Psalm 77:12 I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. (NIV)

The Psalmist writes this after he describes his inability to sleep because his brain just won’t stop thinking.  He lays there and thinks about all of his troubles, he’s remembering, he’s writing songs, he’s wondering how the Lord is going to solve his problems… in essence, he has insomnia.  Then a thought clicks and he decides to think about all of the good things of God, all of his works and miracles.  He made a choice to rest his thoughts on the goodness of the Lord.  I bet that’s what he was doing when sleep overtook him at last.

How many times have I laid in bed doing the same exact thing?  Rehashing my history, planning my future, rehearsing details for the next day, thinking about something I would like to create, wondering how God is going to piece together the puzzle of my life….  Could going to sleep really rely on a simple decision to refocus my thoughts?  To let my mind rest on the beauty of God?  Hmmm… can’t wait to try it, which will most likely be tonight.

Lord, your provision for all of the parts of me is overwhelming.  To even include an antidote for insomnia in your word is beautiful.  Let my mind find rest in thinking about your goodness. 

Job 8:7 “Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.”

This is an exhortation from Job’s friend.  Job is whining, which is understandable.  A person can only handle so much before, at the VERY LEAST, they have to vent and complain.  Job is first reminded that God does NOT pervert justice.  Justice IS justice, and God is just.  Job is then encouraged to continue to live an upright life and God will “rouse” himself on Job’s behalf.  God will wake-up, He will work, He will ACT.  This is a verb!  God will DO things for you!  So much so, that the things we lament over losing, will seem insignificant to the things we gain in our future.

Am I surrounding myself with friends who remind me of God’s promises? Am I allowing God to dole out justice?  Am I believing in my amazing future?  Am I living a righteous life?  Am I trusting God to work? 

Lord, thank you for my amazing God-honoring friends.  Thank you for taking the burden of judge and justice from me.   Thank you for showing me that I am getting stronger in areas where I have been weak. Thank you for WORKING on my behalf and for orchestrating an amazing future for me and my treasures.  You are so good.

Nehemiah 9:19 “But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night.”

The children of Israel were so fickle, all or nothing, hot or cold, off or on.  They took incredible steps of faith and walked in blessing and favor, being miraculously led through an unknown place.  When they got overwhelmed by their situation, they just did an 180o, literally began worshipping an idol.  But God still showed them mercy, allowed them to regroup, and still guided them.  And His miracles were exactly what were needed at that moment.  His provision was specific to the need and situation and left no question as to who was providing.

I am like a child of Israel.  My love for God runs deep, but so quickly I forget what He’s brought me through.  I lack faith and obedience.  I get overwhelmed regularly.  But, God is so merciful and patient with me, He is still guiding me.  He is still providing for me.  My future is not totally clear.  Yes, I can see the path directly in front of me.  The excitement for life that my children show me daily, is my miracle pillar of cloud in the day.  My prophetic dreams and absence of loneliness in the evening, is my pillar of fire at night.  These things give me courage to keep moving forward.  I’m on the right track.

Lord, I am so thankful for your mercy and patience.  Help me to absorb it so much that it seeps onto others.  Thank you for your guidance and provision.

Luke 19:33 "He replied, 'If they kept quiet, the stones would burst into cheers!'"

The religious leaders were offended by the crowd proclaiming Jesus as King.  They wanted Jesus to rebuke them, and to basically dispute their claims.  Not only did Jesus NOT rebuke them, but he validated their claims by saying that if they didn't praise him, then the ROCKS would.  That is serious moxie... go Jesus! 

What a praise WORTHY God we serve!  I might as well lose myself in worship to him.  I might as well proclaim his goodness!  I might as well be so obvious about it that people take note, and may not like it or, heaven forbid, approve.  He is so WORTHY and demanding of praise, that if I don't praise him... if we as his children don't acknowledge him as Lord.... then the literal STONES will rise up and do it.

Lord, let my every breath be about you.  As much as I like rocks, minerals, and stones... I do not want them to do my job.  You are worthy of praise!  You are the blessed King of heaven.  Thank you for who you are....good, faithful, love, in-control, competent, aware of the details, the master planner, the healer of hurt hearts, the cleaner of tainted minds, the victor, the defender of those treated unjustly, the restorer of brokenness, the resurrector of dead dreams, the hope that erases disappointments.  You are amazing!

1 John 3:18 My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. 19 This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. 20 It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

Love is an action.  Loving is the fruit of living a God-life.  Love is the antidote for self-criticism.  Gods’ love overrides our guilt, shame and worry.  God’s love knows us intimately.

May I keep God’s love central in who I am becoming.  May it flow easily in and out of me.  May I receive God’s love in every nook and cranny of my being so that I can share it with those around me.  May I sponge up God’s love so fully that I leave drops of its overflowing wherever I go.  May my life be a mess of God’s love.

Thank you God for your unending, undesereved, all consuming, and perfect love.

Jeremiah 26:27 After the king burned the scroll containing the words that Baruch had written at Jeremiah's dictation, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 28 “Take another scroll and write on it all the words that were on the first scroll, which Jehoiakim king of Judah burned up.

Jeremiah was prophesying to the king of Judah and to all of his people.  The king didn’t like what the Lord said, so he burned the scroll, thinking he was then destroying God’s word.  So God instructed Jeremiah to write it down again, only this time, he ADDED more to the prophesy, including a warning to the king.

No matter WHO tries to destroy the word of the Lord, (in this case it was a King, a powerful leader) it will persevere.  Ignoring, fearing, showing contempt or apathy to what the Lord says, will not erase the fact that the Lord has spoken.  If someone tries to destroy God’s word over your life, it can be resurrected, and God will add MORE to it. God’s promises will win.

My friend Kelly and I were discussing this scripture and she added this observation from John 20:21 and 22 “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you!  As the father sent me, I am sending you.’  And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”  Kelly shared that man tried to destroy Jesus, but he returned bringing with him the added gift of the Holy Spirit.  Man CANNOT destroy what God has given, and when they try, He will return it, and then some!

Lord thank you for your wisdom and for your word that promises a return.  It cannot be  destroyed or forgotten by YOU.  Thank you for bringing it back up even if it’s been forgotten or ignored by us.

Jeremiah 29:8 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” …11 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.

 God is speaking this to the Israelites who are in exile.  They are literally waiting to be brought back to their homeland, but instead God gives them this promise.  He actually encourages them to plant themselves where they are, to build relationships, to pray for prosperity in the land where they are, in essence… to LIVE and LOVE. 

This promise has spoken to me and my children more through this season of exile than any others.  My kids can all quote this scripture, and we repeat it to each other when we have those moments of fear and uncertainty.  When our future is not clear and seems bleak, and our hearts are breaking again over what could have been… we remind ourselves that God has a plan for us, that his plan for us includes blessing and hope.  That He has a FUTURE for us!  I am encouraged to not just wait for that future, but to really live and to love where I am now.  God’s promises come true each day.  Each day is yesterday’s future.  I am challenged to pray for peace and prosperity every day, no matter where I am in life.  I am reminded to plant myself, establish relationships, be connected with the people in my life, wherever I am today. 

God thank you for this promise.  Thank you for reminding me again that you know what is going on.  Thank you that I am not in charge.  Help me to continue to learn to trust You in everything, and in the promise of Your plans and future for us.  Help me to truly live each day to its fullest, and not wait until the “right moment” to take it all in.  Thank you that each day is a day of promise.