Jesus the architect

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

God is creative and original. The origins of the heavens and the earth are from Him. Jesus is the great architect (Colossians 1:15-16). When you encounter the God of all creation, you will certainly be transformed. When a caterpillar turns into a butterfly, they are completely different creatures. They are like a miracle. God ministers new life to us, He is still creating today. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Cor 5:17

How has God created newness in your life?

The Holy Spirit gives us the supernatural ability to create and be original. What ideas/ projects could you commit to God today?

Lord Jesus, you are our creator and help us in the creative process. Help me commit every new idea to you and give you all the praise everyday.

Holiness

Sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth. John 17:17

Our daily walk of faith is being purified by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Holiness is who Jesus is. As we invite God into every area of our life, He makes us holy, set apart for Him. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16 All of our failures find redemption in Jesus. When you come to the cross, there you meet the Lord. Praise God for His salvation. God sanctifies us, we are not where we used to be, and we are not yet at our destination. We are a work in progress. How has God worked salvation in your life? Praise is our response as we are so grateful for all the Lord has done and who He is to us.

Thanks Lord Jesus, your life given, means redemption and real life change to mine.

We are the Lord’s

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

God cares for us, even amidst our brokenness and fragility, the Lord has us in his hands. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.” John 10:27-28 We are the Lord’s and hear his voice and follow Him. Jesus is our good shepherd. How can you practice listening to Jesus today? God is our keeper and help. Just one moment in the Lord’s presence can bless your day and ignite a passion for Him.

Heavenly Father, thanks for your complete love and peace. I love hearing your voice and following you Jesus.

Persistence in prayer

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Every time a worry comes across your path, you can go and roll that on to the Lord. He takes our burdens and worries, these are too much for us and slow us down. When you focus on the Lord’s promises, and bring your circumstances into the light of all He says in His Word, what is not possible… If we can be persistent in prayer, worries are less likely to arise. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Dear Lord Jesus, thanks for your love. I give you all my worries and thank you Lord.

Seeking Jesus

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

We are ones set apart, on journey closer to Jesus. Like when you go for a drive in your car, as you go from neutral into drive, you are moving forward. Every time you are thinking of Jesus, you are making progress. When you head towards the Lord, you are in fact trusting Him. God keeps our attention by our praise and worship. As we acclaim who He is, a holy exchange happens. Just like still waters gain movement after rains, the presence of God brings peace. So how do we bring that touch of heaven into our everyday experience? We can think about the nature and character of God and recognise how that impacts our lives.

Lord Jesus, I love seeking you. Thanks for your peace and grace, your truth and freedom, your justice and love.

New beginnings

Therefore is anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

The Bible is filled with practical wisdom for living as an overcomer. God uses us ordinary people to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth, as we pray and take real steps of faith. God has made us new and that is what we are. When you go to help someone, you are helping Jesus. Everyone has the same Spirit of God, the same God that sanctifies us daily, the same Lord who is our healer. Our big visions begin with the smallest beginnings. “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” Zechariah 4:10

Thankyou Lord for making me new in you Jesus. Help me practically walk your will in my everyday life.

Making memories

“He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 1 Cor 1:31

Being a worshipper is purposefully making memories glorifying the Lord. When your reality is shaped by your time in worship of Jesus, you have a happy life indeed. Drawing from our experience in corporate worship at church in the week, empowers us living for Jesus. How sweet is times in God’s presence, singing and praising Him, declaring the sovereign reign of Jesus. Never underestimate the importance of your delight in your Lord and his delight in you. “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.” Psalm 103:1

Lord Jesus, in your presence is where I love to be. As I worship you, draw me up in who you are God.

Set for a blessing

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to seperate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

When you have the love of Jesus framing your life, you are set for a blessing. Being in the Lord’s love causes us to be complete. “Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” Jude 1:21 Thank God our relationship with Jesus isn’t a one way relationship. Just as we love Jesus, He loves us. As we praise Jesus, God lives in our praises. When you talk to your Heavenly Father, He talks to you as well. “The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God. And we really are his children.” 1 John 3:1

Thanks Lord Jesus for your love and kindness. Help me live from that place of closeness and revelation of you every day.

Mission

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

There is so much mystery and wonder in the Lord. If we can have child like faith, what a wonderful we can find. In your prayer life, that place of stillness is filled by the presence of God. “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” James 4:7,8 As we align ourselves with the purpose of the kingdom of God in drawing near to Jesus, we are going to be drawn into that realm of the Spirit. There we can hear the Father’s heart for us and be prepared for our mission each day.

Heavenly Father, thanks for your love and closeness. Help me draw near in reverence and awe of you Lord Jesus.

Help and shield

Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20

Where can your soul find a place of peace, except for in Jesus… God, who has ransomed and redeemed us, is our help and our shield. A shielded person is protected in a time of danger. In God there is such a place of safety. He even says for us not to worry about anything. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 In Jesus, we have peace and help. Have you ever gone through a time, when you could have been stressed, or worried and instead you found yourself praising the Lord? Praise God for Jesus, who is close.

Thanks Lord Jesus, you are my help and my shield. I find peace in you every day. I bring you everything and believe you are helping me, amen.

Reaching people

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16

Knowing the message and how to deliver in a concise manner and asking God for opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus with others is going to make a difference in the community around you. When the disciples had no catch after all night of fishing, Jesus asked them to put their nets on the other side and they made the catch of their lives. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” he told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. John 21:6 God knows where the people that need the gospel are. We can seek the Lord and He can lead us to them! God can give us key ways in reaching people.

Heavenly Father, thanks for the gospel of Christ. Help me have opportunity to share Jesus and have boldness, amen.

Happiest people on earth

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Christians are the happiest people on earth. Even in suffering, there is the constant companionship of the Holy Spirit. We are being saved. There is so much to be grateful for. The Lord gives us vision. Vision for a greater future. Having vision helps us remember our reason for going the distance, at times when we need that. Reminds me of that poem, “Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day.” We have God life, that wherever we go, so does the Spirit of God. That purpose is for every believer.

Lord Jesus, I need the cross in my life. Help me stay in the eye of your will.

Being filled

Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24

In the Lord is encouragement. Just day in day out can ware us down sometimes. Being in Jesus is like a breath of fresh air. God encourages us and strengthens our walk with Him, as we abide in the Lord. The Spirit of God can cause you to have that get up and go. Being filled doesn’t just happen, just like building a fire, when the flames die down, you build the fire again. “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31

Thanks Lord, you are my comforter and help.

Real love

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Romans 12:17,18

I love how the Word helps us understand working with people and how to live in harmony with everyone. The cross reminds us of having love, the vertical, our relationship with God and the horizontal, our relationships with people. Because of what Jesus did, we have redeemed relationships with God and people. We can take the high road, keeping at peace. Our lives can change the world because of our love for God and love for our fellow people. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35 Our love declares the power of the cross in our lives.

Heavenly Father, thanks for the blessing of your Holy Spirit, empowering us in our love for you Lord, and our genuine love for people.

Eternity

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 3:23

We all need Jesus. No matter how hard we try, our lives can never measure up to perfection. In fact, because we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), we all deserve death. That doesn’t have to be our story. God changed our lives forever when He sent Jesus, who gave His life for us. We can’t work for our salvation, the Lord gives us eternal life in Jesus. We just need to accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, beginning a genuine friendship with God, and we will have eternity together with Jesus!

Praise you Jesus, for your gift of salvation. I believe in you and receive you as my Lord and Saviour.

Celebrating the Lord

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

The way God creates every person so special and unique is spectacular. God rejoices over you and you are the apple of His eye. As we celebrate the Lord, that’s praise! We have been adopted in His family, because of Jesus. And you are wanted, loved and appreciated by the Lord. Oh, how He loves us. Imagine having your birthday every day. That’s what having a real relationship with Jesus is like. The Lord loves you so much, his favour is upon your life. God delights in you. Praise the Lord!

Heavenly Father, thanks for making me fearfully and wonderfully. I praise you for being so loving Father. You’re worthy of all of my praise Lord Jesus.

Devoted

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! The children of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7

We run to God. There is safety in the Lord. Have you ever been on a long journey and then you finally get back home. How good is that feeling of being home. God’s presence is like that. We just want to be close to the Lord. “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.  ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” Acts 17:27,28

Delighting in the Lord is the greatest privilege. Being devoted is being set apart. Set apart for His praise. Set apart for His calling. We were made for kingdom purpose. In our families, our workplaces, our friendships, we get to shine for Jesus.

Heavenly Father, as you are close, I feel so secure. Help me devote myself to you. In Jesus name, amen.

Freedom and peace

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Great is the faithfulness of the Lord. God is like the best friend that never gives up on you. His compassionate love doesn’t fail. Because of Jesus, our relationship with God is always secure. God sees us through the light of the cross, our failures redeemed. Every morning is a brand new beginning, because of the new mercies of the Lord. As we bring our lives to God every day, we no longer carry the heavy burden of regret. God creates a fresh slate for us to live in His freedom and peace.

Praise you Jesus, you are the Lord of my life.  Help me keep in step with you each new day.

Purpose aligned

I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8

God is able to strengthen you as you dwell in Him. Praise Jesus for His presence that is always there. David understood that setting the Lord continually before him, meant he could be unshakable. In what ways can you bring the Lord into your day? When we go to do something, we can commit that to God. As you lean upon Jesus, that doesn’t make you weak, in our weakness we are strong. Knowing your need of the Lord is like setting yourself apart from the Lord. Your purpose will always be aligned with the will of God as you set the Lord before you.

Father God, thanks for closeness and care of the little things and big things. I commit everything to you and ask you to lead me in all my undertakings, in Jesus’ name, amen.

New and living way

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

When Jesus came to earth and died for us, He made a new and living way for us. “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,  by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,” Hebrews 10:19,20. You don’t have to live crushed by your circumstances. The life we now live is by faith in Jesus and everything is different because of our Saviour. We are able to have peace and a quiet confidence in the Holy Spirit. As you walk on the earth, the Lord walks with you. As you talk you have heaven’s blessing and God’s anointing to declare the word of God.

Heavenly Father, thanks for giving us Jesus, that we can have a new and living way to live.