Call out

The danger of death was all around me;
the horrors of the grave closed in on me;
I was filled with fear and anxiety.
Then I called to the Lord,
“I beg you, Lord, save me!” ~ Psalm 116:3-4 (GNT)

Jesus' disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re about to drown?”
Jesus got up and ordered the wind and the waves to be quiet. The wind stopped, and everything was calm. ~ Mark 4:38b-39 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Call out to Jesus when the storm in your life is raging and he will take care of you.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, I'm in awe of the way that you stopped that storm. I wish you'd stop the storm around me. But I knonw that you don't always do things in exactly the same way. I do know that you will take care of me. I am counting on that. Please remove all the panic from my life so that I can fully trust you. Amen.

God dwelling in us

Solomon said: “But can you, O God, really live on earth? Not even all of heaven is large enough to hold you, so how can this Temple that I have built be large enough?" ~ 1 Kings 8:27 (GNT)

No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love! ~ 1 John 4:12 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

While neither the heavens and earth -- nor the temples -- can contain God -- when we love he dwells in us.

PRAYER:

God, you are such a mystery. You can't be contained within creation; yet you dwell in the people who act in love. How can this be? Forgive me for allowing myself to be paralyzed by what I don't understand. Help me to move forward in simple faith and to major in loving the others. I am confident that as I express your love to others, you are living in me. What a joyous mystery! Amen.

No fear!

Just as a bird hovers over its nest to protect its young, so I, the Lord Almighty, will protect Jerusalem and defend it. ~ Isaiah 31:5 (GNT)

Meanwhile, God’s firm foundation is as firm as ever, these sentences engraved on the stones: God knows who belongs to him. ~ 2 Timothy 2:19 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

God protects his people.

PRAYER:

Lord God, thank you for looking out for me. I confess that I let fear take over too often. I do things and say things because I am afraid. Help me to remember that I don't have to be afraid. Help me to trust that you will protect me, no matter what happens. I'm going to build my life on you the solid foundation. No fear! Amen.

Children

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. ~ Psalm 127:3 (NLT)

Some people brought children to Jesus so that he would place his hands on them and pray. ~ Matthew 19:13a (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

God sees children as a welcome gift, rather than an annoying nuisance.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for the welcoming adults that you put into my life when I was a child. I was not an easy child and they must have had lots of patience. I'm not as patient as they were or as you are. You welcome children but I would be happy if I did not have to bother with them. Please give me a heart for children and all that goes with it -- patience, love, grace, and compassion. I want to welcome children in the same way that Jesus welcomed them. Amen.