March2021 | Kristi's Morning Devotional

March 3, 2021March 3, 2021

Say A Little Prayer

Yesterday was a day of “little prayers”. I found myself stopping throughout the day praying specifically for friends and family.

Prayers were lifted while I was sitting at my desk paying bills, in the kitchen washing dishes, driving to the store and out in the garage taking photographs. Some came early in the morning before I got out of bed and others were said as I was laying my head down on the pillow last night.

There’s always time to Say A Little Prayer.

“Always be joyful ¹⁷and never stop praying. ¹⁸Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18 CEV

I know some people think this way about prayer – well, nothing else works so we better pray. That’s a wrong idea of prayer. Our attitude should be – I will pray first so that things work out right.

“When you pray, don’t talk on and on as people do who don’t know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. ⁸Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask.” Matthew 6:7-8 CEV

When we pray we can ask confidently knowing that our Father already has our answer. Not a lot of words are necessary, we don’t need a quiet place with soft music playing – no, we just need an open heart and a willingness to talk to the Father.

It’s a great privilege to pray for others. Our spouse, our children, family and friends. Our nation and our leaders. Those who are being persecuted around the world, those who are sick.

Say A Little Prayer.

There are times when I go the the Father and say “Lord, I need someone to pray for me right now. I need to be strengthened, healed or encouraged”. The Father is so faithful to provide those prayers because the Holy Spirit prays for us.

“In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don’t know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words. ²⁷All of our thoughts are known to God. He can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays for God’s people.” Romans 8:26-27 CEV

Last night I woke a couple of times to pray and I was praying again before I got out of bed. There is never a bad time to pray. When I got up and was getting myself a cup of coffee, I was praying and these words came to mind.

I could hear Dionne Warwick singing this song from my high school days:

The moment I wake up
Before I put on my makeup (makeup)
I say a little prayer for you
And while combing my hair now
And wondering what dress to wear now (wear now)
I say a little prayer for you

Whenever folks come to mind it’s always a good time to Say A Little Prayer!

March 2, 2021March 2, 2021

God is Great!

The first thing I did this morning was look up and say “thank You”!

Before the sun rises my heart is already praising my heavenly Father for His love and His greatness. Before the first birds sing their morning song my heart is expressing my gratitude for His goodness. Before the coyotes break the silence my heart is spilling over with the joy of knowing I am loved unconditionally by the Father.

Great are You, Lord!

Some days can get us down; there is no denying we face challenges, some greater than others. However, there is nothing that is greater than our God!

“So David praised the Lord in front of all the people. He said, “Honor and thanks be to You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. ¹¹O Lord, You have great power, shining-greatness and strength. Yes, everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. You are the King, O Lord. And You are honored as head over all. ¹²Both riches and honor come from You. You rule over all. Power and strength are in Your hand. The power is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all. ¹³So now, our God, we thank You. We praise Your great and honored name.” I Chronicles 29:10-13 NLV

The picture I used in this morning’s blog is one I took on Christmas Eve morning while we were camping. I think the reason I enjoy camping as much as I do is because it reminds me of the greatness and goodness of the One who tells me His love is everlasting. The grandeur of the landscape; the majestic colors of the sky; the intricate design of the flowers and the trees all confirm His love for me.

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? ²⁶Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” Matthew 6:25-26 NLT

Sunday morning we sang a song during our on-line church service that truly describes my heart’s praise: Great Are You Lord by Jason David Ingram, David Leonard, Leslie Jordan

You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore
Every heart that is broken
And great are You, Lord

It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only

Start the day right. Join with me in praising the Father for His greatness. There is no greater love than His!

March 1, 2021March 1, 2021

Peace Like A River

As I sat here this moring one word came to mind – Peace.

It’s the start of a new month, a new week, a new day and my heart is wrapped in a warm blanket of God’s peace!

The image I used this morning is a picture I took years ago near our home in Montana. The air was still and when we quieted our voices all we could hear was the sound of the river rolling over the rocks and splashing the snow covered banks.

Peace!

Peace doesn’t mean the absence of adverse circumstances. I can think of two examples from the Bible where people were in dire straights but they were at peace.

Daniel had been condemned to the lions’ den. His crime was prayer. His enemies were committed to having him destroyed and since they could find nothing else to accuse him on, they chose his faith in God and his commitment to prayer.

“The next morning, King Darius got up just as it was getting light and ran to the lions’ den. ²⁰He was very worried. When he got to the lions’ den, he called to Daniel. He said, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God been able to save you from the lions? You always serve your God.”

²¹Daniel answered, “King, live forever! ²²My God sent his angel to save me. The angel closed the lions’ mouths. The lions have not hurt me because my God knows I am innocent. I never did anything wrong to you, King.” Daniel 6:19-22 ERV

Peter is the second example that came to mind. There was great persecution of those who followed Jesus and preached about His resurrection. The leaders of the day were out to stop this message, even if it meant killing the messengers. One of the apostles had already been killed and now Peter had been arrested and imprisoned. He was to be the next to die.

“The night before Peter was to be put on trial, he was asleep and bound by two chains. A soldier was guarding him on each side, and two other soldiers were guarding the entrance to the jail. ⁷Suddenly an angel from the Lord appeared, and light flashed around in the cell. The angel poked Peter in the side and woke him up. Then he said, “Quick! Get up!”

The chains fell off his hands, ⁸and the angel said, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” Peter did what he was told. Then the angel said, “Now put on your coat and follow me.” Acts:12:6-8 CEV

It was a heaven sent jail break. What I find so interesting about this story is that Peter, facing death, was in such a deep sleep that the angel had to poke him to wake him up. He was at peace.

When we focus our thoughts and attentions on God and His love; His provision and His strength, we find peace.

“You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You. ⁴Trust in the Lord forever. For the Lord God is a Rock that lasts forever.” Isaiah 26:3-4 NLV

Start your day with your mind stayed, focused, on the Lord. Let His peace flow through your heart like a river. Let it carry away the anxieties of life and bring refreshing to your mind.

Trust in the Lord and you will have peace!