The Unknown

There is so much fear in the unknown God. It's the fear that eats away at our confidence and at the peace that you want us to have. And the fear of what could happen or might happen or possibly will happen - well that really is the enemy's tool.

Lord save me from my fear of the unknown. Help me to lean totally on you and not on my own poor strength. Know my heart, Lord, and bolster my faith when it's weak and I'm feeling vulnerable and alone. I'm yours Lord - help me to act like it. I trust in you God - help me to hang on to that trust. I now your promises - may I never forget them.

Help me to conquer my fear of the unknown God. It's such a hard thing to do.

Bathed in prayer

I had a challenge today Lord and I knew that the whole while I was being bathed in prayer. I knew my family was praying for me, and my friends, and my church family. And Lord, I felt those prayers as they rose heavenward. I could literally feel you holding me in your arms and comforting me. I could hear you whispering in my ear, comforting me, reassuring me, encouraging me. I knew you were right there with me and I knew that the prayers of so many people were accompanying me.

Dear God thank you for answered prayer. Thank you for being so real and so near that your presence can be palpable. Thank you for never leaving us or forsaking us. And thank you for your love.

Another day

I'm so full of gratitude today God. I'm grateful for your faithfulness in good times and in bad. I'm grateful for the way the sun comes up, regardless of what's happening in our lives, and the world continues to go forward despite our difficulties. I'm grateful for the message that we are a very small part of the puzzle of life - but that you are always, infinitely in charge of it all.

Thank you for the confidence I have in your love. Thank you that when I worry about my children, or my grandchildren, or any of the people I love so dearly, you gently remind me that you love them even more. Thank you for making sure I feel your hand on my shoulder when I am discouraged and for sensing your presence when I am feeling most alone.

God I am humbled by your love and inspired by your grace. Thank you for another day.

Beautiful Day

It's a beautiful day Lord and it almost seems as though all of nature is raising its hands to you in praise. The sun is shining and the sky is a beautiful shade of blue. The birds are singing a song that must make you smile. The flowers are more beautiful that I can imagine. Nature looks toward the heavens and sends its love upward. And so do I.

Thank you for this beautiful day God.

So grateful

God I'm so grateful for the simplest things in life: a beautiful day, enough money to buy something special at the store, my house, my garden - it really is true that the best things are not always the most expensive - or the hardest to achieve. Sometimes they're the things we tend to overlook or barely take notice of. And yet these are the things that make our lives so rich and satisfying.

Today Lord I am praising you for the simple, beautiful things in my life. Thank you for my family and the joy they bring me. Thank you for a reliable car to drive . Thank you for food on my table and clothes on my back. Thank you for flowers in my yard and shade under my trees. Thank you for the simple knowledge that every day is a special gift and not to be taken for granted. Thank you, God, for my life.

Calm

A wonderful calm has settled over me God. It's so amazing to me how one day I can be so unsettled and my mind can be such a jumble of confusion and fear, and the next I am totally at peace within your loving arms. Thank you for that Lord. Thank you for the fact that you always come through and never disappoint.

I don't know what tomorrow will bring God, but I do know that whatever it is, we'll walk through it together. I'm blessed by your love and surrounded by people who care. What is there to fear? Oh I know I'll find something Lord, because that's what we humans do. No matter how many times we experience your love or feel your presence, we still worry that the next time we need it won't be there. We are people of doubt Lord. We are people of small faith. But you are a big God and you are ready to fill us when we need to be filled. Tomorrow will bring yet another reason for me to be agitated and fearful. But you'll be there waiting. This I know.

Thank you for this calm day.

Oh Lord

Sometimes Lord I long for your closeness but I don't feel it. I know you're there for me and I know you want to give me that touch....but it doesn't seem to be coming. What am I doing wrong? Am I somehow putting a wall between us? Am I simply not being receptive to your desire to be with me? What am I doing wrong Lord?

Please God - touch me. Please let me feel your loving arms around me and help me get through another day with your peace in my heart. Take my burdens, just as you promised you would. Help my mind to be calm and my soul to be still. I need you so much right now and this is not the time to feel this distance. Please help me break through the darkness and know your presence.

I want to hear from you God. Please speak to me.

Thank you

Thank you God. Thank you for the words I needed to hear in church this morning. Thank you for the scripture and the sermon and the music which seemed chosen for me alone. Thank you for the things which spoke to my heart, for the comfort I found in the message, and for the reassurance that you are with me, you are enveloping me, and you are loving me.....always.

It's so easy, Lord, to feel alone and frightened. But its also such a simple things to allow you to fill us with your spirit and give us your peace. So why is that so hard sometimes? It's one of the mysteries of faith God. But it's also one of the great truths that we can fully depend on you. And you will not disappoint.

Why is it that no matter how many times I learn that lesson it seems to need re-learning for the next crisis. We humans are complicated creatures. But your love is simple. Thank you God.

Schedules

I want to give you my schedule Lord. I want you to look it over, sort it out, and tell me what I must do and what I should let go. I need you to help me prioritize and get through my days with less stress and more joy. I need you to help me with my commitments and show me what I need to to let go.

Dear God life is such a challenge sometimes! I know you never promised us an easy road and I know that challenges help us focus and make us think. But Lord sometimes that's so hard! If I could just hand you my calendar so you could mark it for me: "important", "not important", "keep", "let go" - well that would simplify my life God.

I supposed you would say that I wouldn't be learning anything then. I know you want me to make these decisions on my own with the wisdom of your teachings in mind. I know you want me to be in charge. But I'm tired Lord and sometimes the decisions are really difficult to make. I don't like to say "no" and I don't like to disappoint people.

And I don't like to disappoint you. OK I hear you Lord. I'll go back and look at my calendar again and make more room for you too.