They shall not appear

   before the LORD empty-handed.

Every man shall give as he is able,

according to the blessing of

      the LORD your God

that He has given you.

            Deuteronomy 16. 16-17

(We all bring something

              to the table.

God has distinctly

      gifted each one of us

in amazing ways,

     even in what we consider ordinary,

for the flourishing of His Kingdom.

What am I bringing

        to the table today?)

O LORD,

You have strategically positioned us

          and gifted each one of us

for Your glory,

no coincidences,

nothing random,

  but divinely anointed and appointed.

Go here,

sit there,

look around.

You are always exact

         in Your sacred designs.

Help us to follow You into

    what You turn into Your glory.

   

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

 

For you are a people

      holy to the LORD your God,

and the LORD has

                   chosen you

   to be a people

   for His treasured possession,

out of all the peoples

  who are on the face of the earth.

                   Deuteronomy 14. 2

(May we live that way.

How do we intentionally

    go about this very day

    that is before us?

Holy looks different

    --not as in "holier than thou"--

but sacrificially loving.)

O LORD,

Help us to not be seen

   as just nice people

   or even kind,

but gracious, giving

     sacrificially loving.

You have chosen us

and placed us strategically

          right here

          on this day

to bring Your name

                even here

and love all those around us

    in tangible ways.

We are surrounded by hurting people.

Everyone struggles with something.

May we be Your healing hands

               and feet today.

 

But you shall seek the place

that the LORD your God

will choose out of all your tribes

to put His name

and make His habitation there.

There you shall go...

                 Deuteronomy 12. 5

(We can never forecast how

and where God places us

       for His purposes,

   even on the most ordinary days.

God has strategically positioned

     each one of us

to bring His name here

           and for His glory.

We can trust Him

   and follow Him in it.

We can never know how deeply

       God is using us,

even in the most unexpected ways

  and among unlikely people.

Yes, even right where we are.)

O LORD,

Help us to walk with You,

   even right into the storms,

   to bring Your name here

and love others right to You.

Help us to be faithful to You,  

    however that may look today.

Open our eyes and hearts

   that we would not miss

an opportunity to speak of You.

May we trust You

            in every step.

 

...but the root of the righteous

     will never be moved.

                 Proverbs 12. 3

(Do everything,

seek out every opportunity

to nurture 

     our relationship with the LORD

and to grow deep roots in Him.

It doesn't just happen.

And there will be storms in life.

                   Big ones.

God never intended for us

     to face them alone.)

O LORD,

May we come to You today

        and every day

that You would strengthen us

and help us to grow in You.

Help us to know that through loving You,

worshiping You, serving You,

walking with You,

and keeping Your Word

           not just in our hearts,

You radically alter

         the trajectory of our lives.

We need not fear the storms

           or the forecasts,

because You are with us.

Help us to trust You,

   even in what we face today.

 

But as for me,

my prayer is to You,

             O LORD.

At an acceptable time,

     O God,

in the abundance

          of Your steadfast love

answer me in Your saving

                  faithfulness.

              Psalm 69. 13

(Prayer is our first response,

         not last resort,

turning to pray

           not to panic.

To Whom do we turn,

to whom do we pray,

    for what do we pray?

Even in these hard things,

   God calls us closer to Himself.

God is already redeeming our lives,

           even in the midst of this.

His timing is always perfect.

His faithfulness is seamlessly woven.

His love covers us.

Just as awe calls us to worship,

  hardship calls us to pray.

There is nothing random in this.

God is still sovereign.

Trust Me in this.)

O LORD,

You are faithful and loving,

even when we don't understand

   what is swirling around us.

You deliver us

    through the impossible

          for Your glory

          and by Your love.

Our circumstances look

             very different

when we walk with You.

Deliver us through them

        by Your mercy

and with Your strength

for the welfare of generations.

 

Rebuke the beasts

that dwell among the reeds...

             Psalm 68. 30

(All those disturbances,

     both real and imagined,

  that growl at us

        just to distract us.

We need not fear them.

What if there was nothing

     to be afraid of

             in this situation?

And if there is,

                to trust in God

   who daily bears us up.

How differently then

  would we live

  in relationship with God?)

O LORD,

You walk with us always,

even in the shadowy places,

even on the edge of the cliff,

even in the miry bogs.

You banish our fear

  because You are with us.

Help us to trust in You

    and not be distracted

by what we only imagine.

You are our God.

Help us to live that way.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

 

...even among the rebellious,

that the LORD God

          may dwell there.

                  Psalm 68. 18

(Even where we least expect,

     we are called to be faithful.

Even here in this unlikely place

  and among resistant people,

God strategically placed us

   to bring the love, grace,

   and the name of Jesus there.

It is no mistake or wrong turn,

       but exactly where God wants us

                to bring Him glory

by living in such a way

that makes others

         homesick for Him.

And to show what

      the love of the Almighty

looks like in real time.)

O LORD,

Please make us aware

of those all around us

     who need You.

Help us to look beyond behaviors

    to the souls of those who struggle

    without knowing You.

We may be very surprised

     who hide behind masks

     of rebellion or religiosity.

Fill our hearts with love for them

   and our pockets bulging with grace.

Direct their hearts to You

     and dissolve their resistance.

Let them know

   You love them too..

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

 

Then we turned

and journeyed into the wilderness...

               Deuteronomy 2.1

(And we discover

    not a barren place

            full of despair,

   but that God is there too.

Sometimes it takes the wilderness

      --and the wonders there--

for us to realize His Presence

     and our profound need for Him.)

O LORD,

You go before us into the unknown.

You hold us in the scary places.

You guide us to Yourself.

There is nothing random in this,

   but all things abide in the

      chronicle of Your faithfulness.

Every step

             we can trust You,

   even in what we don't understand.

We can respond differently

      because we know You.

Please order our days.

Guide our thoughts and paths.

Align our hearts with Yours.

  

 

"And besides we have seen

   the sons of the Anakim there."

Then I said to you,

"Do not be in dread

            or afraid of them.

The LORD your God

   who goes before you

   will Himself fight for you,

just as He did for you in Egypt

              before your eyes."

          Deuteronomy 1. 29-30

(There will always be

         some kind of giants,

but fear changes

          how you respond.

So does trusting God.

Fears, anxiety, worries

   --real and imagined--

       try to distract us.

But God.....

and that is where everything changes.

"Do not be afraid.

           I am with you.

Trust Me in this.")

O LORD,

Keep us on Your path of faithfulness

    and not tripped up

    even by giants along the way.

Help us to realize

     they do not hold power over us,

                     but You.

You do not just bring us through

        these hard places,

to not just survive

      but to thrive in unlikely places.

Help us to not be afraid,

    but trust You even more.

You whisper,

        "What if there was nothing

                to be afraid of?

     What if you trusted Me in this?"

How differently

           we would approach it.

Our circumstances may not change,

    but our hearts are strengthened

    because You are with us.

 

You make the

     going out of the morning

and the evening

            to shout for joy.

              Psalm 65. 8

(Sunrise and sunset

     --the bookends of the day--

are a visible and awesome mark

              of His Presence

that we count on every day

                   like clockwork.

They are the imprint of the Almighty

       which no one can ignore,

but on which we can recognize

as a call to worship the Creator.

And they are a reminder

    that this is a day He has made.

How do we follow Him into it?

How can we bring Him glory?)

O LORD,

You surround us with beauty

       to remind us that

You are among us.

You walk with us,

     even in the hard stuff,

     even in mystery.

You bring Your glory

            to this very day.

May we acknowledge You

    in whatever we do today.

And point others to You.

 

...and He said to Simon,

"Put out into the deep and

   let down your nets for a catch."

And Simon answered,

"Master, we toiled all night

               and took nothing!

But at Your word,

   I will let down the nets."

And when they had done this,

   they enclosed a large number of fish,

   and their nets were breaking.

                 Luke 5. 4-6

(That's what faithfulness does:

following God and responding to Him

    even when there seems

    to be no fish at all.

God specializes in surprising us.

God works mightily

    even in what appears fruitless.

And He brings His glory there,

      even in what we may never see.)

O LORD,

Grant to us the courage

              to keep on fishing,

even when our work and

   our serving You

   appear to bear nothing.

Help us to know

       the fish are there.

We just can't see them yet.

In whatever we do today,

   help us to trust You in this.

In Your name.

For Your glory.

Even when the net is empty.)

 

And all spoke well of Him

and marveled at the

    gracious words

that were coming out of His mouth.

                 Luke 4. 22

(People in all places

     and situations and times

are always surprised by grace.

How we approach circumstances,

how we respond to others

    --even the impossible ones--

are a strong witness

         to God's transformation in us.

What makes a difference in us?

     That would be Jesus.

It is not that we are just nice people,

        but forgiven ones.

We know what grace does.)

O LORD,

May we know fully

   what You have done for us.

May we be marked by Your grace

    as we head out into this day.

Grant to us gracious words

    in unlikely situations

that You may be proclaimed

      by our lives.

Help us to live in such a way

   that others wonder

   by Your grace in us,

          freely given to them.

 

...you shall have

      a holy convocation.

You shall not do

     any ordinary work.

             Numbers 29. 1

(He is the only God who

     gives a day off work.

Step aside to be refreshed

          by worshiping.

The time off work is both

    a sacrifice and a blessing.

Our work is what we do,

            but not who we are.

Worship is not a reminder to God,

   but a reminder to us

                   of who God is.

Our very lives depend on Him.)

O LORD,

Thank You that we can worship You,

not just for all that You do,

not just for loving us so much,

      but for who You are.

Worship reminds us that

    You are God

                and we are not.

We are wired to worship.

And if we do not worship You,

   something else will always

   take Your rightful place.

Help us to go forth

   strengthened, refreshed,

   renewed and forgiven,

and reminded

       that You are with us,

and we can walk with You.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

 

Hear my cry, O God,

listen to my prayer;

from the end of the earth

           I call to You

    when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock

  that is higher than I,

for You have been my refuge,

a strong tower

            against the enemy.

                Psalm 61. 1-3

(It is not that God needs to listen,

   but we need to pray.

Not just at the end of our rope,

  nor when we've exhausted

              all other sources,

but a long history and chronicle

    of seeking God in the everydays,

    even in the ordinary.

God always provides a high road

    and the courage to take it,

             when we come to Him.)

O LORD,

In the face of all we fear,

     both real and imagined,

in the hard places,

even when we are worn out,

help us to take the high road,

   not insensitive to needs,

       situations or people,

but responsive to them

     for their well-being

     and for Your glory.

May we not hide in Your refuge,

   but go forth strengthened

   and resupplied with

            Your love and grace.

Once again,

   please point out the high road

that is invisible to the naked eye,

   and unexpected by others.

Because we are Yours,

  we have a new heart in this.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

 

And Jesus increased in wisdom

             and years

and in favor with God and man.

                  Luke 2. 52

(Are we intentionally and actively

    pursuing a deeper relationship

    with God and others?

               Or just getting older?

"All we have to decide is

     what to do with the time

     that is given us." (Gandalf)

How are we seeking

   to grow spiritually in this day?)

O LORD,

Help us to be mindful of our choices

     in all that we do and pursue

and to be mindful of You

        in the hours of our day.

Bring us beyond

     what we only see as ordinary

     and enlarge what we expect

to grasp the profound significance

        of these moments before us.

Dwell with us.

It is not that You make it extraordinary.

           You already have.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

 

When Balaam saw

that it pleased the LORD

          to bless Israel...

              Numbers 24. 1

(What am I doing

      that pleases the LORD?

What is my intention

              in this situation?

What do I seek?

    To bless myself

    or to bless the Almighty?

When we seek God

        and trust Him in it,

  we see circumstances differently,

  and comprehend a new approach

       that blesses and honors Him.)

O LORD,

There will always be difficulties

  and things we do not understand,

but we can trust You

      to use us for Your glory here

and to experience Your goodness

           and grace in unexpected ways.

May we know that You are sovereign

          and may we live like that.

May we seek to bring You honor today

   and to bless You

            in a thousand instances.

Most High, write Your holy name

                         all over this day.

 

...to give light to those

   who sit in darkness

   and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet

           into the way of peace.

                 Luke 1. 79

(Even in the scary places,

even in the most uncomfortable,

even when we have no idea

      what to do or what to say,

bring the name of Jesus there

                       faithfully.

We need not be afraid.

God's love and His Word

               prevail.

We have no idea

   what others are going through

   or with what they struggle,

but we can surprise them

       by the love of Jesus

       through our words and deeds

  and even our attitudes.)

O LORD,

Use us today

   in ways we cannot even imagine

               to point others to You.

Fill us with Your love and grace

   and show us how

   to bring Your name here.

 

From there they set out

        and camped...

            Numbers 21. 12

(Are we ready to follow God

              like that?

Whether staying where we are,

or packing up

           with willing hearts

    (but we love it here!)

and doing something different

     in a new place or ministry,

or even in the familiar,

                  a fresh heart here.

An act of faithfulness

        is loving God more,

  and responding to His voice.

Even when we don't understand,

even when we can't see

                   the outcome,

God plants.

God multiplies.

God redeems.

God fulfills our lives.)

O LORD,

Help us to stake our tents

        and our lives on You.

No matter where You guide,

    be magnified through us,

even in what appears

        as only a wilderness,

    struggle, turmoil or storm,

even in this tiny patch

               of Your kingdom.

You are the God who fulfills

    far beyond our lifetimes.

 

 

...to make ready for the Lord

        a people prepared.

                  Luke 1. 17

(Who has God placed before

          each one of us?

There are no random encounters

   but only divine appointments.

It is not in us,

                  but God

who uses us to love others

           right into His arms.

Not just by our words and actions

       and attitudes in unlikely places

              or messy relationships,

but grace embedded,

      forgiveness generously sowed,

      and saturated in prayer.

God uses our praying

               to soften hearts,

    including our own.)

O Lord,

In what appears a hard place

     and among impossible people,

help us to be faithful to You,

to bring Your name there

   in what You are redeeming,

   even beyond what we can grasp.

Help us to not see

          a problem to be solved,

          or others to be fixed,

but people to love.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

 

But I will trust in You.

            Psalm 55. 23

(Even in this,

      our first response.

Bottom line.

Our sure defense.

The unfamiliar trail.

That steep ascent.

The miry bog.

He on whom

    we can stake our lives,

            no matter what.

We may never understand

   this situation or struggle,

but we can trust God in it.

God has strategically placed us

   to bring His name here

          and to walk with Him

    in His Presence

    and in His strength.)

O LORD,

Wherever we find ourselves,

whatever the struggle,

no matter how confusing

           or overwhelming,

we can trust You.

Be magnified, Almighty One.

Bring Your glory here.

Change the landscape.

Change our hearts.

Not that we just see Your fingerprints,

     but we know You more.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

 

I will give thanks to Your name,

    O LORD,

            for it is good.

For He has delivered me

        from every trouble,

and my eye has looked

              in triumph

              on my enemies.

                 Psalm 54. 6-7

(Always to thank God

      for the glory due His name

   and not take the credit

                for ourselves.

The Lord is good and does good.

He does not promise our lives

               in this broken world

    will not have troubles,

but He is with us

    and brings us through to a

    deeper strength in Him.

Our foes are anything we fear,

           both real and imagined.

The Lord is greater still.)

O LORD,

You are our strength

            and our Redeemer,

   the upholder of our lives.

Thank You for Your provision,

    protection and Presence.

You do not just open up

                  an exit door,

   but You deliver us through

that we may know You more.

You create something new

    in our desperation,

    in the hard stuff,

    even in what appears ordinary

                       or familiar.

Help us to not just watch for You,

       but to walk with You.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

 

...a pleasing aroma

           to the LORD.

Numbers 15. 3, 7, 1o, 13, 14

(Repetition of a phrase in scripture

    is a way of emphasizing

    or underlining its importance.

Is a pleasing aroma to God

      that which we seek

      that which we bring to this situation,

      that which lingers long afterward?

Are we searching to be blessed

              or to bless Him and others?

What does that look like today

  in all that we do, say, dwell on,

  our choices and agenda?

Even our attitudes

       are a form of worship.)

O LORD,

Align our hearts with Yours.

Help us to see and respond

         in different ways

         on this sacred ground

that brings You glory

    and points others to You.

May we offer to You today

       what is beautiful

       in Your sight:

to love in impossible places,

pray unceasingly,

worship You in all we do,

be faithful even in the ordinary,

and be known as Yours.

      

    

 

The integrity of the upright

                guides them...

                Proverbs 11.3

(Integrity is not a character trait,

   but the mark of faithfulness

          in hard places

          and difficult choices.

Integrity is never

        a once and done decision

    but a well-trodden path.

The upright seek out

   what is good and right,

for the welfare of many

    and the glory of God.

God uses integrity to guide,

       provide and protect.)

O LORD,

Guide us in this day

   to bring honor and glory to You

                 in all that we do

       and all we endeavor,

    in our actions, words

            and even our attitudes.

May Your way in this situation

           be evident to us,

     that we may be generous,

     no matter the cost.

Grant us Your courage

        to follow Your way in this

  and point others to You.

Because when we trust in You,

  and do what is good and right,

    it will always look very different,

      and take others by surprise

      by Your exceeding grace in it.

You have strategically planted us

       to bring Your name here.

Align our hearts with Yours,

   even in what we do not yet understand.

Help us to trust You in this.

 

And he will show you

a large upper room,

     furnished and ready,

there prepare for us.

              Mark 14. 15

(When we are faithful to God,

we may not understand

what we are preparing for

      or for whom,

but nothing we do in response

    or obedience to God

    is random or void.

God redeems and uses it all

       for His deeper purposes,

    far beyond what we can know.

We have only to trust Him in it

           and do what is before us.

Consider this work

             as an act of worship.)

O LORD,

May we desire in this day

             to bless You

             and others

through whatever we do today.

Help us to see our work

       --no matter what it is--

as an act of worship to You.

Empower us to realize

   that You are using us

                     for Your glory,

even in what the world

               does not recognize.

There are no insignificant obediences.

Only eternal ones.

 

Offer to God

   a sacrifice of thanksgiving,

and perform your vows

   to the Most High,

and call upon Me

        in the day of trouble.

I will deliver you,

and you shall glorify Me.

          Psalm 50. 14-15

(The sacrifice of thanksgiving

   is thanking God

   even before we see the outcome,

             even on the journey.

That measure of gratefulness

                     is not a feeling,

     but the substance of

     trusting Him.

Not especially thankful

           for the circumstances,

             ignoring the hardship,

     but thankful in the circumstances,

                   responsive to them,

         trusting His sovereignty

         and relying on His strength.

Calling upon Him

            directs our thoughts

    and aligns our hearts with His.

God is redeeming,

                     even this.

He is bringing His glory

    in unlikely situations.

His glory does not just happen.

            It unfolds.)

O LORD,

We are thankful to You

  even in what we

  cannot possibly understand.

Help us to follow You

           into Your will.

May we be faithful to You

   in all that You

   strategically place before us

             throughout this day

and offer to You

  whatever sacrifice of thanksgiving

   brings You glory today.

 

But be on your guard.

For they will deliver you

  over to councils,

and you will be beaten

             in synagogues,

and you will stand

     before governors and kings

for My sake,

   to bear witness before them.

                  Mark 13. 9

(Do not fear,

   but do not be surprised,

wherever we are,

in whatever we are doing,

among whom we are,

in His name

          and for His sake,

to bear witness before them,

and bring the name of Jesus

                      there.

Even now.

Even in this.

Our actions are a testimony,

our love and grace for others

     --even our attitudes--

           make them wonder,

but God is using us

                  for His glory

in the most unexpected ways

and among the unlikely.

Someone in this place

                  needs Jesus.

May we have the courage

        to use our words.)

O LORD,

Grant to us Your love

   to welcome others to the table.

Help us to know that

  You have strategically placed us

  in all eternity

right here to bear witness.

There can be no greater calling.

No matter what swirls around us,

     You are with us.

     You are changing lives.

May we bring honor to You

   in all that we do today.

There are

         no ordinary days.

 

Walk about Zion,

go around her,

number her towers,

consider well her ramparts,

go through her citadels,

that you may tell

       the next generation

       that this is God,

our God forever and ever.

He will guide us forever.

              Psalm 48. 12-14

(Explore every dimension,

seek to know God

   every which way we can,

   not just about Him,

       but dwelling with Him

  and trusting Him through it.

The next generations

          hang in the balance

of our choices and testimonies.)

O LORD,

You are God.

Help us to know You more.

Empower us to

     speak of You

     in every situation

and to all those around us.

Help us to bring

        Your Holy name here

and to bear witness

in all we do and say and are.

 

The LORD spoke to Moses

in the wilderness of Sinai.

           Numbers 1.1

(Sometimes in the most

    unlikely, barren places

    and in unexpected ways,

             God speaks to us.

He uses these places

    and situations

    to get our attention

                    or guide us.

"Why am I here?"

God replies,

    "Because I wanted you to be."

God's purposes are not thwarted

       by circumstances,

nor is He limited by

   what appears as impossible.

Listen up.

God speaks .  He is here.

Even in what we consider barren

    or failure, or hardship,

    or "not working out,"

God redeems.

God multiplies.

God is exalted

   even in what we don't yet see.)

O LORD,

Guide us into the wonders

                 of the wilderness.

Help us to not despair,

   but to see opportunity here

                 for Your glory.

You have strategically placed us

     to witness Your hand

     as You transform the landscape.

Help us to trust You in this.

May Your deep purposes

  take root and bear fruit,

  even in this strange desert.

Let not worry distract us,

    nor fear drain our energy.

You are our strength.

You are with us.

        

 

For even the Son of Man

   came not to be served

                  but to serve

and to give His life

   as a ransom for many.

                   Mark 10. 45

(How do we approach

what is before us

   or treat those on our path?

Do we seek to be served

                or to serve?

Different journey,

different trajectory,

    and a million new outcomes.

We cannot ever know

how deeply God is using us

      in the lives of others.

Our hearts,

our deeds,

   even our attitudes

   can bring glory to Him.

The love of Jesus in our hearts

   empowers us to see

            -- and respond to--

   all situations and people

           and needs differently.

Love means not "I have to"

   but "I get to" serve.

How does that change

    not just what we do today

    but how we do it?)

O LORD,

You have placed before us

     not problems to be solved,

     or situations to endure,

but opportunities to serve You

         and serve others

            in Your name

            and with Your love.

Open our eyes and hearts

   to how we can

        serve You joyously

        with happy hearts,

knowing that You redeem

       what appears impossible

and multiply every gracious deed.

         

 

Rise up;

    come to our help!

Redeem us for the sake

    of Your steadfast love.

              Psalm 44. 26

(Our first response,

      not our last resort,

is to come before God

    with our needs.

Have we considered

        praying about this?

Even in hardship,

            God redeems.

Even in difficulty,

  we dwell in His steadfast love.

Even in what

    we cannot comprehend,

    God covers us

          when we turn to Him.

He reveals not just a way through,

     but He reveals Himself.

"Do not fear.  I am with you."

And that changes everything.)

O LORD,

Help us to not just believe,

   but to know You.

Surround us by Your love,

touch our hearts

and redeem our circumstances

       for Your great purposes.

Help us to trust You

      even in this hard place.

Use this to align our hearts

                   with Yours.

Strengthen us

            by Your Presence.

Show us how to bring

    Your flourishing to this situation.