"'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.'"  Jeremiah 29:11-13

​We may think that our life is a disaster at the moment.  It isn't.  It may not be what we expected but nothing ever is.  We may be facing challenges and trials but it isn't a complete disaster.  God can salvage anything from our current situation.  We simply must pray as God is listening.

Lord, help me to overcome whatever I may be going through today that may feel hopeless and a complete disaster.

“They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshipped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.”  Romans 1:25

God created all of the cool things we have.  God created all of the cool things that you are.  God should get the credit for anything we have and anything we are and are able to do.  

Lord, help me to always remember You are the source of all that I am and all that I can be.

“They said to each other, ‘Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?’”  Luke 24:32

We appreciate reminders when they are "welcomed reminders".  We struggle to be reminded of things when they are not something we welcome.  We all need reminders.  We forget all of the time. This is one main reason why church attendance and daily bible reading and daily prayers are extremely important.  These activities remind us of the decision we made at an earlier time to follow Jesus.

Lord, help me to maintain the activities in my life that remind me of how much I love you.

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” Philippians 3:13

We are fools to think that we will ever be complete or achieve all that needs to happen.  We are not done, nor will we be done.  Life is a constant process.  Once we understand this fact, we will have a better perspective on life and have less expectations that life can be tied up in a nice bow.

Lord, help me to realize that I, as well as all those around me, are a work in process.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”  Psalm 37:4

When you are a kid, you dream of the day that you have enough money to buy anything you want.  Then, you grow up and have money and realize that you can buy everything that you want but you realize that it is more wise to only buy everything that you need.  You still want things but you realize that not everything benefits you.  You can buy the whole candy or snack aisle at the grocery store but you know what will happen later so you don't do it.  Our desires are different WHEN we delight in God.  The "Delight yourself in the Lord" portion of this verse is essential.  That is why it is there and that is why it is first.

Lord, thank you that my desires are more in line with Your desires and when they are, you give generously.

"Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” Philippians 2:3-4

When was the last time you actually asked someone how they were doing.  Not in terms of a greeting.  But really asked someone how they were doing and meant it and then took the time to listen to what they had to say and then even asked a follow up question.  It is amazing how much time goes by when most people never ask another person how they are doing.  Interesting is that most people will offer up how they are doing without any prompt.  The reason is that we want to tell people how we are doing or what is going on but must offer it up without any prompting because no one takes the time to ask.  What would happen if we all asked others how they were doing and meant it?  Most likely, people wouldn't feel the need to offer up how they were doing without prompting and they may actually ask us how we are doing so we don't have to offer up without prompting either AND we would all be more receptive to what people are actually sharing.

Lord, help me to think of others and ask them "how they are doing" and really mean it.  

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”  John 10:10

God has a purpose.  His purpose is to give us purpose.  And that purpose is rich and satisfying.

Lord, thank you for not leaving me hanging.

“Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, 'Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he replied. Then God said, 'Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.'” Genesis 22:1-2

"Positive test" has a different meaning today than it did for most people a year ago.  Most "positive tests" are negative experiences.  Most tests, for that matter, are not very positive experiences.  God tests us.  Abraham was tested.  Abraham passed the test.  How do we respond when we are tested?

Lord, help me to be a good "test taker".

“We have this kind of confidence toward God through Christ. It is not that we are competent in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our competence is from God. He has made us competent ... ”  2 Corinthians 3:4-6

God has provided two ways for us to have confidence.  God has given us the tools that we need and we should believe in those God given gifts.  God has also given us Himself and we should always believe in Him and what He can do for us.

Lord, thank you that I don't have to be one of those people who don't have confidence.

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.”  Isaiah 43:2

One of the most helpless feelings a person will ever have is when they find themselves in a body of water or river and start to sink and can't get out.  Ask anyone who has fallen out of a river raft and caught in the swell or anyone who has gotten sucked out into the ocean by an unexpected undertow.  Fighting for breath and to keep your head above water is the most helpless and hopeless feeling.  God knows this and that is why He uses this to help us understand that He is with us, always and He isn't just watching us struggle.  He is there to help us out.

Lord, thank you for always being with me and not being a spectator.