Looking In…
And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 8:27 (NIV)
This morning, I woke up to the familiar feeling of defeat. Tears streamed down my face and blurred my vision as I reflected on the previous day’s events. My hands were shaking, and my legs were unsteady. My head was full of confusing thoughts; nothing was making sense. Fatigue rolled over me like an ocean wave. I was here... again. I had asked God for help again yesterday, yet here I was… again. My intentions were good, but my results were not what I had expected. I was once again swayed by the voices and thoughts that convinced me that things would never change. I really had not asked God for help; I feebly offered up some hopeless prayers and kind of hid from Him… again.
Since I had a hard week, I felt like I deserved a break from all the responsibilities of my life and just kind of numbed out by death scrolling on my phone. I could start over again tomorrow with my good intentions to be a good person. And here I was, again, starting over for what seemed like the thousandth time.
I needed extra-strong coffee as I tried to shake the cobwebs from my mind. As I took a sip, I noticed my phone reminding me that my Bible daily reading plan was three weeks behind. As if I couldn’t feel worse, this certainly did just that. How had I drifted so far from God? What good was I to Him or anyone else, for that matter? I started to turn my phone off… and yet… something was drawing me to open the app and read the words that popped up…
APPLICATION: Regardless of how things have been going in your life, spend a moment with God asking Him to remind you how valuable you are to Him. Reach out to a friend to pray for you to believe what He says about you.
PRAYER: Father, as I look inward, show me that my value lies in who You say I am and not my own thoughts or the words of others. Thank You for loving me with an eternal love. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?