Trusting God

“Trust Me, My child,” He says. “Trust me with a fuller abandon than you ever have before. “Trust Me, as minute succeeds minute, every day of your life, for as long as you live. And if you become conscious of anything hindering our relationship, do not hurt Me by turning away from Me. Draw all the closer to Me, come, run to Me. Allow Me to hide you, to protect you, even from yourself. Tell me your deepest cares, your every trouble. Trust Me to keep My hand upon you. I will never leave you. I will shape you, mold you, and perfect you. Do not fear, O child of My love, do not fear. I love you.”

Amy Carmichael

Father God, forgive me for not trusting you with abandon. Teach me to trust you as a child trusts her parent to throw her into the air and catch her, or as the climber trusts his rope. Too often, I want to see the end of the path instead of trusting you to guide me for each and every step.

Savoring the Small Beauties

In the rush of the day, I paused to look at the sky.

The bright blue drew me in, the white cotton clouds

Scattered throughout.

In a pause of busyness, I watched the children playing,

Their small bodies running and jumping,

I smiled at their laughter ringing in the air.

While hurrying to an appointment,

I saw the weeds on the side of the road.

Orange flowers on the stems waved a hello in the wind.

At the end of the day, I savored the taste

Of a bite of dark chocolate,

It’s gooey goodness melting in my mouth.

In a few small moments,

I absorbed the beauty around me

And touched the heart of God.

Creator God, keep my eyes open to the beauty you have created. I thank you for providing so many lovely ways to savor that beauty and honor and adore you.

Spiritual Growth

II Peter 1:5-9

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.”


Father God, help us to continually grow in faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness. and love. Open our eyes and minds that we may remember you have cleansed us from past sins and enable us to be effective and productive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Whispering Wings

In the beginning, you hovered over the waters, wings beating like a mother bird watching her young. Wings strong, silent, stirring the waters, whispering to all of creation, bestowing life. You who hovered in the beginning, you who made the heavens and the earth, you also made me. Your wings beat and the “breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33:4).

I have known your presence and seen you hover, heard the whispering beat of your wings as you watch over me. I have felt the quickening of life within, the first breath, the stirring of spirit within my soul. I know your presence in day’s first light, the infant’s cry, the pull of ocean waves, and the gnarled trees raising their arms heavenward. All around and all within, you hover. I feel the wind of your wings and hear their whispering beat.

Let the whispering wind of your wings become a violent storm within my inner being. Spark the embers of your spirit within my soul that it may flame brightly with your power and love.

Peace

Colossians 3:15-17

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.“

Father in heaven, how well you know that my heart is not always at peace. Forgive me, Lord, and fill my heart with a spirit of peace. Thank you for loving me and offering me grace.