Rescued!

I said to myself, 
“Relax and rest.
God has showered you with blessings.
Soul, you’ve been rescued from death;
Eye, you’ve been rescued from tears;
And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling.”
~ Psalm 116:7-8 (MSG)

By embracing death, taking it into himself, he (Jesus) destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death. ~ Hebrews 2:15 (MSG)

KEY THOUGHT:

Jesus is the victor we can trust.

PRAYER:

Amazing Savior, you've not only conquered death but you have released us to live life. Thank you for looking out for me, even when I allow fear, unfounded as it is, to define how I functon. Help me to more fully trust you so that I am completely fearless. Amen.

Hold tightly

If you don’t take your stand in faith, you won’t have a leg to stand on. ~ Isaiah 7:9b (MSG)

Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses. ~ 1 Timothy 6:12 (MSG)

KEY THOUGHTS:

Hold tightly to the life which God gave you.

PRAYERS:

Thank you, God, for calling me to live out eternal life. Forgive me for allowing lesser things to divert my energy. Prop me up so that I am standing firm. I want to stand without buckling. Amen.

Freedom

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so you would no longer be their slaves. I broke the yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk with your heads held high. ~ Leviticus 26:13 (NLT)

Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. ~ Galatians 5:1 (MSG)

KEY THOUGHT:

Christ has set us free to live for him.

PRAYER:

Thank you, God, for the freedom that we have in Christ. Forgive me for returning to the slavery of rigidly-defined rules and regulations. Help me to live by faith alone so that my life of service flows from freedom. Amen.

Second chances

Count yourself lucky— God holds nothing against you and you’re holding nothing back from him. ~ Psalm 32:2 (MSG)

The past is forgotten, and everything is new. God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us... ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17b-18a (CEV)

KEY THOUGHT:

God gives second chances.

PRAYER:

Thank you, God, for your generosity as it comes to us through Christ Jesus. You are a lot more gracious than me. I have trouble extending grace to others and myself. Awaken within me a fresh sense of the new thing you are doing and draw me into it. Second chances are going to become second nature to me. Amen.