Jesus the gardener

He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will not slumber; Psalm 121:3

I love wonderful gardens. My garden is in need of some work currently. Reminds me of how much I need Jesus to minister in my life. How important to keep connected to the vine of Jesus Christ (John 15). When I think of beautiful gardens, that extra effort and attention would be what makes all the difference. Jesus is the gardener and keeps us healthy. He is always ready to work with us. “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 Is a matter of discipline setting the Lord before you. The reason we make God our priority, is that by the time we get to the middle of the day, we still have the Lord Jesus in mind. The Holy Spirit wants to lead you into all truth (John16:13).

Lord Jesus, thank you for faithfully tending to the garden of my heart. Help me give you the attention you need to have a beautiful life for you.

Purpose in Jesus

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

God wants to be the Lord of everything. When you are baptised, your old life is crucified with Christ and as He was raised to life, your life is lived by His life. All of our purpose in life is in Jesus. That impacts every aspect of our daily lives. Everything is for the praise of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each day saying how can I please the Lord? What can I do bless His name? Your enthusiasm to live for Jesus, is catching.  “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Heavenly Father, thanks for the opportunity to live for you and glorify you Jesus. Thank you for new life in Christ.

Grace and rest

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Placing your trust in Jesus means dropping the baggage that keeps you down and receiving His grace and rest. Jesus brings real refreshment. He has living waters for us. There is nothing else that can satisfy us eternally. May we always go to the Lord to fill our cups. God is our portion. When you build your life on the principles that Jesus gave us, we are going to be able to sustain momentum because we are getting our rest from God. As your life revolves around Jesus, living for Him and loving people, you are going to be blessed. We go to Jesus for all we need. The Lord is our shield and refuge.

Lord Jesus, you are the centre of my life. I lean on you and leave behind what makes me tired and go to you Lord. Thanks for your rest.

Being set apart

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

Abiding in Christ is a place of rest and peace. Where else would you go in life, except to abide in Jesus. Living for Jesus doesn’t mean living separate from the world around us. Set apart from the world, yes, and called to be in the world and at the same time, not of the world (John 17:14-16).

How do we live in the world and not be of the world? Our hearts are given to Jesus, so in whatever we do, we are to worship the Lord. If something feels off in your spirit, you don’t go there. Jesus wants us to be shining lights for Him, in sometimes a dark world. We can make a good difference as we prayerfully live in the world, believing for the Holy Spirit to move in lives around us.

Heavenly Father, thanks for the grace to live holy lives in the world that we are called to be a light in. I want to be set apart for you Lord, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Everything needed

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

The Lord gives us a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. That is the reality of what He wants us to walk in. Fear and timidity may seek to hold us back, however that is not from God. When we have problems that we notice in our lives, there’s often underlying reasons. Fear and timidity is an underlying reason why we may hold back. Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of the unknown. We can determine in our lives, not to hold back on all that God has for us, because we are trembling in our boots. God has already won the victory for us and we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus( Romans 8:37).

Bless you Lord Jesus, you make living well possible because you have walked our road and have overcome. Help me live with a spirit of power, love and self discipline, amen.

Good work

being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

God hasn’t given up on you. He will keep his good work that He has begun in you until He  returns. How grateful are we that God wants to move in our lives, causing goodness to be in the fabric of our lives. Everyday the Lord keeps leading us closer in Jesus, building and changing us in the light of His presence. His love keeps following you. “Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life, And my dwelling will be in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:6 As we face our lives in worship of Jesus, what blessing there is. God loves you and loves us to enter His presence.

Lord Jesus, Praise you for your love and goodness, for your mercy and belief in us. I worship you, you are Lord of my life, thanks Jesus.

Lovingkindness

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

God is the beginning. The Lord was there in the beginning. He began the earth. God loved us first. Jesus is our reason for the love we have and why we love the way we love. That’s purpose to praise Him. When we know our reason, we can be more motivated in our service, keeping our attitude positive and being in God’s loving kindness. Having healthy and consistent relationships is like heaven on earth. How wonderful to be in community with like minded people, loving God and loving people.

Thankyou Lord for your precious love. You are the reason for our love and the beginning of our love is you.

Being filled

God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. Galatians 5:22,23

Being filled with the Spirit is a whole different world. His Spirit causes us to be conscientious of people around us, gentle and faithful. In our own strength, we can tend to be harder and rough sometimes. How much we need the power of the Holy Spirit in order to live well. Want to grow in your fruitfulness in Christ? Stay connected to Jesus. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 Galatians was written, the author knowing about what Jesus said, recorded in the book of John. The Holy Spirit empowers us to keep the kind of character that glorifies the Lord, walking beside Jesus every day.

Lord Jesus, I want to stay connected to you and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Help my life reflect your goodness, amen.

Plans

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

Before you begin something great and worthwhile, you need good planning. God has good plans for our lives collectively and individually. He sees us as generations. The Lord has plans for our future and gives us hope. When we make plans and dream, we go to the ultimate planner for direction. God purposes to prosper us and keep us safe. Who else would you want to entrust your life to, Jesus cares for us more than we know. What God wants is our hearts. As we live lives of praise, putting Jesus as priority, the skies are the limit of what God can do in us. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. Psalm 37:5

Heavenly Father, bless you for your good plans for our lives. I commit everything to you and seek your direction in the small and big.

Elements that will always remain

Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8

Have you a favourite family dish that you remember that special person making for you? I loved my Mum’s lasagna cooked in the wood burner oven and I also loved my Nanna’s spaghetti bolognaise. She just knew what herbs and spices set the dish off. Those family times around the table are irreplaceable. People talk about cooking and there being love in the sauce. If love really is noticeable even in our cooking, how much does the love of Jesus shine from our lives in the everyday. Because we know how loved we are, we can be free to love well. What is so important that it will never be outdated, left behind or obsolete? Love is forever and will be relevant forever. Hope, faith and love are elements that will always remain (1 Corinthians 13:13).  God fills us with the courage to have faith, to keep hoping and have love always.

Heavenly Father, thanks for your loving kindness that you have shown us by sending Jesus and your love that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

New creations

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

In Christ, we are new creations. How you view yourself, makes the difference between living ordinary or supernaturally. When you know your value in Jesus, that also helps us in the way we explain our “God life” to our children and how we help them to know their worth in the Lord. God has put our past in the past and we can step forward in our new life in Christ. Whenever you feel the pull of the pressure of your past on your present, bring the light of Scripture to every moment. The Lord wants us to break free from chains, by the Spirit of God.

Lord Jesus, thanks for your value of us. Help who you are shape how I live and to be able to help people on the way as well.

Surrender

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39

The heaviness Jesus felt on that day, only God knows. What was required of Him took him all the surrender He could give. Gethsemane means the olive press. Jesus was there in the garden, being immeasurably pressed, praying that if possible, God could take the cup of suffering from Him. Yet He surrendered to the will of God. Thank God for Jesus. The drops of blood he sweated in deep emotion is what He went through for you and me. How blessed and hallowed is our Lord Jesus. We will be eternally grateful for all God has done to save us.

Lord Jesus, you prepared your heart for giving your life for us. Thanks for being my saviour and Lord. Help me surrender to you my all as you have exampled.

Life eternally

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Oh how much the Lord loves the world. He showed His love by sending His only son. God made us for eternity. He doesn’t want anyone to not believe in Him. When we are standing for those are yet to know Jesus, we are caring for those the Lord loves. God searches for sheep that are alone. He wants everyone to be a part of His kingdom forever. “Today is the day of salvation,” 2 Corinthians 6:2. Sometimes we can pray for souls, there can be seasons of prayer for souls. That is not the last resort. That’s where God’s power is release and potentially changes generations. Sometimes we can bring along people to Jesus, like Andrew introduced Simon Peter to Jesus (John 1:41-42). Sometimes we can tell people the gospel with words or with no words.

Heavenly Father, thanks for sending Jesus to earth, who gave His life for us. We ask you for souls Lord. We pray for opportunities for people to meet you, in Jesus’ name.

Taking the high road

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Forgiveness keeps our spirits light. If we can release people to the Lord and bless them, we are taking the high road. “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 Remembering the big picture helps us understand how we can prayerfully respond instead of react. Big picture thinking causes us to be immovable in different circumstances and find our peace in Jesus. What do we do when forgiveness is hard? You may be surprised when you pray and bless people, your heart changes towards them. God can help us see them in a new way, the way God sees lives.

Lord Jesus, thanks for your love. Just as you have forgiven me, help me to extend your grace and mercy to people around me. Today, I bless and pray, knowing my need of your grace, is met with my sins being removed from me as far as east is to west (Psalms 103:12).

Everyday is the opportunity

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You! Psalms 119:11

On our knees is where God does some of His best work. Everyday we have the opportunity to allow the Lord to search us.

“Search me, God, and know my heart;

    test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23,24 Tucking away the Word in your heart, gives the Holy Spirit the room in your life to bring that Word back to you, helping you and guiding you in the everlasting way. God is a jealous God. He wants our whole heart. He doesn’t just leave us empty, as we pour our lives to Him, the Holy Spirit fills us, refines us and is preparing us daily.

Heavenly Father, I bring my soul, will and everything to you. Purify me, work in my soul, motives and actions. Fill me with your Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name.

Grace of the Lord

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

When you are available to the grace of God, you become like a conduit of the blessing of the Lord to go past us to people around us. Being more reliant on Jesus, than what you are able to do for Him, is key to where God does great work using us. You’re saying, “Lord, I can’t depend on my own strength and ability, I need you Jesus.” Life application of shining Jesus is bringing all the glory to the Lord. Being the Lord’s is accepting that your weaknesses are reason to press in to Jesus and there praising His name. I’m not enough without the grace of God. Thank the Lord for another day to live for Him.

Heavenly Father, thanks for being the light that shines in our lives. Praise you that even in weakness, we are surprised by your grace causing your light to shine.

Closer

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

During Easter, as we reflect on all He has done for us, we can be drawn closer into His love, reality and redemption. You are fully known and loved by the Lord. Our Heavenly Father loved us so much, He sent Jesus, His perfect son, to die for us, for the saving of our souls. Praise God for His saving grace. We can now freely enter His presence with boldness, having an expectation of revelation of more of Jesus. The Lord loves when we seek Him and has much to tell us. We are blessed to live filled with the Holy Spirit. God has promised that He will pour His Spirit out on all people, seeing visions and dreaming dreams that will cause us wonder and in awe of Jesus.

Lord Jesus, I am so excited about you, who you are, what you’ve done and what you will do. Fill me with your Holy Spirit, as I seek you Lord.

Family values

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

You and I have been created uniquely and by design. God made each one of us special. Being made in His image, we reflect His glory. What you have in Christ is pure, precious and worthy of praising God. Each one of us has world views, and when we look into the Word of God, we can glean much help with how to see the world around us. Family values are so important in the formation and foundation of our culture. When you build on the basis of scripture, you build solid relationships.

Heavenly Father, thanks for your wonderful creation. Praise you for making us in your image.

Real love

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:6

Real love finds happiness in what is true. When you base your life on the Word, you find yourself wanting to walk the Lord’s paths. Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5 Our best life is living for Jesus. Each day we are surrounded by the love and mercy and He helps us through every obstacle. Knowing the Lord is to have peace in the midst of whatever comes your way.

Thanks Lord Jesus, my heart yearns to know your ways and your paths. Help me to walk in the way everlasting.

Learning from Jesus

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Ps Sidara Udalagama at church on Sunday was talking about how Jesus is gentle and lowly. He is approachable, so humble and His heart is open to you. In Him, your soul will find rest. He beckons us to come to Him. In His closeness, there is healing and the releasing of our burdens. What is keeping you down today? We are able to hand our burdens over to Jesus. The answer is in Him. Such a wonderful Lord we have. That He wants us to come to Him with our weariness and burdens and He takes that upon Him. When you give up trying and begin to open up to Jesus, you find an oasis of His presence, wisdom and grace. In what ways could you come to Jesus today? The gospel has the power to change our lives and how are we responding? We never graduate from needing the gospel. -Ps Sidara Udalagama

Heavenly Father, your presence brings such peace and healing. I bring you every weight and burden and all that makes me weary. I want your yoke and to learn of you Lord Jesus.