Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God....For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

1 Peter 1

Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God....For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. v21,23

As Peter exhorts us to be "alert and fully sober" (v13), to be "obedient" and to avoid following our evil desires (v14), to be holy (v15-16), and to live in "reverent fear" (v17), He reminds us of who Christ is and how our faith itself is a gift from God.  John Piper provides this excellent message
to help us more fully understand not just how our faith is a gift from God but how God is orchestrating so much more so that we can see Jesus Christ as the object our treasure and hope.

We also have this great nugget in v23 that reminds us how our faith rests on something that is "not perishable" but "living and enduring".

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me, who never stops loving me and working for me - thank You Jesus!  I know You love me and I am greatly encouraged that You give me faith and I can count on You, Your Word and the Holy Spirit - all of which are living, not perishable and permanent!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of what You provide for me.  I sin...daily...and it often weighs on me.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.

He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth—the Lord God Almighty is his name.

Amos 4

He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth—the Lord God Almighty is his name. v13

We often need to remind ourselves that there is a God, He is in everything, He has created everything in Him and for Him, and He holds everything together (Colossians 1:16-17).  He is all powerful, and all knowing.  He does not need us yet He loves us so much that He sent His one and only Son to suffer and die for us (John 3:16).  Our God is a great God and He is Almighty!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I see and feel Your presence every day.  I am so thankful for the many blessings You pour out for me.  I am not worth such love and blessings.  I am weak, selfish, lazy, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

Hosea 14

The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. v9

Much of our culture has pushed aside God, viewing Him as some distant, uninvolved God that has no role in our life.  Absent God in our lives, we act without boundaries assuming this is freedom.  Yet ironically, we find ourselves more troubled than ever because of this "freedom".  For those of us who love and follow God, we understand that following God provides true freedom because we are no longer slaves to sin and death.

But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. Romans 6:17-18

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56-57

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Hebrew 4:12-13

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You provide the freedom that we long for - freedom from the sting of sin and death...and You are with me...always. Thank You Jesus!  I desperately need You.  I am broken and I continue to sin.  I am lazy and selfish.  Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength.  Please heal her of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.

Psalm 52

For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. v9

In the quiet of the morning, I am ever more aware of God's greatness, His creation, His blessings, etc.  God has done more than I can ever imagine and He is always working in my life, for He is a jealous God...jealous FOR me. 

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

 

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Hebrews 4:13

Praise and worship of God is the right and proper response to who God is, what He has done and what He will continue to do.
 

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”  Hebrews 12:28-29

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me...even though I have sinned and continue to sin....all before Your very eyes. You are so full of mercy for me and gentleness, etc.  Thank You Jesus...I am not deserving of such love.  I don't want to worry, or be impatient or angry but I often do and am these things.  Please forgive me and help me overcome my sin and help me turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.