Do not limit the limitless God! With Him, face the future unafraid because you are never alone.
From Jeremiah 29:11-12: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon Me and come and pray to Me, I will hear you.”
Lettie B. Cowman (1870-1960) was an American writer of Christian devotional books.
There is nothing more difficult than to ask. We will long and desire and crave and suffer, but not until we are at the extreme limit will we ask.
From Luke 11:10: “For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher. Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons. Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.
From Psalm 25:4-5: “Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all day long.”
Darkness filled with stormy seas
Navigating all alone
Waiting and watching
Jesus witnesses man’s every groan
Better days surely coming
Spring forward, full of grace
Watching and hoping
Jesus shares righteous branch, now embrace
His way leads to higher ground
Bringing mercy’s salvation
Hoping and trusting
Jesus rebuilds faith’s new foundation
Moments of earnest prayer
Transforming grace taking flight
Trusting and praising
Jesus forgives with redemptive light
Faith nourished with comfort’s love
Raising Resurrection’s bridge
No longer waiting
Jesus offers way to heaven’s ridge
From 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10: “For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with Him.”
Experiencing
Daily blessings
Heavenly Father above
Source of faith’s comfort
Joy
Praising
Father’s love
Redemption from Savior
Each sin washed white
Peace
Prayer’s
Intimate conversation
Father’s daily grace
Heart opened, hearing Him
Hope
From Luke 2:6-7: “While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in bands of cloth and laid Him in a manger.”
Echoes ring with “Merry Christmas”
To everyone and all
Filled with goodwill’s peace
Witness in each joy-filled call
Deck every hall with love so rich
Each generation shall praise
Gifts of hope opened
Light from Bethlehem ablaze
World no longer suffers darkness
Humble manger shares love
Beneath heavens’ stars
Christ-child descends from above
Dreams of promised peace awakened
Gratitude filled with joy
Faithful kneel to pray
Each shepherd set to deploy
From Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favors.”
From Psalm 85:8-9: “Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people, to His faithful, to those who turn to Him in their hearts. Surely His salvation is at hand for those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.”
Uncertain darkness
Surrounds me this day
Humbly take a knee
Bowing now to pray
Prayers calling God
Remain unhurried
Unanswered questions
Never be worried
Christ’s teachings feed thee
With the bread of life
This eternal gift
Blessings without strife
Lord of life and love
He feeds and frees all
Through His Holy Word
Never builds a wall
Allow me to pause
God prods thee along
Hearing His questions
Answers make me strong
God everlasting
Faith remains with thee
Through life’s harsh chaos
Calming stormy seas
From Romans 10:10-13: “ For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in Him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on Him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'”
Originally published September, 2020.
From Psalm 118:1: “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever!”
Giving thanks, praising Father
His enduring, steadfast love
Faith today, hope tomorrow
Embracing grace from above
Kneeling in daily prayer
Father listens with patience
Faith today, hope tomorrow
Transforming our impatience
Taking refuge with Father
His righteousness leads forthwith
Faith today, hope tomorrow
Overcoming evil’s myth
Surrounding witness of light
Father blazes road ahead
Faith today, hope tomorrow
Nourishing with daily bread
Grasping wisdom of Father
Skies no longer full of gray
Faith today, hope tomorrow
Directing our best, His way
From Psalm 118:24: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Patience is not simply the ability to wait–it’s “how” we behave while we’re waiting.
From Romans 12:12: “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer. “
Joyce Meyer (born 1943) is an American Christian author and speaker.
Summer sunrise lights up the vast Montana prairie
Fields of grain smelling like sweetest confectionery
Farmers and ranchers always start up their days early
Full and hearty breakfast, making any man feel burly
This morning’s itinerary calls for baling hay
Alfalfa windrows cannot wait around all day
With tractor pulling an old baler, creating perfect bales
Gentle morning breeze fills out the air like a ship’s sails
Midday arrives, there’s time for a quick, tasty bite
Wife packs dinner with her usual special delights
Afternoon heat and wind suspend all baling for now
Starting up the swather, cutting hay as time allows
Thinking about next week, wheat looking to ripen by then
Combine stands ready and dependable, just like Big Ben
About an hour before sundown, pick-up truck returns home
Just enough daylight to check a few cows where they roam
Supper bell will be ringing soon, so need to finish now
Washing up, sitting down with wife, enjoy hearty chow
Praying together, evening transcends with the setting sun
Thankful for the Lord’s help with another day’s work done
Originally published August, 2020.
Answered prayer is the interchange of love between the Father and His child.
From 2 Chronicles 7:12-15: “Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him, ‘I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain or command the locust to devour the land or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.'”
Andrew Murray (1828-1917) was a South African Christian pastor, writer, and teacher. He believed that Christians should always place a great emphasis on maintaining a rich, personal devotional life.
Big Sky Buckeye 