God listens

Hear my prayer, LORD!
Listen closely to my cry for help!
Please don’t ignore my tears!
~ Psalm 39:12 (CEB)

The Canaanite woman moved in closer to Jesus, dropped to her knees, and started begging, “Please, Master, you've got to help me!” ~ Matthew 15:25 (ABP)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God will not ignore your cries for help.

PRAYER
Help me, Lord! I know that I'm not perfect and that I don't really deserve your attention. But ultimately you're really all I've got. Help me to remember this in the heat of the moment -- the moment of desperation. I can be so forgetful and tend to freeze in panic when I'm facing challenges. I'm going to turn to you for relief. Amen.

Promise keeper

The rainbow that I have put in the sky will be my sign to you and to every living creature on earth. It will remind you that I will keep this promise forever. ~ Genesis 9:13 (CEV)

God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed.

We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. ~ Hebrews 6:18 (CEV)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Make God's promises your hope.

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for the hope that you pour into our world through your promises. I acknowledge that a lot of my hope is built on less reliable sources. I'm easily taken in by promises of quick and easy -- new and improved. Help me to shift away from shallow solutions and to lean again on your solid promise of new life in Christ -- in the new creation which you are establishing. The next time I see a rainbow I'm going to remember that you are a promise keeper. Amen.

Strange ideas

Call in the astrologers and stargazers. They’re good at this. Surely they can work up something!

Fat chance. You’d be grasping at straws that are already in the fire,
A fire that is even now raging. ~ Isaiah 47:13-14 (MSG)

Don’t be misled by the many strange teachings out there. It’s a good thing for the heart to be strengthened by grace ... ~ Hebrews 13:9 (CEB)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
There is no end to the harebrained experts who would love to distract us from the grace we receive through Christ Jesus.

PRAYER
Kind God, thank you for sending Christ into the world to set things right. I'm grateful to be a part of his plan. I confess, though that I'm easily distracted by some of the looney experts who are looking for their own following. Help me to discern truth from error and to keep my gaze fixed on Christ Jesus. I'm going to look to him as my guide and guru. Amen.

Unending grace

You will know that I am the LORD... when I have honored my name by treating you mercifully in spite of your wickedness. ~ Ezekiel 20:44 (NLT)

Jesus: "The thing about God is that he is always good and kind -- even to ungrateful and cruel people." ~ Luke 6:35 (ABP)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
There is no cap on God's grace.

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for the grace that you extend to me -- even when I continue to mess up my life and sometimes the lives of those around me. Forgive me for allowing my ego to govern the way I share that kindness with others. I pray for all those who cause me problems -- my neighbors and family members who are such a pain. Help me to extend the grace I've received to them. Amen.