Filled with Awe

Holy Wonder

Everyone was filled with awe 

at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.

 Acts 2:43 

In a world that prizes efficiency, control, and proof, the sacred sense of wonder can seem outdated—even foolish. Awe is often replaced with analysis, reverence with sarcasm. Yet Scripture continually calls us to recapture the posture of holy wonder—a reverent attentiveness to the mystery, majesty, and mercy of God.

David wrote, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers… what is mankind that you are mindful of them?” (Psalm 8:3–4). His awe was not ignorance, but insight—born of seeing God’s glory in the ordinary and realizing how small we are, yet how deeply loved.

The early church lived in this spirit. Luke tells us they were “filled with awe” (Acts 2:43). Not because they understood everything, but because they had seen enough of Jesus to fall on their knees and worship.

Eugene Peterson writes, “Wonder is the only adequate launching pad for exploring this fullness of life in God.” To lose our wonder is to lose our worship.

Let us return to reverence. Let us stand barefoot before the burning bush of grace. Let us look again at the cross—and say with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

Prayer:

Lord, restore to me a sense of holy wonder. Let me not grow numb to Your beauty or blind to Your works. Awaken awe in my heart once more. Amen.

Strength for the Weary

When You Feel Depleted

The incomparably great power for us who believe… 

that power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted 

when he raised Christ from the dead. 

Ephesians 1:19–20 

There are days when we feel completely depleted—tired, discouraged, or overwhelmed. But Scripture reminds us of something astonishing: the very power that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us who believe. This is not a metaphor—it’s a reality. Paul describes it as “incomparably great power” available to every believer.

This isn’t mere encouragement—it’s resurrection reality. Paul’s words in Ephesians 1:19–20 remind us that God’s power isn’t just immense; it’s personal. It is “for us.” The Greek word for power—dunamis—is the root of our word “dynamite.” God’s strength isn’t symbolic; it’s explosive, alive, and transformative.

Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind… like branches without sap.”

Today, whether you are at your limit or quietly serving in the background, God offers you His strength. Rest in it. Trust in it. And rise in it.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You that Your resurrection power is not just a past event but a present promise. Fill me with Your Spirit. Strengthen me when I am weary, and remind me that You delight in every faithful role. Amen.

God Reigns

 

“You would have no power… 

if it were not given to you from above.” 

John 19:11

As Jesus stood bruised and bound before Pilate, it looked like power had passed to the Roman governor. Yet Jesus calmly declared that even Pilate’s authority was borrowed—granted from above. In one sentence, He reminded all generations that God is still on the throne, even when everything seems out of control.

This truth is vital when we face seasons of suffering, uncertainty, or injustice. We may feel powerless in the hands of others or at the mercy of circumstances beyond our control. But Jesus shows us that no earthly power can operate outside God’s ultimate authority. As Matthew Henry noted, “Christ stood at the bar of Pilate’s judgment, but it was Pilate who was truly being judged.”

Eugene Peterson paraphrases Jesus’ words as: “You haven’t a shred of authority over me except what has been given you from heaven.” This is not the voice of a victim, but of a King who knows exactly what He’s doing. Even in silence, God is not absent. Even in pain, He is not powerless.

Dallas Willard reminds us, “God is not hurried. He has all the time and all the power.” That same divine steadiness is available to us. Jesus trusted His Father in the darkest hour—so can we.

Prayer:

Lord, when life feels chaotic and unjust, help me remember that You are still King. Give me faith to rest in Your sovereignty and courage to follow Your quiet strength.Amen.

Unforced Rhythms of Grace

 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? 

Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. … 

Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. 

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”

— Matthew 11:28–30 (The Message)

At the end of his life, Winston Churchill reflected, “When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life—most of which had never happened.” Many of us carry burdens that never materialize: anxieties about tomorrow, regrets about yesterday, and pressures that seem to squeeze the joy from today.

Jesus knows how heavy that feels. That’s why He doesn’t call us to strive harder or perform better, but to come to Him. In one of the most tender invitations in all of Scripture, He offers weary souls something deeper than escape—rest. But it’s not a rest that comes from stopping everything. It’s a rest that comes from walking with Him, side by side, in step with His Spirit.

Eugene Peterson captures this beautifully: “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” Life with Jesus is not a relentless march but a grace-filled dance. His yoke is not a crushing burden—it’s an alignment with His love. As we walk with Him, burdens lift. Fear loosens. And peace begins to pulse with every step.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, teach me the unforced rhythms of grace. Help me walk with You—not in hurry or heaviness, but in quiet trust and joyful rest. Thank You for carrying what I was never meant to hold alone. Amen.

Hope Deferred

 

Holding On to the Tree of Life

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, 

but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” 

Proverbs 13:12 

Hope is a beautiful, but fragile thing. When it’s delayed, our hearts grow weary. We pray, we wait, we long—and when the answers don’t come as expected, discouragement creeps in. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick”—this verse names the ache we often feel when healing, provision, or restoration seems out of reach.

C.S. Lewis wisely observed, “We must lay before Him what is in us; not what ought to be in us.” God welcomes our honesty. David, in the Psalms, brought his despair before God—yet through his tears, trust was born. Our faith doesn’t erase the ache, but it anchors us in love that does not fail.

The second half of Proverbs 13:12 lifts our eyes to a greater hope: “a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” In Scripture, the tree of life is a recurring symbol of joy, abundance, and restored fellowship with God (Genesis 2:9; Revelation 22:2). When hope is finally fulfilled, it does more than satisfy—it revives, restores, and reconnects us with God.

“Hope does not put us to shame,” Paul writes in Romans 5:5, “because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” God uses even delayed hopes to deepen our trust and prepare us for joy.

Prayer:

Lord, when my heart is weary from waiting, draw me close. Help me to trust that You are never late. May the fulfillment of hope be a tree of life that leads me deeper into Your presence. Amen.

Kept, Sent, Sanctified

Sanctified by Truth, Sent in Love

John 17:11–19

On the eve of His suffering, Jesus prays—not to be delivered from the cross, but for those He will leave behind. “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name… so that they may be one as we are one” (v.11). Jesus had guarded His disciples, and now He entrusts them to the Father’s keeping. His concern is not removal from the world but preservation within it.

William Barclay observes, “It is not withdrawal from the world but victory over it that Jesus desires for His disciples.” Jesus doesn’t pray for escape from hardship but for protection from the evil one. We are called to remain in the world—engaged, not entangled.

Jesus prays for our sanctification: “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (v.17). Holiness isn’t self-made. Richard Foster writes, “Holiness is not a condition we manufacture by our own strength. It is a gift received through submission to the truth and love of Christ.” God’s Word, alive and active, sets us apart for His purpose.

Alexander Maclaren reminds us that “Christ’s sanctification of Himself is both the pledge and the pattern of ours.” Jesus sets Himself apart so that we, too, may be made holy—formed in truth and sent with love.

Jesus’ prayer echoes through time: Keep them. Fill them with joy. Sanctify them. Send them.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for praying for us. Keep us in Your name, sanctify us in Your truth, and send us into the world with courage and love. Amen.

Facing Giants God’s Way

Be Yourself in the Name of the Lord

You come against me with sword and spear and javelin,

 but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty.

 1 Samuel 17:45

David’s encounter with Goliath (1 Samuel 17) is more than a tale of courage—it’s a lesson in authenticity and trust. When Saul offered him his royal armor, David tried it on but quickly said, “I cannot go in these, because I am not used to them” (v. 39). He laid aside the armor and stepped into the battle as himself—a shepherd boy trusting not in weapons but in the name of the Lord.

Alexander Maclaren writes, “The victory which begins with renouncing earthly aids is crowned by the use of the simplest weapon.” David’s strength was not in appearance, but in alignment with God’s purpose.

Matthew Henry comments, “Those who go forth in the name of the Lord of hosts, and in the strength of that name, will come off conquerors.” David didn’t seek glory for himself. His concern was that “all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel” (v. 46).

Though David’s success brought favor, it also stirred envy in Saul (1 Samuel 18:8–9). But opposition often sharpens character and prepares us for deeper service.

Key lesson: Be yourself. Trust in God’s name, not human methods. Live for God’s glory—not your own—and He will vindicate His name through your life.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to walk in authenticity, trusting in Your name alone. Shape me through both favor and trial, and let my life bring glory to You.Amen.

Shine Through Us

May God be gracious to us and bless us and 

make his face shine on us. 

Psalm 67:1

This opening verse of Psalm 67 is more than a wish for personal blessing—it is a plea for God’s radiant presence to be seen in and through His people. It echoes the priestly blessing from Numbers 6:24–26, where God instructed Moses to have Aaron bless the people with words that spoke of divine grace, protection, and peace. But the psalmist here adds a missional tone: Shine on us, Lord—not just for our sake, but so that the world might see You in us.

Charles Spurgeon reflects, “This is the common benediction we desire for ourselves—not only mercy, but the light of God’s countenance.” That light isn’t just for warming our own souls; it’s meant to spill over into a world in darkness. Eugene Peterson captures the simplicity and intimacy of the verse when he paraphrases it, “God, mark us with grace and blessing! Smile!”

God’s “face shining” suggests nearness, delight, and presence. It’s not a promise to remove all struggle, but to be with us, guiding, sustaining, and making His character visible. When we seek this kind of blessing, we become vessels of God’s goodness—not reservoirs but rivers.

Prayer:

Lord, may Your grace rest on me today—not just for my comfort, but that others may see Your light through me. Let Your face shine on me, so Your love may shine through me. Amen.

Running with the Spirit

The Way to Finish Well

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. 

Trust in God; trust also in me.” 

John 14:1

The Christian life is not a sprint but a marathon. Along the way, we stumble, grow weary, face detours, and sometimes feel like giving up. But Jesus offers us a different way—one grounded not in our strength, but in His. He calls us to humility, obedience, and total reliance on God.

Saul, the first king of Israel, had a promising beginning. Yet pride and partial obedience led to his downfall. In contrast, Paul began as a persecutor but ended as a faithful apostle because he yielded his entire life to Christ. The difference? One clung to his ego; the other surrendered everything.

Jesus, knowing His hour had come, spoke these words: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” He had every reason to be overwhelmed—betrayal, suffering, and death lay ahead. Yet His heart remained anchored in the Father’s will. Why? Because His trust was unshakable.

We, too, are invited to that place of peace. Not a peace born from perfect circumstances, but from perfect trust. And we’re not left alone. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit—the Comforter, Advocate, and Guide—to walk with us and strengthen us to finish our race with faith and courage.

Prayer:

Lord, I surrender my pride and fear. Teach me to walk humbly, to obey fully, and to trust You entirely. Fill me with Your Spirit, and help me finish my race in faith, truth, and peace. Amen.