...which we have heard,

which we have seen

          with our eyes,

which we looked upon

and have touched

          with our hands

concerning the word of life...

              1 John 1. 1

(When we are on the witness stand

         in a court of law,

we are expected to tell the truth.

When we are before others

        in the court of life,

we are also obligated

       to tell the truth

    about what we have experienced.

This is not just our story,

but our testimony

--the evidence or proof

    of our experience,

    an open declaration--

as a witness before others

     and as God is our witness.

This is what God is

          doing in my life,

this is who God is,

this is how I know Him.

Am I open with others

about my relationship with Him?

Revealing that which we have seen

and heard and looked upon,

touched and been touched.)

O LORD,

What we are experiencing

is not just our story,

but Your story in us.

You walk with us

          in our struggles,

You bring Your strength

      to our heart and bones.

You bring the triumph

and Your glory,

no matter what happens.

You don't need our successes

and blue ribbons

and achievements

     to bring glory to You.

Give us the courage

  to testify openly before others

what You are doing

             in our lives.

What people know about us

   is based in what they see

   and what we talk about.

Help us to seize opportunities

   to tell Your story in us.

We never know who is listening.

We never know

        how You are using us.

More than we can fathom.

 

When Daniel knew that

the document had been signed,

he went to his house

where he had windows

   in his upper chamber

open toward Jerusalem.

He got down on his knees

three times a day and prayed

and gave thanks

          before his God,

as he had done previously.

              Daniel 6. 10

(For Daniel, it was not crisis,

but business as usual,

his first response to pray,

his source of strength

           not hidden.

But just another opportunity

to be faithful to God

       in plain sight.

Not "look at me,"

       but look to God.

Daniel's daily practices

formed his character,

empowered his actions

           and attitudes,

and deeply entrenched

               his faith,

so that he saw,

approached,

and responded differently

        to any circumstance.

This was not his first difficulty,

         nor his last.)

O LORD,

No matter what is before us

      in this day or season,

may we be faithful to You.

Grant us Your strength

    that we may follow You

and testify to You

         before others,

no matter the circumstances,

May faithfulness be seen

   in all that we do and say,

how we come before You,

how we live before others,

both in times of favor

               or turmoil.

Be glorified, O LORD,

      even in this.

 

Whoever works his land

will have plenty of bread,

but he who follows

       worthless pursuits

will have plenty of poverty.

The faithful will abound

                 with blessings...

              Proverbs 28. 19-20

(When we are faithful

to cultivate

the one square foot

          patch of ground

that God has entrusted

   each one of us,

God multiplies blessings

  that reverberate

  throughout the world.

God does not grant

      enough to share,

not even limited to leftovers,

but goodness in every degree.

Serving God faithfully

        is never insignificant.

Through every act of grace,

every opportunity for kindness,

every patch of dirt cultivated,

God transforms the landscape.

We are so myopic

  to what we see God can do

through us.)

O LORD,

May we be faithful

with our time,

our talent,

and what You have

   placed before us.

May we be steadfast

in our work

and vision

and attitudes

to serve You for Your glory,

no matter where

    You place us today.

Multiply our work

for the goodness of this world,

even in what we

         cannot yet see.

You have placed us

    for Your glory

    and purposes

even in this.

If we only knew

  how You are using us,

we would not hesitate.

We can trust that

       You are working

        as we work.

 

For this reason,

make every effort

  to supplement your faith

                       with virtue,

and virtue with knowledge,

and knowledge with self-control,

and self-control with steadfastness,

and steadfastness with godliness,

and godliness

         with brotherly affection,

and brotherly affection with love.

                 2 Peter 1. 5-7

(Every one of these qualities,

    every one of these strengths,

don't just show up on our doorstep,

but are based and deeply rooted

  in intentional daily decisions.

Every effort,

every opportunity to practice,

allows ourselves to train

    and engrave these strengths

          layer by layer,

          step by step,

    choosing to do something new.

What we face is not a hardship

            nor an affliction

            nor a pothole,

but an opportunity to practice

    what leads us deeper in Him.

"The proof of desire is

               in the pursuit."

          -- Chris Davis.)

O LORD,

May we not just be aware

of these qualities,

but practice them in our lives

      and before others

that we may know You more.

May our journey and outcome

        be radically transformed

by practicing these strengths,

     over and over again.

Each step changes

   the trajectory of our lives.

How differently we can

approach and respond

           in daily life

because of Your Presence

   and residence in us.

Grant to us the mind of Christ

    in whatever we do today,

    wherever we go,

    among whomever we are.

Glory be to You, O God.

www.nightlyteea.blogspot.com

 

...but there is

   a God in heaven

who reveals mysteries...

         Daniel 2. 28

(And that makes

    all the difference

in whatever we face.

It is not a mystery

              to Him,

but His hand

and His redeeming.

in His way,

in His timing,

for His glory.

Even if we do not understand,

         He does.)

O LORD,

May we know that

because of You

we do not just have hope,

   but we can know You.

Help us to trust You

   even more

in whatever we face.

We are not in this alone.

     You are with us.

  We need not fear,

      just to be faithful to You.

Even in this.

You weave Your glory

   seamlessly through it.

 

Always

be prepared

to make a defense

          to anyone

who asks you

for a reason

  for the hope that is in you,

yet do it with

   gentleness and respect.

           1 Peter 3. 15

(People are always watching

to see how we respond

in both favor and failure,

to see if God is real,

to see if God really makes

   a difference in how we live.

May they see us

    not just as nice people,

but those who know

     what grace means

     and bear a living hope

on which we have

            staked our lives.)

O LORD,

Help us to always

       be prepared,

not just with reasons

   and a firm defense

   of carefully selected words,

but with a heart overflowing

    with love for others

no matter the circumstances.

Show us how, O LORD,

to see difficulties

as an opportunity

   to practice grace in this.

And with a different heart

to surprise other people

with an unexpected response.

Because we can.

That is the love spilling over

that You place in our heart

and Your grace

    we have come to know.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Grateful to God for you.

 

For this is a gracious thing,

when,

mindful of God,

one endures sorrows

while suffering unjustly.

          1 Peter 2. 19

(Not caught up in

what is fair

          or not fair,

uncomfortable,

inconvenient,

hard.

But even in this, knowing

God weaves His grace

       seamlessly into it,

nothing random at all,

   but eternal.

He gives His strength

to endure this situation.

He gives His grace

   to bring to the table.

Not "where are You, God?"

but knowing He is

   already redeeming it.

Knowing He is.

The LORD is here.

           Present tense.

Even in this.)

O LORD,

You are here among us,

not dependent on circumstances

    --favorable or not.

But Your Presence

           is present tense.

And You have strategically

          placed us

for Your glory

and for the blessing

and provision those around us.

Help us to not just

         be mindful of You,

but embrace the mind of Christ

   in whatever situation we are in,

realizing the suffering

   and struggling of others.

Help us to show grace

which is always

    an unexpected response.

Help us to approach

         the hard stuff

 with a new heart

because we love You.