His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Psa 147:10-11)

FATHER my desire is that You would take pleasure in me as I have found so much pleasure in You, in being Your child, Your beloved. To the human ear hearing that pleasure is to be found in “fear” and “hope” seems contradictory, yet to the spiritual ear it brings joy and peace. You are Who You are, and by Your word have called all things into being. You are awesome because of Who You are – worthy of all honor and praise. You are also good and merciful and just and because of Your amazing attributes we can place our hope in You because You are steadfast and unchanging in Your love. And so I can rejoice in my fear of You and have peace in knowing that my hope is more than just a wish but a knowing that my life is secure in Your hands.

A small lesson about confession. . .

FATHER I had to apologize to several people yesterday at the bank where I do business. And while it was difficult, because of my own pride and wanting to “just let it go”, I went because I felt You were calling me to and because I needed to make amends for my angry reactions from the day before. Thank You for their gracious response but mostly for the freedom that comes in the process of admitting our offenses and in the receiving of forgiveness.

I was also impressed with the serious nature of sin, how easily it can surface and how deceptive it can be. . . and how very offensive it is to You. Thank You for Your Spirit’s revealing my sin and thank You for Your Son’s paying for my sin. There really are no words to adequately express how absolutely and completely amazing You are.

The wisest of women builds her house . . . Prov 14:1

One commentary talked about how the world tends to down play those who are “just” housewives or keepers of the home. It got me thinking about how we define who we are. I’m a (fill in the blank). There seems to be this need to “be” something. I remember as a child, “and what do you want to be when you grow up?” I never really had an answer, still don’t. I think what I want to define me is the kind of person I am, my character and how I live my life. It’s not about what I do, but who I am on the inside. I’ve also come to know that I don’t want the world to tell me who I am, but to become the one my FATHER says that I am. It’s HIS nature I want to define me because I am HIS child.

Broken relationships

Father, there are so many broken relationships among family and within Your Body, the church. Bring Your healing touch and provide ways and means that one may be reconciled with another. You say "if possible" we are to live at peace with one another - sometimes it isn't possible, but so often it's just a matter of letting go of some offense, allowing for forgiveness and for Your redemption to take place.

We are a broken people and we need Your healing grace to restore us. May it begin with me, Lord. Amen.

. . . and I walk in Your faithfulness (Psa 26:3)

FATHER, earlier today I read an article concerning the blood covenant and it referenced the one between You and Abraham. You were the sole initiater and participant – that it was all Your doing, Abraham was just the recipient of Your love; the beneficiary of Your blessing. It was and is Your faithfulness that brings life and provides the very air that we breathe – physically and spiritually. David knew this, his heart was ever before You. You have caused me to walk in Your faithfulness and I can think of no place I’d rather be. Your faithfulness is amazing. It is Who You are – faithful and true.

Mercy and Justice

We are in a dangerous place when we regard God’s mercy towards us as our right. . . No one is ever unfair for not giving mercy. (Rom 9:14-16)
FATHER in reading about mercy, it has confirmed to me the need to understand how You define things, to see them from Your perspective. I think because You are so merciful that we sometimes expect it as our right, when in truth it is not what we deserve at all and we take for granted something we should be humbled by and grateful for. And yet, we are to have confidence in who we are as Your children, Your adopted sons; co-inheritors with Christ. It is Your nature to be merciful, but it is always Your choice – because it is also Your nature to be just. Help me to see things as You see them and to understand, so that I may not sin against You or dishonor You in any way.

Groanings too deep for words

Romans 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
FATHER, coming across this verse this morning brings a sense of Your peace, Your faithfulness and Your call on my life. Even before I “knew” You, You were working out Your plans and purposes in my life. For as a child, I knew I wanted You and asked You into my life – not knowing You as I do now, but knowing You as a child. You heard my hearts cry, came in and Your Spirit remained, quietly waiting and working “with groanings too deep for words” until You brought me to that place of sweet surrender, ongoing and deepening with each passing day. ABBA, FATHER I love You so.