Whether Favor or Storm

 

He set himself

      to seek God...

and as long as he

   sought the LORD,

God made him prosper.

        2 Chronicles 26. 5

(He did not seek prosperity

      as the end result,

but he sought the LORD,

who impacts both

   the journey and destination.

God orders our ways

            differently,

not necessarily for

        temporal success

   as we would define it,

but for His reverberating glory

   that far outlasts our lifetimes.

Prosper here means to go well,

to flourish,

to be fit for anything,

    --whether favor or storm--

to accomplish the work given,    

     and to finish well.

 ---always something different

   when we seek God.

Prosperity is not an end in itself,

  but strength and provision,

ready for anything.)

O LORD,

We choose You in this situation.

Guide us into it,

walk with us through it,

restore our souls.

Provide us with what we need

   to bring You glory in this.

Prosperity always means

      abiding in You.

And that signifies

   being fit for anything.

Not Giving Up Anything

 

And Amaziah said

      to the man of God:

"But what shall we do

  about the hundred talents

that I have given

  to the army of Israel?"

The man of God answered:

"The LORD is able to

    give you much more

    than this."

             2 Chronicles 25. 9

(Sometimes responding to God

means running toward

and sometimes walking away.

Trust Me in this.

God has something much deeper

                 in mind

  of which we may not yet see.

Indeed, that we may not

           ever realize

     His significance in it.

When we respond

   and follow God into it,

we are not giving up anything.

Nothing can compare

    to faithfulness to Him.

We cannot see

    the other side of this.

But we can realize

  a closer walk with Him

changes everything

backward, forward,

   and even in this day.)

O LORD,

Help us to trust You

  in what You have led us to do,

even in what is hard,

even in what we don't understand,

     even in the unexpected.

Fulfill Your eternal designs

   not just in this situation,

                       but in us.

Give us the strength and wisdom

    to direct this appointment to You.

You are able

    to give us much more than

    we can ever imagine,

a deeper relationship with You.

And nothing can compare

                   with that.

Facing the Impossible

 

For we are powerless

against this great horde

that is coming against us.

We do not know

           what to do,

but our eyes are on You.

        2 Chronicles 20. 12

(I can't tell you

how many times I have

   held tight to this verse.

This passage is not just

  an ancient king's prayer,

but a promise to us

  on which we can

         stake our lives.

We all have our hordes

  in many shapes and sizes

of which we are powerless

    without the LORD.

Our strength is in Him.

Seeking God is not

  looking for a way out

 of an impossible situation,

but walking with Him

         through it.

Our first step to strength

 is saying out loud,

"We are powerless.")

O LORD,

We are powerless.

What does it take

     to admit that?

Thank You

     for Your strength

as we approach

and navigate

   impossible situations.

You have not

     abandoned us here,

but strategically placed us

     for Your glory

and that we would

       know You more.

May we seek Your way

and take Your hand

  even in the impossible.

Walk us through this,

          Almighty One,

  step by step.

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Saddle Up

 

His heart was courageous

  in the ways of the LORD.

       2 Chronicles 17. 6

(Not on his own nerve

was he daring, bold

            and brave,

but in the LORD

and his walk with Him.

We walk differently

   into the hard stuff

when we trust Him.

We hold His hand,

  but He is really holding us.

In Hebrew here courageous

   literally means

   to lift up and exalt,

not himself

           but the LORD.

Taking His high road in this.

True courage is not

      one's own boldness

but in the LORD's strength

               to go forth.

"Courage is being

   scared to death,

   but saddling up anyway."

        -- actor John Wayne

But we do not ride alone.

When we trust God,

  He brings the strength.)

O LORD,

Help us to realize

  that this hard thing

is not for us to carry

             on our own.

But the difficulty is

  an opportunity

  to know and trust You more.

May trusting in You

   help us to approach

   and navigate this differently.

Bring us through

  this impossible passage

into a deeper trust in You.

We cannot yet see

           the other side,

but we can take

     the next step.

Help us to be

   strong and courageous

for Your glory,

           even in this.

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For We Rely on You

 

And Asa cried to the LORD his God,

"O LORD, there is none

       like You to help,

   between the mighty and the weak.

Help us, O LORD our God,

       for we rely on You,

and in Your name we have

  come against this multitude.

O LORD, You are our God;

let not man prevail against You."

             2 Chronicles 14. 11

(Prayer is not letting God

    know our situation,

but recognizing, acknowledging

    and verbalizing

            our need for Him.

"For we rely on You"

  changes how we both

         approach and navigate

         our circumstances.

He is God, and we are not.

He is our God.

Trust Me in this.  Follow Me.

Prayer gives us pause

          to do exactly that.)

O LORD,

We rely on You,

much more than we say,

so much more than

    we even realize.

May we go into this day,

   knowing that Your hand

   and Your Presence

is over the mighty 

           and the weak.

Reveal to us today

  not just what to do

but how to abide in You,

and go forth

      in Your name.

Not I Have To, But I Get To

 

...praise and ministry...

as the duty of each day required...

            2 Chronicles 8. 14

(These actions, intentions,

         and attitudes

are not a once in a while

         obligation,

but a daily pursuit to praise God

  and to minister to others,

each day a little differently,

according to the needs,

  requirements and opportunities

           on this particular day.

Not "I have to,"

    but "I get to,"

       determines our posture,

changes our view,

impacts our readiness to respond,

      and how we do it.)

O LORD,

May we praise and honor You

   and minister to You

   and those around us

in Your holy name,

for Your Kingdom's sake,

           and for Your glory.

We would do anything for You.

Help us to realize

   that what is before us

   on this ordinary day

       may be exactly that.

Help us to know

  that when we are

  faithful to You

             in the ordinary,

 You strengthen us

      for the extraordinary.

Being Attentive

 

If My people

who are called by My name

humble themselves

and pray

and seek My face

and turn from their wicked way,

then I will hear from heaven

and will forgive their sin

     and heal their land.

       2 Chronicles 7. 14

(If we choose to be

     called by His name,

   we should look and act

           differently.

Humble ourselves,

  not just justify our wrongdoing.

Pray not to our own desires,

  but to the Almighty.

Seek God foremost

   in every situation,

   even this difficulty today.

Being attentive to His way

   and His heart in this.

Turn,

   not keep on the same path,

same direction, pattern

                and practice.

Does anyone see

      His grace in us?

Or our willingness

        to seek Him?)

O LORD,

We walk into this day,

not just bearing Your name,

but in order that

  all the peoples of the earth

  may know Your name.

Align our hearts with Yours

    in all that we do, say,

    tackle, work out, approach

    and navigate today.

Give us Your strength

   to be a witness

            of Your grace,

courage to do what is right,

and the faithfulness

    to pray and seek You,

not just a way through

  but walking with You.

   

The Aim, Purpose and Means of Doing It

 

....in order that we may

    bear fruit for God.

               Romans 7. 4

(Right where God leads,

exactly what He has

     laid before us,

  no insignificant details,

  nothing extraneous,

  nothing random,

among whom we are,

in what we are skilled

  and in what we are not,

convenient or a hassle,

comfortable or

        incredibly difficult,

may we sow, nourish,

and be very aware

   of every opportunity

to bear fruit for God,

even in what will only appear

   far beyond our lifetimes.

We can never know

  what abundance God is bringing.

The phrase in order to means

  with the aim, for the purpose,

  and as a means of doing it.

He provides the aim,

   the purpose and the means.

God always multiplies

   willingness and faithfulness

way beyond measure.)

O LORD,

Help us to direct our situation

      right to You,

knowing that You have

  strategically positioned us

for such a time, place,

   and purpose in this.

Empower us to

   walk differently into this day,

not just in our words and work,

    but with a fresh heart

and an attitude

     that brings You glory

and bears every kind of fruit.

God is not a genie with three wishes

 

In that night,

God appeared to Solomon,

and said to him,

"Ask what I shall give you."

     2 Chronicles 1. 7

(And how would we answer?

Every morning before we

     go into the day,

what are we seeking

             from the LORD?

   Even on this very day.

What we need goes

      far beyond stuff:

kindness, grace, wisdom,

a heart of forgiveness,

awareness not just of

    the needs of others

    but how we can respond.

God is not a genie

           of three wishes,

but the Almighty One

  who strengthens us

  and who is right here with us.

Interesting to note that

this incident unfolded

  right after Solomon worshipped.

Worship always

    radically alters our hearts.)

O LORD,

May our prayers be as incense

             to You.

May we worship You

      into this day

in all that we do and say

  and even what we ask of You.

Cover us with what we need.

Shield us from what we don't.

May we not just hear Your voice

    but listen to You

    and respond.

    

     

Can't Do It Without You Too

 

...and I made preparations

           for building.

         1 Chronicles 28.2

(In God's kingdom,

 in His purposes,

 in His work,

each one of us is vital

     to do our part.

We are all anointed

             and appointed,

sometimes to hit the last nail,

  to bring the work

  to completion.

Sometimes to come

    alongside others to help,

    assist, encourage,

    or hold a board in place.

Sometimes with no recognition

    to prepare, gather,

         cut up the veggies,

 for someone else

       to pull it all together.

Are we seeking our own glory

     or the glory of God in this?

May we acknowledge the quiet ones,

even to be one of the quiet ones,

   behind the scenes,

     who do the heavy lifting,

the thousands of faithful ones 

 who prepare

  for the wellbeing of others

  and take joy in serving God.

That's what the Body does.

God says, "We can't do it

        without you too.")

O LORD,

Help us to approach this work

  with a willing heart

to contribute what we are able

  for Your kingdom.

Help us to realize there are

    no small acts

         of faithfulness

    or singular heroes.

And indeed, what is most valuable

    may be the most invisible

                   to our eyes,

   but extraordinary in Yours.

Grant to us the eyes and heart

   not just to pitch in,

   or play our part,

but to bring You glory

in whatever You place

     in our hands today.

Let not pride handicap us,

but let Your grace

      saturate it all.

Not Just a Repair Job

 

When the LORD restores....

         Psalm 14. 7

(The word restores does not

appear as future tense

  --something in the

unforeseeable time to come--

   but first person present.

Past, present and future

  are intimately woven.

God is incredibly already at work,

  not just in the process,

  but in the completion.

God does not just repair

  and glue together

  the broken fragments.

God redeems.)

O LORD,

We pray not for restoration,

    but pray to You.

We cannot know

      how the pieces unfold

      or are divinely fit together,

  the visible, the unseen,

  even what does not yet exist.

But we can know

           and trust You.

Your redeeming

   is never limited just to us.

Please help us

  to keep our eyes on You.

Even in this.

Bubbling Up

 

...who prophesied with the lyre

in thanksgiving and praise

           to the LORD.

        1 Chronicles 25. 3

(The word prophesy in Scripture

  is not limited or defined by

  the worldly concept

         of predicting the future.

Not just a statement

        of what is to come,

  but a revealing of what is now,

     a declaration of reality.

We may not be able

      to play the lyre,

but we can bear witness to God

     in many other capacities.

Prophesy here means in Hebrew

  to be softened,

 to cause to bubble up and 

   pour forth words abundantly,

singing and speaking,

playing the instruments

      in their hands,

worshiping in all they did,

     divinely influenced.

May we go forth into this day

   with the same bubbling up

and pouring forth,

praising God through our work

   and words

   and even the songs we hum.

Oxford mathematician John Lennox

   has been asked repeatedly

   why he didn't go into the ministry.

He replies,  "Every day

     I go into the ministry."

Indeed, we do as well.)

O LORD,

Help us to bubble up

and pour forth praise to You

   in and through all we do.

May our lives be evidence

    of Your truth and grace.

May our work

    be a form of worship.

Empower us

   to bear witness to others

in our words, work,

             and attitudes.

May we not just hum Your praise,

not just being aware of the melody,

   but know every note

   and every word.

Worship bears witness to others

    through with-ness with You.

May we sing with You

               into this day.

 

       

Learning how to Breathe Differently

 

Good sense makes one

     slow to anger,

and it is one's glory

  to overlook an offense.

            Proverbs 19. 11

(The strongest person

in the room is not the loudest

        or meanest.

But one of our

       most obvious and visible

attributes and witnesses

  is to be slow to anger

  and to overlook an offense.

The offender is not perfect,

       nor are we.

Being slow to anger leaves

  a lingering aroma of grace

instead of generational

   bleeding-out wounds

   in relationships.

Know how to back away

  and no one gets hurt.

Strangely enough, this

 passage literally means

  that how we breathe 

  in a volatile situation

changes both our stance

       and countenance.)

O LORD,

Give us the strength

  to breathe differently

in hardship, when attacked,

 when we are wounded,

 or in an explosive situation.

Fill us with Your breath

  of grace and forgiveness.

Change the trajectory

    of these circumstances

for Your glory instead.

 

Not on our Own

 

And the LORD gave

   victory to David

wherever he went.

 1 Chronicles 18. 6, 13

(The ancient Hebrew word

          for victory

is defined by

   the LORD helped David.

It further means to save,

to liberate, to enlarge,

to make wide, spacious

          and abundant.

David did not face

  these overwhelming situations

  on his own.

The LORD helped him.

And David knew it.

David sought not to win

  but sought the LORD.

God always shows us

  a different way through

when we walk with Him in it.

The word wherever

  is not restricted to

  a specific physical location,

  but in anything and everything.

Even in this.)

O LORD,

We all struggle with something.

And we all need You.

Help us not just in the journey

     or the many outcomes,

but to seek You

   even before we take a step.

Guide us in how we approach

      these difficulties,

      the miry bogs,

      this rocky path,

      these impossible people,

and how to navigate Your way

   right in the midst.

Show us, O LORD,

      how to walk with You

in a way that brings You the glory.

     

Direct it to Me

 

Seek the LORD

    and His strength.

Seek His Presence

    continually!

    1 Chronicles 16. 11

(Because when we seek God,

   we see Him

           in all things.

God is not just

   in the grand narrative

but in every detail of our lives.

When we pray and seek Him,

   not just an answer,

God enlarges our vision.

We see circumstances

    with fresh eyes and heart

and our situation

    with a new strength

    that He provides.

What can I do?

God says,

   "Direct it to Me."

Seeking Him is our first response

as we go into our days,

not just in times of trouble

  or despair or mystery,

but even into the joy.)

O LORD,

We seek You into this day

   You are unfolding before us.

Guide our hearts and acts

   and thoughts

   that we may grow stronger

and learn to trust You

              even more.

You are forever with us.

We need not walk alone.

   You never intended that.

Open our eyes

    to Your Presence.

Transform our hearts

   into this day.

The Incredible Lord of Bursting Through

 

And David said,

"God has broken through

my enemies by my hand,

   like a bursting flood.

Therefore the name

of that place is called

   Baal-perazim.

       1 Chronicles 14. 11

(Baal-perazim in Hebrew

literally means

the Lord of breaking through.

And that is the God

          we worship,

not trusting in a

   change of circumstances

   but in Him.

God does not just show up.

He equips us for many

       years beforehand

through every experience

of following, responding

       and trusting Him.

God goes out before us

             and behind us.

We can trust Him

  backwards and forwards.

God bursts through

  our impenetrable walls

and all that is overwhelming.

He shows us

   a different way through.)

O LORD,

Please help us

     to know Your Presence

     in the situations we face.

Help us to turn to You first

  and follow You

        into Your purposes

    and designs

    and wonders.

Form Your strength in us.

Grant to us Your courage

   in the impossible.

Burst through, Almighty One,

  not just in what is visible

                but eternal.

May the sake 

         of Your holy name

    energize us.

Practicing Peace in Impossible Situations

 

Peace, peace to you,

and peace to your helpers!

For your God helps you.

        1 Chronicles 12. 18

(Peace does not hinge

on an absence of conflict,

but another way through it,

a sense of well-being

that pervades even in

   the midst of trouble.

And that comes from

recognizing God's help,

  strength and Presence.

Have we prayed over

     this situation first

to seek His way in this?)

O LORD,

There are so many forces

   around us that try

   to keep us from You.

No matter the trouble,

please use this situation

   to form something new

and fresh and different

                  in us.

Help us to practice

         the art of peace

  in impossible situations.

Build Your strength

    layer upon layer

that we would already know

how to bring Your name here.

You are our peace.

   On You we can depend.

And You have made us

  peace-makers

  for Your glory,

even in --or especially in--

   the midst of hardship.

Show us Your different way

    right through this day.

God's Way Through the Chaos

 

He did not seek

  guidance from the LORD.

           1 Chronicles 10. 14

(And then we wonder

       what went wrong?

Ignoring, avoiding,

    turning away from God

    never ends well.

Neither the journey

            nor the outcome

   can ever be the same.

We need always to ask:

    Am I walking with God

    through this situation?

God enlarges our minds

    to approach and navigate

                  differently.

He alters our hearts

   to grasp the unexpected

and see another way in this,

   His deeper vision and

     incredible purposes.

And provides His strength

    far beyond our own.)

O LORD,

We seek not just Your guidance,

   but we seek You.

Help us to follow You

   in whatever is before us,

whether bushwhacking

      through the thicket

or staying in our lane.

Synchronize our thoughts

      with Yours

that we may walk differently

        into this day.

           .

Rest Stops

 

Coasting along with difficulty,

we came to a place

      called Fair Havens,

near which was the

         city of Lasea.

           Acts 27. 8

(Right in the midst

        of the hard stuff,

the rough seas,

the difficult navigating

    what is before us,

God grants a rest stop.

Not a place to quit

  but to be strengthened,

even for a moment

      a rock to sit on,

   an unexpected kindness,

   or an encouraging word,

in the most unimaginable

        circumstances.

Seize His fresh joy in

  whatever form it takes.)

O LORD,

When we are weary,

   You guide and provide.

Refresh our souls today

  in some unexpected way

to shore up our faithfulness.

If it were all smooth sailing,

  would we pray as much?

Help us to know that

  You are forming something

   much deeper in us

even in this hard situation.

Inscribed in Every Moment

 

...for they cried out to God

       in the battle,

and He granted

          their urgent plea,

because they trusted in Him.

            1 Chronicles 5. 20

(Everyone struggles

            with something.

The difference lies in what

     we rely on,

in whom or what we trust,

in what we stake our hope.

When we trust in God,

  everything unfolds differently.

God walks with us

          through the battle.

It is not just going to be ok.

God is doing something

     far more eternal with it,

   and strengthens our hearts.

The present is being transformed.

The past redeemed.

The future completed.

His Presence inscribes His glory

     in every moment.)

O LORD,

When we can't see beyond

   the circumstances,

   the hardship, or the darkness,

please help us to trust in You.

You grant to us strength,

  but You also renew our vision.

Give to us the capacity

   and ability to trust You

right into this day.

Help us to walk with You.

Go Differently Into This Day

 

But You, O LORD,

are a shield about me,

my glory,

and the lifter of my head.

              Psalm 3. 3

(Go differently into this day.

God does not say

      "It's going to be ok,"

but "Do not be afraid.

       I am with you."

And that changes everything.

Not that all will be easy

     and the path paved

     without potholes 

             or speedbumps,

but God is working mightily

   in the uphill battles

   to bring His glory here.

Even when it is hard,

  God is forming 

  something very different in us.

Even when it is harder still,

      God is unfolding

             something eternal.

The truth is 

    when it is so far beyond us,

   we lean on Him more.)

O LORD,

You are so faithful to us,

  bringing us closer to You.

Please help us

   to be faithful to You

   when we don't understand.

Keep Your grip strong

     on our lives.

Empower us

  to go differently into

this day, this difficulty,

this amazing opportunity.

Grant to us a fresh vision

  even in the ordinary

to see You everywhere.

Others are Listening

 

The following night,

the Lord stood by him

and said,

"Take courage,

for as you have testified

to the facts about Me

       in Jerusalem,

so you must also

       testify in Rome."

                Acts 23.11

(God has strategically placed

   each one of us

on this sacred ground

             and time

to bring His name here

  and live out the gospel.

Every opportunity

    that we bear witness

    and share our faith

God strengthens us

            for the next

and gives someone else

  the freedom to do the same.

Even when we are unaware,

   others are listening

   and impacted for eternity.

We are nourished

      by our experience.

God enlarges our hearts

            for other people.

We see and respond

    with a new energy.)

O LORD,

Make us aware.

Help us to pay attention

   to the needs of souls

   all around us.

Reveal to us how to respond

    and love others

            right to You.

Grant us the courage

  to speak of You

even in unexpected places

    and to unlikely people.

Help us to tell stories

   of Your love, grace

and faithfulness to us

so others can know

        Who You are.

Work, Word, and Witness

 

And He said to me,

"Go,

for I will send you

far away to the Gentiles."

        Acts 22. 21

(We can never fully realize

how God will use us

--our words and deeds,

  our testimony and witness--

in unexpected places

  and among unlikely people.

Near or far,

to those familiar or foreign,

even when it appears

    to no avail,

we can be faithful to God

   right in this place

and fulfill the work,

   words and witness

He has given us

      for His Kingdom's sake.

Paul had no idea

   that his faithfulness

would impact us

       2000 years later.

His journeys spread the gospel.

Even his imprisonments

  enabled him to write it down.)

O LORD,

Please help us to

        be responsive to You today.

Be a witness through us

   to all those we encounter.

Bless our words

  that You may be known.

Enlarge our heart

  that we may love others

all around us

    by telling them about You

in our words and deeds

and how we love them.

Wherever He Places Us

 

And Gedaliah swore to them

   and their men, saying,

"Do not be afraid

because of the Chaldean officials.

Live in the land

and serve the king of Babylon,

and it shall be well with you."

              2 Kings 23. 24

(Being faithful to God

  wherever He places us,

even in the strange,

unfamiliar and uncomfortable,

even in enemy territory,

to be a witness there

in word, deed and attitude.

Infiltrate the culture

    for God's Kingdom.

Don't be like them,

but show them

  life can be very different.)

O LORD,

Help us to know

that every morning

we are going

     into the ministry.

You have given us opportunity

   to be a witness here,

to love others

         right into Your arms,

to let Your Word seep into

every dimension of our lives.

Help us to live in such a way

  that others are compelled

to ask why.

And that would be

        Your love and grace.

Every Which Way We Can

 

Praise the LORD!

            Psalm 150. 1

(The Hebrew word for praise

means to make brilliant

           in sight and sound,

to commend,

to celebrate, to glory,

to shine, to give light to,

that in which one glories,

and an expression of admiration.

Praise is mentioned in this psalm

       13 times in six verses.

Have we even considered

   how to praise God today?

What has He placed in our hands

   not just to praise Him for

            but to praise Him with?

Where has He placed us

   to bring His name here

into our encounters

        and our conversations?

Praise is not just about

           what God does,

   but Who He is.)

O LORD,

We are so grateful for Your goodness

             to us.

But even more, Almighty One,

      we are so grateful for You.

Thank You for loving us so much.

Thank You for revealing Yourself

     to us in millions of ways.

Grant to us the words today

   to express our praise to You.

And may others not just hear,

  but get caught up

         in praising You too.

With All Our Stuff

 

Thus says the LORD,

the God of David your father,

"I have heard your prayer.

I have seen your tears.

Behold, I will heal you."

          2 Kings 20. 5

(We are seen.

We are heard.

We are so deeply loved.

When we pray,

it is not just that

   God sees and hears us,

but through prayer,

we are able to see and

   hear God's response.

He opens our eyes

    to something different.

He enlarges our hearts

    to recognize Him.

Prayer is not just about

        speaking to God,

but listening to Him.

God always hears us.

Are we paying attention

              to Him?

God responds

with a compassionate heart,

   in a lot of unexpected ways.

May we not miss Him.)

O LORD,

Thank you for inventing prayer

   that we can come to You,

and we can come before You

       to know You more.

Help us to not hold back

  the things that concern us,

that which we fear

             or worry about,

that which distracts us

        from trusting You.

Abide in us this day.

Help us to confide in You.

Help us to listen.

Pray or Dismay

 

Hezekiah received the letter

from the hand of the messengers

             and read it,

and Hezekiah went up

    to the house of the LORD

and spread it before the LORD.

And Hezekiah prayed

           before the LORD....

              2 Kings 19. 14-15

(His first line of defense --

                  and ours:

spread it before the LORD,

      every detail.

Not just lay it there,

        not just pray about it,

        but pray through it.

The very act of praying

   does not change God,

nor even the circumstances,

but God changes us

  and draws us closer to Him.

We spread out our dilemma

           before God,

and He spreads His covering

           over us.

We see differently.

We respond differently.

First response,

         not last resort.)

O LORD,

We come to You

with what is overwhelming to us.

Please work in us

          and thorough us

Your strength and wisdom

that Your intervening power

   brings Your glory to it.

Remind us,

           nudge us,

   to come to You.

Fear locks all the doors.

Worry deflates the tires.

But You, O LORD,

   turn hardship

           into worship.

Draw us to You today.

Holding Fast

 

For he held fast to the LORD.

He did not depart

          from following Him,

but kept the commandments

that the LORD commanded Moses.

And the LORD was with him.

Wherever he went out,

           he prospered.

             2 Kings 18. 6-7

(What is the one thing?

For he held fast 

             to the LORD.

Being faithful to God

  wherever He places us.

As St. Patrick prayed,

"Binding ourselves to Him."

That changes everything:

how we approach our day,

how we navigate

     hard stuff and the joys,

what we do, what we say,

the way we pursue,

how we view circumstances,

   ourselves, others

              and God Himself.

God changes

     the course of our lives.)

O LORD,

Please help us

  to hold fast to You

when so much is

   trying to distract

   and pull us away.

May we take Your hand

   and walk with You.

Guide us into this day.

Empower us

     not just to be faithful

but to know how

       to do that.

Grant to us

   a different way through this

that we may be a witness

     even in the ordinary,

especially in the unexpected.

Help us to know

        Your strong hold on us.

Out of the Ordinary

 

And God was doing

extraordinary miracles

by the hands of Paul.

            Acts 19. 11

(God works

far beyond what we can know,

or imagine,

or maybe even ever see.

   And we can trust God

that He is doing extraordinary things

                 through us.

 Present tense,

using our hands and our hearts

  to accomplish His wonders

  through our ordinary endeavors.

We have just to be faithful

        on this sacred ground.)

O LORD,

Please make us sensitive

      to Your leading and purposes,

even in what we consider

           only as ordinary.

Enlarge our vision

  to know that You are at work.

You are always at work

   through every good endeavor.

May we bless You this day.

And may You bless others

   all around through us,

dripping with astonishing deeds,

    done only by Your mighty hand,

whether recognized as 

        a miracle straight from You

       or out of our love for You

There is no insignificant faithfulness.

Arrows of Victory

 

Then Elisha said, "Shoot,"

           and he shot.

And he said,

"The LORD's arrow of victory..."

             2 Kings 13. 17

(When we follow

      God's direction in this,

even when it doesn't appear

           to make sense,

God brings His victory

in unlikely and unexpected ways.

He releases

            His arrow of victory.

There are no small victories,

      only eternal ones.

There are no small obediences.

We may not be able

      to see the outcome,

but we can trust Him into it.

Victory is not about winning

    but being faithful.

Victory is not redefined,

   but what is being redeemed.)

O LORD,

We pray as You guide us

    into this day

    or into this fray.

Help us to claim for You

  whatever You have

  put before us.

It is not about success

           or failure,

but what You do with it.

Soak our situations

     with Your glory.

Empower us to bring

   Your grace and mercy

into volatile circumstances,

that all concerned

   will know You are here.

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