Wonders: Psalm 40:5

O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.
Psalm 40:5 (NLT)

David’s song of praise to God; “Lord my God, You have performed many wonders for us.” They are more than we can enumerate beyond what we can express.

You cannot count God’s thoughts of you. If he were only to think of us once, in tender mercy, that one thought would run on throughout eternity, for he does not retract either a thought that he thinks or a word that he utters. Instead thereof, one gracious thought is followed by another, swiftly as the beams of light flash from the sun, so that it is impossible for us to number them.
Spurgeon’s Bible Commentary

Your forgiveness, mercy, grace, and kindness surround us. Nothing can compare to God, He is Omnipotent, and there is nothing He cannot do. God is powerful, and He protects; He is gracious, He forgives, and; He is trustworthy; He keeps His promises.

Praise the Lord for His wonderful works, miracles, and His grace toward us! ⁂

God has performed many wonders for us; have you taken the time to respond with thanks and praise?

Prayer; O Lord, our wonderful Heavenly Father, we are in awe of Your majesty. We thank you for Your miracles and the many wonders You have done for us. No one can compare to You. Thank you for your grace, forgiveness, and love. As we marvel at the beauty of flowers, let us marvel at the beauty of Your grace and Your wonderful works, and give thanks. In Jesus’ holy and loving name.

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Kind and Compassionate: Ephesians 4:31

31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice ³²Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32(NIV)

Paul is writing from prison; he is extolling the Ephesians to live the way God’s people should live.

4 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
Ephesians 4:4

He explains how to thrive in the power and grace of Christ rather than stumbling in sinful actions. Instead of holding on to bitterness, rage, anger, slander, and quarreling; embrace kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. Be forgiving like Christ God forgives you; live as children of light.

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling, and slander be put away from you, along with all hatred.
Ephesians 4:31 (ISV)

When kindness, compassion, and forgiveness; are embraced, bitterness is replaced with love and care for each other. As Jesus said, the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV)

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Forgiveness encourages compassion and kindness and brings peace. Are you able to let go of anger and rage and forgive?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father teach us to let go of anger and bitterness; and forgive. Teach us to be kind and compassionate, tender-hearted with a Christ-like attitude of love. Like the begonias and chrysanthemums in the photo grow together and thrive, let us learn to forgive and love one another and thrive. In Jesus’ holy loving name. Amen

Know the Lord: Hosea 6:3

Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”
Hosea 6:3 (NLT)

Hosea was encouraging the people to know the Lord, to make an effort, to strive, and to press on; and know the Lord. In verse 1, he calls for repentance, for there was no faithfulness, and no love, or acknowledgment of the Lord; His people had turned away from Him.

Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us.
Hosea 6:1 a

Verse 2 follows,

“In a short time He will restore us, so that we may live in his presence.
Hosea 6:2

When we press on and strive to know the Lord, He will respond to us as surely as the sun rises. He shall come to us like the rains of spring that water the earth and brings fruit for harvest. God will restore us, heal us, and guide us when we turn to Him. Hosea had full confidence in God, in His love, promises, and His power to restore. God wants us to know Him and love Him. As Jesus said, this is the greatest commandment:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
Mark 12:30 (NIV)

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Are you striving to know the Lord, embracing His love, power to restore, and promises?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your patience and love. Help us to draw closer to You, to press forward and know You and Your ways. Lord, we are grateful for Your forgiveness and Your willingness to restore us, heal us, and guide us. Like the petals on the Gomphrena, Fireworks blossom; radiate around its center; help us to draw nearer to you, and radiate your love to others. In Jesus’ loving name. Amen

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Rescue Me: Psalm 55:16

16As for me, I will call upon God,
And the Lord shall save me.
17Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice.
Psalm 55:16-17 (KJV)

Fear, trials, and problems can be discouraging and overwhelming to us; however, the Lord is with us and hears our prayers. When we are afraid or worried, we can call upon the Lord. We can give Him our burdens and rest upon His promises. He saves us, protects us, sustains us, comforts us, and rescues us. We have no prayer limit; we can reach out as often as we want; for the Lord welcomes our prayers.

David had confidence in the Lord; He constantly reached out to Him in prayer and with thanksgiving. He knew the Lord heard His voice and would save Him. ⁂

^16-18I call to God;
    God will help me.
At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh
    deep sighs—he hears, he rescues.
My life is well and whole, secure
    in the middle of danger
Even while thousands
    are lined up against me.
Psalm 55:16-18 (MSG)

When you are afraid, weary, and overwhelmed, do you reach out to the Lord with confidence; in prayer?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for listening to our prayers and helping us. Help us to turn our concerns, fears, and worries over you; in prayer. God, teach us to reach out to you, rest on Your promises, and spread Your love. Thanks for hearing our prayers and rescuing us. Like the hidden daylily seeks sunshine, let us reach out for help and seek Your light. In Jesus’ loving name. Amen

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Guide Me – Teach Me: Psalm 25:5

Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.
Psalm 25:5 (NKJV)

In this verse, David asks the Lord to guide him in His truth, to teach him His ways. Psalm 25 is a prayer; earlier in the psalm, David describes God’s ways, which include praying, waiting on the Lord, being teachable, humble, and obeying the Lord. It means relying on the Lord to guide and teach, looking to the Lord continually for direction, and trusting with a trust not shaken by worldly circumstances or concerns.
For You are my God, My Savior, and I will wait all day long, trusting, hoping, and relying on You. ⁂

Where do you look for guidance? Do you ask the Lord to guide and teach you?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for your guidance and love. We ask You to guide us in Your truth and teach us Your ways. Lord, teach us to trust and rely on You. You are our salvation; our hope is in You all day long. Like the balloon flower’s balloon-like buds grow into star-shaped flowers, Lord, guide us to grow in patience and hope. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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May the Lord be Praised-Psalm 40:16

May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you! May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually, “May the LORD be praised!”
Psalm 40:16 (NET)

May all who seek the Lord rejoice and be glad, be happy, and praise You. God’s love, promises, and truth bring joy and are reasons to celebrate. David wanted people to focus on the goodness of the Lord and rejoice.
Different versions have different worded rejoices; may the Lord be praised, may the Lord be magnified, and let the Lord be exalted, all praising the Lord for all He has done for us.

Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified!”
Psalm 40:16 (AMP)

Thanks to our God of all mercies, comfort, and salvation. May the Lord be praised! He has delivered us from slavery to sin and promises to be with us always. May the Lord be magnified! Let us rejoice, for God loves us, has mercy on us, and gives us grace. May the Lord be exalted!

Constant worship clears the debris from our hearts. Praise is the cleansing element that flushes the trash of worry and anxiety.
Max Lucado “Help is Here”

The Lord has given us much to rejoice over and be glad about. Let us remember; to joyfully thank and praise the Lord for all He has done, is doing, and will do. ⁂

Do you take time to focus on the goodness of God and rejoice?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, God of grace, mercy, and salvation, we praise You! We exalt you, Lord, and thank you for your mercy, care, and protection. Teach us to be happy and rejoice; in your promises. May the Lord be magnified! As the flowers of the orchid are colorful and spread joy, let us rejoice and declare that the Lord be praised! In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Pursue Peace: Psalm 34:14

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 34:14(NIV)

Psalm 34 talks about how to live a good life. Verse 14 encourages us to choose good over evil and peace over sin. Shun sin and turn away from evil, pride, and arrogance. We honor the Lord when we turn from evil.

To honor the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil ways and false words.
Proverbs 8:13 (GNT)

Embrace righteousness, truth, and godliness. Seek and pursue peace; let the peace of Christ rule in your heart.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9 (King James)

Strive to live in peace and do good. Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, as God forgave you. Be rich in good works, generous, and ready to help those in need.

14 Turn your back on sin; do something good.
Embrace peace—don’t let it get away!

15 God keeps an eye on his friends,
his ears pick up every moan and groan.
Psalm 24:14-15 (MSG)

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Is your focus on avoiding evil, doing good, and pursuing peace?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, teach us to turn away from evil and do good. Guide us to follow Your will; and practice virtue and righteousness. Let us spread love, do good, and pursue peace. Like the snapdragon is facing forward, teach us to face forward, turn our back on sin, embrace peace, and honor You. In Jesus’ holy and loving name. Amen

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Strength & Joy: 1Chronicles 16:27

Splendor and majesty are in his presence. Strength and joy are where he is.
1 Chronicles 16:27 (GWT)

1 Chronicles 16 is a song, a hymn of thanksgiving. It was sung on the day of the Ark of the Covenant’s arrival in the city of David. The song celebrates and glorifies the Lord and praises and proclaims his miraculous deeds.

8 Give thanks to the Lord!
Call on his name!
Make known his accomplishments among the nations.
9 Sing to him! Make music to him!
Tell about all his miraculous deeds.
10 Boast about his holy name.
Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice
1 Chronicles 16: 8-10 (NET)

Our Lord is majestic; He set in place the planets, moon, and stars; he designed and made all living things. The magnificent beauty and diversity of the world declare His glory. Splendor; describes the Lord’s supernatural glory, His grander, and His moral perfection. The Lord is great; splendor and majesty; are found in His presence.

The Lord is our source of strength and joy; they are His dwelling place. He radiates; strength and joy. When you trust and believe in the Lord, you find strength and hope. Living in faith, living in the presence of God, brings joy. Joy is not dependent on circumstances; joy is internal, a gift from God. Joy is found by walking daily with the Lord, living in God’s presence, and through prayer and rejoicing.

25 And why? Because God is great – well worth praising! No god or goddess comes close in honor.
26 All the popular gods are stuff and nonsense, but God made the cosmos!
27 Splendor and majesty flow out of him, strength and joy fill his place.
1 Chronicles 16:25-27 (MSG)

How majestic is our God; splendor emanates from Him, and He is the source of our joy and strength. ⁂

When you are overwhelmed and feel lost, do you reach out to God, our source of joy and strength?

Prayer; Our majestic Heavenly Father, you are our source of strength and joy. We worship you with song and praise with thanksgiving for your support and care. We thank you for the beauty and splendor of your handiworks; and the diversity of nature. Like the beautiful lilies, glow with your light; let us find strength through you and glow, with joy and light. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Great Joy: Luke 2:10

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
Luke 2:10 (NKJV)

The angel said I bring you good tidings of great joy. Great joy for all people. What is the good news, the good tidings? The good news, the tidings of great joy, is the announcement of the birth of Jesus. God so loved the world; he sent His Son, Jesus, into the world.

11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:11 (NKJV)

The angel announced that Jesus had arrived; as a baby born in a stable in Bethlehem; since there was no room in the inn. Who did the angel inform, was it kings, nobles, or scholars? No, it was shepherds keeping watch over their flocks, the angel, informed of our Savior’s birth.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:13-14 (NKJV)

A multitude of angelic beings suddenly appeared bearing a message of comfort and joy; peace and goodwill toward all.

May Christmas glorify our savior’s birth and be filled with comfort, peace, goodwill, and great joy!

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for loving us and sending Your Son as our Savior. We celebrate the joy of Christ’s birth and praise You. As the angel proclaimed, I bring you tidings of great joy for all people; guide us in spreading the love and great joy of Jesus’ birth to others. Glory to you, our God in the highest! Teach us to walk in peace and exhibit goodwill to all. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Merry Christmas! 🌺

Always With Me: Psalm 16:8

7 I will bless the LORD who guides me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

8 I know the LORD is always with me.

I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
Psalm 16:7-8 (NLT)

In this verse, David is expressing joy that God is always with him. Since God is with him always, David feels secure and protected. Safe since the Lord is beside him as his guard, protector, and guide.
The Lord is with us always; when we are worried or afraid, he is with us. We can reach out to Him anytime, in prayer; for help and guidance.

8 Because you are close to me and always available, my confidence will never be shaken, for I experience your wrap-around presence every moment. 9 My heart and soul explode with joy-full of glory! Even my body will rest confident and secure.
Psalm 16:8 (TPT)

Like David, during times of uncertainty and fear, we can have confidence knowing the Lord is beside us. Or some versions say the Lord is at our right hand, a place of defense and honor. We shouldn’t be shaken or worried, for the Lord is with us, beside us guiding us, directing us, and instructing us.

God is with us, our hearts can rejoice, and our bodies can rest; with confidence knowing our eternal destiny is secure.

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Are you secure and confident, and acknowledge that God is with you always?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for your compassion and care. Help us to grasp that You are with us always. Teach us to feel confident and secure in Your love and protection. Like the roses are leaning into and supporting each other, let us lean into Your strength and be confident in Your care. In Jesus’ holy and loving name. Amen

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