Lord, guide us so that our words bring comfort, not pain, and harmony, not discord. May they build, not destroy, and inspire rather than discourage.
Can you imagine how David must have felt when facing Goliath? He was just small shepherd boy, armed only with a slingshot and a few stones. We face our “Goliaths” every day, but they’re not seven-foot giants; they are the daunting problems and obstacles that make us feel small, weak and inexperienced. Like David, however, we don’t have to be intimidated. We have a secret weapon: the Lord! He will give us the strength to slay all of the giants in our lives.
It’s so easy to think, “I can’t.” Always remember that when God gives us a task, He wants us to succeed. Because He wants us to succeed, He gives us all we need to complete that task. We are far smarter and more capable than we realize. We have greater faith and love than we know. And, we possess more strength, willpower and self-control than we can possibly imagine.
Promise me you’ll always remember you’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. [Said by Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh (A.A. Milne)]
When we fail to see the Lord, it’s not that he is missing; we just aren’t looking. Father in heaven, please don’t let us lose sight of you.
Come, Lord Jesus, and be our guest … [Lutheran table prayer]
May the Lord always be welcome in our homes and the unseen guest at our tables!
Have you ever noticed how thanksgiving and joy seem to go hand in hand? It’s difficult to express gratitude for God’s blessings and still have a heart heavy with sorrow or disappointment. Perhaps it’s not so much that God wants thanks from us, rather it is the joy that comes from a thankful heart that He wants for us.
Devotions of the Heart 