We all have unique strengths and weaknesses, and we all are at different places in our journey of faith.

Paul tells us that prayer is a strength all of us can improve, in Philippians 4:6-7 he says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” NLT

This isn’t just a nice “feel good” comment by Paul, it is an instruction. When we have concerns, rather than thinking about all the negative possibilities over and over, we should determine what we need to resolve the concern, and ask God for it. Then after asking, we should thank God for answering, in His way. By doing this we are handing the concern over to God, and we can have the peace in knowing that it is in His hands.

Dear Lord, you know it is often difficult for us to just “not worry.” Please help us remember to ask for what we need, thank you, and accept your promise of the peace that passes all understanding. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Have you ever said, or heard someone say, “who’s going to know?” just before doing something they would be embarrassed to have their friends or family see.

We have to realize that the most important evaluator of each of us sees everything we do. In Hebrews 4:13 Paul writes, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

I heard some good advice somewhere along the way. “Don’t do anything that you aren’t prepared to have printed on the front page of the newspaper.” In a way everything we do is on the front page of God’s newspaper. We would be better off if we thought about that regularly.

Dear Lord, we cannot keep anything from you. There is no hiding, rationalizing, or making excuses. You know what we have done, and our motives for doing it. Help us remember you are watching. We have no chance of meeting your standard of perfection, but if we confess and repent, Jesus’ perfection stands in our place. What an incredible gift. Help us go forward striving to do better. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Here is a test. You are driving on the expressway and a sign says left lane closed ahead, so you move into the center lane, and someone else continues in the left lane until the last possible moment, then slows and puts their turn signal on to move into the center lane right in front of you. Do you let them in?

In Luke 6:27,28 Jesus says, “…Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” NIV

OK so we can bring ourselves to be gracious to the self centered person on the expressway. Here is another test. This one is very difficult, gut wrenching for some of us. Can you love and pray for the people of ISIS? Jesus says in Luke 6:35, “love your enemies, be good to them….. and then you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

Remember what Jesus said while hanging on the cross after being beaten and humiliated. “Father, forgive them for they know do not know what they are doing.”

Dear Lord, you set a standard for love that we could never achieve. Help us try. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Mark 5 includes a number of well known accounts of Jesus’ miracles. In verses 21-43 Jesus was asked by Jairus, a leader of a local synagogue (church), to visit his home to heal his daughter who was dying. As Jesus was traveling, he was interrupted by the crowds. Before Jesus and Jairus reached Jairus’ home, messengers arrived to tell him that his daughter had died.

How difficult this experience must have been for Jairus. He came to Jesus having heard that he was healing people around the countryside. As Jesus had become a “celebrity” Jairus must have been hopeful and optimistic when Jesus agreed to come to his home. Then to have Jesus delayed in the crowd and then ultimately hear that his daughter had died must have crushed his hope and spirit.

Verses 35-36 say, “They told him, Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now. Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”

Don’t we all have those situations when we could lose our hope for a positive outcome. At those times Jesus says to us, “Don’t be afraid, Just have faith.”

We don’t know what God has in store, but we do know that he loves us and has plans for our good.

Dear Lord, help us remember to put our faith and trust in you even when it looks to us like all hope is lost. You have powers we cannot imagine and plans we would not expect. Thank you Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I have noticed recently how important being humble is to a number of skills. I recently read a book on negotiating, and the author stressed the importance of approaching a negotiation humbly, allowing the other side to feel comfortable and confident. The irony is that it requires confidence and courage to approach a situation this way, with humility.

Also, humble confidence is often the most effective leadership style; Avoiding the resistance that results from self-promotion, and empowering followers to their best.

Jesus also tells us in Matthew 18:4, “So anyone who becomes humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Like children who humbly accept that they do not have all the answers, and will submit and learn, we should approach God with humble repentance and confident faith.

Dear Lord, how can we not feel humbled when we think of your power. Help us have child-like humility toward you and your will. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.