Fruitful lives

So you must carefully do exactly what the Lord your God commands you. Don’t deviate even a bit! ~ Deuteronomy 5:32 (CEB)

My Father is honored when your life produces a lot of fruit. That's how you show that you are my disciples. ~ John 15:8 (ABP)

KEY IDEA:

We honor God when our lives produce Jesus fruit.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for giving me a new year in which I can start to produce more fruit. I really do want to honor you more and more. But I try to deal with the worries of life through unfruitful distractions. I do things which do not emerge from my relationship with Jesus. However, this is a new year and I'm asking for a fresh start. I'm confident that with your fertilizer and pruning I can produce fruit for you in 2018. Amen.

Deliverance

The first Sunday of Christmas

God said, "I’ve taken a good, long look at the affliction of my people in Egypt. I’ve heard their cries for deliverance from their slave masters..." Exodus 3:7a (MSG)

This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. ~ John 3:16 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

God sent his Son to deliver us.

PRAYER:

Lord, I'm most grateful for the Son you sent to deliver us from all that is associated with death. I believe. But I need to believe more and more often. Help me grow in my belief. My commitment for 2018 is that I'm going to be open to trusting you more and expecting to experience your deliverance in more ways than I previously realized was possible. Amen.

Unending blessings

Our days on earth are like grass;
like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
The wind blows, and we are gone—
as though we had never been here.
But the love of the Lord remains forever
with those who fear him. ~ Psalm 103:15-17a (NLT)

From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. ~ John 1:16 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

There is no end to the love that the Lord shows his people.

PRAYER:

Loving God, thank you for all the blessings in my life. There are lots of problems but your blessings truly overshadow the problems. Help me to keep things in perspective when I start to panic. I'm going to meditate on your promise to forever stay with those who fear you. Amen.

Here to help

Our holy God lives forever
in the highest heavens,
and this is what he says:
Though I live high above
in the holy place,
I am here to help those
who are humble
and depend only on me.
~ Isaiah 57:15b (CEV)
The Good News is being preached to the poor. ~ Matthew 11:5b (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

God is here to help those who realize that they are needy.

PRAYER:

Lord, I need some good news and you have brought it. I am too needy to make it on my own. When I am overwhelmed help me to actively trust in your good news. I am going to continue to depend on you. Amen.