“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:4-5)

Thank You, Father, for all that You have done. Though I may not understand this world as well as I sometimes think I do, You are here providing for all. Lift me onto the upward path of walking humbly in Your sight and giving You praise at all times, knowing that You have wonderfully knit all things together for Your purpose. Your goodness is everlasting and Your faithfulness forever.

Take me away from those moments of confusion when I do not see Your hand. You are always present; I sometimes simply do not see this. Your provision is for all people at all times, even though many do not thank You for what You have provided. Lead me into the truth of Your presence that I would now and always walk as one who has faith, and trusts You in all circumstances.

Your goodness to all who trust You, O Lord, is above our ability to understand. You have provided for all. Grant this day that I would be thankful and appreciate all that is around me. Help me to see the small things and be grateful. Lead me to find joy in each moment and know that You are with me and all those around me. May my life be one of thanksgiving now and always. Amen.

“He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy and sing praises.” (Psalm 98:3-4)

For those who know that the Lord prevails, He grants mercy and grace. Though your sins be as scarlet, yet will He grant His presence that you may know His purpose. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His love endures forever. Know that in Him are life and liberty and the ability to walk through this crazy age of rebellion with godly purpose and, in His power, blessed assurance.

Lord, keep my eyes lifted up that I may now and always abide in Your presence. Grant that I may be aware of all that is around me through the eyes of faith. Lead me to live according to Your purposes knowing that Your grace alone enables me to walk humbly in Your presence. Lift my heart to give You thanks and praise in all circumstances knowing that You alone are worthy of praise.

Thank You Lord for the gift of Your presence in my life. Keep me on the narrow way that I would now and always walk straight, knowing that I am in Your presence. Help me to live through the difficulties that come and abide in Your comforting arms of mercy. Guide me this day to do what is pleasing in Your sight. May I live a life of praise of You who alone is able to do all things. Amen.

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night, with the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, with resounding music upon the lyre.” (Psalm 92:1-3)

You have given good gifts, Lord, and give them freely. May I learn from You to give praise and thanksgiving for all of Your goodness. Put praise on my lips and let the gifts You have given be freely used to praise and worship You in and through all things. You are faithful and worthy of all praise and honor. Guide me, O Lord, to learn to worship and praise You at all times.

Lord, I often think of worship as a routine and not as a part of my daily life. Lead me, O Lord, to learn that You have created me to live a life filled with praise and thanksgiving. Teach me to truly worship that I may spend all of my days the way You would have me spend them. Bring me to those places in Your Word where I may learn from You the purpose for which I have been created.

Holy Spirit, come and direct my thoughts and desires that I would live in thanksgiving for all of the goodness You bring. Put praise on my lips and guide kind words to issue from them. Fill my heart with the love You desire I have for all. May my life be a devotion to You and the wonder You have brought forth in creation. Guide me according to the Father’s will now and always. Amen.

“Do return, O Lord; how long will it be? And be sorry for Your servants. O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” (Psalm 90:13-14)

We have a tendency to drift far off from the ways of the Lord and receive what we have wrought. We blame the Lord and then lament. Do not tarry in the place of lament, but come into the presence of the Lord and know that all things have always been in His hands. Come into His will and walk according to His ways. Know that the Lord is good and it is He who made us and we are the workmanship of His hands.

Lord, I do get caught up in worldly thinking. Though we teach each other that things have changed, they have not. Guide me, O Lord, according to Your goodness to see clearly the truth of this age and to live into Your promises. Help me now and always to know that You alone are God and that all things have always been in Your hands. Lift me up in wisdom to walk in Your sight.

Holy Spirit, guide my heart this day to see Your hand everywhere. Do not let me tarry in the false idealism of this age, but see clearly that there is purpose, and that purpose is to walk where You lead. Guide me according to the grace You have given me to be humble yet bold in the faith You have put in my heart that I may live this day giving You thanks for all Your goodness, Amen.

“My lovingkindness I will keep for him forever, and My covenant shall be confirmed to him. “So I will establish his descendants forever and his throne as the days of heaven.” (Psalm 89:28-29)

The descendants of the holy One are those who believe. As many as believe are the ones that are in His lineage. The gift of salvation has been granted to those who walk after the One who has called them from the beginning of time and walk in the ways of the Lord. This age will pass away and those who come to eternal life through the Savior will be united with Him forever.

Lord, there is more than I know or see that is going on. Grant me eyes of faith to trust that no matter what happens around me, I am in Your hands. Guide me in the call You have given that I would walk now and always in the life You have given me through faith.  Lead me by the grace I need to hold fast to the truth You have revealed that nothing would snatch me away from You.

Lord Jesus, You have sent the Holy Spirit to lead us all the days of our lives. Guide me now and always in Your way that I would walk humbly in the faith You have given me. Teach me and grow me according to the Father’s will that I would now and always live into this life to which You have called me.  May I hold steadfast to the faith and not falter that I may be with You always. Amen.

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; lovingkindness and truth go before You.  How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!  O Lord, they walk in the light of Your countenance.”  (Psalm89:14-15)

Have you met one whom you know loves the Lord?  Their countenance shines and those around them know they are one of the faithful (not the zealots who are trying to convince everyone of their goodness, but the ones who love others and repeat the joyful sound of grace and mercy).  Walk in the light of the countenance of the Lord and reflect His grace and mercy all the days of your life.

Lord, the offer You give is right there before all.  Few are they who walk in the countenance of Your love, grace, and mercy.  Help me, O Lord, to give up the rebellion in my heart and come by Your grace through faith to walk now and always in the truth of Your presence and purpose.  Show me the difference a life in You would make and then guide me in the way You would have me go.

Lord Jesus, You have come to be the model of the godly life.  You who paid the price for salvation are also the One who has shown me the way to live.  Through the Holy Spirit, guide me to walk always in the way I should go and live according to all that You have commanded.  Lead me, O Lord, that I may walk the way of salvation and be one of those lights shining in the darkness of this world.  Amen.

I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever; to all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth. For I have said, “Lovingkindness will be built up forever; In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.” (Psalm 89:1-2)

Do you praise the Lord for all of His goodness and kindness? Or do you look to the Lord as only providing what you want? Come to the place where you are thankful for all that He has provided knowing that we live in an age that is difficult because of those who are in rebellion. Do not blame the Lord for their sin, but praise Him for providing for the just and the unjust.

Lord, I am often so conditional in my praise. When things go well, I forget about You. When things do not go well, I often look up and blame You. Bring me to the place where I praise You at all times, for You are good and Your love endures forever. Move me away from being conditional to the place where I know that Your promises are true and forever.

Lord Jesus, You know the difficulty of walking in this world of wickedness. You know what it is like to struggle with events and people. Teach me to walk in the salvation You have prepared that I may learn to take all things in stride and be thankful for Your goodness and mercy. Lead me, Lord Jesus, to be like You this day, walking humbly in Your sight and being thankful. Amen.

Friday, December 22, 2017 Devotion

“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You.  So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.”  (Psalm 63:3-4)

Do you live for yourself or have you learned that your life belongs to the Lord?  Yes, you want to live, but true life is only in the Lord and His promise that you will live forever.  Though you die, yet shall you live.  To bless the Lord is to live in Him.  Otherwise, it is contention.  Bless the Lord and be blessed by living in His lovingkindness, knowing that in Him is life and liberty.

Lord, I struggle for meaning in life, but here it is right before me.  Living in You is life.  Yet I continue the struggle.  Help me I pray to overcome the obstacles in my life that get in the way of the simplicity of love and faith to which You have called me.  Guide me in Your purpose that I may abide in You now and always.  Lead me to be a blessing to others as You are to me.

Lord Jesus, You who has removed all the obstacles that get in the way of our eternal relationship, lead me ever deeper into the truth You have revealed for us all.  Guide me according to Your purpose that I may live in Your will now and forever.  Help me learn to do what is pleasing to the Father that I may truly be a blessing.  Teach me to listen, learn and do what is right always.  Amen.

Thursday, December 14, 2017 Devotion

“He will abide before God forever; appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him.  So I will sing praise to Your name forever, that I may pay my vows day by day.”  (Psalm 61:7-8)

Lovingkindness and truth are the two characteristics that define the life of the believer.  It is these that God will plant in the one who comes to Him humbly.  It is this likeness of Christ which is the promise God gives through grace to those who believe in Him.  The result will be singing praise, giving thanks and being the obedient child of God as Christ modeled.  This is the gift God gives for those who believe.

Lord, let me see the simplicity of the faith You offer and give for those who turn to You.  Take me beyond myself to come to the place where I simply look to You for all things.  Guide me in the grace You have given that I may abide in You as You abide in me and live in the way You created me to live.  Preserve my life according to Your purpose that I may be with You eternally.

Lord Jesus, You have modeled the godly life and called me forward through Your grace into the life of the believer.  Grow me each day into the attributes of lovingkindness and cause my heart to always pursue truth.  Lead me in the way I need to go and grant me a heart that willingly follows where You lead.  Help me through the obstacles that get in the way that I may become like You.  Amen.

Tuesday, December 5, 2017 Devotion

“But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, for You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress.  O my strength, I will sing praises to You; for God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness.”  (Psalm 59:16-17)

What is the direction, the outcome of your life?  Is it to live the few years on this earth, or is there a higher calling?  Come into the Lord’s presence and sing to Him.  Let the One who created you be the center of Your being.  It was for this that you were made.  Come and rejoice, sing songs of praise and worship the Lord your God.  He is your strength and your stronghold.

Lord, I am confused by all the offerings around me, yet they really offer nothing but momentary distractions.  Guide me in the way of life as You created it to be lived that I may live according to Your purpose.  Help me see through the nonsense of this world and focus on the things that have always been true.  Lead me in the way of righteousness for Your name’s sake.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, You have come to lead the way.  Help me now and always to walk in the way You have established.  Guide me according to the timeless principles You have given through Your Word.  Help me take Your hand and follow You alone through all that this world will force my way.  Help me see clearly the way I should go and then by Your Spirit guide me to walk that way.  Amen.