Too much talk

A gossip tells everything, but a true friend will keep a secret. ~ Proverbs 11:13 (CEV)

And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. ~ 1 Timothy 6:20 (MSG)

KEY THOUGHT:

Talk can drag you down.

PRAYER:

Lord, it is so easy to jump into the river of rumors and be carried away in its currents. Part the waters of gossip and hearsay. Destroy my urge to chase popularity. Let me walk on the dry ground of honesty. Lead me to the high plains of integrity. Then, without regrets, I will rejoice in your word. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)

Fully forgiven

All Saints Day

Keep up your reputation, God; Forgive my bad life; It’s been a very bad life. ~ Psalm 25:11 (MSG)

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! ~ Ephesians 1:7 (MSG)

KEY THOUGHT:

Because of who he is, God's forgiveness far exceeds our sinfulness.

PRAYER:

Gracious God, thank you for sending Jesus into the world to secure our forgiveness. I still get hung-up with guilt. Give me the faith to fully embrace the freedom that is mine in Christ. I want to live without worry over how things are working out. Amen.

Witnesses

Give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make his deeds known to all people! ~ Psalm 105:1 (CEB)

We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the savior of the world. ~ 1 John 4:14 (CEB)

KEY THOUGHT:

Make sure that what God has done is made known to everyone.

PRAYER:

Thank you, God, for sending your Son, Christ Jesus, into the world to upgrade our humanity and to save us from the sin that drags us down. Forgive me for being so casual with this good news. Open my eyes to the opportunities around me to make known the news about our Savior. And please provide me with the appropriate words to say for the moment. I am going to be a faithful witness to what you have done. Amen.

God's doing

Remember the wondrous works he has done, all his marvelous works, and the justice he declared... ~ Psalm 105:5 (CEB)

Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. ~ Matthew 14:19-20 (NLT)

KEY THOUGHT:

Choose to be part of what God is doing.

PRAYER:

God, there is no end to the amazing things you are doing. You heal, you feed, you give justice, and in your mercy you save. Yet, I'm still caught up in my small corner of life. Expand my horizons so that I can better be a part of what the three of you are up to. Amen.