Too Overwhelmed by the Problems to See the Answer!

How often do you find yourself wandering in a wilderness of despair? You feel no one cares, often rejected, ridiculed, and taken advantage of, maybe even feeling like an outcast? Problems surround you.

Worse yet, there seems to be a wall between you and GOD? You feel you are drying up; you thirst but you never find satisfaction? You hunger but what you have never seems to fill the void? The spiritual dryness that has swept in and taken over your being seems to be destroying you from the inside out. What can you do? Where can you find relief?

Take a look at a similar situation found in Scripture. Genesis 21 tells us: “Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba. When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush. Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. ‘I don’t want to watch the boy die,’ she said, as she burst into tears” (Genesis 21:14-16 NLT). We find this young woman with her young son wandering in an arid desert with nothing to survive on. Life appears hopeless! When what little she has is gone, she faces the inevitable for she and her son with deep grief in her heart.

But the story doesn’t end there. As we continue to read: “God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, ‘Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.’ Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink” (vv. 17-19). GOD heard Hagar’s cry and He got her attention. He spoke to her. Her eyes were opened and she discovered the answer to her need was right there. Hagar had become so overwhelmed by her problems she failed to see the answer!

The same happens in our lives. Satan blinds us to the answers we desperately need by overwhelming our lives with problems. Instead of being able to see the answer, we just see problems—everywhere. GOD is trying to get through to His people today. He is trying to get us to Wake-Up and recognize He has the answers. We must simply trust in Him and His ability for that is the key to survival for all believers in this world.

Scripture Reading: “The LORD is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands” (Psalm 25:8-10 NLT).

Prayer: Father, too often I allow problems to overwhelm me. I find myself so enshrouded by them; I cannot see a way out. They encumber me and cloud my vision, leading me to a sense of insecurity and a loss of closeness to You. May I learn to look beyond the issues of life and to look to You, the Life-Giver! May I trust in You and Your ability to help me and even deliver me when the problems arise. You are my GOD, my Savior and my King! I love You and praise You for always being there for me…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Relief from Life’s Overwhelming Pressures!

Life can be tough! Life can be exhausting. Perhaps you are feeling it pressures today? Overwhelmed by life? Feeling as though making it through another day is gonna be really tough? You are not alone!

Mark helps us to understand pressure by sharing a part of a day in Jesus’ earthly life. It says He healed many of their diseases, cast out many demons and the whole town where He was, gathered around Him (Mark 1:30-34). How did Jesus have the strength to carry this heavy burden day after day? Stressful? Overwhelming? Absolutely! But, Jesus knew the answer to receive the relief He needed. He understood the key to peace of mind in the midst of overwhelming storms.

The following verse says: “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray” (Mark 1:35 NLT). He could’ve slept in. He could’ve just locked Himself away for a time; but, He didn’t. He needed strength that could only come from One Source. He went to His quiet place and communed with the Heavenly Father. He prayed and as He did, the Father overshadowed Him with His peace, strength and security. The Father’s arms of love helped Him in His hour of need.

When we become overwhelmed by life, we tend to lock ourselves away and just grieve in our problems. We lie around and sulk and allow our difficult circumstances to overcome us, depress us, and eventually destroy us, if we do not get a handle on things. The key is to start everyday communing with the Father and also to go to Him immediately when the pressures begin to build.

Prayer recharged Jesus and prepared Him to continue ministering and impacting lives. Mark tells us that following His prayer time, He went straight out and began touching lives through ministry once again.

That is what prayer will do for you today. It prepares you to face your new day, your new hurdle, your new problem and to end your day victorious over everything that was thrown at you.

Scripture Reading: “But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love” (Jude 20-21 NLT).

Prayer: Father, I am so aware of the fact that I fail to pray and commune with You as I should. I tend to use prayer as a crutch to get me out of difficulties rather than being prayed-up in advance of the problems so I may be victorious even before they come. Forgive me for this. Help me, LORD, in my prayer-life and prayer-time to understand the importance of praying as I recognize the importance JESUS placed upon it. I desire to serve You, love You and commune with You more every day, Father…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Listen for the Whisper!

It’s easy for believers to become disillusioned in today’s messed-up world. One moment you are experiencing GOD’s great power and awesome presence only to find yourself wondering in a dry, arid desert the next. You go from the mountain-top to the valley-low in a very short time and wonder, “What happened?” Where did GOD go? You’re not alone!

Consider Elijah’s situation for a moment. He had just come off the mountain-top. He had witnessed GOD’s glorious power unleashed on the ungodly only to find himself a short time later wandering in the desert of gloom. He cried out to GOD: “I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too” (1 Kings 19:10 NLT).

What happened? His prerogatives got all messed up. Church, we have been programmed to believe that the only time GOD is really moving is when the building is rocking, the lights are flashing, the sound is deafening and people are wandering around in a daze. We have been taught to create an environment that places people into the experience which is not necessarily all wrong, but not all right either.

Consider GOD’s response to Elijah: “Go out and stand before me on the mountain. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire” (vv. 11-12a).

Too often, man makes vain attempts to conjure up the presence of GOD through worldly ways only to discover GOD is not found in these things. These experiences fall short of meeting the true needs of the people. Certainly, GOD can and will work through man’s vain attempts but GOD’s way is much different. He desires to touch and impact the heart of man in a personal way. This is done through a thorough teaching and preaching of the Word of GOD from the man of GOD!  

Notice what happens next: “After the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, What are you doing here, Elijah?” (vv. 12b-13). In a gentle whisper, GOD spoke to Elijah; Elijah recognized GOD’s divine presence and was brought back to reality. Then, GOD was able to once again commission him to go out and fulfill his ministry call.

We have gotten so loud at times that we’ve drowned out the still small voice of GOD. GOD has called His church to impact its world, but the church too often has relegated itself to impacting the people that happen to make it through the doors.

The problem with today’s church is that too many church leaders have forgotten what the true mission of the church is. Believers have been duped into thinking that it’s all about me—what I can get, what blessings I can receive, what GOD wants to give me.

But, that isn’t it. It’s all about Him. It’s all about hearing from Him. It’s all about serving Him. It’s all about doing His will in and through the church. The mission of the church is to make disciples and to send them out as evangelists. Churches have lost their outward focus and turned inward. They’ve gotten caught up in trying to make something happen that was never really meant to be.

Scripture Reading: “And then he told them, Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16 NLT).

Prayer: Father, too often I get caught up in the moment and forget Your call, purpose and plan for Your church as well as for me. I find myself being entertained rather than inspired to listen and hear from You. Help me, Lord, to just sit still for a while and enjoy Your presence and to lift up praise to You and to hear everything You have to say to me. I desire to do Your will, Oh, my GOD!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

GOD Came Through!

Do you ever wonder if GOD even hears you when you pray? Have you found yourself so distraught over a particular situation that you have just given up all hope of any relief? Where is GOD? Why isn’t He listening? Why isn’t He doing something?

Isaac found himself in a similar situation. The Scripture says: “Isaac pleaded with the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The LORD answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins” (Genesis 25:21 NLT).

It’s important to remember that GOD’s promise to raise up a great nation was to come through Isaac. Isaac’s parents, Abraham and Sarah, had waited beyond their years of child-bearing for the fulfillment of GOD’s promise, but GOD came through and Isaac was born.

Now, Isaac finds himself in a similar situation. I’m sure Isaac had been praying for a child for a long time. But, something different happened here. He got real serious with GOD. The Scripture says he pleaded with the LORD and GOD came through—in great abundance.

James gives us some great instruction concerning this matter when he says: “Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure” (James 4:2-3 NLT). We receive from GOD when we get serious with GOD—when our heart and motives are right.

Too often, we are flippant in our prayers and petitions. We ask half-heartedly because we really aren’t convinced of GOD’s ability to answer and meet our need. Isaac didn’t give up. He knew GOD was a GOD of miracles and was capable of fulfilling His promise. So, he prayed and GOD came through.

Today, you have unmet needs—sickness, financial situation, trouble with your kids, whatever the need may be—it is time to get serious with GOD and then watch GOD come through in a supernatural way. James shared this important thought: “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16 NLT). Confession plus prayer equals wonderful, supernatural results!

Scripture Reading: “Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me” (Psalm 66:16-20 NLT).

Prayer: Father, I know You hear me when I pray even when I pray amiss. Help me to trust in You. Help me to follow Your Word. Help me to align myself with You instructions so I may truly experience Your greatness in and through my life! I have needs today and I pray that You take these burdens, lift them from me and help me to be strong. I know You will come through for me as You always have and for all that I am so grateful to You…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!   

Peace in the Midst of Every Storm!

We are living in tumultuous times! The extremes of society are applying a heavy burden of stress on so many. Suicide numbers have sky-rocketed. Individuals desperately seeking counseling and medication from psychiatrists are at an all-time high. The rapidly rising numbers of assaults and murders across our nation puts people on edge. What is going on? What can a person do to find peace in the midst of every storm?

In the midst of a crisis situation, the Psalmist discovered the only means of peace. He wrote: “LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD — now and always” (Psalm 131:1-3 NLT).

In the midst of the storms around about us; in the midst of your own personal storms, there is a rock that is sturdy, unfaltering and strong. There is a peace that passes human understanding. There is a shelter that will not falter or give way. His name is JESUS! The Psalmist understood the exceeding abundance of abilities manifested through JESUS.

The Psalmist did not have to concern himself with matters which were too big or too heavy or too burdensome; he simply handed them over to the LORD and found peace like a baby suckling milk from its momma. Too often, we take our eyes off of the only One able to carry our load and place them upon ourselves. We allow ourselves to become encumbered by burdens we should never have to personally bear as children of the KING.

The storms of life may gather; they may howl and cast terrifying lightning bolts all around you. They may tempt you to terror in the light of their threats of bringing overwhelming damage and destruction to your life. But, in the midst of it all, you can find peace! In the midst of every storm that gathers around you, you can find safety and security—through JESUS CHRIST your LORD!

The world would tell you that you are all alone to face these impending terrors, but GOD says: “be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT). Rest in GOD today. Hand Him your storms and He will take care of them as you learn to simply rest peacefully in His sheltering arms.

Scripture Reading: “But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:1-3 NLT).

Prayer: Father, the storms of trouble have surrounded me. I find myself overwhelmed at times by troubling things I simply cannot handle. Today, I desire to learn to trust completely in You. I pray You would show me how so I may experience the peace that only You can give. As I face the world today, may I know that my GOD is going before me and You, LORD, will not allow me to be overtaken by these terrors that rage around me, but I will go forward carrying Your peace everywhere I go. Thank you, LORD…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Choosing What is Right Regardless of the Consequences!

Have you ever found yourself faced with a decision that could have serious implications? You know what the right thing to do or say is but you also know in so doing you face the possibility of maybe losing your job or a friend or something else. What do you do? It’s definitely a tough call.

Most every day our faith will be challenged. We will be faced with issues and decisions that require a departure from the crowd’s choice if we intend to do or say what we know is right. In the business-world, you will be asked, and too often, forced to say and do things which you know are wrong, maybe not seriously wrong, but still wrong. So, where do you draw the line? What do you do? You need that job; you don’t want to anger a friend—what do you do?

It’s hard to confront this dilemma due to its often serious ramifications, but I believe we have an obligation to GOD to choose what is right regardless of the consequences. Consider the challenge these men faced: “Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?’” (Daniel 3:14-15 NLT).

Simply put, do what I tell you to do or else it’s going to get real serious for you guys—serious to the point of death. Now, I don’t believe any of you will be challenged as seriously as these three guys were, but your faith will be challenged.

So, what did they do? The easy way out would have been to simply say, “Ok, I’ll bow down on the outside but, inside I continue to stand! It’ll be ok, GOD understands my situation.” But, without hesitation, these men chose the tough road as they replied: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” (vv. 16-18).

For their refusal to bow, they were thrown into the furnace; but, GOD delivered them from it and they came out untouched by the flames. In addition, GOD received the glory and honor for their faithfulness. Certainly, it’s tough in today’s world to take a stand and just say “NO!” There is almost always an easier out but choosing what is right regardless of the consequences is GOD’s design and purpose for His people.

Scripture Reading: “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell….Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:28,32-33 NLT).

Prayer: Father, it is often tough in today’s world to stand up for what is right. It is so much easier to follow the crowd and go along with what I am being told to do. But, GOD, I know that dishonors You. I desire to honor You in all I do, so I pray You would give me the strength today to follow You and to do what You have called me to regardless of the consequences the world may deliver to me. I seek to do Your will, O, Lord always…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

You Are Special!

You may not see much when you look at yourself in a mirror. You may wish that you were someone else. You may not like the way you look; but I am here to tell you: You are a one-of-a-kind!

When you look into the mirror, you are viewing an individual that is unlike any other that has ever been, is now or will ever be. You are special! GOD put special effort into you from the very moment of conception, fashioning you into the person He desired you to be. He placed His purpose into you; He wove His plan into every cell in your body. He was carefully considering every moment of your life as He delicately created and fashioned you in your mother’s womb.

Consider the words of the Psalmist for a moment: “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (Psalm 139:13-16 NLT).

It’s interesting to think that out of the billions and billions of people that have walked the face of the earth, you are totally unique. You have markings in your eyes, your fingerprints, your DNA, your tongue that are all totally unique to you. How does GOD do such marvelous works time and time again? Truth is, it is beyond human comprehension, but as science continues to move forward and make more discoveries the truth of the Psalmist become more real.

You may feel you have no real value. You may consider yourself to be worthless or useless, but GOD sees you in a whole different light. GOD doesn’t create junk; He doesn’t create useless objects; He creates beauty and purpose and that is what He created in you! You are special!

You are no accident. You are not a mistake. You are special and regardless of what others may think, you are of extreme value to your Heavenly Father! Quit trying to impress people. Quit trying to receive praise and acceptance from others. GOD’s praises and acceptance of you is constant. Live your life for Him. Discover your real reason for being and enjoy being who GOD made you to be!

Scripture Reading: “How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” (Psalm 139:17-18 NLT).

Prayer: Father, too often I fail to recognize how special I really am to You! I begin to consider what others think about me and then I try to better myself so others see something more impressive in me, something that is not really me. Today, I want to please You! I want to make You the desire of my heart and I desire to only be found pleasing in Your sight. Continue shaping and making me, LORD, according to Your will and purpose!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

The Least Probable Choice!

Have you ever felt like GOD could never use someone like you? You look at your life, your past, where you’ve come from, the situations that you were brought up in and you simply feel like GOD could never use such an individual as you? You seem to be the least probable choice?

The Scripture relates a similar incident to us. It says: “After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, ‘The Lord hasn’t chosen any of these’” (1 Samuel 16:10 CSB). Samuel the prophet had been sent by GOD to appoint GOD’s next choice for king of His people. The top seven sons were brought out, one of which should have surely been the right one, but none fit the bill.

The Scripture continues: “Samuel asked him, ‘Are these all the sons you have?’ ‘There is still the youngest,’ he answered, ‘but right now he’s tending the sheep’” (v. 11).

Jesse’s response was, “Sure, there’s still the youngest, the most insignificant, the least likely to be chosen out in the field tending to the family’s sheep.” Samuel told Jesse to go get him. When David arrived, the LORD told Samuel, “Anoint him, for he is the one” (v. 12). The one deemed least likely to be chosen was GOD’s choice!

No matter how insignificant you may feel today, in GOD’s eyes you are worth everything—you were worth the life of Jesus on a cross and you will continue to be of great value to Him always. He has a plan for you. You were born for a reason, you have purpose!

Stop trying to live up to the world’s standards. The world’s standards are often deceiving and misleading. Rather, set your sights on things above—on the things of GOD. Seek to live to please Him. Discover His purpose and plan for your life and live in the glory that He has for you! The world might see you as the least probable choice, but GOD calls you the one!

Scripture Reading: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 NLT).

Prayer: Father, I have wasted too much time trying to please people, trying to be something according to this world’s standards only to discover I always seem to fall short. I ask You, Lord, to help me to reset my focus, to understand that my purpose is found in You. Help me to desire You because You first desired me and paid the price for my sins so I could become Your child. Although I seem to be the least probable choice, You see me as a great probability and for that and all You do for me, I say “Thank-You!”…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

Designed for GOD’s Purposes!

GOD has created you for something spectacular! He designed you with a special plan and purpose programmed into your being. He has placed you where you are right now to begin to fulfill His purpose. He has created you to be a person of IMPACT!

What me? I really don’t think so. I’m just a simple person. GOD could never use someone like me. He has those special people He has specifically called like pastors and preachers and missionaries. I’m just little old me going about my daily routine, living life as best I can.

Well, that’s pretty much the way Moses felt as well when GOD spoke to him from the burning bush. GOD said: “Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:9-10 NLT). GOD told him, I have called you for a purpose; the time has come to fulfill that purpose.

Moses responded: “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” (v. 11). Moses saw himself as a simple shepherd tending sheep out in the wilderness. He had no idea of the potential locked up inside of him waiting to be loosed under the anointing and power of GOD. After a time of struggling with GOD to try to get out of his assignment, Moses finally relented and, of course, we know the great and mighty acts GOD carried out through him.

GOD desires to do the same mighty works though all of His children. But, we sit back and argue about our inabilities and personal struggles and problems, never getting around to finally submitting to GOD and simply letting Him be GOD in and through us. He will take your inabilities and turn them into great abilities. You must simply submit and say, Yes, LORD! Whatever You will for me, I will do.

Can you imagine the impact that could be made upon our world if all Christians simply followed through on what GOD has designed each to do? What about you today? GOD has called you; how will you respond? Will you respond? Allow the potential locked up in you to be loosed by the power and Spirit of GOD today and watch Him perform great and mighty works through you!

Scripture Reading: “Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession” (Psalm 2:8 CSB).

Prayer: Father, I realize I have not served You to my full potential. I know I do not impact my world as I should with the love and message of Jesus Christ. I pray today for the willingness to simply put my life into Your hands, to be used by You in mighty ways. I believe You have me where I am for Your purpose, help me to step into it and live it out in and through my life. I praise You for all You plan to do through me…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!

It’s All About Me!

We live in a very “me-centered” society. Certainly, it is most often referred to as “self-centered,” but the idea becomes more personalized by using “me.” And, until we personalize the concept, we will continually fail to respond as the LORD would desire for us to do.

Because we are born with the attitude that it is all about “me,” ridding this idea from our lives can become a complicated matter. With this attitude, everything we set out to accomplish in life is based upon what I can gain, what I can achieve, who I can become.

John the Baptist came along with a different response which established a precedent for all of us that is totally opposite from our current line of reasoning. He said: “He (Jesus) must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less” (John 3:30 NLT). So totally out of line with what we are brought up believing about ourselves.

The “me-centered” attitude not only hurts the individual to whom it belongs, but brings hurt to those around that individual as well. Families, homes, churches, governments—have all been brought down and destroyed by individuals exhibiting the attitude that “It’s all about me!”

Believers, this attitude must be done away with. Jesus showed a better ways when He said: “Don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need” (Luke 12:29-31 NLT).

Jesus teaches that the “me-centered” attitude belongs to unbelievers. True believers will set their sights on pleasing GOD by seeking after Godly things that hold eternal value. A true believer will look beyond what “I” need and seek to fulfill what others need. A true believer will follow the example of John the Baptist and become less as Jesus becomes greater.

Contrary to the world’s opinion, the most important things in life are not things. Those who chase after things will always come up short and lacking. Jesus told us the most important thing in life is the kingdom of GOD. Then, everything else will fall right into place.

Scripture Reading: “Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you” (Psalm 37:3-5 NLT).

Prayer: Father, I realize the world has heavily influenced my thinking at times, I realize that too often I tend to desire according to what I think I need rather than what You know I need. I pray You would cleanse my heart, my mind and my motives. Help me to seek after You and Your kingdom. May my desires and longings be for all that pleases You. Forgive my selfishness…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!