The wonder of creation

Lord, you have done so many things! You made them all so wisely! The earth is full of your creations! ~ Psalm 104:24 (CEB)

And why do you worry about clothes? Notice how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t wear themselves out with work, and they don’t spin cloth. But I say to you that even Solomon in all of his splendor wasn’t dressed like one of these. ~ Matthew 6:28-29 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

The wonder in creation points us back to the wisdom and faithfulness of God the creator.

PRAYER:

God, you are such a wonderful and thorough creator. Nothing and no one escapes your attention. I, however, am blind to the wonder. Help me to notice what gets lost to my attention. Show me again the wonders of creation so that I can more fully appreciate the wonder of you, the creator. I'm going to set aside my worries and lose myself in the splendor of your creation. Amen.

God saves

With tears of joy they will come; while they pray, I will bring them back. I will lead them by quiet streams and on smooth paths so they don’t stumble. I will be Israel’s father... ~ Jeremiah 31:9 (CEB)

The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them. ~ Luke 19:10 (NCV)

KEY IDEA:

Be happy because God is going to look out for struggling people.

PRAYER:

God, thank you for the ways that you have looked out for me, too. I certainly know what it means to be a lost and struggling person. Forgive me for worrying that you will not show up in time. Help me to learn how to relax and trust that you are already present during even the most trying time. I am going to celebrate your mercy and faithfulness. Amen.

Promised peace

And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. ~ Ezekiel 37:26 (NLT)

He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. ~ Ephesians 2:17 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

God's promise of peace exceeds his words.

PRAYER:

God, you are a God who makes, keeps, and exceeds promises. This is so evident in your promise of peace to the Jews. Not only did you reconcile them to yourself, but you extended the same reconciliation to all people. That's a great gift -- that I don't take seriously enough. I let fear rather than peace define my life. I am as eager as the rest to make war against our enemies. Fill me with a fresh enthusiasm for living out your promised peace. I am going to move forward as an agent of your peace no matter what happens. Amen.

Compassionate God

God, your God, will restore everything you lost; he’ll have compassion on you; he’ll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where you were scattered. ~ Deuteronomy 30:3 (MSG)

Come near to God, and God will come near to you. You sinners, clean sin out of your lives. You who are trying to follow God and the world at the same time, make your thinking pure. ~ James 4:8 (NCV)

KEY IDEA:

Turn your life back over to God -- completely - - and you will experience his compassion.

PRAYER:

Lord, your compassion is beyond my grasp. No matter how hard I try I can't understand just how deep your pockets of compassion go. Forgive my spiritual laziness. I am too easily satisfied with just some good intentions. I need you to help me completely implement your plan for my life. I am going to revel in your compassion, in Jesus' name, Amen.