How do we define life? It can be defined in many ways, our physical life, beating heart and active brain waves; our consciousness and awareness of ourselves and our existence; but more individually, our lives and our relationships, our interests and activities, our strengths and weaknesses, our skills and talents.

Jesus says in Matthew 10:39 “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”

I think Jesus is referring to the entire variety of life definitions. If we surrender to God, those things that make up our life, he will give us, as He describes in John 10:10, “an abundant life,” not only in our eternal life, but in our life on earth, as well.

Dear Lord, thank you for the promise of eternal life most of all, but also thank you for the promise of an abundant life on earth, abounding in peace, hope, and joy. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Romans 8:39 Paul says “nothing can separate us from the love of God which is Jesus Christ”. NIV

We do not give those we love everything they want, because we know some things would not be good for them, and sometimes we make them do things that are difficult and frustrating because ultimately those things are good for them. In the same way, God lets us struggle, and doesn’t always give us what we want when we want it, but we can know as Paul said, God is using these things for our good.

Personally, this is often incredibly difficult to believe and endure.

You may be tempted to think, God doesn’t know that I am sitting in traffic, late for an important event, or that I got a flat tire, bombed a math test, argued with my spouse, can’t pay my bills, etc, but you would be wrong to think that. Matthew 10:29-30 says that not a sparrow falls to the ground that is not Gods will, and he knows the number of hairs on your head. So remember even when things are not going well, God knows, and He is not neglecting you. He wants you/me to trust Him in those situations.

Dear Lord, help us to be strong in the knowledge that with Your unlimited power you love us and are looking out for us in all our circumstances. In Jesus name. Amen.

How blessed those of us are whose parents brought us up to know Jesus Christ. Think of how it might have been if our parents did not lead us to our Savior. Who would have? How would we hear the story? Would we accept it? For those who came to Christ outside of their family, do you remember who invited you, and why you opened yourself up to Jesus?”

Paul describes these questions in Romans 10:14-15, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Most of us may be reluctant to witness, but to overcome that reluctance, think about how wonderful it would be to be the person who helped someone else become saved.

Dear Lord, thank you for those that helped us come to know and believe in you. Help us to have the courage to help someone else come to be saved. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The dictionary definition of the word “cleanse” is, “to rid of impurities.”

John writes in 1 John 1:8,9, “If we say that we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.”

For most of us, it is very difficult to admit when we are wrong. I think this stems from the sense that admitting we are wrong makes us feel inferior. However, admitting our wrongs, “confessing” them to God, shows our recognition that we need to be forgiven by God, who is superior. The great thing about this admission is that it makes us better, not inferior. God through Jesus cleanses us, or “rids us of impurities.”

Now is as good a time as any, to make that confession.

Dear Lord, we cannot follow your will and direction, no matter how hard we try. We are guilty of disobedience to you and wronging other people. Forgive us for these failings. We thank you for your forgiveness through Jesus, and the knowledge that we can live our lives confident of your grace and salvation, not because we deserve it, but because of your gift. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

You may have heard the parable Jesus tells of the “persistent woman” who pleads her case to the judge who tries to avoid her and ignore her, but because of her persistence he gives her justice.

It is interesting that the verse opening this parable in Luke 18:1 writes, “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.”

Whether God’s reason for instructing us to persist in prayer is to strengthen our faith, test our faith, or be certain about our requests, we do not know, but that is the direction. As we are told in Isaiah 55:8 God’s ways are higher than our ways, and he is working his will.

Dear Lord, we trust you and thank you for teaching us through Jesus’ life and parables about how to live and pray. Help us to remember to be persistent with our prayers and rely on your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.