MERCIFUL LIFE-GIVING PRESENCE

NEHEMIAH 9:31 (ABP)
God, because you are incredibly kind you didn't snuff out your rebellious people. You stuck with them because you are merciful.

JOHN 14:19 (CEB)
Because I live, you will live too.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God is a life-giving presence determined to treat us better than we deserve.

DAILY FODDER
The resurrection of Christ is the guarantee of our own future resurrection. How does this hope breathe life into you today? How does the resurrection shape the way you are currently living?

PRAYER
God, you continue to bombard us with kindness. You breathe new life into the weak and vulnerable. I regret that I take such shallow breaths of your mercy – just enough to get by. Help me to respond to your life-giving breath by breathing in deeply. Because you live, I've got a life, too. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

TRUST THE CREATOR

ISAIAH 45:12 (NLT)
I am the one who made the earth
     and created people to live on it.
With my hands I stretched out the heavens.
All the stars are at my command.

JAMES 1:17 (MSG)
Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Since God is the reliable creator it makes sense to trust him and his approach to sustaining it all.

DAILY FODDER
Describe a situation where you thought you had a better handle on things than God. How did you get past that?

PRAYER
Father of Light, I admire your handy work, even though I barely slow down enough to ponder it. I'm so busy trying to come up with ways to fix things that I can't see all the ways that you're dealing with things. Open my eyes to see what is raining down from heaven. I'm going to trust you to deal with both the simple and complicated challenges we all face. You are the only reliable actor in this drama. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

WHAT GOD DOES FOR US

PSALM 91:9 (CEV)
The LORD Most High is your fortress.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:5 (NLT)
For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Even when we are suffering because of our alignment with Christ, he is busy taking care of us.

DAILY FODDER
Why should people suffer for doing the right thing – the Christ thing? What saves you from discouragement when you suffer?

PRAYER
Risen Christ, you suffered on our behalf to overcome death for us. Yet, we still face difficult and painful times as we wait for the day when we're living fully in the resurrected life. Save me the despair that hits when I feel overwhelmed by the present. Lift me up with a fresh glimpse of what is to come. I'm putting my life into your hands. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

GOD WINS

EXODUS 14:14 (ABP)
Just sit tight and stay out of the way. GOD will do all your fighting.

1 CORINTHIANS15:57 (MSG)
But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God!

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Christ Jesus is ultimately the winner so join his team and let him do all the fighting.

DAILY FODDER
How is it that we're supposed to "fight the good fight" (1 Timothy 6:12) and at the same time stand down and let God fight the battles?

PRAYER
Mighty God, you overcame the great human problem – death. You raised Christ and established a new paradigm for living rooted in his new life. I admit that I allow matters from the old defeated regime to worry me. Help me to let you do the fighting. I'm going to share in your victories by partnering with you. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.