Your words… Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with a jubilant cry. For Yahweh, the Most High, is awe-inspiring, a great King over all the earth. He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet. He chooses for us our inheritance – the pride of Jacob, whom He loves. God ascends among shouts of joy, the Lord, among the sound of trumpets. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our King, sing praise! Sing a song of wisdom, for God is King of all the earth. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne. Psalm 47
My words…
Praise
All praise to Yahweh, King over every nation! Your throne is the universe. You wear a crown of wisdom and hold a scepter of love. Justice and truth stream from the folds of Your robe. The rulers of this world, the presidents, prime ministers, dictators and senators, do not hold the true power. Only the Most High who reigns from His holy throne. You exalt the humble, the servant who trusts in You. And You bring down the haughty, the one who rules according to his own desires. In the past, You ruled the ancient powers, the Hebrews, Edomites, Canaanites, Babylonians, Medes, Persians, Greeks, and Romans. No kingdom or dynasty existed away from Your watchful eye. Your reign is never-ending. You hold each nation in the palm of your hands, nations of every continent. I praise You as the true and only ruler of my nation.
Prayer for me
Lord, help me submit my will to You as my King. I am a citizen of a very independent nation, one that threw off the yoke of monarchy centuries ago. We refused to be the subjects of a king. We pride ourselves on our accomplishments, our technology, our resiliency, and especially our independence. Remind me, through Your Spirit, that my allegiance is to You, my King.
Forgive me
Forgive me when I lose sight of who holds the power over nations. Elections are held and governmental positions are filled, but the true ruler does not dwell in white houses or legislative halls or court buildings. Forgive me when I put my hope in worldly leaders and not in You.
Prayer for others
Father, I pray for the leaders of the world. Many neglect to seek Your guidance before they determine borders, build walls, pronounce judgment, create laws, or sign treaties. Others refuse to believe You exist, assuming they hold the power. But there are those who proclaim You as their King. Strengthen them Lord! Anoint them with wisdom from You so that their words and actions will be righteousness-driven.
Thank You
How blessed I am to be a child of the King! My inheritance is greater than all of the world’s wealth. I am invited to Your court continually to be in Your presence. And there is no other place that I would rather be.
More praise
I long to join the heavenly hosts in praising You, shouting for joy to the sound of trumpets. There is no sound more perfect on earth or in heaven than Your children lifting their voices in praise to You. My language and intellect fail me when I grasp for words worthy of Your majesty. My talents fall short as a gift worthy of Your love. You are a perfect King. Accept my imperfect praise.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise – dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9
My words…
Praise
I praise You as the creator of the human brain – what a mystery! What a gift! Through Your boundless creativity, Father, You endowed me the opportunity to learn, to create, to discern, to judge…to think. And because You know the power of the mind, You provided a “think list” proven to clean, order, refresh, and inspire my mind. I consider what is true – Your words, miracles, gravity, heaven; what is commendable – a fifty-year marriage, a martyr, a ceasefire, funerals, anthems; what is just – Your judgment, Your vengeance, freedom; what is pure – fresh snow in a field, an infant’s breath, angels, baptism; what is lovely – forgiveness, a bride, a child’s faith; what is of good report – faith testimonies, prophesies, healings and cures, answered prayer, encouragement. Satan hasn’t the power to capture my thoughts when they are trained on these things. For this is Your remedy against Satan’s schemes to depress, distract, and discourage. You have filled this earth with so many wonderful things on which to dwell, Your love for Your children being the greatest of all.
Prayer for me
Thoughts of what has been, what is before me, and what is yet to crowd my mind, never lined up neatly, but pushing and shoving each other around in demolition derby style. And then my thoughts become captive by someone other than You, and I park my mind in the wrong spot and get stuck in the mud. The more I try to leave, the more I spin my wheels until I am in a self-made rut. Round and round my thoughts spin: the depravity of man, abuse and exploitation, the lost state of the world, the fortunes gained by wickedness, the power of the despot and dictator, the inequity among humankind. Round and round. During these dark times, Lord, remind me to slip into neutral and surrender my thoughts to what builds, not destroys.
Forgive me
Forgive me when I willingly choose to dwell on what is destructive, immoral, trite. Your Spirit teaches me how to think, and there are times when I am a very bad student.
Prayer for others
Lord, today I pray for those who have no control over their thoughts. My friend suffers greatly from post traumatic stress disorder, and she feels powerless to keep painful memories from bursting into the front of her mind and taking charge of her thoughts. I cry out to you to heal her and bring her peace.
Thank You
Lord, I thank You for my mind and all of the memories, ideas, epiphanies, questions, answers, reasons, and reflections it is able to create. My mind is a symbol of You: I know so little of what it can accomplish, and I am in awe of its mystery and power.
More praise
I praise You for being all that is true, commendable, just, pure, lovely and of good report. When I “dwell on these things,” I step into Your presence, and my spirit is restored. I give you all the praise and glory!
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Go down at once to the potter’s house; there I will reveal My words to you.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, working away at the wheel. But the jar that he was making from the clay became flawed in the potter’s hand, so he made it into another jar, as it seemed right for him to do. The word of the Lord came to me: “House of Israel, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?” – this is the Lord’s declaration. “Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:1-6
You have turned things around, as if the potter were the same as the clay. How can what is made say about its maker, “He didn’t make me”? How can what is formed say about the one who formed it, “He doesn’t understand what he’s doing”? Isaiah 29:16
My words…
Praise
I worship You, Lord, as the Master Potter, skillfully touching and molding Your creation. You see the lump of clay on the wheel not as a lump, but as a useful vessel waiting to be formed by the hands of its Creator. Your loving fingers shape the clay into something You can use. You don’t make ornamental statues that sit on a shelf and collect dust. Your pottery collection is made up of bowls, plates, pitchers, urns – pieces used in the service of others. And if the clay contains a defect and does not bend and mold in Your hands, You do not scrape it off the wheel and throw it away. No! You work the clay again because You see the clay as valuable and worth Your effort. Just as the earth spins, so does the Potter’s wheel. The molding and shaping never ceases.
Forgive me
I am the clay. I was made to remain on the wheel and submit to Your hands. Forgive me when I become rigid, unbending to Your will, fighting to be something You do not intend for me. If I am to be a cup, who am I to say that I would rather be a vase?
Prayer for me
Sometimes I feel chipped, cracked. Some days I would like to be set on a shelf and not used. Strengthen my spirit to remember that a chipped, cracked cup in Your service is worth more than a gold, jeweled vase encased in glass.
Prayer for others
I pray today for those who have turned things around and believe they are their own potter. They know of You but refuse to claim You as their maker. They say, “He didn’t make me. He doesn’t know what He’s doing.” You see each of them as a vessel yet to be formed. They remain rigid on the wheel, yet you keep the wheel spinning.
Thank You
Thank You for never giving up on us, Your children. You are not a frustrated potter, throwing clay from the wheel. You are the loving Potter who remains at work, imprinting Your will on our lives.
More praise
Only You, Lord, can mold me into what I was born to be – a vessel made according to Your will. When You use me as Your vessel, I am living the most abundant life possible because that is what You promised me. You fill me – Your vessel – with Your love, with Your Spirit, and I am glorified! And that is abundant life. Oh that every lump of clay would yield to Your loving fingers!
Lord, I seek refuge in You; let me never be disgraced. Save me by Your righteousness. Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; You lead and guide me because of Your name. You will free me from the net that is secretly set for me, for You are my refuge. Into Your hand I entrust my spirit; You redeem me, Lord, God of truth. Psalm 31:1-5
My words…
Praise
How precious is Your relationship with David, the shepherd-poet-king. I have learned so much about You through his Spirit-guided words. He knew what it meant to be a refugee – homeless, running for his life, hiding in caves. He knew where to find perfect refuge, and he held the key: He entrusted his spirit to You, and You welcomed him into Your mountain fortress of protection and comfort. The same refuge is open to me, and I, like David, hold the key. When I surrender my spirit to You, I enter into Your protective custody. Satan’s trebuchet, hurling boulders of discouragement, distraction, entitlement, and doubt, is impotent and useless against Your might. The boulders bounce off the walls of Your fortress without dislodging a stone.
Prayer for me
I am not pursued by the same kind of enemy as David. I have never been driven from my home, wrongly accused, or maligned. But I am targeted by the Devil’s arrows. He blurs the lines between what is right and what is wrong. He uses subtlety to poison Your message by awarding credence to godless thinkers. And I fall for it. Strengthen my spirit to recognize and avoid this trap.
Forgive me
Forgive me for the times I refuse to use my key to enter into Your protection. Trusting You completely, surrendering my will to Yours requires strength that sometimes eludes me. I am tempted to believe that I can live outside of Your will and expect Your protection anyway. Pardon my insolence.
Prayer for others
Father, I pray for the countless refugees of this world. They are homeless, running for their lives, hiding in caves. They are huddled together in makeshift towns, oppressed and exploited. Evil ones have cornered them and cut off their way of escape. Families are separated. Innocents are slaughtered. They need a refuge! Many of them profess Your Son as Lord. They pray for release from their tormentors. I know You hear their prayers. I add mine to theirs. Provide a place of safety for them on this earth.
Thank You
Thank You for opening the fortress doors and welcoming all who flee to You for safety. You turn no one away. And thank You for preserving the words of those who proclaim You as their rock, their fortress. Their words are the path which lead me to Your door.
More praise
Your scriptures are filled with metaphor as a way of bringing Your unsearchable character into focus. Although there is no metaphor that comes close to capturing Your full character, You as my refuge is one of my favorite. There is no other stronghold as powerful as You. Into Your hand I entrust my spirit.
The Spirit of God is on Me because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn. Isaiah 61:1-2
There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law, Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said, “Now, Master, You can dismiss Your slave in peace, as You promised. For my eyes have seen Your salvation. You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples – a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Your people Israel.” His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about Him. Then Simeon blessed them and told His mother Mary, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed – and a sword will pierce your own soul – that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:25-35
My words…
In a world where I console the baby, You sent a baby to console me. Jesus’ birth, His first coming, is You placing Your cool, tender hand on the burning hot forehead of the world. Comfort, at last. The cries of the infant Jesus were trumpets, heralding an end to sin’s bondage and oppression. His laughter was a sweet bell, a joyful peal to announce the only way to true freedom. Simeon longed to see and hold Your comfort, and You sustained him until he could. The throngs who daily visited and worshiped at the temple had no idea that Simeon held the Salvation of the World. The One whom they prayed would come, holding a sword, reeking havoc on Israel’s enemies, brought instead comfort to Israel, to the Gentiles, to the world forever. A little Baby. A Comforter. Amazing. And in his name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise, with all my heart I praise Your holy name. Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise, His power and glory ever more proclaim!
Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity. Micah 5:2
Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough – because there was no room for them at the lodging place. In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is the Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! Luke 2:4-14
My words…
Father, every detail of this blessed event was determined by You before creation. You entrusted Your prophets with select details to bring hope to Your people. And then, late one clear, starry night, in the most humble dwelling in Bethlehem, the first of many prophesies was fulfilled. In the midst of the dirt, bugs, and manure, Your Son came into the world. Mary’s painful cries were heard only by her husband and barn animals. The infant’s arrival set in motion a wave of joyful praise heaven could not contain. It was as if the angels had to tell someone. But who? Who should be the first to hear about the coming of the Savior of the world? It was only fitting that the chosen angel, clothed in Your glory, appear not to the elite of Israel, but to a group of weary, humble shepherds working the night shift. What an honor! The shepherds arrived at the stable, not having to worry about removing their shoes or changing their clothes. They presented themselves to Your Son just the way they were – covered in dirt, covered in sin. I can see them in my mind’s eye, surrounding the trough, some standing, some kneeling, some with their faces to the ground. How long did they linger? I would have stayed all night. I can only surmise that this band of shepherds described the scene of this holy night to their children who then shared it with their children and so on through the generations. You raise the humble. You honor the lowly. You lovingly offer Hope to the hopeless. I praise You, Father, with my whole heart! I praise You and thank You for willingly sending Your Son away from Your side to a place so unworthy of Him. Glory to the newborn King!
And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and His name is holy. His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy, just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever. Luke 1:46-55
My words…
The expressions of praise and gratefulness which flowed from Mary’s heart nurture and strengthen my soul. She was the one chosen among many. She would carry the child on which the hopes of her entire nation rested. The Messiah. The Anticipated One. The Hope of Israel. This most excellent honor was not bestowed upon a famous woman, a woman of means, or any woman expecting it. No. You elevated the lowly peasant girl engaged to a working class carpenter. No worldly “fluff” floated in front of her eyes. She saw You clearly as one who spoke with You often and thought about You the rest of the time. She understood how You work: You bless those who fear You. You are just: You satisfy those who have nothing. You are mighty: No earthly power can stand against You. Mary knew that You were preparing to bare Your arm, to reveal Your powerful love in the form of You with skin. She knelt before You, opened her heart and her mouth, and magnified Your name for me to read all these years later. No one else but You would have chosen her for the job. She knew You. She knew how to love You. Even now, she helps me praise You.
Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. Luke 1:26-33
My words…
Father, my spirit rejoices during this Christmas season. No other event in the history of Your creation fills my heart with joy more than the arrival of my Savior on earth. The advent, intended from ancient times, disrupted the balance of heaven, for the Son left the presence of His Father to endure life as a baby, as a boy, as a man. Did Gabriel fall at Your feet in praise when he learned he would be the one to announce the Savior’s birth? Did the host of heaven remain silent as Gabriel shared his message with the young virgin of Nazareth? Did Mary know that this conversation would be remembered and recited for centuries to come? As soon as Gabriel stopped speaking, everything changed. The beautiful source of pure love, redemption, and grace began to grow in the womb of the one favored by You. The Son of God, part of the Holy Trinity, could only be brought forth from a virgin womb. The plan of salvation by the death of the Lamb is a perfect, virgin plan, never before conceived by any god or man. Jesus lived the only truly virgin life – One unspoiled by the dirt of sin. Then, at Jesus’ resurrection, the world was handed a free gift – the gift of a spotless, virgin life with You eternally. And it all began with an angel’s visit to an apprehensive young Galilean virgin. Hallelujah! Praise to the Father who endured separation from His Son. Praise to the Spirit who miraculously brought life from Mary’s womb. And Praise to the Son who humbled Himself and willingly left the glory of the heavenly realms to dwell on earth. Joy to the world! The Lord has come!
Then God said, “Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:20-21, 24-25
Do you give strength to the horse? Do you adorn his neck with a mane? Does the hawk take flight by your understanding and spread its wings to the south? Does the eagle soar at your command and make its nest on high? Job 39:19-20, 26-27
My words…
A Prayer of Thanksgiving and Praise
Lord, Your boundless creative might flowed across the sky, rivers, oceans, deserts, forests and plains and produced creatures that fly, swim, crawl, and run. Not just skin, but scales, feathers, and fur. Not just hands, but paws, talons, and fins. I have two eyes, but the giant clam of the South Pacific has thousands! The tiny wax moth can hear 150 times greater than I. In order to beat a cheetah in a race, I would have to get in my car and drive 62 miles per hour on an open road. What creatures! What a creator! My knowledge of your creatures is so limited: I could study them the rest of my life and not learn a fraction of what is to be known. Yet You hear the song of each bird and know the lyrics. You know exactly what each elephant remembers. You know why the wolf howls. You give strength to the horse and adorn his neck with a mane. You understand the flight of the hawk, and command the eagle to soar. You, oh God, receive the praise of your creation: the dolphin’s whistle, the lion’s roar, the falcon’s screech – all of Your creatures know their creator and worship You! What a symphony of praise You must hear every day! Thank You – thank You, Lord – for the endless variety of creatures, each proclaiming Your creative majesty.
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for festivals and for days and years. They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so. God made the two great lights – the greater light to have dominion over the day and the lesser light to have dominion over the night – as well as the stars. God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, to dominate the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:14-18
Can you fasten the chains of the Pleiades or loosen the belt of Orion? Can you bring out the constellations in their season and lead the Bear and her cubs? Do you know the laws of heaven? Can you impose its authority on earth? Can you command the clouds so that a flood of water covers you? Can you send out lightning bolts, and they go? Do they report to you: “Here we are?” Job 38:31-35
My words…
A Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving
You appointed the celestial bodies a place in the sky, a place where they would never move. You would not let darkness prevail on earth; even when the earth revolves away from sun, there are lights to dispel darkness. When I fail to see Your presence in my daily view of the world, I need only to wait until nightfall and look upward. I see a dipper! Did You do that on purpose? And the sun! What a joy-bringer! Its rays of light and warmth chase away malaise naturally. Last week I gazed upon a “supermoon.” When the next supermoon is visible, I will be looking at it with 75 year old eyes or looking at it in Your company (dark side and all!). Beyond the beauty and grandeur of the stars, sun, and moon is the way they act as timepieces, for when You set them in place, “the clock” started ticking. I celebrate a birthday and an anniversary because You appointed a place for the stars. I observe special days and holy days based on the cycle of the moon or a specific day of a specific month. All of this and so much more exist because of what You created on the fourth “day.” What a “day!” Thank You for setting in place a spectacle of Your majesty and power in the sky for my eyes to behold each day and each night. Only You can fasten the chains of the Pleiades and loosen the belt of Orion. I turn my face skyward and thank You and praise You.
