Shortly after finishing college, I had a job working in the offices of a major car company outside New York City. The group of recent grads and I were the people who answered the telephone if a customer, in the NY metro area, had a problem with their car and the dealership did not satisfy their concern. At that time, cars were not as reliable as they are today, and fixing them was not always an exact science. Most of the people we spoke with had been through several visits to their dealership and their cars were still not working properly. Understandably, most were very upset.

We all learned early on, that arguing or getting upset ourselves in response to these customers was unproductive, and a quick path to frustration and more anger. What almost always worked was keeping our calm tone, being understanding, and not getting defensive. Sometimes it took a while, but eventually if we kept calm, the customer would settle down and we could work on solving the issue.

It is interesting how we were experiencing something that is written in Proverbs 15:1, ” A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”

It can take a lot of self control to maintain our calm when someone else is angry with us, criticizing us, and insulting us, but that is the maturity that God is calling us to practice. When we do, we are demonstrating Gods love for us, and our love for our neighbor, and typically we will feel better about ourselves as a result.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the wisdom you give us in the Bible. Wisdom provided by you who made us and therefore have the instruction manual for our lives. Help us read, learn and follow this wisdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Psalm 37:4 writes, “Delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Question is, “Does this mean He will give you the things you want, or does it mean He will give you the desire to want what He wants?”

I used to think about this text very simply, but now I believe the meaning is deeper, that when we delight in the our Lord, our desires change. We begin to desire things that fit with the wonderful life He wants for us, and he blesses us with those things giving us joy and Him glory.

Dear Lord, you promise us an abundant life if we follow the path you have for us. Help us delight in you so that the things we truly desire in our hearts are those things that you want for us. What joy it is to have our desires matched with your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I am sure you have seen professional athletes after completing an amazing, or very difficult goal, basket, touchdown or other play, stop and point to the sky, pointing to God. They may not know it, but they are expressing this Latin phrase, Soli Deo Goria which means To God Alone the Glory.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” This is truly our mission here on earth, to glorify God. He has given us all skills talents and situations to allow us to do this in our own way. We can do it by sharing Gods love with the poor in the soup kitchen line, or we can do it on national television using amazing athletic skills God gave a few. We should remember it is not how amazing we are, it is how amazing God is.

Dear Lord, Help us remember that all we have came from You, and remember to give you the glory for the great things we can do and the great things we have. In Jesus’ name we pray. Soli Deo Gloria! Amen.

Hebrews 11:1 writes, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” KJV

The NLT translation writes it as, “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”

So faith is not just a wish, or feeling, it is “substance” The RSV translation uses the word “assurance”. When we have faith in God’s promises, we can “take it to the bank.” It is reality waiting to materialize.

This relates not just to the promise of eternal Salvation, but to all the promises we are given in the Bible. Promises of God’s presence, protection, guidance and abundance.

Where does this faith come from? Romans 11:17 tells us, “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”

Get faith, have assurance.

Dear Lord, give us this faith in your promises, so that with this faith we can live with confident assurance on earth and eternally. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

You probably know people who are thankful all the time, they never forget to tell, the waiter, cashier, bank teller, and anyone they encounter, thank you. Do you notice that these people tend to be generally happy and content as well? When you have a thankful perspective, it is very difficult to complain or feel sorry for yourself, because it contradicts the thoughts of thankfulness on which you are focusing.

Paul says in 1 Thessolonians 5:18, “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” TLB

When you are thankful to God for your current situation, it demonstrates your faith and indicates that you accept that where you are today is where God wants you to be, for now.

Dear Lord, Thank you for all that we have in this life, our family, friends, and possessions. Most of all, however, thank you that you have saved us so we can live on with you when this physical life is over. Help us to never stop being thankful for all you have given us. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.