Peace and Sleep

Spiritual Vitamin: "In peace I will lay down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8

Challenge: The Psalmist knew that he could rest securely upon God's promises, and trust his gracious providence. He owes his safety not to his own wisdom but to God alone. The Psalm knew that he was never alone, for God was always with him. The Lord was sufficient to protect him. How many of your sleepless hours can be traced back to an untrusting and disordered mind? 

Prayer: Dear God, give us a calm rest in Thee, not only in our sleep, but also throughout the day. May we like David, lie down in peace, and sleep each night. God, you are my hope and rest. You cause the weary to rest and this is so refreshing! Amen. 

Call Upon God

Spiritual Vitamin: "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear." Isaiah 65:24. "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

Challenge: Read both of these verses several times. What words are repeated more than once? Call. I will. Answer. Wow! Do you see the personal nature of our God? He longs to have a personal relationship with us! Call to Him today. Wait to hear his voice. He wants to show you great things that you do not know!

Prayer: Dear God, Forgive me for having such a human view of You and not see You as you really are. You are a personal God and you desire to relate to me. You listen to me and desire to answer me. You desire to tell me great and unsearchable things. Things I don't know. Oh, Lord, You are God and You have the whole picture! Why do I try to live life without You? Help me, Lord. Amen. 

God is my Helper

Spiritual Vitamin: "Behold, God is my helper, the Lord is the upholder of my life." Psalm 54:4

Challenge: Did you know that God can help you through every aspect of your day? So often, we just run to God when things get bad. However, God LOVES to be in relationship with us. He LOVES to engage in our everyday life, our everyday moments. In fact, we can trust God for the dailyness of our lives. Talk to Him constantly in prayer. Ask Him for wisdom. Seek His guidance. Inquire of Him. Wait on Him. Listen to Him. He is YOUR helper and the upholder of your life. Will you trust Him today?

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for being my helper. I don't think I realize the extent of which You desire to help me. Why do I try to go through life on my own? Help me trust You for every aspect of my life. You long to walk with me and talk with me throughout my day. Lord, I step into this kind of life. Teach me what it's like to be in constant relationship with You. Amen. 

God's Grace

Spiritual Vitamin: "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

Challenge: Look around you. Where do you see evidences of God's rich grace in your life? Just last week, we experienced a snow storm and many of us lost some of the basic needs of life we take for granted. God's grace is evident in your life. Do you see it today?

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you so much for the grace that abounds all around us. You have provided so much and are sufficient in all things at all times. Father, forgive us today for the times we've taken for granted the many blessings you provide. Your extend grace non-stop in our lives. You forgive us when we mess up. You provided your Son as an atonement for our sins. Lord, your grace surely is amazing! Amen.

Godly Living

Spiritual Vitamin: "Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people." Romans 12:16-18

Challenge: There is a lot packed away in these verses for us! Will you associate with all people? Do you attach yourself with the "important" people? Are you a companion of the humble person? Are you puffed up with your own opinion? When someone hurts you, are you quick to hurt back? Do you respect people whose opinions are different than yours? Do you live at peace with all people. Take a moment and invite God to help you live these verses out.

Prayer: Dear God, I'm so grateful for Your Scripture that gives us such guidance on how to live. In this section of scripture, I realize that I fall short. I'm so tempted to get in the way and allow "self" to reign. Please forgive me for those times I'm tempted to hurt others when hurt myself. Guide me and help me live at peace with all people. I'm so grateful for your help! Amen.

Strength to the Weary

Spiritual Vitamin: "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." Isaiah 40:29

Challenge: We don't want to appear or feel "weak" do we? But when we get to the place where we recognize our weakness, we can then experience God's spiritual strength. He strengthens our faith and enlarges our view of Himself. Take time to give God your weaknesses today. Ask Him for a big dose of His strength and power.

Prayer: Dear God, I'm so thankful for the fact that You long to walk with me in life. You give strength when I am weary and You give power in my weakness. Why do I try to push through life with a stiff upper lip? Father, I need You so much! Forgive me for those times when I try to do life on my own. I long to live in relationship to You. Amen.

Steadfast Love

Spiritual Vitamin: "For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you." Isaiah 54:10

Challenge: This last week has been tough on most Texans! Not only are we dealing with COVID, but a week of snow and ice and loss of power/water. Who/what can we trust? We can trust in God's steadfast love. The question is not whether He loves us. The question is whether you and I have the ability to experience His love today and every day. Will he love me when fail, mess up, run away from God, etc? Trust in God's steadfast love. He will never fail you.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you so much for the reminder of your steadfast love. In the craziness of this last week, it's been hard to find much of anything secure! Yet, Your love is secure. Draw us to You. Help us realize that we need more of You and less of us each day. Teach us to trust You, today and every day. Amen. 

God is Our Shield

Spiritual Vitamin: "For you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield." Psalm 5:12

Challenge: The Lord will bless the righteous. That is, the the righteous may or may not be financially prosperous, but can be spiritually prosperous. We know that a godly life is not always easy or free from pain. But as we trust in God, we can rest in Him and experience His joy and peace. The word "shield" in this verse does not mean an actual shield. the word refers to a standing shield, a massive barrier, like a door, which covered a soldier's entire body. (www.bibleref.com)God protects us and keeps believers safe at all times. Will you trust Him for your concerns today? 

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for this one tiny verse that speaks so much of your kindness and love to your children. You bless the righteous. You surround us with your favor as with a shield. Lord, thank you for this picture of a standing shield, literally covering a soldier's entire body. You are quite a shield! I'm so grateful for your promises and I trust You today to be my shield. Amen.

Honesty

Spiritual Vitamin: "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless." James 1:26

Challenge: God never asks us to keep up an appearance. God has a heart for honesty and is honest himself. It is through a relationship with God, that we can have courage to truly be ourselves. Ask God to give you total freedom to be yourself and live a honest life. 

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the gift of honesty. Lord, I pray that I would desire to value honesty in all my relationships. Help me be truly me and not have to keep up an appearance. May I always value honesty. Amen.

Hiding Place

Spiritual Vitamin: "You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7

Challenge: The Hebrew word seter, translated here as "hiding place," can refer literally to a secret location in which to conceal oneself. God is a hiding place in that he protects us from trouble. He surrounds us with "songs of victory" or "songs of deliverance." Thus, when we trust in the Lord, we can be reassured that our lives are safe in his hands. (The High Calling, Daily Reflection) Even in the midst of the 'storm', do we trust God to be your hiding place?

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for being our hiding place. I'm so grateful that You protect us from trouble. In these challenging days that feel like "trouble", we are grateful that You can carry us through these difficulties. I love the old song "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee." Lord, let me hide in Thee. Amen.

Plea for Mercy

Spiritual Vitamin: "Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old." Psalm 25:6. "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" Isaiah 30:18

Challenge: God's mercy is a love that responds to our human needs in an unexpected or unmerited way. What do you learn about mercy in the verses above?

Prayer: Dear God, Thank You so much for your mercy and love. I don't think I understand the extent of your mercy for me and others. God, enlarge my thinking to understand your great mercy. We ask for your mercy today for those who need it. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

Guard My Life

Spiritual Vitamin: "Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you." Psalm 25:20

Challenge: In the midst of challenging circumstances, we can trust in God. David believed that God would take care of him and he did! Will you trust God that He will guard your life? Take refuge in Him. Trust Him for each and every circumstance that you're dealing with.

Prayer: Dear God, I'm so grateful that You are God and that I can trust You in every circumstance of life. Lord, today, I need You for ___________________________. (share your circumstances with God) Guard my life. Rescue me. Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You. Amen.

Trust in the Lord

Spiritual Vitamin: "Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:3

Challenge: What are you worrying about today? why is it so hard to trust God in all things? Instead of worrying and envying, David counseled to simply trust God and do good. The Psalmist tells us to Trust and delight in the Lord and the outcome is that He will give you the desires of your heart. The one who delights in You will find his heart and desires changed. Will you trust Him today?

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for this Psalm that challenges me to trust and delight in the Lord. God, help me understand what trust looks like. Give me a picture of what delighting in You looks like. I desire my heart and desires change and become more aligned with Yours. Amen. 

Delight in the Lord

Spiritual Vitamin- "If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fail, for the Lord upholds him with his hand." Psalm 37:23

Challenge- David challenges us to take delight in the Lord and to commit everything we have and do to him. To delight in someone means to experience great pleasure and joy in his or her presence. This happens only when we know that person well. To delight in the Lord, we must know him better. To commit ourselves to the Lord means entrusting everything- our lives, families, jobs, possessions- to his control and guidance. (Life Application Bible, Proverbs, 37:4-5, NIV) Will you delight in the Lord? Will you commit yourself to the Lord?

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you so much for David's Challenge to take delight in you and commit everything we have and do to You. Lord, I delight in You. I long to know You more and more and find great joy in Your presence. Knowing You changes everything. Help me commit myself to You, entrusting everything I have to You. You are worthy of my trust. Amen.  

Comfort

Spiritual Vitamin: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Challenge: The word all comfort in this passage comes form the ancient Greek word paraklesis. The idea behind this word for comfort in the New Testament is always more than soothing sympathy. It has the idea of strengthening, of helping, of making strong. The idea behind this word is communicated by the Latin word for comfort (fortis) which also means "brave." One great purpose of God in comforting us is to enable us to bring comfort to others. Have you received and experienced God's comfort in your difficult? Have you been able to extend God's comfort to others? (Enduringword.com, 2 Corinthians 1)

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you so much that You are the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. Lord, thank you that you desire to extend comfort to each of us in the midst of our hardships and trials. Thank you that you desire to use us to pass that same comfort on those who are hurting. I pray that I can share Your comfort with others, Lord. Amen.

Love One Another

Spiritual Vitamin: "Love each other with a warm love that comes form the heart. After all, you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth. As a result you have a sincere love for each other." 1 Peter 1:22

Challenge: God commands us to love others as He has loved us and to fervently love one another from the inner depths of our hearts. Is your love hypocritical? Is it insincere to some? Do you withhold love from others? Judge others? Pray that God gives you the ability to have sacrificial love that comes from God.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for this day that is centered around love. Lord, love comes from You and we need your help to love others well. Help me as well to love those that aren't as easy to love. Please help me to extend your grace to others as you've done so for me. Teach me to love from the heart. Sincere love. Show me when I fail to love. I need your help! Amen.

God is Great!

Spiritual Vitamin: "Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O Lord, you preserve both man and beast. How priceless is your unfailing love!" Psalm 36:5-7

Challenge: In contrast to evil people (Psalm 36:1-4) God is faithful, righteous and just. His love reaches to the heavens, his faithfulness to the skies, his righteousness is as solid as mighty mountains, and his judgments are as full of wisdom as the oceans with water. (Life Application Study Bible, NIV) We need not fear evil people because we know God loves us. He will care for us through eternity. (Life Application Study Bible)Will you trust Him today for your fears?

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for these beautiful Scriptures! What beautiful descriptions of your perfect character and abilities. You are faithful, righteous and just! I praise You today for who You are! You are God! Help me enlarge my view of who You are and see You as the living God. My God. Amen. 

Anchor of the Soul

Spiritual Vitamin: "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf." Hebrews 6:19-20

Challenge: Why not go on a hope journey with God? Will you cling to the hard-won hope that God is really, truly God? Will you know in the deepest place of your heart that you are really, truly God's beloved? How could this kind of hope change your day? Your life? Your perspective?

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the hope we have that you are an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Lord, everything around us feels very insecure. And I have to admit, that at times, I feel insecure. Thak you for the security I have in You. Take me on a hope journey. Show me over and over that You are who You say You are. Amen.

How Firm a Foundation

Spiritual Vitamin: "Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed. For I am thy God and will still give thee aid. I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand. Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand." (How Firm a Foundation Hymn)

Challenge: "How Firm a Foundation" is a well known hymn that was sung during the funerals of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Much of the text from this hymn is from the bible. Look up the entire lyrics of "How Firm a Foundation."  What can you learn about God in this hymn? What is the value of singing a hymn? 

Prayer: Dear God, I'm so thankful that You are a firm foundation and I have no reason to fear! You are and will always be God. You will strengthen me through the challenges that I face and hold me up with your righteous omnipotent hand. Even in times of sorrow and pain, you will be with me!Your grace is all-sufficient and will be my supply. Lord, strengthen my faith today. Help me to realize that I can stand firmly on your foundation. You will never fail me. Amen.

Grace of God

Spiritual Vitamin: "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 2:1.  "It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace." Hebrews 13:8

Challenge: We can see our relationship with God by trying to earn his approval or be "good enough" to get into heaven. But we can never be good enough! God sent his Son, Jesus, to deal with sin's problem in each of us. He loves us freely and we are not saved by our works, but grace alone. Grace is God's unmerited favor. There's nothing we can do to earn it. We literally are made right with God! Do you still live trying to be "good enough?" Do you still try to beat yourself up for your failures? Do you compare yourself to others and/or judge others or yourself? Ask God to help you see yourself as He does! Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus!

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for your grace. Thank you for Christ's finished work on the cross and the forgiveness You give to me. Over and over and over. Despite my flawed words, actions, thoughts and mistakes, You STILL love me. You will ALWAYS love me. Help me to respond in not only receiving your constant grace, but giving grace away. Help me replace the voice of condemnation with the voice of truth. Help me cling to your Scripture, for what YOU say is true.  Amen.

Hold on to Hope

Spiritual Vitamin: "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23. "But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love." Psalm 33:18

Challenge: This year has thrown all of us some unexpected curve balls. Has your faith wavered in the midst of these challenging times? Hope is powerful and increases our faith! Will you hope in God alone? Will you trust in his unfailing love? 

Prayer: Dear God, Help me to hold on to the hope I profess. Lord, you are faithful! Would I live this day knowing the hope that is found in you and your unfailing love. Amen.

Rest In God

Spiritual Vitamin: "Rest in God alone, O my soul; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken." Psalm 62:5,6

Challenge: We all love to fret and worry about so many things. What would it be like if we didn't have to worry about anything? Rather than fretting we are to rest in God. Rather than being anxious we are to abide in Christ- to Remain secure under the shadow of his wing. Read and digest the truth in the words of this Psalm. There is such wisdom! (Knowing Jesus, What Does Psalm 62:5 Mean?)

Prayer: Dear Father, My hope comes from You. Thank you, Father, that I have security to rest in You, every moment of the day and night. Help me to ponder, meditate and take in the truth of this scripture. I know it will change me. Amen.

The Holy Spirit

Spiritual Vitamin:'But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." John 14:26

Challenge: God's Spirit gives us wisdom and understanding. He teaches us His ways of life, comforts us and helps us. Even when we can't express ourselves in our prayers, the Spirit aids us in making our requests before God. (Martin Collins, The Holy Spirit) We have continuous daily access to the Holy Spirit if you know Jesus. He has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. No matter what you are facing now, the Holy Spirit is within you and you are not alone! Will you trust Him?

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you so much for sending your Holy Spirit for believers. I am amazed at your goodness. I ask that Your Spirit would lead and guide me today. Be with me in those moments when I need your comfort. Reveal your truth in all situations. Thank you that You are always with me. Amen.

Do Not Fear!

Spiritual Vitamin: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Challenge: Write down this verse down on a 3x5 card and carry it around with you this next week. Look at it. Memorize it. Consider how these truths might help you during this week.

Prayer: Dear God, I admit, there are so many times I fear! Forgive me for not realizing that your perfect love casts out all fear. You are always with me. You are my God. I can confidently walk through life without fear, because of You. Help me do that. Thank you! Amen.

No Fear!

Spiritual Vitamin: "Love will never invoke fear. Perfect love expels fear, particularly the fear of punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been completed through love. We love because He has first loved us." (1 John 4:18-19, The Voice)

Challenge: What do you fear today? Did you know that perfect love takes away fear? How do you discern when there is a God-given fear protecting us or a lie taking root in our heart to keep us living in fear and anxiety? God's love is perfect. With this perfect love, we do not need to fear. Allow that to take root in your heart today.

Prayer: Dear Father, Thank you so much for your perfect love that casts out fear. Forgive me for being afraid. I give you each of my fears today. Help me name them, even if I'm not even aware of them. Free me from the anxieties that grip my heart. Free me from fears that come out of lies. Let not fear stand in the way of me loving You, my neighbor and my self well. Thank you, Father. Amen.

Where Can I Go?

Spiritual Vitamin: "You hem me in-behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:5-10

Challenge: Read and reflect on the above verses. What words show the personal nature of our God? How is this comforting to you today?

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you so much for this Psalm that speaks to your amazing presence! You are everywhere! You're always with me and care about everything in my life. You long for relationship with me. Lord, may these verses enlarge my view of who you are! Amen.

Never Changing God

 Spiritual Vitamin: "For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed." Malachi 3:6. "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God." Psalm 90:2

Challenge: We live in a world that's constantly changing. That can make us feel fearful. Who can we trust? What can we trust? These two verses remind us that God does NOT change. He is and always has been and always will be. Contemplate the fact that God has always been. Weather changes. Life changes. Circumstances change. But God will remain the same. Celebrate that today!

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you so much for these verses that remind us that You will never change. I'm so grateful that I can trust in You now and always. You bring security to my heart in a world that's constantly changing. Thank you! Amen.

God is great!

Spiritual Vitamin: "Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate." Psalm 111:2-4

Challenge: God is great! He is majestic! His righteousness endures forever! He is gracious. He is compassionate. Have you made God out of your own mindset? Sometimes, we need to enlarge are view of God and see Him as God. He is unbelievable. He is God.

Prayer: Dear God, Forgive me for making You too small. Lord, enlarge my view of You today. Amen.