“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in
heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil
and the good, and sends rain on the
righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:43-45
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who
mistreat you” Luke 6: 27-28
“But if your
enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he
is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so
doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil
with good.” Romans 12:20-21
Lord,
Help me love everyone in my sphere of influence including all my
neighbors and those who dislike me. Remind me to pray and bless them every time.
Allow me to extend grace for they do not know how they are acting. I want to be
compassionate and kind. Give me the courage to help them as often as needed and
be more like Christ so they may accept Jesus in their hearts one day.
‘The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity
and transgression; but He will by no means clear the
guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third
and the fourth generations.’ Numbers 14:18
“The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord, and Your godly ones shall bless You.” Psalms 145:8-10
“Who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. The Lord performs
righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed.” Psalms 103:4-6
Lord, I’m so glad you are slow to anger and abundant in Grace and Mercy. You have been so good to me all these years and I’m just amazed over all of your wonderful blessings in my life today.
You have redeemed me from the pit. Thank You, Jesus.
You have crowned me with Your never-ending compassion, refreshed my soul and strengthened my heart over the years. I praise You today with all my heart, mind and soul.
“Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].”HEBREWS 4:16 AMP
“but Christ is faithful as a Son over His [Father’s] house. And we are His house if we hold fast our confidence and sense of triumph in our hope [in Christ].” HEBREWS 3:6 AMP
“O LORD God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty LORD? Your faithfulness surrounds You [as an intrinsic, unchangeable part of Your very being].” PSALMS 89:8 AMP
Lord,
I enjoy meditating on Your Word day and night. The more I reflect on Truth, the closer I am to You, my ABBA Father.
Your never-ending grace, morning mercies, and presence are palpable in time of distress.
The closer I am to You, Lord, the more confident and hopeful I am about the future. You are my only Refuge and Hope until my last breath on earth.
“So the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts (inhabitants). And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested (ceased) on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. So God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it [as His own, that is, set it apart as holy from other days], because in it He rested from all His work which He had created and done.” GENESIS 2:1-3 AMP
“Remember the Sabbath (seventh) day to keep it holy (set apart, dedicated to God). Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath [a day of rest dedicated] to the LORD your God; on that day you shall not do any work, you or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock or the temporary resident (foreigner) who stays within your [city] gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested (ceased) on the seventh day. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy [that is, set it apart for His purposes].” EXODUS 20:8-11 AMP
“Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,” EPHESIANS 3:20 AMP
Lord, I work diligently in everything I do. Thanks for daily stamina, vitality and focus. Help me back off from task demands and relax a bit so I may only worship You and enjoy life with loved ones.
Teach me how to rest on a regular basis and decompress away from all of my duties. I want to honor You by observing the sabbath day, rely on Your promises and refresh my soul.
I would like to extend an invitation for the upcoming 120 days Challenge starting on September 1❣️
As you may already know, I love the book of Psalms.
We will complete the entire book of Psalms, 150 chapters, this coming Fall.
Every year during the Holiday season, I’m in touch with personal losses, regrets, loneliness, and grief so I have decided to establish a new tradition this year! I want to read and journal the book of Psalms every Holiday season just like I did when the Lord rescued me from the pit of darkness.
In Christ, there is victory and He is our ABBA Father, Refuge and He is our only Soulmate.
Join our challenge today…
I would love for all of you to come along side of me every year.
We will begin the #120daysBookofPsalmsChallenge on Sunday, September 01, as I mentioned earlier.
“Read the Book of Psalms, 1-2 chapter(s) a day”
Mondays thru Fridays, one chapter a day.
Saturdays & Sundays, two chapters a day.
We will be reading one or two chapters a day, inscribing the verse in 1-2 translations, writing down our observations, inscribing the cross references of the selected verse and journaling daily including Sundays for 120 days.
Yes, it will be quite intense BUT it will be quite enriching… the Holy Spirit will embrace our souls one day at a time.
I will share a fact or two from the commentary BE and if you read a commentary on your own, you are welcome to share with the group. You will then earn an extra ticket to enter the general drawing.
If you choose color coding, you will also earn an extra ticket for the general drawing.
You will enter the general drawing for the following:
* for each day you journal and share,
* extra ticket for sharing commentary,
* extra ticket for color Coding.
The Grand Prize winner of the #120daysBookofPsalmsChallenge will obtain the entire Bible Reading Journal Series for 2020 or seven volumes of your choice in case you want to choose one or two of your favorites, a retail value of $80.00 (this is for the person who journals for 120 days)
Note, if there are more than one winner, these winners will be part of a “special” drawing.
For the second winner prize:
The winner will receive the #120 days challenge tote.
For the third winner prize:
The next 3 winners of the “general“ drawing will win a pencil case, “Rise Up and Journal.”
Who’s counting for the #120daysChallenge?! I am.
To purchase your ’special Edition’ journal today, go to this link:
“Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.” Proverbs 1:23 NASB
“It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.” Joel 2:28 NASB
“But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; For the Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:39 NASB
Lord, I’ve lifted up my hands, pour out Your Holy Spirit and let Your words known to me. I want to walk in the Spirit one moment at a time and deny the desires of the flesh. Help me be a faithful servant. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
For You, O Lord,
have made me glad by what You have done,
I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.” Psalms
92:1-4
“Praise
the Lord! For it is good to sing
praises to our God;
For it
is pleasant and praise is becoming.” Psalms 147:1
“Praise
the Lord, for the Lord is good;
Sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.” Psalms 135:3
Lord, I
praise You everyday for Your lovingkindness, faithfulness and for all the
wonderful works of Your hands. I am forever grateful for all of today’s
blessings and the ones to come.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 NASB
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding has all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.” Psalms 111:10 NASB
“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: Fear God and keep His commandments because this applies to every person.” Ecclesiastes 12:13 NASB
Lord, As I read Your Word, fill me with Your Holy Spirit so both of my heart and mind are open for wisdom and instruction. You are my Shepherd and Counselor so teach me Your precepts and provide guidance one day at a time. I want to be wise in all of my decisions today. I want to walk and apply all of your teachings in my life. I honor You and love You, Abba Father. In Jesus name, I praise. Amen.
“Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.” Psalm 105:3
“How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O Lord, they walk in the light of Your countenance. For You are the glory of their strength, and by Your favor, our horn is exalted.” Psalm 89:15,17
“The LORD is the strength of His people, a stronghold of salvation for His anointed.” Psalms 28:8
Lord,
You have been the strength in pressing life circumstances, my stronghold of salvation when faced with opposition, rejection or failure and my joy in grief and sorrows.
I praise You for your faithfulness, unconditional love, and morning mercies. I want to rejoice in You always.
I boldly praise and courageously pray, Your faithful and beloved servant.
Photo Courtesy: Matthew Hamilton at UnSplash
Journaling a Bible verse or two! 