SHUT DOWN

ISAIAH 38:17 (MSG)
It seems it was good for me to go through all those troubles.
Throughout them all you held tight to my lifeline.
You never let me tumble over the edge into nothing.
But my sins you let go of,
threw them over your shoulder—good riddance!

1 JOHN 3:18-20 (MSG)
My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Through Christ God shuts down the negatives that hold us back from godly living.

DAILY FODDER
What are the negatives that hold you back from becoming the person God is calling you to be? How is he shutting them down?

PRAYER
Thank you, God, that you don't hold my sins against me. I admit that I don't easily let go of the negatives. I let old sins haunt me and stress over my short-comings. Help me to see my life as you see it. I'm going to trust in your wisdom to make all things right—even me. Amen

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil. Amen! 

FEARLESS

PSALM 27:1 (MSG)
Light, space, zest—
that’s GOD!
So, with him on my side I’m fearless,
afraid of no one and nothing.

PHILIPPIANS 4:13 (CEV)
Christ gives me the strength to face anything.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Because of the presence of Christ in my life I'm not afraid.

DAILY FODDER
I have daily themes that help me with praying. Wednesdays are "Worry Wednesday" and I pull everything out of the box that worries me. I talk to God about wars, health issues, environmental destruction, political instability, racial injustices... I ask God if there is anything new I should be doing about these matters and I listen. Then I mentally return them to the box for weekly storage. Over time I've found that these issues no longer overwhelm me during the week and I'm not afraid.

PRAYER
Lord, thank you for believing in me and in what I can become with your grace. I confess thay my attitude needs some tweaking, as I tend to give more weight to negative self-talk than what you would say about me. Help me to live more in that reality and encourage others to do the same. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition) 

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil. Amen! 

READY AND LISTENING

ISAIAH 50:4 (MSG)
He wakes me up in the morning,
Wakes me up, opens my ears
to listen as one ready to take orders.

ACTS 16:14 (CEB)
One of those women was Lydia, a Gentile God-worshipper from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in purple cloth. As she listened, the Lord enabled her to embrace Paul’s message.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
We're only able to embrace God's agenda as we're in a listening mode.

DAILY FODDER
Is your prayer life characterized more by listening or talking?

PRAYER
God, I'm grateful that you give good instructions. I confess that I don't always hear what you are saying through scripture and circumstances because I lack wisdom and because I talk a lot. Help me to reprioritize my approach to communication -- even prayer. I'm going to talk less and listen more. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil. Amen! 

EVENTUALLY

PSALM 22:27 (CEB)
Every part of the earth
will remember and come back to the Lord;
every family among all the nations will worship you.

MATTHEW 13:33 (CEV)
Jesus also said:
The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a woman mixes a little yeast into three big batches of flour. Finally, all the dough rises

SUMMARY SENTENCE
In the midst of all the chaos and uncertainty in the world, we can be cetain that eventually the message of Jesus will permeate to everywhere, and people will turn to him and his ways. 

DAILY FODDER
How do you find encouragement in such discouraging times?

PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for the good news that eventually your Kingdom will spread. I confess that at times I get discouraged by all the bad news and I almost give up hope. Recharge my battery and show me how to be a non-anxious witness about what's ahead. In Christ I am an optimist. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil. Amen!