Whatever Lies Before Me

 

As for you,

 brothers and sisters,

do not grow weary

        in doing good.

 2 Thessalonians 3. 13

(When we are doing something

      we are passionate about,

there are not enough hours

                 in the day.

When we are doing good,

    there is never a lack.

What if

    instead of growing weary,

we brought a new heart to it?

What if

    it energized us instead?)

O LORD,

We pray for a joyful heart

   in whatever lies before us,

knowing that it is not just

    what we do,

    but how we do it

        that brings You glory.

May the work of our hands

   and rightly ordered hearts

bear a strong witness today.

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Saying Something Now

 

...do not hold back a word.

It may be that

     they will listen....

         Jeremiah 26. 2-3

(Our reluctance

    for whatever reason

of speaking of the Lord

             and His Word

  impoverishes the earth.

We claim that 

   others are not interested,

   would be offended,

or will not listen or respond

                      anyway,

        but they do hear us.

God plants a forest

        with tiny seeds.

Others are just waiting

  for us to say something.)

O LORD,

May we listen

   and respond to You.

Show us how

  to sow Your Word

            into this situation

and sew Your Word

   into these conversations.

You have placed us

   in this strategic time

   and carefully designed space

   for such a time as this.

Bring forth Your fruit

    even decades from now

    for Your glory.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

Swapping Out Our Triggers

 

But we ought always

to give thanks to God

              for you....

        2 Thessalonians 2. 13

(This challenge or encouragement

       or dare

does not come with exemptions,

like if we like someone or not,

      or only if they are nice to us.

But exhorts us to give thanks,

approaching a relationship

with new eyes and a fresh heart.

How differently would we respond

                  to them?

Because God knows

  that criticism and animosity

       lead us to a dark hole.

But thankfulness

  changes our hearts

  toward others

and more often than not,

        changes them too.)

O LORD,

Please swap out our triggers

to treat others with grace

   instead of pride.

Align our hearts with Yours

   that we may see others

   with a loving spirit.

And to take the high road

  by always giving

            thanks to You

for the souls

You have placed on our paths.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Is not this

    to know Me?

declares the LORD.

     Jeremiah 22. 16

(No matter the experience,

the hard situation

          or the good,

what we understand or not,

wherever, whenever,

   whatever, or however,

we can set our minds

   and hearts 

   on knowing Him more.

Every step along the way

  --even one step forward

    or two steps back --

God is drawing us

       closer to Himself.)

O LORD,

Even in the unexpected

             and unlikely,

You redeem in ways

  that we can know You more.

We can approach and

     navigate differently

because You are with us.

Nothing random here,

    only the profound.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

 

Every Moment Holy

 

....and proclaim there

the words that I tell you.

            Jeremiah 19. 2

(Every opportunity.

Every moment holy.

Sometimes the most unlikely

and unusual places, times,

  or people we encounter.

Someone is watching.

Someone is listening.

Someone we least suspect

  is desperate for the gospel.

Bring the name of Jesus.

Even here.

Even now.

God has strategically

   placed us for His glory.)

O LORD,

Make us aware

not just for opportune moments

to point others

   and love them to You,

but to look for those

   divine appointments.

Help us to bring Your gospel

  in everyday matters and

  even in volatile moments.

Enlarge our vocabulary

  to speak of You.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

Even In Drought

 

Blessed is the man

who trusts in the LORD,

whose trust is the LORD.

He is like a tree

         planted by water

that sends out its roots

         by the stream,

and does not fear

   when heat comes,

for its leaves remain green,

and is not anxious

    in the year of drought,

for it does not cease

              to bear fruit.

         Jeremiah 17. 7-8

(No reason to fear,

no abyss of anxiety,

because we

       don't have to carry that.

God is sustaining us.

Trust Me in this.

He is the one

         who bears us up

and brings about the fruit

that endures

   long after our lifetimes.)

O LORD,

Help us to trust You

  even in drought.

Even in whatever

     we are going through.

Bring Your fruit through it

and Your glory all over it.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

Can't Get Enough

 

Your words were found

   and I ate them,

and Your words

   became to me a joy

and the delight of my heart,

for I am called by Your name.

  O LORD, God of hosts.

             Jeremiah 15. 16

(These words are not just

    the words of people,

but the very words of God.

Do we treat scripture

               like that,

  as God's word to us,

   His strength within?

God changes not just

  our hearts and minds

  through His Word.

He changes our appetite.)

O LORD,

Help us to realize

that You reveal Yourself

   through Your Word.

You give us strength

   and hope through it.

You nourish and sustain us.

You alter significantly

      what we desire,

      what we seek,

      and what we pursue.

We can't get enough of You.

And through it,

You radically change

     the course of our lives.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com