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There are many things to be anxious about dear God. An uncertain future is before me. I have no choice but to enter it, but how will I walk into it. You tell me to not be anxious about anything, to present my fears to you in prayer, yet I struggle to verbalize my fears. The words seem to evade me. I simply ask for your peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding. Help me to present my fears to you, to release them to you, and replace them with your peace. May I rest in you and not let my fears rest in me.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Phillipians 4:6-7 (NIV)
© 2019 CGThelen
Where do I place my hope dear Lord? Do I expectantly anticipate the day when I can see you face to face? Am I like the Magi who traveled a great distance based on your sign, your prophesy? Do I have the same hope as they did? Their hope was fulfilled, made real when they came face to face with Jesus, the new born king. May I read the yet unfulfilled prophesies in scripture with the same faith.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” – Micah 5:2 (NIV)
“This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.” – Revelation 14:12
© 2019 CGThelen
Help me dear Lord to discern your truth in a world that bombards me with false hope. Give me the wisdom to see with your eyes, to choose your way. Let me not lose my first love, your love dear Jesus filling my life; the joy of your presence in my life. Show me Lord when I’ve fallen and help me get back on my feet. May your Spirit be evident in my life. Thank you for your love and grace.
“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” – Revelation 2:4-5 (NIV)
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” – Revelation 2:7
© 2019 CGThelen
I am worn out. My body is weak. I can barely breathe. It is difficult to find the words to speak to you dear Lord. In the midst of my fatigue, you strengthen me Lord. You reassure me in spite of my fear. Fill me with your courage dear Lord to face the unknown. May I find peace in knowing everything is in your hands.
“How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe. Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. ‘Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,’ he said. ‘Peace! Be strong now; be strong.’ When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.’” – Daniel 10:17-19 (NIV)
© 2019 CGThelen
What is the proper attitude when we approach God in prayer with petitions? At times it is difficult to discern if our requests are simply our own desires or if they reflect God’s desires. If we pursue a heart for God, our petitions to God should also be a desire for God’s will in our life and the lives of those around us.
Yet when I see people I love and care about scoff at you dear Lord, my heart aches. They discredit your name and worship the false gods of our age. I pray for a transformation of their heart, but nothing happens. I pray they will embrace a life for Christ, yet they continue in their ways. At times it seems God that you do not care that they profane your name.
In Daniel 9, I find that Daniel shares this feeling. He wants the destroyed temple in Jerusalem to be restored if only to bring glory to you God. He prayed, “Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name (verse 18, NIV).” In the same verse he then prayed, “We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.”
Help me dear God to reflect on the motivation of my prayers. I truly am not righteous. It is only because of your mercy dear God that I have been saved. Help me not to pray for a quick fix for the people I love and care about, but help me to pray for your mercy dear God. Help me to pray that they will experience your mercy; understand your grace; acknowledge they are not righteous, but only saved by your grace dear God.
“Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” Daniel 9:19 (NIV)
© 2019 CGThelen
I stick my toe in the water. It feels cold to the touch There is a nudge on my back. “Go in, the water’s fine,” I hear from behind me. I place both feet in the water. I want to return to shore, but I take another step, then another, slowly wading into deeper water. My body becomes more acclimated to the water. I am now waist deep and a wave crashes over me. I lose my balance in the sand below, but manage to stay standing. Soon wave after wave pounds me, but I choose to stay in the water. Determined now to press on, I move into deeper water. Soon I plunge into the water, totally immersed. I feel the water surround me. For this moment the waves are gone. I rise to the surface. Waves are still present, but I am now thoroughly soaked with living water.
“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” – Revelation 7:17 (NIV)
© 2019 CGThelen
This morning dear God I echo Job’s words: “Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power (Job 21:7, NIV)?” At times I feel helpless to influence this world for you. At times it feels as if those who reject you are winning. My efforts seem futile. They refuse to hear about your love and grace, about your son Jesus. Sometimes I repeat Elijah’s words, “I have had enough, Lord (1 Kings 19:4).” Yet I hold on to your words Lord: “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son (Revelation 21:7, NASB).” Help me dear Lord to overcome. Help me to hold onto your truths. May I rest in your strength, your love and grace.
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” – Daniel 7:13-14 (NIV)
© 2019 CGThelen
The sorrow runs deep, but so does my faith. People push me. The wind buffets me. Grief seeks to dislodge me, disorient me, but with God I am secure. Steady me dear God on the narrow road. When I teeter on the edge, help me regain my balance. Help me to keep my eyes on you dear God. Help me not to be distracted by looking to the right or left — to be focused looking forward to you.
“Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” – Isaiah 39:20-21 (NIV)
“Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” – Proverbs 4:27
“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.” – 2 Chronicles 34:1-2
“Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. – Joshua 22:6
© 2019 CGThelen
The world seems so overwhelming at times. The pressures come from all sides seeking to crush me. I feel as if I cannot stand. I feel defeated. Yet your word dear God continues to promise victory. Your promises declare we will overcome the world if we believe in your son Jesus Christ. Our strength to endure comes from you, not ourselves. Help me to hold on to your truths in a world that bombards me with lies and false hope.
“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” – 1 John 5:4-5
© 2019 CGThelen
“Stay in your lane.” I hear you telling me dear Lord. “Run the race I marked out for you.” Yet I see runners next to me, runners leaner and more fit. Runners with better coaches. Runners with a cheering section. Runners with supportive families. Runners with lucrative sponsors to help them.
“Stay in your lane,” God tells me. “This is the race I have marked out for you, only you.” He tells me this is the path he has chosen for me to run. He tells me he chose me for this race at this time. He tells me I am uniquely qualified to run this race, even though the people in the lanes next to me look better qualified to win. “Run the race marked out for you,” he shouts from the sidelines. “Victory is yours!” I have the best coach around.
My legs ache. I fight for breathe. I struggle to keep running. Voices in my head tell me to quit, but I press on. I can’t see the finish line. I don’t know if I can keep this pace. I watch other runners pass me with ease. I look ahead and see Jesus waving me on. “Follow my lead,” he smiles.
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. – Phillipians 3:13-14
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:1-2
© 2019 CGThelen
