The book of Exodus tells the story of the Jews after God brought them out of captivity in Egypt. God was leading them to a new land, but even though he was there with them the entire time in the form of a pillar of cloud in the daytime, and a pillar of fire at night, they still had problems keeping their focus on him and his direction.

Just like the Jews in the desert, God wants us to look to him for our direction and strength and he will guide us.

In Hebrews 3 Paul recounts this story, and explains how God was leading them, showing them the path. In Hebrews 3:9-10 he writes, “But God was patient with them forty years, though they tried his patience sorely; he kept right on doing his mighty miracles for them to see. “But,” God says, “I was very angry with them, for their hearts were always looking somewhere else instead of up to me, and they never found the paths I wanted them to follow.”

God also has paths he wants us to take, but we need to look to him for guidance to know where they are.

Dear Lord, help us have the faith to look to you for guidance. Show us the paths you want us to follow. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Prior to being betrayed and arrested, Jesus prays as recorded in the gospels including John 17. He prays asking that God’s will is done, he prays for his disciples, and He also prays for each of us.

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” John 17:20-21

He prays that we would be one with him, and be a way to bring the world to believe in Jesus and the salvation he brings.

Dear Lord, as Jesus prayed, may we be in you so that the world will believe you are the Savior. Amen.

If you are like me, occasionally you get a song tune stuck in your head, and for hours it keeps coming back. Usually it is some theme song from a cartoon, or TV commercial. Wouldn’t it be great to get a song stuck in your mind, that gives you encouragement and confidence every time it comes back?

I think this is what David means in Psalm 59:16, “But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.”
Paul Baloche, a Christian song writer, writes in his song “Your Name,” “Your name is a strong and mighty tower. Your name is a shelter like no other. Your name, let the nations sing it louder ’cause nothing has the power to save. But your name.” Click on the lyrics, and if my technology works, you should be able to hear the song, (unfortunately an advertisement may run first.)

Hopefully we can get this message stuck in our minds that reminds us of God’s love throughout our day.

Dear Lord, You are our refuge and security. Help us begin our day thinking of you and the joy that your love provides. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Paul’s writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.”

The words “Do not quench the Spirit” caught my attention. It reminded me of hearing someone say, “Don’t lose your Joy.” or “Keep your chin up,” which I think that is what Paul is trying to get across to the folks in Thessalonica, and to us.

Paul tells us in Galatians 5:22-23, “the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” So “quenching the Spirit” would be suppressing or stifling these characteristics.

I think putting these pieces together tells us that rejoicing, praying and giving thanks, helps us avoid quenching the Spirit, and helps us maintain the characteristics or fruit that the Spirit produces.

Dear Lord, praise and thanks to you for all you give us. Help us nurture the fruit the Holy Spirit puts in us so that we may keep our joy under all circumstances. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Jesus teaches his disciples to pray what we call the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11. In verse 2 Jesus says, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name…” Jesus teaches them to start their prayer with praise and acknowledgment of the power and awe of God. In a similar way, David prays in 2 Samuel 7, going on in many verses about how great and amazing God is.

There is a point to beginning our prayers this way, acknowledging the power, glory and amazement of God. It puts God in the proper place above us in our minds, so that we bring our requests and concerns to God, humbly recognizing that he knows better than we do, and we submit our desires to his will. As Jesus’ tells us in Matthew 6:8, God knows what we want before we ask.

Dear Lord, How amazing and almighty you are thank you for hearing our prayers, and giving us what we need. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.