Good Morning Led By God, Purposeful, Peace-Filled, Followers of Jesus! Pronounce that mouthful and contemplate it as you abide in God's loving presence with open ears and hearts and willing feet to follow. He has great plans and purposes for you and for us together! Amen! He leads us to His perfect plans and purposes. he is the Rock on which we build. His Word informs our steps and prayers and lead us to be more like Jesus and teaches us to do things His way. Amen! As we follow Him and peace, His peace grows in us and overflows to a trouble and chaotic world around us--a world longing for His peace. Be still at His feet as you open His Word prayerfully and meditate on the devotionals and pray through them. Ask Him to inform your prayers and direct your steps. Ask for some teammates to process, pray and go with. Surrender to Him and His good ways and receive His blessings as you encourage each other and build His Church. He is our foundation we build on. He is our peace beyond understanding. he is our wisdom and He is Jireh--enough, our provision. Amen. Ask Him to give you a word to work on for next year as you journey more towards Christlikeness and doing all He created for you to do. He is speaking to you right now and he has a word sent in love for you to focus on and move towards. Thank Him and receive His Word for you . Then pray, prepare, partner up and go live and love more and more like Jesus. I'm praying for you and us and God is here awaiting you to join Him. Shalom!
Sarah Young:
TWFYT
UR: The Solid Rock
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. - Matthew 7:25 (NIV)
For years, my parents owned a small cottage on the Oregon coast. It was a wonderful retreat and the perfect place to spend summers. But one particularly rough winter, an extreme storm surge wreaked havoc on our little house.
The storm was so severe that the water surge, torrential rain, and monstrous waves began to erode the sand and rocks that surrounded the house. When the storm was over, we could see how the water had severely pulled away the soil in front of the house, exposing the foundation.
In spite of the storm’s ferocity, however, the house was saved. Regardless of the beating it took, it stayed strong and standing. As I looked at the beach house, all I could think about was the parable that Jesus taught about the house built on a strong foundation. The scene in front of me was exactly what Jesus described. With its rock foundation, it would remain standing.
Just as our beach house remained standing because of its stone foundation, we can stand strong when our foundation is built on the truth of God, our Rock and our Redeemer.
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's Prayer
Dear God, thank you for teaching us to keep your word in our hearts. It safeguards us against storms, shores up our foundation in you, and keeps us standing strong in your love. Amen.
Connection Blogs
- Jesus Is Our Peace
We can follow Jesus’ example as a peacemaker, and allow peace to rule within us. His life was foundationally peaceful, and He passed on to us His peace, which was not of the world but which has overcome the world. Read and reflect on these passages of Scripture as we focus on the peace that passes all understanding as we comprehend His coming:
"He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will live securely, for then His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And He will be their peace" (Micah 5:4-5).
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).
"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
"For God is not a God of disorder but of peace" (1 Corinthians 14:33).
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful" (Colossians 3:15).
"Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:9).
God of Peace, as I face this New Year spread out before me with all of its infinite possibilities, I desire to step into it fully aware of Your power and joy and transformational life living within me. I’m so thankful for the peace of Christ that rules in my heart! Give me the grace to obediently follow the plans You have for me and put into practice all that I learn, receive, hear and see in Christ!
Praise Jesus for calling you his friend (Jn. 15:15).
Thank him for giving you a job to do in his kingdom—that is, to “bear fruit” (15:16).
Confess those times when you’ve sought to do your own work rather than God’s work.
Commit yourself to bearing fruit that will last.
Ask Jesus for the strength and wisdom you need to carry out his commands.
Praise God for family members and friends who also have been called by him to bear fruit. Thank Jesus for his friendship with them. Pray that they will seek to nurture that friendship with their Savior.
Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayerleader.com. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
