Daily Meditations
If God seems far from you who has moved? ————-Suzanne Boyd
God is with us all the time. The problem is that we are not always with God. It is so easy to think that God is not listening to us or doesn’t answer our prayers. We begin to think that maybe God isn’t there at all. In actuality, God has not moved at all. We are the ones who have stepped away.
Patient God, we often stop paying attention and feel distant from you. Remind us that we are the ones who moved. AMEN
There we no functional families in scripture. ———-an insight
We think that there is so much that we have to do or be before we can be of any use to God. Absolutely not true. If you just look at the people God used in scripture you can see that they were not who you would expect. David–an adulterer, Joseph’s family sold him into slavery, Rahab was a prostitute. There are many other examples. God knows we cannot be perfect. He chooses who he wants to do his work.
Quirky God, you seem to pick the most unlikely people to do your work. Help us to see that we don’t have to be perfect but just follow you. AMEN
Praying shapes believing.-—————— Lionel L. Mitchell
Praying not only shapes believing but it also enhances it. The more time we spend in prayer the closer we become with God. Too often we think that prayer time has to be planned and formed. This is so wrong. Prayer can be just a moment where we want to thank God or tell him something….just like speaking to a friend. Rmember God is always there and hears us.
Nurturing God, you hear our every thought and prayer. Help us to tell you our thoughts at any moment. When we pray you hear. AMEN
Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength. –——Corrie ten Boom
I think tonight I will just refer us to Matthew about worry.
27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?[a] 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
Worry is a waste of time.
Lord, you care more for us than we can ever imagine. Thank you. Help us to know that you will be with us each moment. AMEN
When it is dark enough, you can see the stars. ———————Charles A. Beard
Sometimes our lives can be filled with darkness. Nothing is going right. Life seems unmanageable. But it is true. When we can go outside, away from lights, we can see the stars to clearly. The trick is that we have to trust enough to go out and look up. God’s light will be visible to us if we just look. It only takes a little bit of light to change everything.
Amazing God, you created the light and the darkness and are present in both. When all we can see is darkness help us to look for your light. AMEN
Storms make trees take deeper roots. —————Dolly Parton
When things happen to rock my world I tend to reach out for God. Each storm moves me further into his arms and brings me closer to him. I am grateful that this is my response. Sometimes bad things can make us turn away from God. We that happens we miss the solace of being held in loving arms.
Loving God, thank you for your care for us and help us to reach for you in all the storms of this life. AMEN
Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple. ———-Dr. Seuss
Sometimes we want to intellectualize our faith. We continue to ask question that have no logical answers. Questions that can’t be proved or disproved. We need to sit in silence and listen for God. God could answer all those questions but he knows we don’t need to know. We just need to trust in him.
All knowing God, we always want to be able to prove things and have understandable answers. Help us to trust that you know best. AMEN
Faith is not the opposite of doubt. The opposite of doubt is disbelief. Doubts make us ask questions. They make us struggle, study more and learn. Doubts stretch us and make us grow. Don’t be afraid of having doubts. We can’t know everything. Only God has all the answers.
Amazing God, forgive us for thinking that we can know all the answers. Help us to continue to learn and grow in our knowledge of you. AMEN
The only sin which we never forgive in each other is a difference of opinion—————–Ralph Waldo Emerson
We are so good at sticking to our own opinion and rejecting the opinions of others. Each of us is on a journey toward God and each of us is at a different place in that journey. Be mindful of the thoughts of others and be careful not to put rocks in their path. Your thoughts may be good ones but they may not be ready to hear them.
Amazing God, help each of us on our journey toward you and remind us not to hinder others. AMEN
Our feelings and moods change from day to day. Today we may feel that God is close and our faith is strong. Tomorrow God may feel distant and we question. Sometimes our faith is challenged by something painful and we may back away from God. But God never changes and is always there waiting.
Present God, thank you for putting up with our moods and feelings. Thank you for always being present no matter what we feel. Help us to see your presence. AMEN
Hear God in Other Voices 