PRESENCE

PSALM 84:10 (GNT)
One day spent in your Temple
is better than a thousand anywhere else...

LUKE 2:49 (CEB)
Jesus replied, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?”

THE ESSENCE
A healthy relationship with God is characterized by time in his presence.  

DAILY FODDER
How do you regularly seek out God's presence? Does it involve a time, place, group of people, solitude, or a devotional practice that raises your ongoing awareness that he is present?  

PRAYER
Gracious God, I'm amazed at the way you are constatly seeking us out. You want to be with us, even though we are at best indifferent to your effort. Teach me to seek out your presence. When I do that, I'm told, I'll recognize that you are already here with me. Jesus, your are the presence of God in the world, and in my life. 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

PROMISE

ISAIAH 66:22 (CEV)
I also promise that you will always have descendants and will never be forgotten, just as the new heavens and the new earth that I create will last forever.

JOHN 1:49 (CEB)
Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are God’s Son. You are the king of Israel.”

THE ESSENCE
Jesus' regime lasts forever.

DAILY FODDER
If Jesus is king over a coming forever regime, it behoves us to pledge our allegiance and align ourselves with him starting now. What will characterize this "new heavens and new earth"? Where do you go to find an answer to this question?

PRAYER
King over kings, Lord over lords, thank you for the promise of a forever rooted future. Forgive me for embracing the discouragment and dismay of our age. Show me how to embrace the promised hope and how to allow it to filter into every aspect of my life. I pledge my allegiance to you and your coming kingdom. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, I'm striving to align myself with your ways, King Jesus. 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

RESCUED

PSALM 81:7 (GNT)
   When you were in trouble, you called to me, and I saved you.

MATTHEW 14:30-31 (GNT)
   But when Peter noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water. “Save me, Lord!” he cried.
   At once Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of him.

THE ESSENCE
God seems to delight in rescuing his people.  

DAILY FODDER
In what ways have you experienced God's rescue in your life? 

PRAYER
God of abundance, thank you for resuing me from distress. Keep my fears from getting the best of me. When I open a new door, remind me that you are on the other side. I am always in good company when you are with me. Help me to bring hope to any hand that reaches out to me. 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

RELIABLE ROUTING

ISAIAH 25:1 (CEB)
LORD, have done wonderful things,
planned long ago, faithful and sure.

HEBREWS 10:23 (GNT)
Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise.

THE ESSENCE
We can put our trust in God to do what he has promised because he has proven trustworthy. 

DAILY FODDER
What are you having to trust God to do these days?  

PRAYER
God, thank you for guiding us through this topsy-turvy journey of life. I admit that I have trouble trusting your navigational direction, not because you are unreliable, but because I can be an independent koot. Just as my navigation device in the car constantly reroutes me to compensate for all my wrong turns, please continue to reroute me on my life journey. I'm counting on you to get me home. 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.