In the quiet of the morning, I wake and think of You. More and more, You are my first thought.
Will you sit with me here? With Your Spirit’s touch, will You open me to Your Presence?
The wind sounds fierce and the chimes are trying to pound out their tune—Amazing Grace. I guess the notes are all in the right key but I struggle to hear the melody.
At 5:00 a.m. the air is warm; reminding me, once again, that summer is drawing to a close. Labor Day weekend it’s called. I remember that I labor for You alone.
Tonight, for friends, I’ll prepare my favorite orzo and couscous, skewers of lamb with apricots, and chicken with mint and red onions. I’ll also prepare the house. Your Presence is what’s needed. Will You be here with me? Do You like to clean and cook? You prepare everything else—laying out the path each day….bringing Joy and Comfort to a saddened heart and worried mind. You, who even thought to create mint. How did You come up with mint?
You are the Giver, teaching me how to give all I have, pointing out that I am rich, prodding me to know this and live this.
Let there be no cruel thought in your heart. Give time to the one who approaches you; give of your personal ease, knowing others’ struggle too. Give of your rest, to spend time with Me, then time with others will become comforting for you as well as for them.
As I give to you, give to others. Give sympathy, give healing. I Am the Healer…heal thoughts, heal hearts. Love, love, love. Learn this now. Give of your best, wearing salvation’s full armor. Yes, give.
I will defend you and save you. See what springs up around you from the words you have planted in others’ hearts. It is time to sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit. Your roots have grown deep, bearing fruit above. (2 Kings 19:29, 30)
You know me fully, LORD. My guilt is not hidden from you. May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me (Psalm 69:6). But I pray to you LORD in the time of your favor; in Your Great Love. Answer me with your salvation (:13). Deliver me from those who hate me, do not let me sink (:14). The poor will see and be glad.
Wisdom will save you from those whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong….who are devious in their way (Proverbs 2: 12-14). Walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous (16-20). Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone forces you to go with him one mile, go two. Give to the one who asks you and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you (Matthew 5:38-42).
Draw near to Me when you need to take action, I will guide you through My Spirit and My Word. I enable you to do less but accomplish more. Commit to Me whatever you do and you will succeed.
I Am with you. I take great delight in you. I quiet your mind with My Love. I rejoice over you with dancing (Zephaniah 3:17). There is no place too desolate for me to step into. Remember, I see you gloriously radiant in My Righteousness.
They may mean evil for you but I mean it for good. Return all anger, malice and mean-spiritedness with love, tenderness and—yes—with kindness. When it seems impossible, I Am here. You are surrounded by greed, selfishness and narcissism but kindness rises above it all—like Joseph forgiving his brothers (Genesis 50:20) , like Me dying for you……