Restoration

So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!”
But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. ~ Psalm 3:2-3 (NLT)

A man who had a skin disease came to Jesus. On his knees he begged Jesus. He said, “If you are willing to make me ‘clean,’ you can do it.” Jesus became angry. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing to do it,” Jesus said. “Be ‘clean’!” ~ Mark 1:40-41 (NIRV)

Lord,

THANKS: Thank you for healing us -- for restoring our dignity as human beings.

REGRETS: I'm way too casual about trusting you to do the really hard things -- like healing and restoring us so that we are clean. I don't think so much about these things until they are right in front of my face.

INTERCESSION: Help me to trust you for more areas of my life.

PURPOSE: I'm going to live confidently knowing that you have your shield wrapped around me.

Amen.

Fruit

I am the Lord. I watch over my vineyard. I water it all the time. I guard it day and night. I do it so no one can harm it. ~ Isaiah 27:3 (NIRV)

Jesus said, "You are my true disciples when you produce a lot of fruit. Bearing much fruit brings much glory to God my Father." ~ John 15:8 (ABP)

Lord, it is your vineyard. And we are the branches growing on your vine. Thank you for putting me in such an interesting garden. Sometimes I ditz around and don't really get to the business of producing fruit. I've got so many other things that I'm trying to do with my life. So help me to focus on what is really important -- bearing fruit for you. I know that you are going to watch over and care for your branches. I'm going to live as a true fruit-bearing disciple. Amen.

God's loyalty

The 17th Sunday after Pentecost

You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! ~ Psalm 27:9b (NLT)

Jesus said: And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. ~ John 6:39 (NLT)

Kind Master,

THANKS: It's funny that we worry so much that you would abandon us. But you have never abandoned your people. People abandon you, but you are loyal.

REGRETS: I'm one of those people who worries. But when I think about it, my worry is that you will not bless me with what I want. And that feels like abandonment. I understand that you wouldn't really leave me high and dry. But I have the notion that things will not move the direction I want. Maybe in the long run that is a good thing.

INTERCESSION: Help me to chill with the worry. I need to quite thinking so much about what I want and to look toward what you want.

PURPOSE: I'm going to live in confident faith that you are here with me -- no matter what happens. And that is enough.

Amen.

Have pity on me

When wrongdoings become too much for me, you forgive our sins. ~ Psalm 65:3 (CEB)

The tax collector stood off at a distance and did not think he was good enough even to look up toward heaven. He was so sorry for what he had done that he pounded his chest and prayed, “God, have pity on me! I am such a sinner.” ~ Luke 18:13 (CEV)

Gracious God, thank you for your mercy. It never ends. I wish that I could say the same for my sinful ways. I still do and think stupid things that I should have left behind years ago. It is so frustrating to see how long it has taken to make even a little progress. Have pity on me. I'm such a jerk. No matter what, though, I'm going to continue to trust in your mercy. Amen.