You have probably heard the, tongue in cheek, expression, “What ever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” Jokingly referring to the fact that working very hard, and enduring extreme difficulties makes us stronger. This is often used in situations of physical challenge and endurance.

However, for the emotional and spiritual difficulties in life, what truly makes us strong and capable of enduring struggles is the love of God working in us.

In Ephesians 3:16,17 Paul writes, “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” He goes on in verse 19, “May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

When we trust in God, and work to get closer to him, our strength to endure adversity will grow, and bring us the peace and “fullness of life” that a relationship with God provides.

Dear Lord, You are the source of strength in our lives. Through you we are able to endure all things life may bring. Help see this truth and draw closer to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I began writing these messages and sending them early in the morning to help make it easy for people to start their day benefiting from a little time with God.

Jesus gives us a clear example for this behavior in Mark 1:35, which writes, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

One of the benefits of making this practice the first thing in your day, is to avoid the many thoughts that build up as we begin reading emails, texts, and receive other inputs that can distract us from the peace we can have for the few minutes spent with God each morning.

Dear Lord, thank you for this example Jesus demonstrated for us, taking morning time with you. Help us build in a morning routine with you to start our day and enjoy the peace of knowing you are there with us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

You have likely heard of “pass interference” in American football, when one player physically interferes with an opposing player’s ability to catch a pass.

A close reading of the parable of the spreading of the seed in Luke 8:4-15 tells us that the Devil tries to interfere with people’s acceptance of God’s word. You may recall the parable, the farmer spreads seed, some falls on the hard footpath, some on rocky ground, some in the thorns, and some on good soil.

In verse 12 Jesus begins to explain the parable and he says “Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.”

The Devil is out there trying to interfere with our hearing and accepting God’s word. We need to realize this, and defend ourselves with the tools God has given us; The Shield of Faith, the Breastplate of Righteousness, and fight back with the Sword of the Spirit that is the word of God, as described in Ephesians 6.

Dear Lord, as we say in the Lord’s Prayer, “deliver us from evil,” Help us rely on you to defend against the Devil’s schemes. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

The engineer inside me, is routinely trying to figure out the how and why about everything. This is the mindset in many people who wonder, “If God exists, why doesn’t he just show himself and everyone would believe?” Interesting, the Bible describes how God started that way. He was right there with Adam and Eve and they still disobeyed. He was right there physically with the Israelites when He led them out of Egypt, and they disobeyed and worshiped idols. And during Jesus’ life, He did miracles, fulfilled prophecies, and most people didn’t believe. Is it reasonable to think that it would be any different today if God made an appearance?

What God really wants from us is for us to submit our lives to Him in faith. Matthew 11:25 says, “And Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise, and for revealing it to little children. Yes, Father, for it pleased you to do it this way!” NLT

When we submit without understanding, like a child who trusts without knowing, we are where God wants us to be.

Dear Lord, strengthen us to have child-like faith in you, help us live by faith and trust in you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Hopefully you have experienced those moments occasionally in your life where you can really feel God’s presence and his peace, whether that was resolution of a difficult situation in your life, or seeing the amazing beauty of a sunset, or a prayer after communion.

In the Living Bible version of 2 Peter 1:2 Peter writes “Do you want more and more of God’s kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better.”

Learning to know him better comes from studying, and meditating on his word, doing what it tells us, and talking with God through prayer.

James says in James 4:8 “And when you draw close to God, God will draw close to you.”

Dear Lord, help us to learn to know you better each day, take steps toward you, and give you the opportunity to draw closer to us and give us your peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.