Chosen to trust

You can bank on this; I, the most powerful God, am in the business of protecting the people who are important to me -- including Israel. Everyone best take note of this. ~ Ezekiel 34:30 (ABP)

Jesus says: You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last. ~ John 15:16a (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

God takes care of his people so they can produce fruit.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for calling me to join you. I know that you have high expectations and that you think I'll be able to have an impact for you and your cause. I'm less confident than you and so I tend to take my mission less seriously than I should. Build my faith and confidence so that I can truly live up to my calling. I'm going to trust you and your understanding of what I can do for you. Amen.

Love

Thus, I am commanding you to give generously to those who are poor -- to your neighbors in need. ~ Deuteronomy 15:11b (ABP)

...you show love for others by truly helping them, and not merely by talking about it. ~ 1 John 3:18b (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Real love is what happens when people take care of those in need.

PRAYER:

Lord, because of your great love you left your heavnly throne above to step into our world. In doing so you addressed the greatest needs we had. You cared for the outcasts and broke the back of death. You freed us from the power and consequences of sin. Thank you. I wish that I cared enough to do that kind of thing. I know that I should follow your example and look out for those who have needs but I have trouble making it happen. Please strengthen your connection with me so that your blood flows through me and I become like you as I am empowered through the new life of Christ. My goal is to show love by caring for others -- using the love you provide. Amen.

Don't panic

No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner, Because God will be right there with you; he’ll keep you safe and sound. ~ Proverbs 3:25-26 (MSG)

Finally, let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. ~ Ephesians 6:10 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Trust the Lord to get you through the crises.

PRAYER:

Lord, I am grateful for your power. There is nothing that surprises you. There is no crisis that can mess up your plans. Yet, I worry about bad things happening -- political unrest, earthquakes, sea rise, storms... It's not that these things don't happen but that you are fully aware and you make yourself present with your people to get them through it all. Help me to trust you more and to put into practice what I know in my head. Help me to take risks and to even go into dangerous places. I'm going to be a calm and trusting follower of Jesus. Amen.

Return

I will tell them, “Come back, and I will cure you of your unfaithfulness.”

They will answer, “We will come back, because you are the Lord our God. ~ Jeremiah 3:22 (CEV)

Now that we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. And his Spirit tells us that God is our Father. ~ Galatians 4:6 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Return to God and he will make things better because he is our Father and we are his children.

PRAYER:

Jesus, you came to us as a child to give us your Father's inheritance. Most days I can't even open my hand or see in a neighbor's eyes someone you also love and want to save. With open hands and an open heart, help me share your currency of love with another person today. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)