Caution!

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. ~ Genesis 3:6a (NLT)

What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? ~ Luke 9:25 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Beware, lest you give up the good and healthy gifts of God for a false promise of more.

PRAYER:

Lord, you have already given us so much. But for some reason I'm always wanting more. And that desire clouds my judgment so that I easily fall to temptation. Forgive me for my greed and for how quickly I give in. Please intervene at the first thought that I might become more powerful or controlling. I am going to follow Jesus, the humble self-sacrificing Savior in all these matters. Amen.

As promised

Here is what the Lord has said for all the earth to hear: "Soon I will come to save the city of Zion..." ~ Isaiah 62:11a (CEV)

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” ~ 2 Corinthians 1:20a (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

God acts as promised. Perhaps he even under promises.

PRAYER:

Faithful Lord, you do what you say you are going to do. That's more than I can say for myself. I intend to follow through -- but things come up. Please help me to stay on task. Because of your focused faithfulness you are my only hope. So I am going to trust in what you have done and are doing through Christ Jesus, my Savior. Amen.

Justice

The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.” ~ Psalm 12:5 (NLT)

Won’t God provide justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he be slow to help them? ~ Luke 18:7a (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

God will certainly provide justice to his people -- so I don't have to worry about that.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, thank you for seeing all the wrong that is done to people and for promising justice. I confess that I try to take justice into my own hands or speed it along according to my schedule. Please give me the patience to wait. I know that your timing is perfect and that anything I do on my own will only complicate matters and make things worse. You alone, with your broad divine perspective, have the wisdom to schedule justice. Amen.

Protected and Safe

O Lord, please, please, please do not withhold any of your mercy from me. Uncap the medicine bottles holding your always effective love and your pure faithfulness. Pour them all over me in order to forever protect me from all that threatens my life. ~ Psalm 40:11 (ABP)

Now may God himself, the God of peace, make you pure, belonging only to him. May your whole self—spirit, soul, and body—be kept safe and without fault when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. You can trust the One who calls you to do that for you. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NCV)

KEY IDEA:

We look to God to keep us safe.

PRAYER:

Lord, I am so grateful to be under your care and protected by your power. I easily take all that for granted and at times stray too far from you. But because your reach is so great you continue to care for me even then. However, I don't want to push things. I want to remain close and surrounded by the blanket of your love and faithfulness. I'm trusting you. Amen.