Any Given Day: 14

Loneliness.

At one point or another, we all feel a sense of being lonely. This is very different from being alone. Some people enjoy the quiet that comes with being alone and embrace it...

Many of us, however, feel lonely even in a room full of people. Many times we feel that people just don't understand what we are going through. We may feel that there is no support system or that we have been abandoned by people who said they loved us. We take it personally when people appear too busy to care. We feel there is no where to turn...

The reality is that we are never truly alone. God is always there. Waiting for us to turn to him with our troubles. He already knows our heart and our problems. He is a patient God who will wait for us to ask for help. A prayer for those who are feeling lost and alone:

God, my loneliness and sorrow are overwhelming me. I am seeking companionship in the human form, but what I really need is You. I am desperate to feel Your arms around me. I need to hear you say, "It's going to be OK." I long to hear the words "I love you." Stay beside me today as I go about my business. Remind me of Your Presence and the wonderful gift you have given us in Your Son. AMEN

Matthew 28:20

Any Given Day: 13

The only thing constant in life is change.

Why is it that we are so desperate for things to stay the same? We hang on to predictability for dear life and resist the evolution of time, technology, intelligence, and our hearts. "Somethings never change" we say cynically, but really, life is dynamic and ever changing.

We yearn to change others, however, which is quite ironic. We are frustrated because we want things to stay the same, yet we want people to change. Curious. God created the world in which we live to proceed and grow. He created us with temperaments and personalities and talents and flaws. Each of us unique in our special way.

God expects us to change ourselves for the better over time. He never asks us to change anyone else, just be there for them when they are ready to make them. We chafe when someone wishes to change us, and we feel rejected because they can't seem to love us just the way we are.

Embracing change in life is showing honor to the One who created it. Accepting people for how they are today shows maturity and patience. Loving some one's imperfectness and accepting them as they are is relationship success!

Dear Lord, I am fearful of the changes that are happening in my life. Please help me to accept what I cannot control. Help me to understand that everything is for the betterment of my life. Teach me how to accept others just as they are. Teach me to love them the way You do. Jesus was the only perfect person, He accepted His fate, and embraced the changes that lit up the world! AMEN

Matthew 3:8

Any Given Day: 12

Anger

There is a full spectrum of this emotion. We get angry in the car when someone turns in front of us or takes "our" parking spot. We get angry at the news on TV of the needless death and destruction that is happening in our world. We get angry at our family and friends for not meeting our needs, and we get angry at God because life is so unfair.

God Himself gets angry. He created the emotion. However, His is a righteous anger where ours is a selfish one. Our sense of entitlement and our opinions about what is right and wrong can overrule our conscious thought, and we react in a variety of unhealthy ways. Lashing out and withdrawing emotionally are the usual responses when anger flairs up. Most of the time, what sets us off is not what we are really mad about. It requires quite a bit of introspection to get to the bottom of what is making us so angry. (It isn't the driver in the other car)

Managing anger requires patience and practice. The refinement of the skill takes a lifetime to master. Recognizing when you are angry is the first step. Slowing down and stopping what comes next takes strength and planning. Exercise, prayer, breath control, meditation, and effective communication will all help. If you are angry today, pray the following:

Gracious God, I am angry today! My inner seething hurts as much as physical pain. Please show me the root cause of my anger. Give me the skill set to manage my anger so that it doesn't effect my relationship with others. I am tempted to lash out and say and do hurtful things! Stop me, Lord from doing and saying things I can't take back later. Please, God, show me the way to peace of heart today! With your Son at the center of my decisions, I trust you with my emotional self. May gentleness and kindness prevail. AMEN

Ephesians 4:26,27,31,32

Any Given Day: 11

Our God is a merciful one!

As we contemplate our lives, most of us have regrets. Somewhere along the way we have made poor judgements and bad decisions. If we could go back and change things we would all agree that we would. We "should " on ourselves quite a bit and wish things were different.

We need to remember that we are human and therefore imperfect. How we handle our mistakes is much more important in the long term than the actual error itself. Even though we reap what we sow, and let's face it, sometimes it is really ugly, we can rest assured that it could have been much worse.

God is a merciful God. He doesn't dish out punishment nearly as severe as He could if He wanted to. No, He would much rather spare our lives and grow us with experience and wisdom than strike us down. He loves us, He has blessed us, and it is up to us to see how gentle He has been with us! There were so many times that Jesus could have turned the tide, murdered His accusers, and been the judge and the jury. He chose to die with honor and humility so that we could live...

Lord, when I get tempted to feel sorry for myself because of the results of my bad choices, remind me that you have been gentle and merciful with me in the past. Thank you for kindness and compassion, you have saved me from my reckless behavior more times than I can count. Please continue to be gentle with me, and teach me to be merciful and gentle to others. AMEN

Psalm 89:1-2

Any Given Day: 10

Endurance.

The ability to maintain forward momentum on a chosen path, regardless of circumstance. The ability to endure is tested during hard times, particularly when another path would be so easy. Sometimes we refer to this path as the high road. Discipline and self control are necessary to stay the course. Just as a marathon runner doesn't give up all the hard work and training at the first sign of discomfort, neither should we give up what we know is right at the first sign of difficulty.

God is known for testing us. He wants to grow and become stronger through our perseverance and our pain. It brings us closer to him. When we reach out and ask for help from God and others it increases our chances for success. If we don't give up, and we keep going despite setbacks, disappointment, and hardship, we are richly rewarded both on earth and in heaven.

If you are tempted to give up on something important, pray these words:

Lord God, it would be easy to let go of the rope and give up today. If it is Your will for me to continue, please help me see the way. Light the path clearly, remove the debris in my way, and ease my struggle. You alone know what is best for me and I trust You to guide me in what is right. The road is narrow and difficult at times, but Your help can get me past the tough parts and propel me forward. No one had a tougher road than the one Jesus walked to His death, may that image give me strength and endurance. AMEN

Romans 5:3-5

Any Given Day: 9

Faith

The dictionary definition for Faith is:

1. a firm belief in something for which there is no proof

2. complete trust.

The biblical definition for Faith is:

"It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see." The entire chapter in Hebrews then goes on to recount historical details of people with faith. Example after example of unexplained miracles that transformed history because of faith in God.

We have such a difficult time with this sometimes. "In God We Trust" is written on the US money supply and it was the foundation of discovery and expansion of America. Yet we insist that we control our own destiny and we want to solve our problems that were originally brought about by our lack of faith.

Today, if you find yourself trying to do life without the guidance and support of the One who loves you most, don't waste time looking around for proof of His existence. Look around KNOWING his existence in all you see. Just because life is not going the way you would prefer it to, doesn't mean He isn't at work.

Heavenly Father, show me how to walk in faith today. Help me to know that You are beside me and you have my best interests at heart. May I hold my head up high and go about my business without needing proof that You exist, and believing that Jesus was who He said He was. Allow me to share my faith with others without fear of human retaliation. You are first, last, and always. AMEN

Hebrews 11:1-40

Any Given Day: 8

Worried about something? Someone once said that worry was negative meditation. Fixating on a problem without taking action is wasted energy, and affects your outlook and behavior. Fixating on stuff you can't control makes you miserable. We walk around heavy and it keeps us from being our best!

There is always something you can do, however!

Pray about it. God asks us to come to Him in times of trouble. The bible is full of stories of historical figures, both important and insignificant, who come to God with their troubles and are granted answers, comforted, or issues are resolved. Solutions may not come immediately, or in the form we would like them to, but crying out in faith can work miracles! God has his reasons for things. Trusting that He not only heard you, but cares about you, is key. He knows your heart, He already knows your desires and needs. He is waiting to hear from you so you can grow in you faith in Him and His Son.

Lord, my troubles are wearing me down. I am worried and upset. I have little control over the burdens I carry. Please take them from me today. Give me the ability to walk in faith knowing that you have my best interests at heart. I trust in You and Your son, AMEN

2 Phillipians 6-7