But I do not account my life

of any value

nor as precious to myself,

if only I may finish my course

and the ministry

   that I received

   from the Lord Jesus,

to testify to the gospel

   of the grace of God.

              Acts 20. 24

(What is foremost

         in our lives?

To be faithful to God

in whatever ministry

   He places us before us,

   He places us in,

to bring His name

   and the gospel there,

even in what

    we don't consider

    as "ministry."

When I was a little girl,

there was a sign posted

over the exit door

         of the church,

"You are now entering

      your mission field.")

O LORD,

Wherever You send us today,

among whomever,

    even the rebellious,

    even the uncomfortable,

    even places and people

       we would not have chosen,

help us to be faithful to You,

to be salt and light

     and encouragement to

    everyone around us.

Use us this day

    for Your kingdom

    and for Your glory.

Please help us

   to hold fast to You,

no matter the circumstances,

no matter what we cannot

            yet see.

And he did what was right

     in the eyes of the LORD...

             2 Kings 15. 3

(How we view God

tells everything about us.

How are we known?

Being faithful to God

is the most important thing

   we can do today,

in whatever dimension

            He shows us,

in whatever opportunity

       we find before us,

in whatever way

                 we can.

To sing the name of the LORD

      into this situation,

to bring His Word

      wherever we are,

to seek Him

      in all we do,

to be faithful.

What does that look like

          today?)

O LORD,

Above all things,

may we be faithful to You

and to do what is right

         in Your eyes.

Grant to us the courage

and strength

    not just to do stuff,

    but to be Yours.

May all that we do,

   and how we seek

         Your way in this,

   point us continually to You.

May all that we are,

   and how we respond,

   point others to You.

May we be known

           as Your people.

And that should look

      very different

The LORD's arrow of victory...

                 2 Kings 13. 17

(What am I seeking in this?

My way,

           or willing to follow His?

God brings about His glory

     and His story

and His goodness

          in unexpected ways.

It is not about winning

           but willing,

not about gaining control

     but realizing His,

not overcoming

     but finding His way through.

The LORD's victory

   always results in

          a million outcomes,

some of which we

              will never realize.

Everyone struggles with something.

The LORD shows the way through

     into His glory in it.

One arrow at a time.)

O LORD,

We either think we know

    the best solution or the answer

    we want You to bring about,

or we have no clue

            what to do.

We seek You this morning,

knowing that in You,

        there are no odds.

You open our hearts and minds

  to dimensions

  we have never even imagined,

that which is impossible

              if not for You.

Send Your arrow of victory

       into this situation.

Show us a different way

           in this and through this

     in Your name

                for Your glory.

May we run hard

               after You,

right into Your divine purposes

     on this sacred ground.

You bring the victory

                   to it

in ways unexpected

       and sometimes unseen

    but always eternal.

...for they were tentmakers

               by trade.

              Acts 18. 3

(God uses everything about us

--jobs, interests, hobbies,

         activities, what we enjoy,

    even what we don't --

to develop relationships

          with others,

to connect us with

             other believers,

to deepen His Kingdom.

Do I see this

      as just something I do,

      or as a divine appointment?)

O LORD,

Nothing but nothing

         is random in our lives.

Nothing but nothing

    cannot be used by You

    for Your glory.

Please help us

   to keep our hearts

            aligned with Yours,

our eyes on You,

our willingness to be used

      far beyond what is

                      at hand.

No insignificant job,

no mundane activity,

even stitching up tents,

even going for a run,

the people we will meet,

      work with,

      stand in line next to,

 all divine encounters         

that You, O LORD, use

     in mighty ways

     and for Your profound purposes

in our lives

        and theirs

for Your glory.

Oh, how many opportunities

             we have missed

                or ignored.

Blessed are the people

whose God is the LORD!

               Psalm 144. 15

(To bring flourishing,

well-being

and blessing in unexpected places

            to others,

to be known as His

and to bring His name there.)

O LORD,

Be blessed this day

   in all that we do.

Help us to be a blessing

           to others

and to be aware

   that is worship too.

About midnight Paul and Silas

   were praying

   and singing hymns to God,

and the prisoners were

          listening to them...

                    Acts 16. 25

(People all around us

are always watching and listening

to see how we respond

both to favor and adversity,

to seeming failure and success,

not to see if we are perfect

  but what we do when we are not,

when we experience injustice

           or witness it,

to those in need,

to which place in line we seek,

what seat we take,

how we bless others,

who sits at our table

   --move over and set another place--,

to see if this God of ours

                  is real

and makes an actual difference

       in who we are

       and how we live.)

O LORD,

Keep us praying and singing out loud,

worshiping You

         in unexpected places,

among those we don't even know

         are listening

         and impacted by our words

                 attitudes and deeds.

Someone around us

        needs to be freed,

        needs to be empowered

               by Your strength,

        needs to know You.

Keep us faithful to You today

   and aware that

   You are on the move

and using us for Your glory.

        

...he cut off a stick

and threw it in there

   and made the iron float.

               2 Kings 6. 6

(Never discount what

        God might do,

    what God can do,

    what God is doing.

Behold,

   even that which we don't see,

   even that which we don't know.

God uses even what we determine

     as accidents,

     big mistakes,

     our own stupidity,

     closed doors

             and pot holes,

for His glory

   in extraordinary dimensions.

We miss out

          on so many wonders

          all around us.)

O LORD,

Please open our eyes

that we may see,

     not just our next steps,

     not just pieces falling

               into place

      but designed intricately,

that we may see You

and know Your Presence

                   with us.

Help us to approach differently

   what is before us today

     --even the impossible--

because You are in it.

Go and wash in the Jordan

                  seven times,

and your flesh shall be restored,

and you shall be clean.

               2 Kings 5. 10

(In our walk with God,

there will be times

when following God

       seems ridiculous,

serving Him

     in ways not recognized,

taking the high road,

the lowest seat,

carrying a long way

        a basin and towel.

God places us

    in impossible situations

not to test us

but to bring Him glory.

"Trust Me in this."

How differently we would respond

   if we only knew

how God would use this,

   how powerfully He uses

        our response to Him,

   and how we acknowledge Him.

Even in this.

Even seven times.)

O LORD,

We come before You,

not just in our needs,

      but in our love for You.

Help us to trust You

  one step

  and then the next.

Help us to know

that it is not just

                what we do,

but how we love You

         does to us.

May we not just wade

    into our muddy Jordan,

but plunge into Your glory

    in whatever we do today.

   

Let us make a small room 

on the roof with walls

and put there for him

a bed, a table, a chair

         and a lamp

so that whenever 

       he comes to us,

he can go in there.

               2 Kings 4. 10

(Living with margin

—at our table, in our homes,

in our schedule, in our hearts—

to provide intentionally 

   not just for obvious needs,

 but the well-being of others.

What do I have?

What can I do?

      God multiplies

or pulls out something new

          from His hidden stash.)

O LORD,

You provide 

      in unlikely ways,

      in unusual places,

      for improbable outcomes,

Your light in darkness,

Your glory

    even where we cannot see it,

Your faithfulness 

             astonishes us.

Please sharpen our vision

   that we may respond to needs

        —visible and invisible—

for Your purposes and glory.

Nothing random,

nothing insignificant 

             in Your kingdom.

   

     

If I take the wings of the morning

and dwell in the 

    uttermost parts of the sea,

even there

Your hand shall lead me,

and Your right hand 

            shall hold me.

              Psalm 139. 9-10

(Even here.

Even now.

Even in this.

There is no place where 

          God is not with us,

no place where 

          He cannot use us,

no place where His glory,

   His grace,

   His gospel cannot reach.

We are not just here

            for a reason.

We are here

            for His purposes,

far beyond 

     our wildest imagination.)

O LORD,

By whatever means,

through whatever circumstances,

for whatever divine designs,

wherever we are,

    amidst the familiar or 

    uttermost places on earth,

where we are comfortable,

         and where we are not,

use us 

   to bring Your name there,

even in the most unlikely,

unexpected,

impossible situations.

Grant us deeper vision in this.

Above all,

      for Your glory.

On the day I called,

You answered me;

my strength of soul

         You increased.

           Psalm 138. 8

(God always responds 

    to our cries,

sometimes in the unexpected,

always beyond

    what we can comprehend.

God strengthens us

      for what is now,

            for what is not,

       for what is yet.

His strengthening transcends 

   any “answer”

         when we seek Him.

When I seek just 

     a particular answer,

       I am the one who misses out

                     on His glory in it.)

O LORD,

We seek You

       in this,

we seek Your strength.

We pray Your fulfilling

       Your profound purposes

in the big stuff of our lives

which may be in this errand,

this chore,

this seemingly mundane detail,

a simple kindness,

a life altering conversation.

Help us to be faithful to You.

You do not just fill our days.

         You fulfill them.

But the word ofGod

    increased and multiplied.

                      Acts 12. 24

(God does not just add.

          He multiplies.

Not in spite of

            adverse circumstances 

    or overwhelming odds,

but because of them,

so we would recognize His hand.

God is never restricted by odds.

Over and over,

He uses the least likely,

the underdog,

the weak, the meek,

         the last one picked,

to redeem the impossible 

                 for His glory.

The point of any miracle,

extraordinary occurrence

           or unexpected victory 

is that we would know

     that He is the Lord Almighty.)

O LORD,

You have placed each one of us 

       strategically 

in favorable surroundings 

or “what in the world?” situations

        to bring Your name there.

And that even in 

    the most unlikely places

                  and hearts,

Your Word increases,

multiplies,

infiltrates,

infects,

and transforms lives

   from one generation 

   to the next.

Use us today for Your glory.

Even here.

Even in this.

And the angel of the LORD 

came again a second time

and touched him and said,

“Arise and eat, 

   for the journey is 

   too great for you.”

And he arose and ate and drank,

and went in the strength 

         of that food

         forty days and forty nights

to Horeb, the mount of God.

                      1 Kings 19. 7-8

(Don’t even think you can

       do this on your own power.

Not going to happen.

The trail is too much,

     the outcome far different.

Prepare for what is ahead

      —whatever that may be—

and be strengthened 

    and learn to be sustained 

                  in the LORD 

    by marinating in God’s Word.

We are going to need it,

      more than we can imagine,

      in powerful ways,

for the road ahead 

      and the journey,

even in what only appears

   to be the most ordinary of days.)

O LORD,

Your Word surrounds us,

sustains us,

strengthens us,

for Your purposes.

Because this day is

      not just about us,

but blessing others

       and blessing You.

Please help us to approach

   what You have 

           placed before us

   differently 

   because we love You

        and walk with You.

What is ahead

       is far beyond our vision,

     but not unknown to You. 

Align our hearts with Yours.

And Elijah said to his servant,

“Go up now,

       look toward the sea.”

And he went up and looked 

and said, “There is nothing.”

And he said, “Go again,”

              seven times.

And at the seventh time

he said,

“Behold,

a little cloud like a man’s hand

      is rising from the sea.”

                    1 Kings 18. 43-44

(God specializes 

      in impossible situations.

God’s timing is always perfect.

It is not that He doesn’t respond,

   but the answer is ripening.

His provision does not just

           answer prayer in His way

           or fulfill a need,

but brings Him glory

beyond all possibilities,

     beyond being explained away,

that we would know 

     only God could do this.

The answer is not the outcome 

       or the main event,

but that we would 

                 know Him more

     and He would be known.)

O LORD,

You work deeper than our 

        wildest imagination.

You enlarge the horizons

    of what we even know

          to pray for

          or pray about.

Help us to be faithful to You

not just seeking an answer, 

but to never stop seeking You.

You grant us teeny clouds

to strengthen and encourage us,

    hope in the size of a fist,

all we need 

   to know You are Almighty 

and that You are in this,

no matter the outcome,

        for Your glory.

May the LORD bless you

            from Zion,

He who made 

       heaven and earth.

                Psalm 134. 3

(When we recognize 

              and acknowledge 

   this basic reality about God,

it changes everything:

how we see God,

how we see others,

how we see ourselves,

our decisions,

responses,

actions,

attitudes,

the very course of our lives,

and what legacy we leave behind.

When we stand 

     in a sanctuary of trees,

or before the vista of mountains,

or examine the intricacies of life,

where does the wonder

      come from,

               if not for the Almighty?

Awe is a call to worship,

      to remind us Who God is,

our Creator 

    and His steadfast love.)

O LORD,

Everything around us

bears Your fingerprints,

far beyond what can be

        explained away.

Help us to view this

        brand new day

with the reverence and awe

  that You have created it

for Your purposes 

and Your glory.

You are the source of blessing,

even in all we do,

even right where 

           we are worshiping.

There are no ordinary days

           in Your book of life,

nothing random,

no small obediences,

no interruptions,

just divine appointments 

and significance

    even in what we do not realize.

Guide us in our worship today

         in all endeavors 

for Your glory,

even in this.

...because in him

there was found something 

pleasing to the LORD...

              1 Kings 14. 13

(How we view God

changes how we view others

and how we view ourselves.

How we honor God

       in all we do

       and how we treat others

expresses our love for Him.

God changes our hearts,

our attitudes,

our decisions,

our love for others,

and the very course

               of our lives.)

O LORD,

Above all things

that come before us today

and how we respond to them,

may we seek to be faithful 

      and pleasing to You.

For Your glory.

Let our love for You

            be evident

and pour over everything.

...for this thing

        is from Me.

           1 Kings 12. 24

(Even this?

     Even this!

Even that which is hard,

        or seems impossible,

even what we can’t 

       understand or explain,

even in mystery,

             God redeems.

How differently would I see this,

     or approach this situation,

     struggle, or relationship,

if I knew it was from God

         and He was using it

to align my heart with His

for His glory in unlikely places?)

O LORD,

Help us to listen for You,

           to listen to You 

                   and respond,

   to follow You

   in our everydays,

       which are never so ordinary 

                    after all.

Help us to be aware 

   of Your divine appointments 

and Your flung-open doors 

             for the gospel 

in our comings and goings,

our daily routines 

          and casual interactions.

Your glory

    is woven seamlessly,

                        even in this.

Help us to not hesitate a moment 

   to know You are in this

and to bring the name of Jesus

                              here.

   

And they said to him,

“If you will be 

   a servant to the people today

   and serve them,

and speak good words to them

      when you answer them,

they will be 

       your servants forever.”

                1 Kings 12. 7

(Make it a conversation 

      not a confrontation.

Kindness, gentleness and grace

    always produce 

            a far different outcome.

Take the higher road,

choose a different path,

follow an unexpected way

       that honors the LORD.

Walking with the LORD in this

              changes everything,

     not just our direction,

     our course,

     our hearts,

but impacts more people 

    than we will ever realize.)

O LORD,

We don’t know what to do,

  but our eyes are on You.

Help us to be faithful to You

     whatever the situation today,

     despite what comes before us,

no matter our feelings,

        but to be honoring to You.

Show us Your higher way

   and give us the courage 

               to follow You.

To respond

           and not react,

above all

   to bring You glory

               and not to ourselves.

There are a lot deeper things

                         going on,

      more eternal matters 

                         at stake

than appear on the surface.

Align our hearts with Yours.