Psalm 1

The way of the Righteous and the Wicked

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. 

Dear God, 

What would You have me learn from this passage? That the wicked will perish. God, as I reflect upon the promises You have made to those that are the least of these and I see Your heart for them reflected in passage after passage throughout the Scriptures, and as I reflect upon what the republicans are trying to do that would harm the least of these, I do see the wicked nature of the republicans and Trump. And it scares me. I pray again for Your divine intervention on behalf of the least of these. And I humbly bow to You, God, asking that You do have Your way with the wicked people in the Republican Party who attempt to harm the least of these. Deal with their hearts and their souls. Deal with their minds. The wicked are like the chaff that blows on the wind. God, keep my heart soft so it can hear Your voice. 

Thank You. 

In Jesus' Name, 

Amen

I Live in You

"To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." - Colossians 1:27

Other translation: God decided elect his people know this rich and glorious truth which he has for all people. This truth is Christ himself, who is in you. He is our only hope for glory. - Colossians 1:27

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:14-19

Other translation focal verses: I ask the Father in his great glory to give you the power to be strong in spirit. He will give you that strength through his Spirit. I pray that Christ will live on your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. - Ephesians 3:16-17

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." - John 1:5

"But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day." - Proverbs 4:18

Dear God,

You will live in my heart because of my faith. The more I trust You, the more Your Spirit will bless me and the more You will live through me. You are my only hope for glory. You are the only way to heaven. You are the light that shines in the darkness. As I follow You along the path of my life, the light will grow brighter and brighter. Thank You God for lighting my path and shining Your light through me. 

Thank You.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Either Way, You Win!

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - I Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." - Psalm 143:8

Dear God, 

Even though it is Sunday, the problems related to the proposed budget of hate for the disabled, the elderly, and the veterans are still present as is the problem with regard to healthcare for the least of these. God, You say that You will take care of the least of these and that You want others to help take care of them. Yet everything the republicans are proposing is dangerous and harmful to the least of these. So God, knowing what the Scriptures say about Your heart for the least of these, I ask You to take these worries of mine and I ask that You intervene on behalf of the least of these every single day. And I may ask every day, but I know that You care and I know that You hear me. Or at least I hope that You hear me. 

Thank You.

In Jesus' Name, 

Amen

My Word Is Alive

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." - Hebrews 13:8

"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." - Romans 8:29

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." - Psalm 119:105

Dear God, 

Your word is alive. Your word is working. Your words can touch my heart and change my life. Reading Your words helps me to become more like You. Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. 

Thank You.

In Jesus' Name, 

Amen

Waiting for Sleep

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning." - Psalm 130:5-6

"As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness." - Psalm 17:15

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." - Ephesians 3:20-21

"The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory." - Isaiah 60:19

Dear God,

Waiting for rest. Rest that never seems to come. Rest that seems impossible to get when your country is in an active battle between good and evil. Rest that seems impossible to get when republicans are attacking the least of these at every turn. God, give me rest. 

Thank You.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

At the End of the Day

And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." - Exodus 33:14

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:4-7

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." - John 8:31-32

Dear God, 

Today I give You my worries over healthcare and budget issues that the republican monsters are using to try to harm the least of these. I give You my worries and thank You for the work that You will continue to do to protect the least of these. 

Thank You.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Live Bravely!

"Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!" - Psalm 31:24

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. - Romans 8:15-17

"To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." - I Timothy 1:17

Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. - Hebrews 3:5-6

Dear God,

Your Spirit lives in me. I have everything I need to be strong and brave if I only just put my hope in You. Living bravely means doing the right thing even if no one else is. Living bravely is sticking up for those who cannot stick up for themselves. Living bravely is helping and serving others. Living bravely is telling the world about You even if I get made fun of. When I live bravely, you make me even stronger and even more courageous. God, in this politically charged environment in America where the republicans are constantly attacking the least of these on matters of safety nets and healthcare, help to unabashedly stand up for the least of these! 

Thank You.

In Jesus' Name, 

Amen