“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”  Romans 5:3-5

We can complain.  It is our choice.  But we can also rejoice.  Also a choice.

Lord, help me to choose to rejoice.

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  John 15:13

"Giving up" is not "quitting".  Giving up refers to "forgoing" or "relinquishing".  Quitting refers to stopping something.  Giving up is not stopping.  Giving up our time or our money or our comfort, in order to help someone else, is far from stopping.  Giving up something to help others is actually intentional and it is starting something good for others.

Lord, help me to give up.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6

A lot of uncertainty exists right now and that is making everyone considerably more anxious than usual.  We don't typically function well when we don't know what is going on.  Sure, a little uncertainty is understandable, but a lot of uncertainty makes us feel helpless.  We may not be in as much control as we prefer, but we are far from helpless.  God has given us a simple instruction on how we should not only deal with the circumstances that we face today, but the challenges of yesterday and tomorrow.  We must trust and depend on God.  It isn't a suggestion.  It is a command.  We must put His priorities of loving Him and loving others before our own goals of comfort and selfish desires and wants.  God can is using this time in history to bring us closer to Him and providing an unprecedented opportunity to help others come to know Him more.  It is our fault if we waste the opportunity to grow ourselves and to help others to grow.  And when we decide to trust, God will provide a peace that only He can provide.

Lord, thank you for giving a plan to deal with the challenges I face today and tomorrow and always and help give me the strength to trust in your plan and not rely on my own inferior thoughts and emotions.

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."  Romans 8:26

​We need to pray.  We need people to pray for us.  We need to pray for others.  We need prayer in various ways.  We need to stop worrying and wondering and thinking.  We need to pray.

Lord, ...

"For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,"  Philippians 1:29  

Why do we seem to believe that suffering is abnormal?  Where is it written that suffering is an unusual or even extraordinary experience?  Suffering is as equally possible as comfort.  If we have that perspective, we will be more thankful for all that we have.

Lord, help me to see what I have and avoid expecting to have everything, always.

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns.'”  Isaiah 52:7

We can complain and whine and be negative OR we can be the one who chooses to bring good news and to help others to see what they should be thankful for.

Lord, help me to be the messenger of good news.

"My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.” Colossians 2:2

Goals change.  Goals change mainly because we change.  We evolve and find ourselves in different phases of life, where our priorities change and thus our goals change.  One goal should always remain the same.  

Lord, help me to never lose sight of what is important and that my number one goal is to know you more.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”- Jeremiah 29:11-13

We worry because we don't know.  We worry because of uncertainty and our lack of believe in our own ability.  God has a solution to worry.  Trust that He has a plan and that His plan and ability is better than ours.  And then pray to God and ask for peace and for understanding and for the ability to deal with anything ahead.  

Lord, help me to trust in Your plan and thank you that you not only have a plan but it is vastly better than my desires.

“Don’t boast about tomorrow, for you don’t know what a day might bring.” Proverbs 27:1

We all think we know what will happen tomorrow or we at least hope we know.  We actually do know what will happen tomorrow ... it won't be what we expect.  Our expectations are mostly formulated on desires and "wishes" and maybe even, hope.  The only guarantee about tomorrow is that we don't know exactly what will happen.  If this is the case, then we need to spend less time "predicting" and "expecting" and more time praying and trusting.

Lord, help me to pray for tomorrow and trust today.

“There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven…”  Ecclesiastes 3:1

There is a time for everything, both good things and not so good things.  Now is the time to build on and acquire the skill of resilience.  Now is the time to trust God more than you ever have.  Now is the time to help others.  Now is the time to show Jesus to others and not simply tell people about Jesus.  Now is the time to ask for help if you have always been too proud to ask.  Now is the time to spend time with family and grow closer together.  Now is the time to pray because there is a lot to pray for and you have the time to do it.  Now is the time to be a thermostat and not a thermometer.  

Lord, help me to take advantage of this unique time in my life.