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.

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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

Definition of Anxiety

 

They did not remember His power,

or the day when He

redeemed them from the foe.

                Psalm 78. 42

(Definition of anxiety:

    forgetting or ignoring

    that we are not alone.

Be not afraid.

        I am with you.

When we cry out,

"God, I can't do this,"

    He replies, "Good.

    Because I can."

We have short-term

              memory loss.

But God covers us with

   His long-term faithfulness

   and steadfast love.

Trust Me in this.)

O LORD,

Please remind us that

we are not in control,

nor need be,

    because You are.

You are God in three persons

and we are not one of them.

Freshen our vision

by helping us remember

our very own chronicle of

   Your faithfulness.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

God Does Not Hand Out Road Maps

 

Thus says the LORD,

Stand by the roads and look,

and ask for the ancient paths,

where the good way is,

     and walk in it,

and find rest for your souls.

         Jeremiah 6. 16

(We  don't have to forge

    our own road in this situation,

    this impenetrable forest,

    this impossible day,

but just ask the Father:

  What is Your way in this?

God may show

    an untried way through

or even redirect us.

God does not hand out

      roadmaps

--figure this out on your own--

or print out marching orders,

but reveals Himself to us

   in a milliondy ways.

Did you consider

    asking Me about this?)

O LORD,

Help us first thing

not to lay our agenda

               before You,

but stand in Your Presence

as You lay Your day

               before us.

May we not just

  come before You,

but walk with You

       step by step.