Day 15

               Lord, help me to know You are enough, enough for today, tomorrow and eternity. Keep me from envying those around me that have more wealth, health, prestige and power. I know that my value in all these things lie in You but my deceitful heart wants to compare my current lot with others. Help me to turn my focus onto You whenever I might get caught in the trap of wanting more because others have more. Provide Your peace and comfort to supplement my contentment in all things. Whenever I lack in wealth, health, prestige and power, provide as You see fit so that You may gain the glory. You know me better than I know myself so keep me supplied to the level that I would lean on You and not myself. God, I need You both in times of want and in times of plenty. I pray this in the name who satisfied my greatest need, Jesus Christ.

 

Day 14

               Be still my soul, and help me feel the presence of your Holy Spirit. Oh Jesus, I know You hold not only the past and future but the present in Your mighty hands. How could You allow those same hands to be pierced when You were completely holy and blameless? It is beyond grace and love the path You choose to redeem me from myself and sin. My deeds that I strive to do fall so far short of what You have done and accomplished. And yet I am prone to fall into the trap of working towards greater grace and goodness in Your eyes. Help me to see the folly of doing better and rely on You and Your once and for all gift. Remove the tiredness and the struggle of striving and let me rest in the comfort of Your completeness. In Your name I pray.

 

Day 13

               Lord, as I move through the days you grant me and draw me near to Easter, examine my heart as only You can. See if there be any wicked way in me. You know my heart better than I know myself and I rely on You to bring up anything that I might hold onto instead of You. Purify me as only You can and help me to be vulnerable before You. God, I know that You continue to transform me from glory to glory, more like Your beautiful Son, Jesus. At times, Lord, I feel Your powerful touch. At other times, I confess that I have moved away from You and I can’t seem to find You. I long to remain in Your will but my heart wanders at times. Help me to see the cross, the picture of Your love for me, whenever I might be tempted to follow my foolish heart. In Jesus name.

Day 12: Lent 2024

Lord thank You for the Easter Holidays of my past. I am blessed to have Godly parents that knew You and Your salvation. I am filled with joy as I remember Easter baskets, new suits and dresses, fancy hats and the excitement of joining others in chapel worship services. Beyond the Easter egg hunts, I am grateful for the time with family and the story of the resurrection that would be shared throughout the day. Thank You Lord that Christmas isn’t the only story that needs to be shared, it is only tells about when You came to earth. I am also glad that Easter isn’t the end of Your Son’s story. As certain as Your victory over death, You will come again Jesus. Help me Lord, to share that story with as much excitement as my grandchildren have in a backyard Easter egg hunt. In Jesus name.

Day 11: Lent 2024

Father, God, I thank You for the new day. I thank You for the relationships You have given me. First and foremost, thank You that You personally saved me through Your Son, Jesus. Thank You for my wife and the gift of intimate love that we have shared over the years. I pray for her continued spiritual growth, physical health and mental well-being. Thank you for my children, their spouses and my grandchildren. I pray for the continued legacy of love for You will grow and flourish to unseen generations if You should tarry. Thank You Father for my life group, my church family and friends, my pastor and the church staff that serves You and me as well. The gift of relationship permeates my life as You have both planned and blessed me with over my time here on earth. With You and the people You have placed in my life, I am never alone. Thank You, Father that life is a shared experience, a journey where we carry one another as You have carried us. In Jesus name.  

Day 10: Lent 2024

“When morning gilds the skies, my heart awakening cries, may Jesus Christ be praised!” is the first line of an old song that calls us to worship first thing in the morning. I confess, Lord, my heart isn’t always praising you as I should when you give me another day, another opportunity to serve You. You are worthy because of Good Friday and Easter. You are worthy because of the 33 years you lowered Yourself to being a man and yet still God. You are worthy because You still sit at the Father’s side petitioning on our behalf when we don’t even know what or how to pray. You are worthy because you have all power, all authority both in heaven and here on earth. You are worthy because of Your great love, mercy and grace made a way for us as created beings to come before our creator and commune with You. Thank You, Jesus for the blood, the way and the life You lived to reconcile us to Yourself and the Father. In Your great name I pray.  

Day 9: Lent 2024

God, thank You for the still of the morning, the time when the day is fresh like the dew. My mind may be clear after a good night’s sleep or foggy from oversleeping but You still meet me here. The quiet stirring in my heart and soul comes from the peace of knowing You are faithful. Your protection throughout the night encourages me to face an uncertain day with a trustworthy God. As the day unfolds, it is good that I can turn to You no matter my problems, trials or triumphs. You are my constant companion whether I acknowledge You or not and have always been. I honestly struggle with this idea since my actions are not always Christ-like, falling short of who you call me to be. And yet, I know that You loved me when I was still lost in sin. What love, grace and mercy! In the name of the One we celebrate this season.