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In my younger “wilderness” years, my life was always in chaos, and without the Lord’s Peace in my heart.  He was allowing me to experience the “nothingness” of the world”, without Him.  During those  years He showed me that no amount of money, power, position or relationships could replace His Peace in my heart.

One of the biggest flaws in being “human” is self-sufficiency.  We tend to think that we can handle and solve our problems on our own.  If we walk in self-sufficiency, by rejecting God and His ways, we become self-sufficient, and the result of being self-sufficient is an error filled life, lack of fulfillment and finally, torment.  When we place confidence in our own intelligence, appearance, or accomplishments instead of God, we risk torment later when these strengths fade.
Isaiah 50:11–But watch out, you who live in your own light, and warm yourselves by your own fires.
This is the reward you will receive from me:  You will soon fall down in great torment.

The alternative to taking pride in self-sufficiency is to go humbly before the Lord and ask for His help in our daily lives.

By coming to the Lord with our trials and problems, we can cast our worries and anxiety to Him.  Then He can spring into action and  help us solve and administer our troubles in a way that gives us lasting solutions and peace of mind at the same time.
Philippians 4:6-7–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.  

He helps us by showing us how to look at our problems from His perspective; how to prioritize and not to worry about the future and it’s imagined problems.  This perspective allows us to experience His Peace in the midst of the storm. 
John 14:27–and the lord said to His disciples, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

When not viewed from His eternal perspective and perfect timing, our problems only SEEM to be solved by our self-sufficiency, but usually they come back with a vengeance and in an even more permanent and damaging manner.

Be thankful to the Lord for His help in solving and handling our problems.

My Prayer For This Day: 
Lord, thank you for renewing my mind and teaching me to come to You with my problems and worries. Lord, I relied on my self-sufficiency for so many years; my mind was in chaos and rent with anxiety. Lord, thank You for teaching me to cast my worries to You and to ask for Your guidance for the trials in my life. But most of all, Lord, thank You for giving me Your peace in the morning and helping me throughout each day; to stay focused on You & Your way.

Thank the Lord for the lessons that you learn from the trials that He places in your path each day.  These lessons help you  grow in your faith in Him. These trials, and their accompanying circumstances, enable you to learn to entrust the Lord with your cares and troubles more and more  each day.

Let the Lord take your cares, concerns, and aspirations and let Him arrange them according to His good plan for your life.

If you go your own direction, counter to to God’s plan, there will always be chaos, as your intentions will become an idol in your life.
1 Peter 5:5-10–“God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

As you turn your life and it’s circumstances over to the the Lord, be alert to notice how He is working in your life.  Others in your life will notice also.  These changes are all good things in your life.

As you notice these changes, be sure to thank the Lord for His handiwork; as well as for all the trials and circumstances that He used to bring about these changes.  Your thanksgiving and praise to Him is His joy; which is a good trade for the joy that He has brought you. 
1 Thessalonians 5:18– And Paul wrote: “Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
Paul was not teaching that we should thank God for everything that happens to us, but in everything.  Evil does not come from God, so we should not thank Him for it.  But, when evil strikes, we can still be thankful for God’s presence and for the good that He will accomplish through the distress.

My Prayer For This Day: 

Lord, thank you for teaching me your ways through the trials that You set before me this day. Everyday with You brings new things in my life. Some things are joyful; some things are meant to test me; training me to see Your ways. Lord, I know that you make all things work together (both good and bad) according to Your will and perfect timing. Lord, I ask You to show me your ways for me this day.  I will wait in the refuge of Your peace as You set the course for my life. Lord, thank You for keeping me safe and at peace, during the day ahead.

The Lord’s loving Presence is perfect and limitless and big enough to envelope you, and bless others through you, at the same time.

Let the Lord’s Love for all His children flow through you, as you help others, and testify of His Love for everyone through your actions and words.

His Love goes with you always…Shining through you as you interact with the world.
Exodus 33:14– The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”

We must learn to interact with others through the Lord’s Love, because human love is limited and full of human failings, flaws, and manipulation.

Continual interaction with the “needy world” and it’s inherent sinful nature can drain you of your spiritual energy.  That is why we feel so exhausted at the end of the day. The world is full of “takers” and if you are “giver” you will have given so much during the day; that there is not much left of you by the time evening rolls around.  

That is why it is good to take the time during the day to stay in touch with the Lord, recharge your spiritual batteries, and rest in the refuge of the Lord’s loving arms.
Matthew 11:28-30–Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
A person may carry heavy burdens of sin, excessive demands of family, friends, and workmates, acts of oppression and persecution, or weariness in the search for God.  Jesus frees people from all these burdens.  The rest that Jesus promises is love, healing, and peace with God, not the end of all labor.

Jesus doesn’t offer a life of ease–the yoke is still a tool for working hard.  But it’s a shared yoke, with weight falling on bigger shoulders than yours.  Someone with more pulling power is up front helping…Suddenly you are participating in life’s responsibilities with a great Partner.

Remember, you can do nothing meaningful without the Lord’s love flowing through you. 

My Prayer for This Day: 
Lord, thank you for your unconditional, never failing love. Thank you for the light that is generated by that love. That light is reflected by everyone who believes in you. Lord, over the years I found that human love is fleeting, conditional, and fickle; subject to human weakness and failings. Lord, for so many years that was the love I was searching for. But Lord, I know now that only your unconditional love is capable of providing the peace and joy that my heart was searching for my whole life.

Trials, problems, adversity and difficult circumstances are all a part of the fabric of the broken, fallen world we live in.  They don’t happen by coincidence, or by random.  Some of these situations are  due to the fact that evil is prevalent through-out everyday life; the devil is always on the prowl, looking to distract us from focusing on the Lord.  Many situations take the form of trials that the Lord has set in our path to teach us and correct the errors of our ways. The trials are designed to accomplish His ultimate goal of giving us the Mind of Christ.

All of these circumstances are opportunities for growth and learning to depend on the Lord.  We learn from the Lord’s trials; He makes them difficult, but not so much that we cannot bear them.  Even the evil one’s adversity cannot be victorious over the Lord’s power to make everything work to the long range good of those who are His children.
Romans 8:28–And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Rather than running from problems and bad situations, or ignoring the Lord’s efforts to teach and correct us through trials; embrace them; ask the Lord for strength, guidance, and wisdom to see situations from His perspective.  So, when trouble looms, run to God, not away from Him.
John 15:5–and Jesus said to His disciples, ““Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

Learn to rely first on the Lord, not yourself.  Remember, our need for Him is constant, so it is good that He is with us…always ready to help. 
2 Corinthians 1:8-9–We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.  In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.

As you go through rough circumstances, thank the Lord: for His help;  for showing you His perspective, and for the growth in spirit and faith He is building in you.
Ephesians 5:20–And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

My Prayer For This Day:
Lord, thank you for being the shepherd and orchestrator of my life. Thank you for leading me to this place in my life. Without your gentle prodding I would not be facing the issues of today; I would be running from them. Lord, I trust you, and I welcome the trials you put in my life. I know you make good come from all things, and all things lead me to depend on you every moment of the day; as I do not have strength nor the wisdom to make it on my own. Lord, I trust you to give me the strength to face the trials you give me today, as we journey together to your glory.

There will be trials and trouble in this broken world we live in.  
We live in a fallen world. Our human sinful nature, coupled with having to live in a world saturated in sin, ensures that each day will have it’s trials and tribulations. The evil one is always on the prowl, looking for those who are feeling alone; weak and helpless, so focused on their own troubles that they are vulnerable to his attacks.  They forget to watch for danger; these are the times when they are especially vulnerable to Satan’s attacks.
1 Peter 5:8–Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 

During times of suffering, seek other Christians for support. Keep your eyes on Christ, and resist the devil.  Then says James, “he will flee from you.” 
 James 4:7–So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Just remember that by believing in Christ, you have been assured of your place in God’s Heaven where there are no problems, pain, tears, trials or, suffering.

So, do not seek your heaven on earth…because there will be trials each and every day of your life here on earth.

Do not be afraid, though, because He will be with you, always…Ask the Lord each day to go with you; holding you by the hand; helping you with your problems as they happen. Share your thoughts with the  Lord as you journey through the day.  He will give you peace in the midst of the storm.
John 16:33–These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Be lighthearted and joyous; for He is with you, always…and He has already overcome the world and it’s problems.  He will give you the strength to endure and overcome your problems as you come upon them.  Just remember that Jesus does not abandon us to our struggles.  If you remember that the ultimate victory has already been won, on the cross, you can claim the peace of Christ in the most trouble-some times.
Philippians 4:13–For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

My Prayer For The Day:
Dear Lord, thank you for being with me for whatever this new day may bring. I thank you for the comfort within me; knowing You will be with me as we encounter the trials that will inevitably occur during each day I live in this broken world. So prepare me Lord, as we commune in this early morning hour,  for the events of this day, so that we may enjoy our journey together on the path to your eternal glory.

  

Nothing can separate you from His Presence and His Peace, if you learn to trust in Him totally.

Trusting in Him is knowing that even in the trials of life, He makes good come out of evil…in His own perfect timing, according to His perfect plan for your life.
Romans 8:28– And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
God works in everything, not just in isolated incidents, for our good.This does not mean that all things that happen to us is good.  Evil is prevalent in our fallen world, but God is able to turn every circumstance around for our long range good.  Note that God is not working to make us “happy”  but to fulfill His purpose.  Note that this promise is not for everybody.  It can only be claimed by those who love God and are called by Him.  Such people have a new perspective , a new mind-set. They trust in God, not in worldly treasures, their security is in heaven, not on earth.

We grow our trust in Him through enduring and learning from trials that He sets before us.  We grow in His Spirit as we endure our trials and hardships.
Genesis 50:20– and Joseph replied to his brothers: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.“
God brought good from all the evil things that his brothers and others did to him.  The experiences in Joseph’s life  taught him that God brings good from evil for those who trust Him.  Do you trust God enough to wait patiently for Him to bring good out of bad situations.  You can trust Him because, as Joseph learned , God can overrule people’s evil intentions to bring about His intended results.

The Lord helps you to learn to trust Him by watching over you and protecting you during life’s trials and disappointments…He helps you to recover and move on with a sense that better days are ahead, carrying with you the life lesson that He wanted you to learn.

As we learn to trust in the Lord more each day, we can enter the day without fear of what may happen to us; trusting in the Lord’s sovereignty over your life and that He is with you through-out the day, working good out of all that happens.
Psalm 23:4– Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

My Prayer For This Day:
Lord thank you for the trials that you have placed in my life in order to teach me your ways. They have been many, Lord, but they have never been more than I can bear. You have, in your wisdom, also given me many blessings that balanced against the trials. Lord, this process has opened my eyes to your Presence in my life and your Word has taught me the way you want me to live. Lord, with you by my side leading me to your glory,  I feel like I have come home to the father who loves me unconditionally. The loving relationship for which  I have searched, for so many years, has finally filled my heart with joy.

Focus On the Lord’s Unseen Presence…Not On the Seen Deceptions of the Broken World Around You.
Without the Lord’s Presence, you will never have peace or be secure in the fallen, broken world you live in.
2 Corinthians 4:18–So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

We cannot attain true peace and contentment (Joy in our hearts, regardless of our circumstances) through our own self-sufficiency.  The more we try to “do it on our own” , the more hollow and empty our heart becomes.  The more hollow our heart becomes, the more we intensify our search for happiness and peace of mind. (“Maybe the next thing–job, relationship, possession, or accomplishment will be the one that makes me “Happy”.)

By fixing our focus on the Lord and staying in His Presence, through continual prayer and the study of His Word, we are assured of His security (spiritually) and His refuge in times of trouble.
Isaiah 26:3–You will keep in perfect peace, all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

That continual contact with Him throughout the day will keep you centered…and He will help you prioritize the events of the day, helping to eliminate the chaos of your feeble attempts at controlling your life on your own.  

Don’t let fatigue, pain, or anxiety from unfair criticism force you off the job…Concentrate on the inner strength that comes from the Holy Spirit.  It is easy to lose heart and quit.  We all have faced problems in our relationships or in our work that have caused us to think about giving up.  When your mind goes there…Renew your commitment to serving the Lord.  Don’t forsake your eternal reward because of the intensity of today’s pain.  You very weakness enables the resurrection power of the Lord to strengthen you moment by moment. 
 Paul was in chains in a Roman prison; facing death…His followers thought he would be depressed and defeated..But, instead, he was full of Joy because as far as he was concerned he was in a win-win situation…If he was executed he would get to be with the Lord..If he was not, he would have all these Roman guards to talk to about the Good News of Jesus Christ.
So,  Focus on God’s perspective..not on the world’s chaos and turmoil–
2 Corinthians 4:16-18– That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.  For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!  So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

My Prayer for this day:
Lord, You are my strength and my shield. Thank you for teaching me the value of your plans for my life… And for your perspective on your world…not on the evil one’s world. Lord, I know true peace cannot be attained in this broken world. True peace can only be found in You and your promised Kingdom. Until then, peace on earth can only be found by staying focused on Your Presence, which is unseen.  Lord, be with me today, giving me Your strength, wisdom, and peace of mind as we walk today’s path to Your Glory.

The Lord is your top priority and the first love in your life.  Do everything in your daily life for your love of Him…That, in turn, pleases Him.

You cannot serve two masters: Trying to please and impress people, while also trying to please the Lord, leads to a loss of focus on your top priority–Your love of God. Trying to please and impress people becomes a false idol.
Matthew 6:24–and the Lord said, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Jesus said we can have only one master.  We live in a materialistic society , where many people serve money.  They spend all their lives collecting and storing it, only to die and leave it behind.  Their desire for money and what it can buy far outweighs their commitment to God and spiritual matters.  Whatever you store up, you will spend much of your time and energy thinking about. Don’t fall into the materialistic trap, because “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1Tim.6:10)  Can you honestly  say that God, and not money, is your master?  Which one occupies more of your thoughts, time and efforts?

Do you have the knowledge of God without an enthusiastic love for God?  Both are necessary if we are to keep our love for God intense and untarnished.
Revelation 2:4– and the Son of Man said, “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!

Making the Lord your top priority has many benefits, which include the blessings and grace He gives you in response to your love of Him and others around you…

But, for me, I have found that the joy of being in His Presence through out the day, is far greater than any other pleasure of the world.
Psalm 16:11–and David said “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”

David’s heart was glad–He had found the secret to joy.  True joy is far deeper than happiness; we can feel joy in spite of our deepest troubles.  Happiness is temporary because it is based on external circumstances.  But joy is based on God’s Presence within us.  As we contemplate His daily Presence, we will find contentment.  As we understand the future He has planned for us, we will experience joy. Don’t base your life on circumstances, but on God and His Presence in your daily life. (Read all of Psalm 16 to truly understand the joys and benefits of a life lived in companionship with God.)
 

My Prayer for this day is:
Lord, thank you for drawing me close to you each morning and bathing me in Your Love that is always unconditional. Lord, for so many years, I was enslaved to trying to please people; looking for their unconditional acceptance and love. Lord, I see now that kind of true love can only be provided by you. Lord, I never found the love I was looking for, because I was looking in the wrong places (relationships, money, possessions, and status) and because of that, I walked many years with an empty, lonely heart. Lord, thank you for staying with me for all those years, waiting patiently for me to become aware of, and accept, your love for what it is…. unfailing and unconditional.

The Lord knows you are human and fallible…But, because of His unfailing love for us, He can turn your poor decisions and mistakes (and the lessons that you learn from them) into long term good.
Romans 8:28– And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

So don’t be so hard on yourself…Don’t get lost in the vicious cycle of regretting past decisions and mistakes.  

Revisiting and anguishing over mistakes and their consequences leads to frustration and depression, the evil one’s favorite tools for distracting you from focusing on the Lord’s Presence in your life.

You are human…Get over it… You have made mistakes and you will continue to make mistakes.

Thinking that you should not make mistakes is a symptom of pride.  The only person who never made a mistake was Jesus Christ.

By acknowledging our humanness and fallibility to the Lord we commit to dependence on Him, trusting Him to make good out of our failures.
Micah 7:7–As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.

When we swallow our pride and acknowledge our mistakes to the Lord a wonderful thing happens!
He blesses us with humbleness and empathy for other people and their weaknesses.

My Prayer For This Day:
Lord, thank you for showing me and teaching me the futility of worry and anxiety  about the past AND the future.  Lord, you have taught me that, even though I have sinned and made  many poor decisions in the past, you are a forgiving  and loving God to those who believe in You, and who wait on you to bring good out of  even the worst mistakes.  Lord, I trust you will lead me by the hand through the trials of this day, and will teach me your ways on our path through this fallen and broken world.

Refresh and renew yourself with the Lord each morning.  Wake up with Him on your mind, instead of all the cares and worries that you really have no control over.  Turn your cares over to Him and let Him show you the way for the day….

He provides for the sparrows every day…They never go hungry…You have never seen a sparrow sitting on a tree branch having a nervous breakdown worrying about being able to eat for the day.  Are you not worth more than a bird to Him?
Matthew 6:26—Look 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?

Part of the refreshing process is to review all the blessings He has given you in your life.  Thank Him and praise Him continually for these blessings to ensure a positive outlook on the upcoming day.
Psalm 29:2–Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

The world teaches us to pursue worldly things and hold onto them tightly.  The Lord teaches us to let go of our worldly ways and give, instead of taking.  The more that you give yourself to Him and to others, the more He refreshes us with unlimited joy in our formerly empty hearts.
1Peter:1:8–You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.  

My Prayer For The Day:
Lord thank you for setting me free from the ways of the world, through the truth of Your Word. Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit that has taken up residence in my heart, and is inspiring me follow You on a new path for my life, a path known only by You. Lord, I have faith in You to lead me to a path that you have always had planned for me.A path that we will follow together to Your glory. Lord, even though that path is unclear to me now, I have faith in you, that you will be with me… providing me with the strength, stamina, wisdom and peace of mind to do your will.