There is an expression first recorded several hundred years ago that goes, “There but for the grace of God go I.” This expression was used when seeing someone who’s mistakes or bad behaviors resulted in punishment or terrible consequences. In modern language, it would be like saying, “If not for the grace of God, that could be me.” It was used when looking at someone we would normally be inclined to judge, like the panhandler, drunk driver, or shoplifter.

James says in James 4:11-12, “Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?”

So when that thought comes to mind tempting us to judge or condemn someone, we should remember, “but for the grace of God, it could be me.”

Dear Lord, Thank you for your saving grace and mercy. Help us remember that it is you working in us that allows us to believe and be saved, not anything to do with our abilities. By your grace we go. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I think we all have seen the adventure films where the hero is racing through some foreign city trying to reach the US Embassy before being captured, or the pictures of people surrounding a free country’s embassy trying to find refuge as revolutionaries are taking over the country.

Envision that scenario as you read Psalm 91:9-10 which says, “If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.”

God is our refuge, where we can find safety and security. The classic words of Psalm 23 should always be in our minds when we are afraid, (I remember the King James version) Psalm 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Dear Lord, We thank you that though we may go through frightening and difficult times in our lives, you are our refuge. Help us remember to come to you for refuge and comfort. We know you will not disappoint us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

As we grow in our faith it becomes easy to start building our pride in what a good person we are. Beware! The devil uses this good thing, our good deeds, and tempts us to turn it into pride in our selves or judgment of those not “as good as we are.”

Paul says in Romans 3:20 “therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works” verse 23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” So no matter how “good” we are, it doesn’t make us any better to God. Faith in Jesus, who saved us, is the only thing that makes a difference.

I like to look at it as a sequence of 1) apologize (repent) for ourselves 2) accept the forgiveness and Salvation from Jesus 3) Do good as a response to the love from God.

Our righteousness doesn’t come from being good, it comes from being forgiven.

Dear Lord, we are sorry for doing wrong. We know that without your forgiveness we are doomed. Thank you for seeing us as righteous because of Jesus our Savior. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Why do we worry? At the root of most worry is a lack of confidence that we will get a good outcome of some situation in which we find ourselves, or a situation that someone we care about is experiencing.

Our worrying will obviously not change anything. In Matthew 6:27 Jesus says, “Will all your worries add a single moment to your life?” TLB. Not only will worrying not help, but it can actually cause damage as Psalms 37:8 says, “…do not fret and worry-it leads only to harm.” TLB

It is easy to say, “just don’t worry,” but not so easy to do. What then is the solution to replace the worry? The solution as written in 1 Peter 5:7 is to “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” NIV Hand over your concerns to God, say a prayer, and trust he will guide and protect you and those you love.

Dear Lord, we have fears in our lives and even though we may know that we shouldn’t worry, help us truly replace our worry with belief in your love for us and power over all our concerns. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The internet has become such an amazing resource for so many productive activities, such as education, collaboration, shopping, sharing and connecting with others. However like so many technological advancements, it is also used for wasteful, destructive, and distasteful activities.

Proverbs 15:14 says, “A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash.”

It is up to each of us to decide how we will use the resources God gives us. Every day, even each minute, we are making decisions whether to pursue the positive or “feed on trash.” Will we click on that trashy headline about some celebrities’ arrest, or drunken misadventure, or the keep our minds on higher things?

Paul writes in Philippians 4:8, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Dear Lord thank you for the incredible technologies that we have today, help us to use them for good and focus on the best you things you have created. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.