Father, thank You that You are the sovereign God who alone knows what is best for us. We’re not going to let a secret frustration sour our lives. We declare that Your grace is sufficient for us. Whether it ever changes or not, we declare that we’re still going to be our best and stay in faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

– Scripture:

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me…

                        2 Corinthians 12:7, NKJV

– Reflection:

Only God Knows

Scholars have speculated about what the apostle Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was, but what we know is that it was a secret frustration that bothered him so much that he prayed three times for God to remove it. Paul says that he thought the thorn in his flesh was to keep him from getting proud, to keep him from getting puffed up because of the great revelations he had been given. Only God knows the reason He allows thorns to remain in our lives, but nothing happens by accident. That secret frustration may just be for a time of testing. It may be for a time when you have to prove to God that you’re going to be content and do your best when things are not going your way. You’re going to keep giving even when you’re not receiving. You’re going to keep trying when every door is closing. You’re going to keep doing the right thing even when you’re not seeing right results. You’re simply going to stay in faith.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank You for the dreams and promises and relationships You put in our hearts. Thank You that we can shovel the dirt off them and know that You can wake up what we thought was dead. We declare that it is never too late to see our dreams come to pass. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

– Scripture:

Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”

                         Matthew 25:21, ESV

 – Reflection:

Serve in Honor –

There are times in life when we feel like we’re doing the right thing but not making progress. It’s easy to get discouraged and lose our passion. One test we all have to pass is being faithful when nothing new is happening. We’re just going to work, coming home, taking care of children, and doing the same thing again. Will you stay faithful when it feels like you’re going in circles? When you’re faithful in the routine, something is happening that you can’t see. Your character is being developed. Your spiritual muscles are getting stronger. The routine of life is not exciting, but it’s necessary. You won’t become all you were created to be without being your best when it’s mundane. When you’re doing the right thing with a good attitude month after month, you’re being prepared for where God is taking you. When God can trust you to be faithful in the ordinary, He will take you into the extraordinary. When you’re faithful on average days, you will see exceptional days.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank You for calling us to be faithful in the daily routine, knowing that You are preparing us for the new things You have in store. Thank You that You will take us from the ordinary to the extraordinary. We’re going to keep being our best, serving and loving right where we are. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 – Scripture:

Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.” Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk!

                               Luke 7:14–15, NLT

– Reflection:

Shovel the Dirt Off

I wonder how many times we’ve buried things alive. We tried, but the door to our dream didn’t open, and now we’re convinced it’s dead. We bury relationships. “Our marriage is done. We don’t get along.” We bury God’s promises. “I’ll never get well. I’ll never break the addiction.” At one time we believed, but now we don’t see any signs of life, so we buried it. But the good news is that God is going to wake up some things you thought were dead.

Those dreams you’ve buried, you need to dig them back up. Start believing again. Every circumstance may say, “You’ll never get well.” But when you say, “Father, thank You that You’re restoring health to me,” you’re shoveling the dirt off. When thoughts tell you, “You’ve gone as far as you can,” turn it around and say, “Father, You say my latter days will be greater than my former days.” That’s how you remove the dirt, and you’ll se e a dream that you’ve buried come to pass.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank You for the dreams and promises and relationships You put in our hearts. Thank You that we can shovel the dirt off them and know that You can wake up what we thought was dead. We declare that it is never too late to see our dreams come to pass. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

– Scripture:

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

                                 Matthew 6:34, NLT

– Reflection:

When we face challenges to which we don’t see an answer, many times there’s a voice constantly whispering, “What are you going to do?” With it comes the pressure to solve it, but when you’re comfortable not knowing the answer, it takes the pressure off. Somebody says, “I heard about your problem. What are you going to do?” Your answer should be, “I don’t know, but I am at peace knowing the One who does, and He says to not worry about it.” If there’s something about your health, your marriage, or your finances that you don’t have an answer to, quit trying to figure it out. Take the same time that you would normally spend worrying and wondering about it, and use it to thank God that He’s working. Thank Him that He’s making crooked places straight. Thank Him that all things are working for your good. God is going to not just bring promises to pass, not just turn problems around, but it’s going to turn out better than you imagined.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank You that we do not have to keep being trapped in worry about things over which we have no control. Thank You that just as You clothe the lilies of the fields, You will provide us with exactly what we need when we need it. We choose to rest, knowing that You will work it for our good. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.