Thank You: Psalm 138:2-3

I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: “Thank you!” Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word. The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength.
Psalm 138:2-3 (MSG)

²I will bow down toward Your holy house. And I will give thanks to Your name for Your loving-kindness and Your truth. For You have honored Your Word because of what Your name is. As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.
Psalm 138:2-3 (NLV)

This a psalm of David radiates with praise and thanks. A reminder to thank God for His love and faithfulness. A prompt to praise God for His loving kindness, His words of hope, and His fulfillment of promises. Reaffirming that when we call out and pray for help, God will give us strength and encouragement. A call to worship and praise God, our strength, redeemer, and hope. Lord, we are in awe of your great works, and we give you our praise and thanks.

David was lavish in his praise for God. When you pray, do you joyfully thank the Lord for His compassion, faithfulness, and loving-kindness?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we are in awe of your mercy and grace to us. We thank you for your loving-kindness and patience toward us. We praise Your Holy name for your forgiveness of our sins and Your unconditional love for us. As the pansies and spring flowers bring joy and hope after winter, let us with joy, praise, and thanksgiving celebrate the hope and strength You give us. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Wonderful World: Psalm 104:24

24 What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.
Psalm 104:24 (MSG)

We are sometimes so immersed in the problems of the day that we miss the natural wonder around us. God in His wisdom created all, He made earth overflow with diverse and wonderful creations. Even if you are sheltering at home, take time to look and enjoy nature outside your window. Take time to appreciate the small flower growing in a crack in the sidewalk, a bird filling our morning with a song, the sun shining through the clouds, the buzzing bee pollinating our crops and beautiful flowers, the joy of children singing, and the smile on the face of a neighbor walking by. Thank you Lord, for creating this wildly wonderful world, for us, to enjoy.

Will you take time to relax and enjoy God’s wildly wonderful world today?

Dear Lord, we thank You for making the earth overflow with wonderful creations. Open our eyes to the splendor and majesty that surrounds us. As the lovely bright and colorful flowers of the hibiscus grow upwards illuminated by the sun, help us to grow and be upright embracing Your Word, glowing with Your light, and sharing Your love. Our Father, we thank you for creating our wildly wonderful world and for Your loving care for us. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

I think you will enjoy this video of second graders (a virtual choir) from Great Hearts Archway School singing “What a Wonderful World.”

Power of God: Ephesians 3:20-21

²⁰Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us; ²¹glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and always. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (CEB)

This scripture is a portion of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians, a prayer to increase their faith in the power of the Lord. We achieve the power of God when we let the Holy Spirit work in us, giving us strength, and power to accomplish things beyond our comprehension. Glory to God is when we honor Him in our thoughts and actions when we strive to serve and bring joy to our heavenly Father. Paul closes by praying that all future generations will experience the power, glory, and hope found in Christ Jesus.

Are you limiting your expectations to what you perceive you can do or are you letting the power of God work through you?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we praise and glorify your name. Strengthen us and guide us to accomplish things beyond our comprehension through Your power and strength. Like the fuchsia plant is clothed in open, bright, and bold flowers teach us to be open, shine brightly, and boldly rely on Your power God. In Christ Jesus’ holy name, we pray. Amen.

Praise the Lord: Psalm 150: 5-6

5Praise him with resounding cymbals; praise him with clashing cymbals. 6Let everything that breathes praise the LORD. Hallelujah!
Psalm 150:6 CEB

In the early spring mornings, my backyard is a natural symphony filled with birds in song. It is an uplifting start to my day. How so must the Lord feel when we awake to praise and worship Him. When we start the day with praise, adoration, and glory to God, it opens our hearts to our many blessings. No, we don’t need cymbals or even perfect songs, just love and adoration for Our Father, the Creator of earth. Hallelujah, praise the Lord! He is good!

How will you praise the Lord today, with prayer, song, glowing words, or with cymbals? Or perhaps all the above.

Prayer: Our holy, and loving Father, we thank you for your love, grace, and blessings. We adore You and praise You. You are our hope and our joy. As the bell-like campanula flowers seem to ring in a symphony of blooms, let our voices rise in a symphony of praise for You our threefold God. In Jesus’ holy name. Hallelujah! Amen.

Pure in Heart: Matthew 5:8

⁸“Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature] are the pure in heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they will see God.
Matthew 5:8 (AMP)

The heart is considered a symbol of love, but often the heart values may be corrupt. Jesus said that about the Pharisees, they projected outward purity, but their hearts and thoughts were not pure. To be pure in heart, we need to obey the Lord’s rules, to follow His will, and to live a life pleasing to God. Then we will see Him and be with Him in eternity.

Are you pure in heart, or is your heart focused instead on earthly material objects?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, forgive us for our hearts are often not pure, and our values and motives not godly. We ask you to help us to focus on living a life that is pleasing to You. Lord teach us to be pure in heart. Like the bleeding heart flowers open and expand as they bloom, teach us to open our hearts to You and expand in love toward one another. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Shield of Love: Psalm 5:12

For you bless the godly, O LORD; you surround them with your shield of love.
Psalm 5:12 (NLT)

To be considered godly, we need to be focused on God, to live a God-centered lifestyle, and to adore God. Godliness is something that we need to pursue, to work at. No special talent is needed for God supplies all we need. When we embrace a godly life, we go forward in security and peace, knowing God is with us. God blesses the godly surrounding them with His shield of love.

God’s shield of love is available to everyone. How could you be more focused on living a God-centered life?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for your grace and forgiveness of us. Teach us to live a more godly life. Like the redbud tree blossoms are gathered together and glow reflecting sunlight, let us gather together in praise and glow with Your light. We thank you for blessing us and surrounding us with your shield of love. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

Be Strong: Joshua 1:9

⁹Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

The Lord our God, is with us wherever we go. He is with us, He loves us, and He forgives our sins, we just have to ask. The Lord reminded Joshua to be strong and courageous, not to fear for God was with him. God is with us also. Our Heavenly Father is faithful to His promises. We need to be strong in the Spirit, to have faith, and to trust in the Lord. Faith enables us to feel secure to be strong for we know that we are not alone for God is with us always.

When you are dismayed, and trembling with fears, struggling to be strong, where do you turn for strength? God is patiently waiting to hear from you.

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for surrounding us with Your love, and for being with us always. Dear Lord, we know that we are weak, but you are strong. Like the impressive display of gathered flowers on the doublefile viburnum branch, teach us to display our faith and find our strength in You. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Be Still: Psalm 37:7

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
Psalm 37:7 (ESV)

To be still in the Lord, to rest in Him, trusting His love. To be content and wait quietly, patiently, giving Him our anxious thoughts. Being secure in faith, realizing God is listening to our prayers, and being content relying on His timing. Understanding that the Lord has plans for us, to prosper us, plans to give us hope and a future. Knowing His justice will shine brightly like the sun.

When current events and the news are overwhelming, do you take time to be still before the Lord?

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to be still, and to rest in Your love. Teach us to learn to be patient and to give You our anxious thoughts. Like the water lily blossom is still, reaching upwards, soaking up the sun help us to turn our face toward You soaking up Your light and love. Our Father, we thank you, for being our refuge and strength, and our ever-present help. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Righteous: Matthew 13:43

⁴³Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
The one who has ears had better listen!
Matthew 13:43 (NET)

You are the light of the world, Matthew states earlier in Matthew 5:14. As we live a life of righteousness, a Christian life, we become increasingly radiant, progressively brighter by growing closer to Christ. When we follow Him, trusting in Him and conforming to His ways we grow in His Spirit. A striving in love to achieve the promise of shining like the sun in the kingdom of Our Father.

Are you becoming increasingly radiant by living closer to Christ daily?

Prayer: Jesus our Savior, teach us to become increasingly radiant and draw closer to You daily. As the cluster of blossoms on the hydrangea grow, glow, and flourish in the sun, help us to grow in righteousness, and shine, flourishing in love toward each other. Lord, teach us to conform to Your teachings and become progressively brighter until we shine like the sun in the kingdom of our Father. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen