So sorry I have been away from this site for a while. Forgive, please. I have been putting finishing touches on the new sequel to Soul Songs…
The new book has been published just today. It’s title is Awesome Autumn, and it continues the same format as the current book, daily readings with scripture, a short devotional essay, and a personal prayer. It begins the first day of autumn, which this year is August 22nd, and runs through to Advent which begins on December 22nd. Because the dates change each year, each entry is dated so it can be used in subsequent years, just as the summer one can be adapted to future years.
Meanwhile, here are the entries for the current book that I promised to publish on the website for those of you who do not have the book. You can progress at your own rate of “speed” regardless of the date.
I will post daily entries from August 9 though 30 in this post.
August 9 Scripture
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must
no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. (Ephesians 4:7-9)
News broadcasts begin with a recitation of the evil deeds by those committing heinous acts of savagery. They make life difficult for others because of their evil. You know the list: abuse, robbery, murder, and acts of terrorism keep our ears glued to find out what happened. Medical advertising suggests that drugs of cure could lead to horrid side effects, including death. Why would someone take a drug that could bring such outcomes? Graft and corruption grab headlines. So, what can we do as Christians? Pray for the victims. Vote against officials who release perpetrators to sin again. We must demand just punishment. We should counsel others to walk in the way of the Lord and again recognize His sovereignty over all affairs. But Paul was right about the source of all these difficulties. Their understanding is messed up, and they are filled with every kind of impurity. We are never to condone sin.
Prayer:
Almighty God, turn the hearts of the wicked to You, I pray, so that my days will be filled with “news stories” of love, charity, consideration, admiration for good deeds rather than a list of sin-filled acts against others. Help me not to listen to the accounts of evil which steal my joy. I pray instead for love to prevail. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
August 10 Scripture
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delight. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light.
(Psalm 36:7-9)
As a writer, I am constantly amazed at scripture’s beautiful imagery. The metaphors (implied comparisons) in this passage are fascinating. Notice this is like young ones taking refuge under the wings of a mighty bird (the adult) when the storms of life come. Mama birds do this in the nest, or when the little ones are in danger. She gathers them close to her when assailants appear. The nurturing of the Lord’s Presence is just like that. And then, when we visit Him, He refreshes us with food and drink, for His is the fountain of life. He wants to see us thrive; our gifts of life and nourishment are from His hand. What an analogy to our life walk, which is not always easy. He knows. Jesus humbled Himself to live with us—born in a rustic stable, not a pristine hospital room with attendants; He had no home; he suffered temptation but knew no sin. God knows the depth of sorrow, the grief of seeing evil in His beautiful world, and attends to the needs of His children.
Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, I thank You for blessing me beyond measure. It is wonderful to know that You provide just what I need when the struggles of life come, and I am too weak even to ask for help. How great You are! Amen.
August 11 Scripture
Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. (Isaiah 54:4-5)
One of my favorite contemporary Christian songs is
Chris Tomlin’s – “Whom Shall I Fear [God Of Angel Armies]”. (https://christomlin.lnk.to/tomlinandfriendsID) or YouTube.
. I urge you to listen to it. Its theme is that God is faithful, and we are to believe God’s promises, no matter what we are facing.
Isaiah the prophet was called to present God’s message to the Jews. He foretold the birth of Christ. In this chapter he gives hope to those in the Babylonian captivity. In difficulties we face in this life, we can be assured that our compassionate God hears our prayers and answers them when the time is right. He will amaze us. He has a mighty army, and in Isaiah’s prophecies, He sees Jesus as our Redeemer. He was oh, so right. Call on Jesus and He will listen, even right this minute.
Prayer:
Lord God, Almighty, right this minute I call on Your angel armies to help me. I know You are faithful to those who call upon Your name. In Jesus’ precious Name, I ask You to bless:………………………….I know Your angel armies are present there, for Your hosts are always ready to do Your bidding. Take away my unbelief and thoughts that I am alone, for that is never the case. Praising You. Amen.
August 12 Scripture
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol to which You are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
Ecclesiastes is an interesting book—some negative thinking is here, but the reminder is that life is short and whatever striving we do in it, death eventually comes. It’s a reality from the day of Adam and Eve’s fall in the paradise of the Garden of Eden. We all make choices of how to live our lives, and if we prayerfully consider our choices, we recognize the gifts God has given us, and when we commit to serving Him, He puts us where we can best use those gifts. Then, He gives us the strength to accomplish His purposes. Let us never be trapped by thinking we can earn His favor. We cannot earn salvation. It is His gift of grace, but we can work, use our thoughts or knowledge or wisdom while we are here. We are not to sit idly by when He calls us to action. Even ants, we are shown in scripture, work together for the good of all. So, we need to evaluate how we can best serve God and His causes and He will bless those efforts.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to commit to the best use of my time to serve You and those around me, not with a sense of pride of accomplishment, but as a blessing to You Who works through me for the good of Your kingdom. I am Your servant. Change my plans into Your clarion call to serve, to bless others, and to accomplish Your mighty deeds in my humble service to You. Send me on Your mission; set me on the right course. In Your service and for Your Kingdom’s sake. Amen
August 13 Scripture Read the context: Chapter 15 David’s Song of Thanks:
O, give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name; make knows his deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
(1 Chronicles 15: 8-10)
David just exudes praise in every possible way in this passage from 1 Chronicles. We know he was a musician, a shepherd, a king, a warrior against the Philistines, and although there was sin in His life, which he confessed, and although he was pursued by Saul who wanted to kill him, he rejoiced in the Lord. When you need words to express your joy in the Lord, read this passage and praise God for David’s remarkable ability to praise God.
I have written, in the style of David, over one hundred poems called “My Psalms.” They are, like David’s, responses to my daily struggles and victories. Try writing some yourself!
Prayer:
O Lord, indeed, I praise You this day through the words of Your servant David. He recounts Your very presence, Your beauty in creation, Your guidance, and Your continued blessing toward the nation of Israel. And I, this side of the cross, praise You for the saving work of Your Son, Jesus and strive to pen the words like You gave to David. Accept the praise of my lips through the precious gift of scripture this day and always. In the blessed Name of Jesus, I praise Your Name. Amen.
August 14 Scripture
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
This passage has been used as a warning, and rightly so, that nations which reject God are doomed. It was not made for America, but for Israel, and God indeed chose Israel and gave into man’s request for a king-rule. The following is the entire passage from 2 Chronicles.
Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. For now, I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. And as for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my rules, then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to rule Israel.’ “But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will pluck you[up from my land that I have given you, and this house that I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
Prayer:
Lord, You are unchangeable. Your Word, once given, is forever. I pray for our nation, its leaders, as I am called to do. The New Testament church was told pray for those in authority over them, and I do this day. Your principles still stand. Heal our land, I pray. Amen.
August 15 Scripture
O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord. To Him who rides in the heaven, the ancient heavens, behold He sends out His voice, His mighty voice. Ascribe power to God Whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. Awesome is God from His sanctuary, the God of Israel—He is the one who gives power and strength to His people. Blessed be God. (Psalm 69:32-35)
As I write this, NASA astronauts have just arrived safely, thank God, from their history-changing trip about the moon. It was a Godincidence for them. In their news conferences and interviews, they “ascribed power to God” just like David did in this Psalm. The universal gift of grace, the beauty, power, intricacy, and wonders of creation, has always called man to know there is a greater power than mere man., Our “religions” identify that power. Most, except Christianity are man reaching out to a higher power, through idol worship and man’s efforts to impress his gods. Only in Christianity does God seek to communicate with man, through the Presence of Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord. Without Christ coming to teach us about His Father and sending the Holy Spirit to bless us with that knowledge are we blessed beyond our understanding. We indeed can know the Creator.
Prayer:
Lord, through the wonders of nature I see Your handiwork, but only in Christ can I know You as the sustainer of the world and can I know You as My God. I thank You for Jesus and that I am blessed to worship You in spirit and in truth. In His Name. Amen.
August 16 Scripture
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is my strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73: 25-26)
When we can express our contentment because we know beyond all doubt that God is in charge, we can live our lives abundantly. Even in failing health and the ravages of aging, we can know that it’s all fixable, or we’re getting closer to the gift of eternity with Christ on the throne in heaven. What better future can we imagine? We know that wealth does not bring happiness, but having the satisfaction that God will provide for our needs is a satisfying truth. When we live expectantly each day, knowing that God will bless our relationships and our experiences when we look for His blessings, it is enough, isn’t it? When we know we can trust the present and the future to His providence, we can live as His children, sharing our joys with others who need to know this peace as well. Let’s go do life with Him today.
Prayer:
Lord, You have blessed me continuously, whatever state I am in. You keep me from stumbling when I ask You to guide me. You overflow blessings of food and shelter by preserving my going out and coming in because I walk with You. You sow me lovingkindness and tender mercies, so many times a day I cannot possibly know what You are doing on my behalf, and Your gave me the amazing gift of Jesus, Who gives me purpose and comfort in whatever plans You have for me today. My friend Jesse puts it this way: “I’m too blessed to be stressed!” He’s right! Amen.
August 17 Scripture
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
(Matthew 11:28-30)
At the end of a busy teaching day, I used to drop my satchel of papers I needed to grade, empty my lunch box, pour a glass of tea or grab something for a pick-me-up, and plop into my favorite chair, and sigh. It was good to be home where I could relax, lay down the burdens of the day—the parent calls I needed to return, the late papers I had to grade because Little Johnnie or Sweet Suzie had missed yet another deadline, and lesson plans were due tomorrow. I reveled in this verse. As I sipped my iced tea and briefly thought, “what am I fixing for dinner?” I yearned for rest for my body and my soul. I love this verse. I know when I am overwhelmed, Jesus is ready to listen and to comfort. Now, in retirement, I have fewer of those burdens…doctor appointments, happy hour in ten minutes, food shopping, lunch dates with friends, or grandchildren’s concerts. I still get home and collapse, rest my weary bones, and thank God for another lovely day. He listens, revives my strength, and is always there.
Prayer:
Lord, You know all too well the strain of too much to do, too little time, distractions, frustrations, and the conscious effort of seeking peace. You, the Prince of Peace take time to refresh my soul-weariness when I call on Your name in times of need, and in times of gratitude for another day You have mercifully given me. Thank You for Your Presence, and for Your caring about me. Amen.
August 18 Scripture
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, (Colossians 3:12)
Paul gives a lesson on what behaviors exist in those who are born again, followers of Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ time criticized him for “hanging out” with sinners. Theirs was a legalistic follow-the-rules practice. Jesus called them “whitewashed tombs” and other things because of their hypocritical attitudes and judgments. Jesus showed another way. He healed beggars while they scorned them. The Good Samaritan story heaped loads of animosity toward the leader who passed by on the other side of the injured man. So, Paul reminds us that we are to be the ones who stop to help the helpless, the ones who encourage the shut-ins, visit the sick, provide for the lonely, and heal the psychological needs of others. It is not by accident that Christianity establishes the hospitals, the hospices, the sanctuaries for the homeless and downtrodden of society, and saves unborn babies from the atrocity of abortion. It is because our attitude of gratitude for God’s mercy changes our hearts and gives the missional vision of love.
Prayer:
Merciful heavenly Father, You have shown us such love, that while we were (and still are) sinners, You sent Your beloved Son to teach us the right way to live. It’s not always easy to love the unlovable, but You teach us patience and forbearance. May we be the Mother Teresas for those who need care. May we find time to practice lovingkindness in gratitude to what You give to us. Amen.
August 19 Scripture
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
(Lamentations 3:21-23)
The context of this hopeful passage is that the writer catalogs all the horrid things that have happened to him, yes, his laments. He is suffering from illness, loneliness, and seeks relief. It is one complaint after another, yet he arrives at this understanding of God’s compassionate care for him. Have you ever noticed? The physical pain we suffer at night seems to lessen with the morning! After we’ve tossed and turned, trying to find a restful sleeping position, morning brings renewal. And we find we can accomplish the day’s tasks after all. I never noticed this phenomenon in younger years, probably because I never gave myself a thought. I just had to carry on. I am so thankful that God renews our strength…sometimes as the eagle’s, He tells us in another part of scripture. God is good all the time, but I like mornings best.
Prayer:
Lord, after I suffer some lamentable experience, it is refreshing to know You bring comfort and healing. It may be recovery from surgery, or the assaults of too much exercising, or results of a fall with bruises to the body and to my pride. Whatever torments come in this mortal life, it is You, Great Physician, who heals my body, calms my nerves, and provides rest for weariness and hope for better moments to come. In grateful praise for scripture’s reminders of Your mercy which is new every morning, I await the joy of noticing Your healing touch again. Amen.
August 20 Scripture
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15: 5-7)
Certainly you have noticed, and revel in, the times when Christians get together. Even if you’re traveling to unknown places and worship with a new congregation, you’ve never met before, there should be a noticeable harmony and welcome as kindred believers if the congregation is “doing church well.” Corporate worship is a time to join with other saints, united in prayer and praise and the preaching of scripture. The cloud of witnesses to the resurrection has a palpable difference from other “social” gatherings.” There is the welcoming of the Holy Spirit which binds Christians together in fellowship. There is no such thing as a “lone ranger Christian.” We need fellowship with one another for accountability. Iron sharpens iron, and we need each other to stand firm in our convictions against a fallen world dominated by the devil who prowls about to capture us for his kingdom rather than the Lord’s. Stay connected with other Christians and live in harmony in worshiping the Lord of Lords.
Prayer:
Thank You Lord for times when I can fellowship with believers, either in corporate worship, small accountability groups, or serving You in making the world a better place. Thank You for holding us together with a lasting tie that binds, to quote the old hymn. Amen.
August 21 Scripture
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil I will bring healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:7-8)
Being around know-it-alls is challenging, because it results in our feelings of inadequacy. But a person “wise in his own eyes” lives a life of stress and always trying to be the best, in always have the right answers, and in calling attention to himself or herself. Scripture encourages us to be teachable, to be humble, to be open to learning and new experiences, to never cease to wonder and explore ideas, and to be all we can be in God’s beautiful creation. But, we are to be humble, not proud, not authoritarian like the Pharisees, and certainly not trying to impress God for our own salvation. Christ paid the price for us all. Our response can be in service, but we are not to trust in ourselves to be “good enough” for God to notice. All glory belongs to Him, Almighty God, Creator and Sustainer of our souls.
Prayer:
Lord, it’s a fine line I walk as Your child. Yes, I want to remain humble, relying on You, but pride teaches me to strive to be the best me I can be. Help me to always remember that I can bring honor to You only as I diminish in importance. Just as John the Baptist considered himself unworthy to even touch Jesus’ sandals, may I humbly bow in Your presence and serve You in humility. Help me to always be teachable by showing me new aspects of Your holiness, and may I worship You in spirit and in truth. I am Your servant, Almighty Lord. Amen.
August 22 Scripture
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Hebrews 12: 5-6)
That word discipline is defined: discipline implies training in habits of order and precision. School implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master. https://www.merriam- webster.com/dictionary/discipline
It is not by chance that Jesus chose a group of individuals we still call disciples. They, and we, are disciples because we are learning the ways of God as exhibited by Christ’s leading. Yes, we too are disciples, and God “disciplines” us by teaching His principles and expectations. It takes contemplation to make these principles permanent.
We will never attain perfection, yet we have already attained righteousness because Jesus has washed out slates clean through His sacrifice, and to Him, we are now redeemed. So let us not beat ourselves up because at the end of the day we “discipline” ourselves by counting the sins of omission and commission that we have noticed in just that one day. No, rather, pray for strength against temptation and thank God that we are loved by Him just as we are.
Prayer:
Merciful Heavenly Father, I thank You for loving me enough to show me where I can better love and serve You. Discipline my mind and heart to reflect Yours, and train me well in the pathways I should be taking. Amen.
August 23 Scripture
You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depth of the earth. Your eye saw my unformed substance; in Your book was written every one of them, the days that were formed for me when as yet there was none of them.
(Psalm 139:13-16)
When she was just minutes old, I whispered these words to my daughter, Nancy Carol, born this day in 1981. The hospital priest came in to tell me she had the face of an angel, a perfect porcelain doll. I told Him that God made her to be a blessing, and indeed she is. He knows everything about her as His creation. And He has already numbered her lifespan to the minute. Isn’t it awesome that even before I knew I was pregnant, God kept that secret to Himself, known only to Him. Verse 17 praises God better than my words ever could: “How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!”
Prayer:
Lord, God, I praise You that I and each of us, is fearfully and wonderfully made, with souls that can express our thanksgiving and worship of Your Holiness and Your plans for each life. Thank You for choosing me to mother my son and daughter. Thank You for bringing them into Your kingdom. Thank You for the miracle of birth and the greater one for sure, each New Birth in Jesus Christ. You celebrate the two births of Your saints. Amen and Amen.
August 24 Scripture
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)
As a young child, I stared at the large stained glass window of our sanctuary wondering why Jesus stood outside a door, knocking on it, with an expectant look on His face that someone would finally open it. In my childhood’s attempts at storytelling, I felt His anticipation that He just couldn’t wait for someone, a good friend perhaps, to open that door and greet Him with a big hug. I wanted to know who was behind that door. Jesus already knows which person will open it to Him.
Later, as my faith walk brought me understanding, I knew that window was an expression of Matthe 7. He indeed can’t wait to love who’s behind that door. He will bear gifts, He will embrace those God entrust to Him.
In one of God’s riches blessings, brought through much pain for our congregation, that church building burned to the ground, but besides the organ and its pipes, the firemen saved that stained glass window. That one front wall, the altar area, still stood. It has been years since I’ve seen it except in my mind’s eye, and many saints have since answered that knock on the doors of hearts.
Prayer:
Lord, God, You knocked, and I answered the Call. In the darkest corners of the world, Your call to Jesus is spread by church planters, by dreams and visions where persecution exists. Your Second Coming is delayed so others can still answer and You’re there for them. Amen.
August 25 Scripture
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory, He may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-16)
Imagine, with me, that you were sitting in the small new church at Ephesus and this letter from Paul arrived. With breathless anticipation, you hear this message of encouragement. Paul couldn’t be there, but His presence was through these words. My understanding is that of all the early churches Paul established, this one did not thrive. Were they not astonished by these words and Paul’s prayers for them? Hopefully, we long to discover the “breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that WE may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, fill me to the brim with love and thanksgiving for the magnitude of Your love, that You would sacrifice Your life, from birth in a lowly stable, to wandering the earth without a home, to see Your closest ones struggle to understand Your mission: betrayal and mistreatment by officials, hypocritical Jewish leaders who rejected Your mission of salvation, and still do. You died for us—Your love for us is beyond measure. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
August 26 Scripture
The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, and
a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know Your name put their trust in You. For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples His deeds! For He who avenges blood is mindful of them; He does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
(Psalm 9: 10-12)
This Psalm is a litany of times when the people of Israel were saved by God’s mighty hand. It begins with these words of thanksgiving and praise to God who guided them and to us who see where God has sustained His chosen people. He does so even today. “I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. (Verse 2)
Today, as I write this, our military forces are engaged in actions against Iran. Israel is a partner as they and we battle an enemy determined to destroy us in the name of Islam. Battles between good and evil recount constant struggles. The Old Testament is replete with encounters; the New Testament Christians were dominated by Rome. Sometimes miraculous events, attributed to God’s protection, bring us to prayers of thanksgiving and praise. God, not man, has chosen the victors.
Prayer:
Lord, we pray for those in harm’s way and pray for peace. We praise Your Name for protecting Your people and long for the Peaceable Kingdom, where war will cease and You promise Your peace. Maranatha, come quickly, Lord Jesus. We await Your promised return to rule. Amen.
August 27 Scripture
“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”
This prologue to the Lord’s Prayer suggests that our prayer life is a time of communicating with God, not in a showy manner, but in a personal relationship. God waits for us to utter what we, our children, have to say, and often answers in ways only we can understand. He already knows our concerns. Picture Him as waiting for us to verbalize the communication so He knows we see our need for His intervention and trust in His good judgment. It’s both humbling and reassuring, isn’t it?
Prayer:
Lord, God, Almighty and yet Abba, Daddy, Father, while I sometimes struggle to try to solve issues in my own abilities. If I had just come to You, humbly, You’ve been already changing the situation. You show me compassion and love. You’ve been waiting for me! Why, then, am I so stubborn, or want others to think well of me with my attempts at religious eloquence? When I come to You when no one is looking, and just say, “Jesus, help me,” I find the answers I am seeking. You know my needs before I express them, and I’m thankful for that! Amen.
August 28 Scripture
Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God
in His holy habitation. God settles the solitary in a home; He leads out the prisoners to prosperity but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. (Psalm 65:6) Rain in abundance, O God, You shed abroad, You restored Your inheritance as it languished; Your flock found a dwelling in it; In Your goodness, O God, You provided for the needy. (Psalm 68:9-10)
Over and over in Scripture, God shows His care for the poor and those who struggle in this life. It is not by chance, but by design, that Jesus was born in a stable, that He never owned a home, that He left Heaven’s glory to dwell among us in humility. Yet, David, in this Psalm, who spent long days and nights alone in the fields, away from home, outdoors with no shelter, sometimes wishing for refreshing rain in a harsh environment, could identify with those without homes, or worse yet, imprisoned.
Later, as a king, He still identified with those who suffered, and often wrote about God’s caring for them. Can we identify with those who need our help in this world? Do we care enough to see how God provides for the humble and weak, as Jesus did?
Prayer:
As part of my tithe, Lord, I find ways to help those who are living in poverty and food shortages. Open my privileged eyes to be loving and kind to those who strugglea and give me a compassionate and loving heart.
And, while I’m at it, help me always appreciate the blessings I have and give You thanks for the myriad ways You bless my life each day. You are benevolent beyond measure. Thank you for Your goodness to me. Amen.
August 29 Scripture
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
(Matthew 5:6-9)
Continuing with the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us a model of how God wants us to live, trusting in Him for all things, living with humility of spirit, and having the sure knowledge that His way is best for His followers. All of them are based on caring and loving others. The rewards of living this way are attributes, nor financial or fame or other worldly “gifts,” but are the beauties of selflessness, an enduring peace and sense of fulfillment. To God be the glory for showing us a better way to live in this fallen world!
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You came to earth in humility, a sharp contrast to Your heavenly abode, just to show us that true happiness in this life is living for others, showing that earth’s temporary rewards of “things” where moth and rush corrode and all the riches of the world are worthless when we lose our souls, are unimportant and will perish. You provide what is most important—a relationship with Jesus that endures the test of time and is more precious than the pearls and rubies of earthly accounts. I am thankful that You provide for my needs, not my wants, as I humbly rely on Your treasure, knowing the King of the Universe and the eternal mansions in the sky. What more could I possibly desire than what You provide? Amen.
August 30 Scripture
For he sees that even the wise die; and fools and the stupid alike must perish and leave the wealth to others. Their graves and their homes forever, the dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. Man in his pomp will not remain; he, like the beasts that perish. (Psalm 49:10-12)
Like other places in the Bible before Jesus’ resurrection, the Psalmist shows that all men are due to die, that they can’t take their wealth in a caravan after their hearse carried them to the grave, and that Sheol, the place of the dead, is the habitation of the rich and poor, and even then beasts of the fields. Not so for those who know God’s gift of Jesus to the world. For not only will their good deeds and reputations be remembered, their faith and commitment to Jesus and their repentance will result in the resurrected life to come. It has nothing to do with merit or riches or achievements; it is by faith alone in the Savior of the world. What awaits us? There will be no more tears, no more death, and we will be with our Precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Prayer:
Lord, I come to You in thanksgiving for the Savior Who loved me enough to die for me. In another place in this Psalm, we read: Truly no man can ransom another or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit. (verses 7-9) Thank you, eternally, for Jesus, who indeed paid the debt for my soul. In His Precious Redeeming Name, Amen.
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