Glorious Joy – 1 Peter 1:8

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

1 Peter 1:8 (NLT)

Peter writes to encourage early Christians exiled in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who were facing persecution. His central message is to remain steadfast and joyful in faith, despite adversity.

Although these believers had not seen Jesus, their faith was grounded in Gospel teachings. Peter reminds them to keep the faith through trials and urges them to look forward to the hope of salvation.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

– 2 Corinthians 4:18

Believers love Jesus because He first loved them, dying for their salvation. Their unseen love is grounded in trusting God. This love is rooted in having a relationship built on faith rather than sight. This relationship empowers us to endure hardships and retain hope in the promise of eternal life.

The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:9 (NLT)

Joy comes from faith: finding hope and peace in the promise of eternal life. Knowing Jesus loves us unconditionally and died for our sins gives us strength to persevere and to rejoice even in the face of adversity—to rejoice with glorious, inexpressible joy! This joy transcends circumstances, filling hearts with peace and an unwavering sense of love and fellowship.

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Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your mercy, grace, and love for us. We love You and praise Your name for Your incredible gift of salvation. Help us be steadfast in our faith and joy during difficult times. As the sight of the bright, bold flowers of the Gazania brings pleasure, our bright hope of salvation brings glorious joy. Amen

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God’s With Us – Psalm 73:23

23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.

Psalm 73:23 (NIV)

Verse 23 is referring to God; He is always with us. He is at our side, and we are never alone. God is with us during frustrations, hardships, as well as times of joy. We have a divine companion who loves us and holds our hand.

For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

We can rest easy knowing God is with us, even in our darkest moments, guiding us and giving us strength and support.

I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8 (NIV)

We can lean on God and not fear or be shaken, for our trust in Him gives us stability. The Lord is looking out for us, giving us the courage and strength we require during times of trouble.

We don’t have to face challenges alone, for God is always with us.

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Our Heavenly Father, thank You for always being with us. Guide us and direct us on our path. Teach us to keep our eyes on You, and reach out to You during times of trouble. Like the geranium flowers are gathered together in a bright cluster, let us be bright in our faith and gathered together in love. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Holy Calling – 2 Timothy 1:9

9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

– 2 Timothy 1:9 (ESV)

In 2 Timothy, the apostle Paul is writing to Timothy. He is speaking of the powerful love of God. That through God and the sacrifice of His son Jesus, we have been redeemed, rescued from sin. We are saved by God’s grace to be His people.

We are saved by grace, the grace of God, his unmerited favor, to bring us from sin and brokenness to holiness; a holy calling. Calling us to a life dedicated to Him, not because of our works, but due to God’s grace and purpose. His purpose for us, His chosen people, was established before the beginning of time. Through Jesus, we have been redeemed, called to live lives set apart for God’s purpose, and to pursue righteousness and holiness.

He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

Titus 2:14 (NLT)

We are to live out the holy life God prepared for us as His holy people, responding with praise, worship, and obedience. We are His people. God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be His people, serving Him and doing good works.

We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:9-10 (MSG)

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Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for our salvation through Your Son, Jesus. Lead us in Your eternal purpose/holy calling to a life of holiness and righteousness. Lord, we praise and worship You for Your goodness and grace. Like the colorful oriental lily brightens summer days, let us brighten the world with Your light and love. Amen

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Resurrection and Life – John 11:25

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

John 11:25 (NIV)

Jesus had heard His friend Lazarus was sick; he waited two days before heading to Bethany to visit him. When He arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days.
Martha, Lazarus’s sister, went out to meet Jesus and said, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” For she had faith and knew Jesus could have healed her brother. Jesus replies to her in John 11:25.

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

In verse 26, Jesus continues.

26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Then He asks Martha, do you believe this?

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

When Jesus claimed to be the resurrection and the life, he was explaining that He was the source of both, clarifying His divine nature. Jesus went to the tomb and called, “Lazarus, come out.”

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. – John 11:40-44 (NIV)

Lazarus walked out of the grave.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life, a promise of eternal life for believers. Faith in Jesus offers us comfort and hope for the future. Whoever believes in Jesus will be saved; death is not final but a gateway to eternal life.

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Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace. Through your love for us, you gave us Your only Son, Jesus. He is the resurrection and the life, our hope and salvation. As a poppy grows blooming in the sunlight, let us grow in faith and bloom in Your Son’s light. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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By Faith – Hebrews 11:3

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV)

By faith, we understand the worlds were created by the word of God. Because of this, we can have confident expectations of the Lord and firm belief in His power. By faith we have firm belief in what is unseen, an assurance of God’s promises, and a confidence in the future. Faith in God is not wishful thinking, but a deep assurance and complete confidence in Him.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

– Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

Godly faith is trust, trust in God’s nature, character, and promises. It is putting our trust in God and relying on Him where we cannot see. His good works, grace, and help in the past allow us confidence in the future.

We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. Hebrews 12:2a (CEV)

We go forward by fixing our eyes on Jesus, who perfects our faith.

By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed and created [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

Hebrews 11:3 (AMP)

Our Heavenly Father, our Loving Creator, thank You for Your love and grace. Help us to live by faith and in obedience. Teach us to go forward in Your truth and grow in faith. Let our light shine bright, just like the mountain azalea flowers that are gathered together and brighten spring days. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Everything I Need – Psalm 23:1

A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. – Psalm 23:1 (NET)

The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need. – Psalm 23:1 (GNT)

Psalm 23 is about God’s protection; David is confident that the Lord is his shepherd, providing everything he needs. It is a psalm of gratitude for God’s guidance and love. David trusts in God, considering Him a good “Shepherd.” When we believe in the Lord and stay in close fellowship with Him, He provides His unlimited resources.

David has faith in God’s promises and goodness. God is with him; he has nothing to fear. God is with us; we are precious to the Lord.

We might not have everything we desire, but God will provide what we need. God is with us always, watching our steps, guiding us, and blessing us with everything we need.

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Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your love and provision. Help us to grow in trust and faith and realize that You will take care of us. Lord, let us trust in You, knowing we have nothing to fear, for You are with us. Like the crocus blooms in spring, let us believe, follow Christ, and bloom in faith. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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The Word – Isaiah 40:8

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)

In this verse, the prophet Isaiah contrasts the temporary nature of flowers and grass to the enduring promise of God’s word.
Earlier in verse 6, Isaiah compares people to being like grass and their love and faithfulness being as fragile as a wildflower. Which withers and falls when the wind sent from the Lord blows on it.

“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:6b-8 (NIV)

Permanence and stability are found in the eternal word of God, which endures forever. For God is steadfast, His promises never fail; they last forever. When we trust in God’s word and live in obedience, His word will sustain us for now and forever. The word of God stands firm; it endures forever.

“These people are nothing but grass,
    their love fragile as wildflowers.
The grass withers, the wildflowers fade,
    if God so much as puffs on them.
    Aren’t these people just so much grass?
True, the grass withers and the wildflowers fade,
    but our God’s Word stands firm and forever.” Isaiah 40:6-8 (MSG)

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Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, thank you for Your grace and love for us. Thank you for Your word and Jesus, The Word. Teach us to read Your word and follow Jesus. May Your word guide and direct us. Your word stands firm and forever, giving us hope. Though we are fragile, like dandelions and wildflowers, let us be strong and secure in our faith. Amen

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Seek Him -Psalm 63:1

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1 (ESV)

David was weary, thirsty, and pursued by enemies, and he longed for God. He earnestly seeks Him; His soul thirsts for the Lord. David’s first response when in dire need in the wilderness of Judah, a dry, parched land, was to turn to God. David’s priority was the Lord.
He states, “earnestly I seek you, for God; you are my God.” The dry, overwhelming desert he was facing in his life made David hunger and thirst for God, for His presence and grace.

God—you’re my God!
I can’t get enough of you!
I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God,
traveling across dry and weary deserts. Psalm 63:1 (MSG)

Only God can provide the comfort and sustenance we desperately need, when we face the parched weary deserts of life, He is with us.

^2-4So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,
drinking in your strength and glory.
In your generous love I am really living at last! Psalm 63:2-4 (MSG)

Seeking God, thirsting for Him, drinking in His strength and glory, accepting His generous love, and making Him your priority, then you are really living at last.

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Prayer: Oh Lord, our God, our Heavenly Father, we earnestly seek You. The deserts of life scorch and drain us our souls thirst for You. You are our strength and comfort, our salvation. As the Mandavilia flower opens in the sun, let our hearts be open and follow Your son Jesus. Amen

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Reverence and Awe – Hebrews 12:28

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28 -29 (ESV)

The kingdom that cannot be shaken is God’s eternal kingdom. God’s kingdom is given to us when we believe in Jesus. We need to place our hope and trust in His kingdom, not worldly things. This requires us to let go of the things of this world that impede us and fix our eyes on Jesus.

God loves us, forgives us, and guides us. We, in turn, need to show gratitude and reverence and be thankful for all God has done for us. Worship Him with reverence and awe, opening our hearts and lives to Him. Praising God by lifting our voices in gratitude and thanksgiving while living in a way that pleases and glorifies Him.

Verse 29 explains God’s wrath is on those who defy him; he is a consuming fire. His fire burns away impurities, refines, and purifies until all is clean.

28-29 Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire! Hebrews 12:28-29 (MSG)

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Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your many blessings. We are grateful for Your grace and for sharing Your unshakable kingdom. We praise and worship You with reverence and awe. Teach us to store our treasures in heaven rather than in earthly things. Like the beautiful hollyhock flowers are open wide to the sun, let us open our hearts to You and follow Your son, Jesus. Amen

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Direct My Footsteps: Psalm 119:133-135

Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. Psalm 119:133 (NIV)

Psalm 119 is a prayer. In verse 133, the psalmist asks God to order his steps to make them firm, not halting. Let our steps follow God’s word, guide us, lead us, and teach us to walk righteously. Help us to live a life free from evil and sin, to live a life aligned with You.

Redeem me from human oppression, that I may obey your precepts. – Psalm 119:134 (NIV)

Verse 134 asks for deliverance from the dealings of wicked people. God, free us from temptation and oppression; let justice and righteousness prevail. We pray for Your divine assistance, guidance, and strength to follow You, Lord, in joyful obedience.

Make your face shine on your servant and teach me your decrees. – Psalm 119:135 (NIV)

Verse 135 is a plea for God’s approval and blessing. Let Your face shine upon me, comfort me, and illuminate the darkness around me with Your light. Direct my footsteps, Lord, teach me Your decrees, and help me grow in spirit and truth. Direct my footsteps to follow and obey Your laws and statutes.

Steady my steps with your Word of promise so nothing malign gets the better of me.
Rescue me from the grip of bad men and women so I can live life your way.
Smile on me, your servant; teach me the right way to live. Psalm 119: 133-135 (MSG)

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Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, direct our footsteps and guide us on Your path for us. Deliver us from evil, free us from temptation, and protect us from wicked people. Let Your face shine on us and help us grow in spirit and truth. Like the Bellflower, blossoms follow the light, direct our footsteps to obey your laws, and follow Your light. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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