GOD'S LIFE-SHAPPING WORDS

Ash Wednesday

(The beginning of Lent)

PSALM 119:41 (MSG)
Let your love, God, shape my life
with salvation, exactly as you promised...

LUKE 4:36 (NLT)
Amazed, the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!”

THE ESSENCE
God's loving words are powerful enough to reshape lives.  

DAILY FODDER
Identify one obvious and one not-so-obvious way that God's loving and powerful words have shaped your life. 

PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for all the ways that you shape and reshape my life. Forgive me for getting discouraged by my seeming lack of progress. Help me to trust that your love and your power will get the job done. I am available to you and your life-shaping words. Amen. 

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

GOD’S SECRETS REVEALED

DEUTERONOMY 29:29 (NLT)
The LORD our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.

COLOSSIANS 2:2-3 (GNT)
In this way they will know God's secret, which is Christ himself. He is the key that opens all the hidden treasures of God's wisdom and knowledge.

THE ESSENCE
Christ is the key to all of God’s "hidden" plans, knowledge, and wisdom.

DAILY FODDER
If the Bible generates more questions about God than answers for you, focus your attention on knowing Christ Jesus. He embodies God’s secrets. 

PRAYER
God, I appreciate that there are things I'll never be able to comprehend. Forgive me for acting as though I'm smarter than I am. Help me to grow in true knowledge and wisdom through my living connection with Jesus. He’s the one who most clearly reveals your mind. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

IMPLEMENTING HIS PLANS

MALACHI 3:1 (GNT)
The LORD Almighty answers, "I will send my messenger to prepare the way for me."

MARK 13:27 (NLT)
Jesus: And he will send out his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

THE ESSENCE
God's agents are implementing his plans.  

DAILY FODDER
Why does God work through angels and people when he could implement his plans by simply speaking them? 

PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, that no matter where I go you are there before me. Forgive me for doubting your purpose for me. Send me out as one of your messengers to love and to bless those you have chosen. May I live my life with the faith to go out in your name. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

FORGIVE

Transfiguration Sunday

GENESIS 50:17 (ABP)
So Joseph's brothers sent him a message after their father died. “Before his death, our father commanded us to tell you, ‘You must forgive your brothers’ sins—all of them. For they treated you with inexcusable contempt when they sold you into slavery.’ Will you honor the dying wish of your father and forgive the sins of these servants of your father’s God?”

EPHESIANS 4:32 (MSG)
Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

THE ESSENCE
Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

DAILY FODDER
Someone who has been deeply hurt needs to hear this word from God. Forgive the person who has wronged you. You don't need to embrace them as your best buddy but you need to let go of the crippling animosity that is building up. You can do this by focusing on how God has outrageously forgiven you through the actions of Christ Jesus. The power of forgiveness will begin to grow in you as you own the mercy that has been extended to you.

PRAYER
Merciful God, thank you for forgiving me. I admit, though, that I don't freely forgive those who have done me wrong. Help be to grow in awareness of the enormity of the forgiveness that comes our way through the sacrifice and victory of our Savior Jesus. I'm going to start forgiving the people who haven't treated me right. And I'm going to stick with the process of forgiveness, even if it takes me the rest of my life. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.