Day 18: The Grand Designer

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Psalm 139

“For You formed my inward parts;

You wove me in my mother’s womb.

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Wonderful are Your works,

And my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;

Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;

And in Your book were all written

The days that were ordained for me,

When as yet there was not one of them.”

For years I did not fully appreciate how God had created me, but in my thirties I was finally able to count as blessings all of my less-than-perfect physical attributes, and to even thank the Lord for the way I was fearfully and wonderfully made. The Grand Designer chose my eye, hair, and skin color; He chose my gender and size and frame. From the inside out He knitted me together to be the exact human being He desired me to be—all for His purposes—created and chosen to be His. My imperfections were created by a perfect God Who has never made a mistake with in how He has created us. No matter the many flaws, inside and out, how can I not thank my heavenly Father for the blessing of creating me the way He ordained?

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Tomorrow is the official day set aside as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. This year’s March for Life on January 24 marks fifty-two years of holding to this tradition when tens of thousands of folks are willing to brave the cold—and even snow—to take a stand and march for the lives of the unborn. Many will undoubtedly speak of the hope that was finally realized with the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision being reversed two years ago. Even still, the lives of the unborn are threatened and need to be protected.

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Each precious life, as an “unformed substance,” is seen by a holy God, and every day is ordained for them, with a specific plan and purpose. The Lord bestows His blessing on every created life before they are even born! There may be some who are uncertain and even fearful about bringing a child into today’s world. God’s blessed plan hasn’t changed through the ages…each human being is created by God’s will, His magnificent purpose, divine design, and glorious grace! Let us thank Him for creating us for His pleasure and purpose and make the commitment to live for His praise!

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Dear heavenly Father, we praise You that You are the Grand Designer, that each one of us is fearfully and wonderfully made by You for your specific purposes. Forgive us, Lord, when we question Your design and complain about the things we don’t like. More importantly, dear God, forgive us, we pray, for thinking and even acting upon the assumption that each human life is not precious to You, that we have the choice to destroy Your creation. How grieved you must be, O Father. Have mercy on us, we beg. In the Holy name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Today's Scripture

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1 John 4:4

If we’re going to be overcoming, triumphant believers, it’s time we rediscover our true identity. The way we triumph is not through force but with the power of God’s love through Jesus Christ. That kind of triumph comes from the God who is greater, and He placed that greatness in you. For greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world!

Our God is greater than every enemy because He took your enemies to a place called Calvary and conquered them there. He is greater than every sickness because He bore your sickness upon His back, and by His stripes you are healed. He is greater than every need because He will supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory. He is greater than every bondage and addiction for He is the Anointed One who breaks the yoke of bondage and sets captives free, and whom the Son sets free is free indeed. He is the God who is greater than every mountain that you’re climbing because He can take that mountain and cast it into the sea. He’s greater than every sorrow because in His presence is the fullness of joy.

Don’t let the world weigh you down today. Our God is greater!

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Blessing

Father, we thank You that we are triumphant through You. Now Lord, bless us with victory in our personal lives, in our relationships, in our churches, in this community. Bless us with goodness and grace and mercy and peace and Your favor in all things that as we march in triumph, those who are walking in darkness will recognize that the Light of the world lives in us, and they’ll be drawn to You, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Let every life be blessed beyond measure this week because they live to give You the glory. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray and say and receive this blessing, Amen and Amen.

Today's Bible Reading:?

Old Testament

New Testament?

Psalms & Proverbs

Day 20: Celebrating Another Inauguration Day

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James 1:17

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It has been a long road to this Inauguration Day, a road full of unexpected potholes, barriers, turns, bumps, roadblocks, and detours. And the final destination, for many, doesn’t look at all the way they had expected it to appear upon arrival. We prepared our hearts before enduring another election cycle by praising, repenting, pleading, crying, and offering our petitions on behalf of America. Because of the promises in God’s Word, we know that He heard us, even if the answers for some are different than imagined. Nevertheless, we have much to celebrate on this day. We believe that America is exceptional because, since its birth, we have experienced God’s undeserved blessings. We understand that all of us as citizens have been given much, and we mustn’t take it for granted. We can trust Him knowing that, as our scripture for today says, everything from Him is a good and perfect gift, and it is part of His plan. And so, we are able to celebrate His gift of faithfully bringing us to this day which demonstrates that our country believes in a peaceful transfer of power.

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Months ago when the election prayer initiative began, we asked God, as the song says, “God Bless America.” May we live in harmony, dignity, equality, and most of all, freedom—which is the yearning of the human heart to breathe freely without fear. Whoever holds the office of President of the United States, the countless ills of our nation won’t be magically fixed in four years; they can only be fixed by the intervention of God Himself, by His mercy and grace. The prayers of His people, “for such a time as this,” have been poured out on America’s behalf, and we know that we must continue beyond Inauguration Day. May we continue to ask that He help our country be a beacon of liberty and democracy. There is nothing we can do apart from the Father; rather, we dare do nothing apart from our holy God.?

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Lord, on this first full day of a new administration, we give you this day and thank you that you have brought us to this turning point in our nation. We humbly plead once again for Your wisdom to pour down on our President and the leaders of our nation, and we pray for Your continued blessing upon America. In the righteous name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

~ painting artist unknown

Day 23: A Spiritual Inheritance

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Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Shortly after our daughter’s engagement, she and I spent an afternoon setting up her bridal registry in a local department store. Roaming the floor making her selections, she shared in passing that, considering their ages—she was 38, and her fiance was 45—they had decided not to have children. Once again the “still small voice” whispered, “Children are a spiritual inheritance.”,

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For years it was my habit to wake up to the radio program, “Focus on the Family.” The previous morning I awakened to hear a message about how children, and the precepts from Almighty God that we pass down to them, are part of our spiritual inheritance. Our devotion and faithfulness to God is an inheritance we give our children that blesses them by:

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? how they see us live with God and worship Him

? how they see us obey and love Him

? how they see us respond to hardship

? how they see us approach our work

? how they see us manage money and make decisions

? how they see us serve others

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My response to my daughter was, “My hope is that you will prayerfully reconsider as both of you have such a wealth of spiritual understanding, wisdom, and knowledge to pass down to the next generation as an inheritance for your children.” It must have struck a chord as, ultimately, they did reconsider having children—twice! Both children are now Christ-followers and are reaping the blessings of that inheritance.

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Often, when we think of an inheritance, we assume it means a financial gift or something tangible that we hope to leave after we are gone. Certainly, we all have meaningful items we’d like to pass down to our children and grandchildren that hold treasured memories, even eternal value. In today’s verse, Jesus reminds us that it is better to store up treasures in heaven for the kingdom to come. The truths of God’s Word and His wondrous works, these are the things we are commanded to pass down to the next generation, more than any other type of inheritance. These things will last forever, from this world to the next. It’s never too soon or too late to begin investing in and storing up those treasures for the next generation!

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Our Father, thank You for the truth in Your Word that teaches us about the treasures we need to share with our children and grandchildren. Your command in Psalm 78 is clear, and may it be our prayer to You today:

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“We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength, and His wonderful works that He hath done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments…”

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May we take hold of these verses, Lord, and set our hope on You, never forgetting Your mighty works, and unchanging Word. For it’s in Your name and for the sake of the next generation that we pray. Amen.

Psalm 25:2

Today's Scripture

O my God, I trust in You, let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph

over me. ?Psalm:25:2

Today, I'm asking you to turn loose of the things that have held you back. Stop drowning in desperation and despair. Rise up! This year is going to be God's year in your life. It is the year where doors will be opened in your favor while others will be closed that would cause you harm. Trust Him to handle things without trying to micromanage the details of your life. Turn loose of the reins and allow God to have His way in you!

This year, with the help of Almighty God, you can get over your heartaches, the rejection you've faced, and any controlling relationships! Get over what Satan has done to you, too! Turn loose of the resentment and bitterness...those who have abused you and lied about you. Turn it all over to the Lord and watch as your life becomes filled with joy once again.

Let the misery melt away and let the Son shine in!

Blessing

And now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you, giving you His peace. May you be committed to doing the will of God, living in the perfect providential graciousness of God your Father. He will send His angels before you to prepare your way and behind you to be your rear guard. Know that you will live within His divine favor because you are obedient to Him. May the Lord bless you now in all things.

Today's Bible Reading:?

Old Testament

New Testament?

Psalms & Proverbs