"Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin."  Proverbs 24:16

Our past and current behavior and actions will never prevent future trials from occurring but they will impact how we are able to manage and overcome those trials.  Christ did not come to make our lives easy.  Christ doesn't help us to win the lottery or win the big game or win life (as the world defines it).  He came to save us from our own sins and to help us to deal with the trials of this life.

Lord, help me to see the correlation between my actions and my ability to overcome the difficult parts of life.

"Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Leave it up to us to take something that is meant to be about God and make it about us.  We find it easy to justify most of our actions with any piece of authority that seems to go along with what we find important.  This verse shouldn't be the source of our dietary preference or workout addiction.  This verse is about God and nothing else.

Lord, help me to avoid co opting Your words for my benefit.

"Peace I leave with you. My Peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful."  John 14:27

​When we are uncertain, we worry.  When we are not sure of the outcome, we worry.  When we don't know what will happen, we worry.  When we are not in full control, we worry.  When we work really hard to try to find more certainty or to insure the outcome or to figure out what will actually happen or put more time and effort into control things more, but none of those things work, we worry even more.  Peace, the kind that only God can provide, can not be earned or obtained by our own efforts.  Peace, the kind that only God can provide, can only be obtained by asking for it and then believing that it is provided to us.

Lord, thank you for the peace, that you provide, that passes all understanding. 

"He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." Ephesians 4:16

​We are all not meant to be the exact same.  We are not all supposed to think the same or act the same or want the same thing.  What if everyone in the world liked the exact same things?  Same food.  Same places to live.  Same people to date or marry.  The world would lack resources and there would be even more conflict than there is now as everyone would be competing for the same stuff.  What if the world had one color?  No rainbows.  No options.  One color.  It would be hard to see anything and distinguish one thing from another.  Not to mention, pretty depressing.  What if everyone was the same height and weight and had the same ability?  Sports would be boring.  There would be a lot of ties.  We hate ties (sorry soccer people).  

Lord, help me to see people as being different but not difficult and help me to be okay with that difference but also to see why that difference is better most of the time, than how I often see it as worse.

"Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray."  Mark 1:35

In track and field, if a sprinter gets out before the starting gun is fired, a second gun is fired and the race is halted.  It is against the rules to get a head start.  It would be helpful if we had a gun fired whenever we start our day without praying first.  A reminder to get back into the blocks and to start the day correctly. 

Lord, help me to avoid false starts and help me to pray more before starting anything of value. 

"...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life-a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28

​Jesus didn't come to be served.  Jesus also didn't come to make our life easy or comfortable.  Jesus doesn't shield us from the ugly realities of the world.  Jesus helps us to deal with the crud that happens to us and around us.  However, Jesus does save us from an eternal ugliness.

Lord, help me to realize that Your purpose is not to keep me from pain on this earth but to help me with the pain that is inevitably going to happen to me and those around me.  

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."  2 Corinthians 3:17

​God wants us to be free.  Free from the things that control us.  Free from the things in our life that dictate our thoughts and actions.  Free from the things that keep us from loving God and loving other.

Lord, help me to identify the things that keep me from being free.

Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"  Matthew 14:29b-30

We can either look to Christ as we navigate the rough waters of life or we can focus on the choppy waters around us and then only look to God when the water is up to our necks.  Either way, God will save us.  One option is merely less painful than the other.

Lord, help me to focus on you from the beginning and continue to focus on you throughout any trial.

When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: "Brothers, what must we do?" Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”Acts 2:37-39

When we don't know something, we need to ask.  And after we ask, we need to be open to hear what God has as an answer.  And then, we need to act appropriately in response to that answer.

Lord, thank you for always having an answer.  Help me to ask and help me to respond to the answer.