know my anxious thoughts. I bring my circumstances to you and ask for your help with all my requests. Thank you Lord for hearing me. Thank you for caring. Thank you most of all for the peace that you bring to my heart and my mind.
Amen

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I Am To Blame

TODAY’S TEXT
“Who is to blame for Israel’s rebellion? Samaria, its capital city!
Where is the center of idolatry in Judah? In Jerusalem, its capital!”
Micah 1:5

TODAY’S MESSAGE
A little background in order to understand the significance of today’s text. God’s chosen people; the Jews had divided into two nations. Most of the twelve tribes went north and called themselves Israel. Their capital was the city of Samaria. Those left were in the South and called themselves Judah. Their Capital was Jerusalem. God was trying to call the people back to Himself through His prophets. Micah comes and says, “The Sovereign LORD is making accusations against you.” Next he explains all the bad things that God is going to do to them. He then asks, “Who is to blame for the rebellion that Israel is doing?” and “Where is the center of idolatry?” What makes this passage so significant, is not the questions. Rather, it is the answers. We would think that the people responsible for the backslidden condition of the Jews would be some subversive group, or those practicing the black arts. Instead the answer is that the people in the capital cities are the ones responsible for the spiritual bankruptcy of the nation. Those that should be the closest to the Lord are the ones rebelling against the Lord and practicing idolatry. This should serve us notice. If the Capital of God’s chosen people had a hard time following God how do we think we are going to do it on our own? It is only through reading His word, keeping close to Him in prayer, and surrendering to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, can we have any chance of living the life that He wants us to. Today commit yourself to God. Repent of any rebellion toward Him. Put away your “idols”, that is anything in your life that you put above your allegiance to God.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I confess that I have been the one that has stumbled. I am to blame for rebelling against you. I have ignored my relationship to you. I have made other things in my life more of a God to me than you. Forgive me. Today I choose to follow you. I put away those things that cause me to stray and commit myself to follow you.
AMEN

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Help My Unbelief

TODAY’S VERSE
“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed. – Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.”
Romans 4:18, 20-21
“The father instantly cried out, ‘I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!’”
Mark 9:24

TODAY’S MESSAGE
Everyday you get a choice. Circumstances may change, but your choice never does. Will you choose to live with faith and hope today or not? You don’t get much time to make up your mind. Fear comes knocking on your heart’s door. He brings worry and doubt with him. Self pity, anger and apathy are right behind. Before you know it you have wandered down the road with all those familiar companions that you have walked with so many times before. Faith and hope were never invited to come along. It would be like inviting light to join darkness. They can’t coexist.
Abraham was no different than you or I. He was human. He had emotions. He had struggles and disappointment. But he knew God and he chose, against all hope, to hope. He decided not to waiver in believing God and the result was that his faith grew. As his faith grew he became convinced the God was able to do whatever He promised. God can grow this same faith in you. You can respond today, the same way the father who wanted his boy healed by Jesus did. When Jesus told him, “Anything is possible if a person believes.” the father said, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!’”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I want to believe with all my heart. I want to experience your supernatural presence in my life. So, today I choose hope. Today, I choose to put my faith in you. I cry out from the depth of my being, “I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!” Thank you that you will indeed help my faith get stronger. In Jesus name I pray.
AMEN

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Does It Get Any Better Than This?

Does It Get Any Better Than This?

TODAY’S VERSE

“Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.”
Psalms 143:8,10

TODAY’S THOUGHT
There is something about an isolated sandy beach along the ocean. Sitting on the sand listening to the ocean waves hit the shore. Sun caressing your face. A gentle breeze awakening your skin. Birds chirping in the background. Does it get any better than this?
Well, yes! David talks about a place that is much more satisfying. A place where the warmth of the sun pales in comparison. Where the sound of the ocean is replaced with the whisper of God. Where the gentle breeze is overshadowed by the mighty wind of the Holy Spirit. This place David is talking about is the very presence of God. He is sharing about his time with God in the morning. “Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning” he writes. He shares about hearing God’s voice, sensing His love, learning His will, trusting His word and being led in which way to go. It really doesn’t get any better than this! This can be your experience today. You don’t need to drive anywhere, apply any sunscreen or walk barefoot on a hot sandy beach. You just need to be available. Call on God even now. Pray David’s prayer and might you come back to this peaceful place again and again.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, “let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.”
AMEN

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Let’s Make A Deal

TODAY’S VERSE
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
Proverbs 3:5-6

TODAY’S THOUGHT
When it comes to seeking God’s will we often fall into the role of Monty Hall on the old TV game show, “Let’s Make a Deal.” Larry Crabb in his book, “The Pressures Off” shares how we try to negotiate the Lord’s will. He writes, “You negotiate; you do not worship. You analyze and interpret to gain control over what happens; you do not depend. You seek the “better life” of God’s blessing over the “better hope” of God’s presence.” His advice was, “Seek only the blessing of His presence, and you’ll know what to do.” David says that the secret to God’s will is to trust in Him with all our heart and to seek His will in all we do. When we do, David says that God will show us what to do. Larry Crabb in his book, “The PAPA Prayer” writes, “Know God so well that the deepest desire of His heart actually becomes the deepest desire of ours. That frees us to ask God for what we really want with the confidence that He’ll move heaven and earth to grant our requests, because what we want now matches what He wants.” We don’t need to make a deal with God. We don’t need to try to balance a scale to get our way. We need to know Him. We need to spend time in His presence. As we do, He will direct us, He will guide our path.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I confess, I have sought your blessings more than I have sought you. I have spend time seeking your blessing more than your presence. Lord, I want to know you. I want to seek you with all my heart. Please show me how. Please draw me to yourself through the power and love of your Holy Spirit. Dear God, take my life, take my mind, take my will. I want only you.
AMEN

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