Yesterday was a difficult day for me. My left hip and back were screamingly present with pain. Forgive me for not posting. I am including both day 25 and 26 in today’s post.
Day 25
It is with an attitude of gratitude that I confess that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and that although the times seem chaotic, man’s need for God’s guidance and forgiveness does not change because man thinks he controls his own destiny. I am fully convinced He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, and He still numbers the hairs on our heads and is cognizant of each sparrow’s fall. Therefore, we live in the knowledge that God is in control, that we are His children, and that He will help us face persecution, trouble, deprivation, and difficulty because He strengths us with knowledge of martyrs and saints who have gone before us.
Today’s Scripture: “Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:38-39).
Prayer: Lord, even in this age when men continue to mock You and those who follow Your plan, I know the truth of the Scriptures, and the blessings of knowing that nothing happens in this world without Your control. Help us today to remember your Holiness, Your Sovereignty, Your Mighty Hand, and Your Comforting Presence as we see Your hand in history, even the events of this day. In the praised Name of Jesus. Amen.
Day 25 Scripture references to God’s Sovereignty
Psalm 77 From distress to belief: “Then I thought, ‘To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High,’ I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all Your works and consider all Your mighty deeds.” (Psalm 77: 10-12) Read the rest of the Psalm.
“I am the Lord Your God, who churns up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord Almighty is His name. I have put my words in Your mouth and covered You with the shadow of my hand—I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’” (Isaiah 51: 15-16)
A scene of heaven: “And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and His image, and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: ‘Great and marvelous are Your deeds, Lord God Almighty, Just and true are Your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.’” (Revelation 15: 2-4)
Day 26
I maintain an attitude of gratitude for this truth. The freedom to live in our wonderful country, even with all its flaws and invitations to retribution for her faults, I am filled with an attitude of gratitude to have been born in this time and place in history. God has truly blessed me when I think of the alternatives.
A huge percentage of women in this world spend 2/3 of their time providing food for their families, growing sparse crops, winnowing wheat or rice, slaving over wood fires, carrying heavy containers of water from sources far from home, without a voice, without rights we consider necessary, without hope, without medical care, and without solace as they watch their babies die in their arms. I am truly blessed, and express my attitude of gratitude for my privilege, even my expectations. By no means is it entitlement. It all could be so different.
Today’s Scripture: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)
Prayer: Lord, I acknowledge my complete dependence on Your mercy and Your protection, and live in thankful obedience to Your provision and love for me. In whatever circumstances within the realm of this life, I thank You that I can call on Your Eternal Name. In the joy of knowing Jesus, I rejoice. In His Name. Amen.
Day 26 Scripture references of Thanksgiving for my life in this time and place and my true citizenship.
“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.’ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: ‘Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!’” (Revelation 7: 9-12)
“God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 1:27-31)
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