What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people. Psalm 116: 12-14, NKJV. Gracious God, there is so much to thank You for! Please help us as we sit in Your presence to learn the true spirit of thanksgiving. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. There is a little chorus that goes something like this:  "Count your blessings name them one by...

Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so. Then God made two great lights:  the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over...

Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. Genesis 1: 3-5, NKJV. And now LORD we look to You, for Light to shine out of Your Word, and lead us in our study. In the blessed name of Jesus we humbly pray. Amen. Today our study has brought us to the creation story; where God will begin His act of...

For verily He took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a faithful and merciful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. Hebrews 2: 16-18. Dear Father, how we thank You that You were willing to become like Your children, that in turn, Your children could...

Solomon gathered together chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah. 2 Chronicles 1: 14, 15, NRSV (emphasis provided). Holy Father, please let us sit at Your feet and learn the valuable lesson, that our asking will never challenge Your capacity to give! This is our prayer, in the precious name of Jesus. Amen. The context in which our...

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 6, 7, NKJV. Dear Father, You realize how difficult it can be to be "anxious for nothing," in a world where it seems as if everything is working against you. So teach us LORD, as we sit in Your presence. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. I am always blessed when I hear the stories of people like...

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of  you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3: 26-29, NKJV. Heavenly Father, as we enter the study of Your Word, we ask that Your Holy Spirit will reveal to us the truth, that "in " we are truly...

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayer of the saints. And they sang a new song... Revelation 5: 8,9, NKJV. Holy Father, we are truly thankful to You for Your goodness to us. What would we do without You? We need You at every step of the way to both direct our paths, and to keep us safe. Because of who You are; and because of all that You do, we praise You! You...

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law Galatians 4: 4, NKJV. Dear heavenly Father, how wonderful, and comforting, it is to know that You have a time for everything! This gives structure to our existence. We thank You for this in the blessed name of Jesus. Amen. If we could only learn the lesson, that when we come to Christ, our lives are no longer under our control. We have joined our feeble, frail, and fragile, beings, to the omnipotent, sovereign, invincible, God, who has...

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands. Psalm 138: 8, 9, NKJV. Merciful Father, as we study Your Word, please assure us of the promise that You will not forsake us, "the works of Your hands." In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. "Walking in the midst of trouble" is not as extreme...