For as the earth

brings forth its sprouts,

and as a garden

  causes what is sown

  in it to sprout up,

so the Lord GOD will

  cause righteousness

  and praise to sprout up

before all the nations.

           Isaiah 61. 11

(What am I planting?

What is the LORD

      bringing forth?

We plant,

    but God gives the growth.

And sometimes,

   God plants surprises.

Faithfulness to God

  in whatever He places

  before us,

always bears

         His fruitfulness,

sometimes and nearly always

   in an unexpected harvest,

that which we cannot

             yet see.)

O LORD,

Please guide our steps,

form Your plans,

align our hearts with Yours,

and bear Your fruit in this.

Help us to be faithful to You,

even when the soil

   appears fallow

   and hard as a rock,

even when it looks like

       nothing can come of this,

You alone

    cultivate what is

       wondrous and eternal.

 

And I am sure

that He who began

  a good work in you

will bring it

        to completion

at the day of

   Jesus Christ.

          Philippians 1. 6

(God is not limited

        by time.

Completion

  is already taking place

past, present, future tense

in the redeeming

          of all things.

Even in the hard stuff,

the storms,

the mysteries,

the unexpected joys,

God is not just at work,

but bringing to completion

His good work

     in our flourishing,

     the welfare of others,

   the building of His kingdom.

How can He use this?

Every day is a story

    of His faithfulness.)

O LORD,

We come to You,

knowing that we abide

in Your divine appointments

and change

        degree by degree

by divine encounters

    with others and You.

Help us to be aware

                of You,

not just in this moment

                     or day,

but Your grander narrative.

Help us to be sensitive

in preparing Your way

  for the gospel

in the lives of those

         all around us.

 

Enlarge the place of your tent,

and let the curtains

   of your habitations

   be stretched out;

   do not hold back;

lengthen your cords

and strengthen your stakes.

For you will spread abroad

to the right and to the left,

and your offspring

  will possess the nations

and will people

      the desolate cities.

             Isaiah 54. 2-3

(Enlarge the vision

and understanding

of what ministry

   looks like

   in all dimensions,

not just what to do,

but whom to seek

             and love,

   even the most unlikely

in the most unexpected

                 moments

and desolate places.

Has it occurred to me

   to love them

and to bring

the name of Jesus there?)

O LORD,

You have placed us

in time and place

and strategic moments

to point others to You

by loving those

          around us,

even the unlikely,

even the unlikable,

even the rebellious,

as once we were

         all of the above.

Open our eyes

     and our hearts

to what You can do

  in this desolate place

and provide us

  the courage to plant.

 Who made 

the depths of the sea

a way for the redeemed

       to pass over.

             Isaiah 51. 10

(Even in the unexpected,

the unlikely,

the “where am I?

and “what am I doing here?”

even when I 

      can’t touch the bottom,

God always provides a way 

  where there seems to

           be no way through.

Always a way,

always a deeper grace,

    an incredible path.

Watch for it,

    wait on Him.

We want to rush through.

God says,

       “Walk with Me.”

Don’t miss this.)

O LORD,

We watch,

we wait,

we are filled with wonder,

even when

   this is not the path

           we would have chosen.

Help us to not miss out

   on Your vision,

   on seeing Your hand,

on knowing You more,

             even in this.

 

I will make you

as a light for the nations,

that My salvation

may reach

    the end of the earth.

            Isaiah 49. 6

(There are no insignificant

     corners of His kingdom,

no one beyond

     the reach of His grace,

no random situations

that He cannot bring

    His truth and love.

Even to our own

          little corner.

For His glory,

for His kingdom,

in His Name.)

O LORD,

Grant to us Your vision,

even right where we are.

Restore our love

  for You and others,

fill our pockets

      with Your grace

in unexpected places

and among even

   whom we see as

   impossible people.

You have placed

       each one of us

strategically

   to bring Your love here.

Help us to live

     in kindness and grace

as those who are forgiven

              by You.

Blessed be the LORD,

Who daily

    bears us up;

God is our salvation.

             Psalm 68. 19

(God is faithful.

He carried us through

   the miry bogs of the past,

He gave us strength

   on yesterday's path,

He is waiting and ready

   to walk with us today,

this minute,

this afternoon,

every part and parcel

        of each day.

Past tense,

present tense,

future tense.

He supports,

He carries,

He brings us through.

Every day is a story

   of God's faithfulness.)

O LORD,

Help us to not

      run ahead of You.

Sometimes it appears too much

     for us to carry,

but always You are there

to show us how,

to lead us through,

to call to us

     to lean on You.

Your strength is what

   we need,

what we are looking for,

not as a deficiency

       on our part,

but recognition

  that You are God.

You are our God.

You are our salvation.

Keep us from the sin

   of self-sufficiency.

Help us to

   walk with You

through the pleasant places

and through the miry bog

   in relationship with You,

the way You always intended.

 

Remember not the former things,

nor consider the things of old.

Behold,

      I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth,

do you not perceive it?

I will make a way

        in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert.

          Isaiah 43. 18-19

(God is creating

        something new

        every day,

and we miss it,

the ultimately significant

  in what we gloss over

  as an ordinary moment.

God is at work,

     right now, right here,

doing something

far deeper,

beyond our limited vision,

eternal and supernatural.

Because that is

       how God works.

God is not limited

     by circumstances,

nor by our unbelief.)

O LORD,

Open our eyes,

break open our hearts,

that we would realize

    Your power in this situation.

Help us to be faithful

                   to You.

Even when we do not see

  what is springing forth,

we know that You are working

   Your deep designs

   into the fabric of

what only appears as ordinary.

 

 

And I will lead the blind

in a way

  that they do not know,

in paths that they

have not known

     I will guide them.

I will turn the darkness

  before them into light,

the rough places

    into level ground.

These are the things I do,

and I do not forsake them.

              Isaiah 42. 16

(Even when we have no idea

or understanding

in what is swirling around us,

in what only appears

                as darkness,

God is revealing Himself,

guiding us

    not just in His way for us,

but into

  a closer intimacy with Him,

in knowing Him more.)

O LORD,

Guide our steps,

  one by one,

following You into this,

walking with You

   even when we

   can't see the way

         or the outcome.

Align our hearts

       with Yours.

You have prepared

  our way before us

for Your glory

in unlikely places,

in the unexpected,

and even in

the most ordinary days.

Nothing is ordinary

    in Your eyes.

Nothing insignificant.

May we live

      in such a way

that You are known

and seen

      even to us.

 

Fear not,

   for I am with you;

be not dismayed,

   for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

I will help you,

I will uphold you

 with My righteous right hand.

 

                  Isaiah 41. 10

 

(A promise on which

    we can stake our lives.

The LORD is

    right here with us,

not just at the end of this,

but every step through.

We can trust Him

   above all circumstances,

   beyond all outcomes.

He is our help,

             our strength,

             His glory,

even in this,

the familiar,

or the difficult,

or the unknown).

 

O LORD,

No matter where we

                find ourselves,

even in unexpected times

and unlikely places,

You are right here with us.

Help us to be faithful to You

    even when we don’t understand,

even in the wilderness

   to prepare Your way

   in the lives of others,

to bring Your name here,

relying on

     Your supernatural strength

in impossible situations

and even in the ordinary.

 

...for I bear on my body

    the marks of Jesus.

               Galatians 6. 17

(We are identified as His

by what others see,

our inward transformation

visibly manifest in our lives,

our outward response

   in the crisis,

   in times of need,

   in the unexpected,

   in the most ordinary of days.

Do we bear

          the marks of Jesus?

Love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness,

         self control.

A loving heart,

willing hands,

and a good attitude.

O LORD,

May we approach this week

by putting on

the new nature today,

button on love,

fill our pockets

         with grace,

and see everything today

   with Your vision in this.

 

Strengthen the weak hands,

and make firm the feeble knees.

Say to those who have

             an anxious heart,

"Be strong;  fear not!

    Behold your God..."

              Isaiah 35. 3-4

(It is not

   that God will "show up."

But that we realize

  He is already with us.

Panic only fogs up our view,

makes our world bleaker,

  our knees weaker

and lodges anxiety in our hearts.

But prayer

  turns our eyes to God,

sets our hearts and minds

 on the God who loves us,

   and increases our trust

             in the Almighty

who fills us with His power

and shows us His way

               through.)

O LORD,

Please teach us to pray,

to make turning to You

and praying to You

   our first response,

not our last resort.

Help us to walk with You

  through unlikely places

and even through

    shadows and mystery.

You are our God.

Increase our trust in You.

But he who is noble

  plans noble things,

and on noble things

         he stands.

         Isaiah 32. 8

(That which is noble

    is not what to do,

but comes forth

         from who we are.

It is not just in crisis,

but on the ordinary days

  and in invisible ways,

that our character

           is revealed,

even when we think

         no one is looking.

Is our default

   the welfare of others,

or "look at me?")

O LORD,

Have mercy on us.

We can't even be humble

  without getting

  proud about it.

May Your love in us

    overflow for others,

in deed, word, attitude,

when others notice

    and when they do not.

Transform our hearts

  that You are seen.

We matter to You.

We don't have to pretend

by putting on royal robes

   that are not ours,

   nor that we need to wear.

Help us to plan what is

   the noble thing in this,

help us to stand

          as Your servants.

 

 

There is neither Jew nor Greek,

there is neither slave nor free,

there is no male and female,

for you are all

           one in Christ Jesus.

              Galatians 3. 28

(We are all one in Christ,

     forgiven, redeemed

and woven together

          by His love.

We approach culture

and our relationships

              differently

     and intentionally

because we are

   brothers and sisters

              in the Lord.)

O LORD,

Thank You that we are

        loved by You

and that we can love others

     with open arms

     and intentional hearts.

Let us be seen

   as Your anointed people

because of the deep love

   we have for You

   and for each other.

 

O LORD,

   You are my God;

I will exalt You,

I will praise Your name,

for You have done

       wonderful things,

plans formed of old,

   faithful and sure.

           Isaiah 25. 1

(God continues to do so

    on a daily basis.

We live in a chronicle

     of His faithfulness,

most of which

   we are totally unaware.

He has done

          wonderful things,

     past tense.

He is doing

          wonderful things,

     present tense.

Even now,

  God is bringing forth

            abundant fruit

  I cannot yet see,

even that which will

         outlive me.)

O LORD,

There are so many things

     we cannot understand,

nor are we meant to,

but we can exalt You

          by our lives,

we can praise You

    with our words,

we can pray

         all we want.

You send down roots,

put forth shoots,

and fill this world

  with unexpected fruit

  in unlikely places,

even in our lives,

even through our lives.

Your plans are not just

       faithful and sure.

But You are.

 

From the ends of the earth

we hear songs of praise,

of glory

   to the Righteous One.

              Isaiah 24. 16

(What do I choose today?

The same old dirge

          of complaint

          and grumbling?

Or a different tune

   that brings Him glory?

What I sing

     infiltrates my heart

and impacts

     everyone within earshot.

More than we can know.)

O LORD,

May Your praise

be on repeat in our hearts.

Help us to know You more

   even in this difficult place.

Engrave on continual loop

  Your song of praise

               and strength

               and hope

       that never ends

to bring Your name here.

May we be distinguished

  by songs of praise to You

in word and deed

  and by what we hum.

 

...a blessing

   in the midst of the earth.

          Isaiah 19. 24

(Why am I in the

    middle of this mess,

this disordered chaos,

this miry bog?

Not to sink in toxic despair,

but hold forth

           a healing tonic,

to be a blessing

     in the midst of it,

to bring grace

       and restoration

in whatever unexpected

    way God reveals.

Not if I should respond,

          but how to carry

    blessing into it.

Grace and kindness

   are never insignificant,

never neutral

            never forgotten.)

O LORD,

You have strategically placed

each one of us

for Your extraordinary purposes

     in the midst of the ordinary,

even point blank

   in the middle of trouble

   and chaos

   and despair.

That we may know,

   and others may see,

You are sovereign,

You do not just show up,

   but You are already here.

Your steadfast love

  and strength

            embrace us.

Even here.

Even in this.

Help us to be

   a blessing today.

   

 

...to Mount Zion,

the place of the

  name of the LORD of hosts.

                 Isaiah 18. 7

(Are we seeking His Kingdom

      in this unlikely place?

Are we bringing

      His Name there?

We are all divinely anointed

                     and appointed

    on special assignment

to bring the name of Jesus

      and His amazing grace

to unlikely people

    in unexpected places

on the most ordinary of days.)

O LORD,

You lay Your day before us,

encounters that we

       cannot yet see,

Your fruit already growing

   from the seed we sow.

Help us to be faithful to You

even when we don't understand,

even when we don't yet see

    Your glory in it.

Why are we here?

To bring Your name,

to bear Your name,

to walk with You,

to know You more

  and live before You.

 

Behold,

  God is my salvation;

I will trust,

and will not be afraid;

for the LORD GOD

    is my strength

    and my song,

and He has become

            my salvation.

          Isaiah 12. 2

(Even in this,

trusting God

is the first step

   in not being afraid.

God is not a belief system,

    but the Almighty One,

He on Whom

    I can stake my life.

No matter what.)

O LORD,

In every divine encounter,

every unexpected appointment,

everything we face,

      no matter how daunting,

You are with us.

Your Presence may not change

           the circumstances,

but changes how I see You,

how I see the situation,

how I see others,

how I see myself,

and how I trust You in it.

Fill us, O LORD,

    with Your strength

till these storms pass by.

And know You are with us

     now and henceforth

                   ever more.

 

When I am afraid,

I put my trust in You.

In God,

    whose Word I praise,

in God I trust;

I shall not be afraid.

What can flesh do to me?

          Psalm 56. 3-4

(Fill in the blank:

   When I am afraid, I _____.

What are my defaults?

Despair? Worry? Anxiety?

May those triggers

    --and we all have them--

instead

   strengthen us ever more

               intimately in Him.

May we not despair,

     but sing even louder,

and not be distracted

  from His steadfast love.

"Trust Me in this."

In God I trust.

In God I praise.)

O LORD,

If we knew,

if we trusted You,

if we sought You in this,

      fear could not cling.

Help us 

   to put our trust in You.

You do not just show up,

   but we are the

   late ones to the party.

You are already here

              with us.

You are already in this,

   and we are unaware.

You are already

      bringing forth

      something new.

And we are blinded

  and handicapped

  by our worry,

when we should

  have our shoes tied on,

  ready to run with You.

What is visibly different

                about us?

May we engrave on our lives,

    "In God I trust."

May it be Your Presence.

 

But He said to me,

"My grace is sufficient for you,

for My power is made

      perfect in weakness."

...For the sake of Christ then,

I am content

with weakness, insults,

hardships, persecutions,

             and calamities.

For when I am weak,

   then I am strong.

         2 Corinthians 13. 9-10

(Everyone struggles

         with something.

And God's grace,

    strength and power

are more than enough

not just to cover it

  but to sustain us through.

Yes, this situation is more than

           we can handle.

But He can.

And His Presence

        is made evident.

For the sake of Christ then,

we can face anything

     with His strength

to point others to Him.)

O LORD,

Help us to not be overcome

    by despair,

but be overwhelmed by

      Your strength.

Help us to realize

that our struggles

    reveal our need for You.

And that we are

        not alone in this.

Forgive us

  for not turning sooner

  to ask Your help

  and walk with You.

It is not that You will

          bring us through,

but You are

              with us.

 And I heard

the voice of the Lord

saying,

“Whom shall I send

and who will go for us?”

Then I said,

“Here am I!

        Send me.”

        Isaiah 6. 8

(Am I willing to listen?

Am I willing to respond?

Am I willing to go?

Am I willing to stay?

Not a matter of a 

      reluctant “have to,”

but an eager “get to.”

God is at work.

Am I willing to 

   follow Him into it,

out of love for Him?)

O LORD,

Here we are.

Send us.

You have opened 

        divine appointments 

all around us.

Grant us the vision

and courage

and joy

to walk with You

     into the unexpected,

     the difficult,

     even right where we are.

You are

   the upholder of our lives

 Tell the righteous 

that it shall be 

      well for them,

for they shall eat

  the fruit of their deeds.

             Isaiah 3. 10

(Circumstances 

     don’t change the fruit

God brings out of

  faithfulness to Him.

Stay at our post,

stand in the gap,

do with excellence 

   what He has strategically 

   placed before us.

No act of faithfulness 

    is ever insignificant.

God is bearing fruit

   even when we cannot

        yet see it,

even in the hard places,

fruit that sustains 

   beyond our lives.)

O LORD,

Help us to know 

Your hand upon us,

Your fruit through us,

Your Presence 

   even in the dark valley.

Even in turmoil,

       You are with us.

Your Presence changes

    how we see,

    what we see,

and how we respond.

You are using us

     as salt and light.

And circumstances 

         don’t change that.

 Cease to do evil,

learn to do good,

seek justice,

correct oppression 

bring justice 

   to the fatherless,

plead the widow’s cause.

               Isaiah 1. 16-17

(“Walk with Me.”

This is what it looks like.

This is what happens,

   wherever we may be.

A new heart,

transformed by Christ,

sees beyond the confines 

         of our own lives.)

O LORD, 

Teach us Your ways

that we may walk

      in Your paths

and in Your light.

Help us to

   intentionally follow You,

aware of Your Presence,

bringing Your love 

       into the chaos,

abiding in You,

and taking every thought 

        captive to You.

Help us to seek healing 

and restoration 

  in painful situations,

responsive to You,

even in the unexpected.

       

 Create in me

    a clean heart,

                 O God,

and renew a right spirit 

        within me.

            Psalm 51. 10

(Daily realignment 

     for the day ahead.

How differently do we see,

do we approach,

do we respond

   in being and doing,

if we first

    come before Him?

What are we carrying 

   that needs renewing,

that needs to be

        dragged to the altar 

and left there?)

O LORD,

We come before You 

with a lot of unnecessary        baggage 

that keeps us distracted.

Please clean our hearts that we would be aware

     of Your ways

     and respond to Your heart 

     in this day.

Align our hearts with Yours,

             O LORD.

Of all the things we do today,

   may we first

   come before You,

not for marching orders,

but in love with You.