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Showing posts with label Renewal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Renewal. Show all posts

Thursday, November 13, 2025

Managing Stress by Learning to Listen to God

“Jesus often slipped away to be alone so he could pray.” Luke 5:15-16 (NCV)

In a world of constant pressure and stress, prayer is like a spiritual decompression chamber.

Jesus knew that. When I read the Gospels, I see him—over and over again—leaving the stress of his everyday life and going off by himself to pray. Mark 1:35 says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (NIV).

And the next verse shows that this was Jesus’ habit: “News about Jesus spread even more. Many people came to hear Jesus and to be healed of their sicknesses, but Jesus often slipped away to be alone so he could pray” (Luke 5:15-16 NCV).

If Jesus felt the need to pray and be with God, how much more do I need that? “But I’m too busy to spend a lot of time in prayer,” I think. The truth is, I'll have nothing to give to others if I don’t take time to let God fill me up.

The Bible says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 NCV). It’s in regular, quiet time with God in prayer that he recharges, renews, and restores you. And the busier I get, the more I need this time.

So how do I make space in my life to listen to God? 

First, I need to be quiet for an extended period of time. Find somewhere outside or in a quiet corner of my home. Then sit and ask, “God, is there anything you want to say to me?” And then just be still and listen.

God might bring an idea to mind. Or he might prompt you to read a passage of Scripture and speak to me that way.

If I have trouble focusing while praying because you’re worried about something. Instead of focusing on what I'm worried about, let God direct me to a passage of Scripture that addresses my worry, and then focus on that Scripture instead.

God wants to talk to me. He just needs me to put aside the demands of daily life and take time to listen to him!

In summary:

Jesus modeled how to handle life’s constant pressures by regularly withdrawing to quiet places to pray and reconnect with God. Despite his busy ministry and endless demands, he made time for solitude and communion with the Father—showing that spiritual strength flows from stillness. If Jesus needed that time, I need it even more. When I pause to be still, listen, and let God refill me, He renews my strength, restores my peace, and realigns my focus. The busier life becomes, the more essential it is to slow down, make space for God’s voice, and let prayer become my place of restoration and clarity.

Bottom line:

To handle life’s pressures with peace and clarity, I must regularly step away from the noise, spend time in prayer, and let God refill and renew my spirit.

Next steps:

My next step is to build a consistent rhythm of quiet connection with God—set aside a specific time each day, even 10–15 minutes, to step away from distractions, be still, and pray. Use that time not just to talk, but to listen—ask God what He wants to show me or shape in me. I might also create a simple “renewal space”—a chair by a window, a spot outdoors, or even a quiet corner—where I can regularly meet with Him. As I make this a habit, I’ll notice greater peace, clarity, and strength flowing into the rest of my day.


Monday, October 13, 2025

Leading from a Place of Peace

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

It’s increasingly difficult to stay focused on true things. The Bible says, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8 NLT).

This requires a mental shift. It means I might have to build new, better habits.

My mind is bombarded with lies every single day. Advertisements and social media tell me that if I don't think, dress, or act a certain way, I don't matter. When I was growing up, I was often told that if I'm not good at academics or athletics, I don't matter. This world is full of lies, and I’ve believed many of them. But they're just not true. And not only that, but they can lead to stress and unrest in your life.

The only way to counter those lies is to fill my mind with the truth. And the truth is, God loves me. I matter to him. Jesus said, You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NIV).

To be set free means to have a breakthrough—and I need to have a breakthrough! One of the most powerful ways to get there is by spending time in God’s Word every day. That’s where real transformation begins.

If I think you can’t do that, just consider how many hours I'm spending on social media, watching TV, or listening to the news. How am I going to have a healthy mind if I'm filling it with lies instead of truth?

Not everything I hear is true. Not everything I read is true. Not everything I tell myself is even true. I've got to get into the Bible every day, because God always speaks what is true. I can trust what he says about me and the promises he’s made to me in his Word.

What happens when I keep your mind on true things?

The Living Bible paraphrase says, “If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

I'd like to have my heart and mind at rest. That's a breakthrough everyone needs: less stress and more rest. Get started on a breakthrough today by getting into God’s Word.

In summary:

Staying focused on truth in today’s world takes intentional effort and a renewed mindset. Philippians 4:8 calls me to fix my thoughts on what is true, right, pure, and praiseworthy—but that means replacing the daily lies I hear from media, culture, and even my own thoughts with God’s truth. The Bible reminds us that we matter deeply to God, and only His Word can free me from the stress and unrest that come from believing falsehoods. Real breakthrough and lasting peace come when I consistently fill my mind with Scripture rather than noise, allowing God’s truth to renew my thinking and bring rest to my heart.

Bottom Line:

Keep my mind anchored in God’s truth every day. When I choose to focus on what’s true and life-giving instead of the noise and lies around me, my thoughts, emotions, and perspective align with God’s peace—and that’s where real transformation and strength begin.

I need to start each day in Scripture and prayer — not for information, but transformation. Let God’s Word shape my thoughts before the world does.

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

God’s Correction Is for Your Good

“Happy is the person whom God corrects! Do not resent it when he rebukes you.” Job 5:17 (GNT)

If I'm running from what God has called me to do, there is something I should know: God is calling me back to him.

He knows that the longer I run, the worse life will get for me. And he wants to get my attention before it’s too late.

Even though God is patient, he won’t let me ignore his call forever. God loves me just the way I am, but he loves me far too much to let me stay that way.

One day he’s going to get my attention.

The prophet Jonah found this out the hard way when he ran from God by boarding a boat headed in the opposite direction from where God had called him. While on the boat, a storm came up—and “it was getting worse all the time” (Jonah 1:11 GNT).

The more Jonah ran, the worse the storm got. Jonah’s running had consequences.

It’s the same way for me. When I run from God, eventually I’ll find myself surrounded by storms. Sometimes those are the storms of God’s correction. But when God corrects me, it’s not negative. It’s because he loves me!

Loving parents discipline their children because they love them and want to see their children change their behavior for their own good. God is the same way. The Bible says: “Happy is the person whom God corrects! Do not resent it when he rebukes you” (Job 5:17 GNT).

As the storm got more intense, Jonah’s shipmates asked a question many people ask when troubles build: “What should we do . . . to stop the storm?” (Jonah 1:11 GNT). The answer is always the same. I must completely surrender my life to God. When I surrender, peace comes.

Jonah did this. He responded, “Throw me into the sea, and it will calm down. I know it is my fault that you are caught in this violent storm” (Jonah 1:12 GNT).

It was Jonah’s first unselfish act—and his first step toward a fresh start. He admitted he was the cause of the storm, and he surrendered to God’s will.

If I'm running from God’s plan for my life and now I'm facing a storm, surrender to him. It might not be a literal storm—or one where I'm tossed overboard like Jonah—but it feels just as overwhelming. The good news is, I can confidently surrender to God because he is for me, and he’s calling me back to him.

In summary:

When I run from God’s calling, life only grows harder, but God uses correction—like a loving parent—to bring me back to Him. Jonah learned this when he fled from God, only to face a worsening storm until he surrendered and admitted his fault, which became the first step toward a fresh start. In the same way, when I face storms in life, they may be God’s way of getting my attention and calling me to surrender. His correction isn’t punishment but love, reminding me that true peace comes when I stop resisting and fully submit to His will.

Bottom line:

Running from God only leads to storms, but His correction is an act of love that calls you back to Him.  So the next step is to stop resisting and fully surrender to God—acknowledge where I’ve been running, turn back to Him, and trust that His plan will bring peace and a fresh start.


Thursday, August 7, 2025

A Changed Life Starts with a Changed View

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Ideas have consequences. In fact, every idea has a consequence, for good or for bad. All of my ideas—the thoughts that settle in my mind—come together to make up my worldview, the beliefs I build my life on.

My worldview includes my beliefs about life, death, the past, the present, and the future. It includes my perspective on time, money, relationships, pain and suffering, and good and evil. It’s how I view God, myself, and other people. Everything I believe about life is part of my worldview. 

My worldview determines my choices. It can be explained like this: God wired my brain in such a way that before I make a decision, I instantly access all the information in my mind and ask, “What do I believe about this?” And then I make a choice—often without even realizing it—based on what I believe to be true. 

For example, I decide to walk across the street because I’ve looked both ways and believe I can make it across without a car hitting me. I make decisions like this literally tens of thousands of times a day. Every time I make a choice, I access my worldview.

We all spend our lives developing our worldviews, but when I begin a relationship with Christ, he offers me a new worldview. The Bible says, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT).

When I step across that line spiritually—turning from my sins and trusting in God’s grace—I get a new identity. God says everything I’ve ever done wrong is completely forgiven—wiped out and forgotten! His Word (Scripture/Bible) calls it being born again. I get a fresh start in life. I get a new identity. And with that new identity, God offers me a new way to look at the world. He offers me a new worldview.

But sometimes my mind keeps playing old tapes. I keep seeing myself and others the way the world taught me to, not the way God does. When that happens, I need to get my worldview in line with God’s truth. In other words, when my false beliefs—my faulty worldview—are making me miserable, I can change them.

In the coming days, I’ll look at what’s true and what’s not true. This will help me know how to get my life in line with God’s truth and have the kind of worldview that will allow me to live out God’s purposes every day.

In summary:

My worldview—the collection of beliefs I hold about life, people, and God—shapes every decision I make, often without me even realizing it. But when I begin a relationship with Christ, I am made new, and with that new identity comes a new way of seeing the world. According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, the old life is gone, and a new one begins. However, even after this transformation, it's easy to fall back into old thought patterns shaped by my past or culture. That’s why it’s essential to align my thinking with God’s truth, replacing false beliefs with the reality of who I am in Christ. By renewing my mind, I can live with clarity, purpose, and freedom in my new identity.

Bottom Line:

When I come to Christ, I receive a new identity and a new way of seeing the world—so I must continually renew my mind to align with God’s truth and live out His purpose for my life.

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Clearing the Clutter for a Transformed Life

“We must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up.” Hebrews 12:1 (GW)

Just like spring cleaning in our homes, it’s important for me to do a spring cleaning in my mind—but this one lasts all throughout the year. For transformation to happen in life, there are going to be some bad habits I'll need to clear out regularly because they’re slowing me down.

Hebrews 12:1 says, “We must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up” (GW).

It’s easier to pick up bad habits than it is to get rid of them. There are four reasons why it’s so hard to clean them ou:

Because I’ve had them a long time. I didn’t collect my habits, hurts, and hang-ups overnight. Many of these patterns were established in childhood—patterns that started as survival skills. They might not be helping me now, but they’re familiar, so I hang on to them.

Because I identify with them. I can often confuse my identity with my defects—I'm aggressive or a workaholic or an overeater. And when I see myself in a certain way, I set up a self-fulfilling prophecy, and I have an unconscious fear of change. I can wonder, “If I change, then who will I be?”

Because they have a payoff. Whatever gets rewarded gets repeated. Sometimes I reward negative behavior because it masks my pain or gives me an excuse to fail or it gets me some attention.

Because Satan fights it. Satan doesn’t want me to be transformed and set free. So the moment I get serious about changing, he starts whispering, “Who do you think you are? You can’t change. You’ve tried to change in the past; it won’t work. You may as well give up!”

Cleaning house in my mind is never easy. It takes time, so I will have to be patient. I will have to remind myself of my new identity in Christ. I’ve got to remind myself of a better and bigger payoff—the joy that comes from having a forever relationship with Jesus Christ. And I’ll have to rely on the Holy Spirit, whose power in me is greater than Satan’s attacks.

Choosing this kind of mindset every day will lead to healthy living and a lighter load as I run the race God has for me. 

In summary: 

Just like spring cleaning, I need to regularly clear out the mental and spiritual clutter—especially sins and bad habits—that slow me down and distract me from the life God intends for me. Hebrews 12:1 reminds me to run my race with endurance, letting go of anything that holds me back. Breaking free from long-standing habits is difficult because they feel familiar, are tied to my identity, offer temporary rewards, and are opposed by spiritual forces. But by trusting in the Holy Spirit, remembering my identity in Christ, and focusing on the lasting joy of a relationship with Jesus, I can gradually experience true transformation and live with purpose and freedom.







. 

Thursday, April 3, 2025

God, Help Me!

“We felt we were doomed to die and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead.” 2 Corinthians 1:9 (TLB)

At some point in life, I’ll find myself in need of help. When that time comes, I first need to admit that I need help. And then I need to ask God for that help. In other words, move from “I need help” to “God, help me!”

When Paul, one of the greatest men of faith, hit rock bottom, that’s what he did. In the Living Bible paraphrase, Paul says, “We felt we were doomed to die and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9).

Think about that. If God can raise a dead person, then he also can raise a dead career, a dead dream, or a dead hope. He specializes in turning crucifixions into resurrections. God can do miracles when we hand everything over to him.

Notice that Paul said, “We put everything into the hands of God.” Everything! This is total surrender. It’s not just saying, “God, fix my finances,” or “God, fix my relationships.” It’s giving him every part of my life—the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

Have I come to a point where I say, “God, I give you my entire life—my joys, my pains, my victories, and my failures”?

Don’t wait until you hit bottom. Don’t let life force me into surrender. 

There’s an easy way and a hard way to change. The easy way is to see the light; the hard way is to feel the heat. Unfortunately, most of us resist change until the pain becomes unbearable. I shouldn't wait for everything to fall apart before asking God for help.

The Message paraphrase of the Bible says it this way: “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule” (Matthew 5:3). When I finally let go, God will step in.

So here’s the process: First, admit I need help. Next, humbly ask God to take over. Then hand it all over—my problems, pride, pain—and watch how he can transform life.

In summary:

When life feels overwhelming, the first step is to admit that I need help and then turn to God. Paul, despite being a man of great faith, reached a point where he felt powerless. But in that moment, he completely surrendered to God, recognizing that only He could save him.

God specializes in reviving what seems lost—whether it’s a career, a dream, or hope itself. True surrender means giving everything to God, not just selective parts of life. Instead of waiting for hardship to force me into change, I should willingly hand over control to Him now.

Key Points:

✔️ Admit I need help – Recognize my limitations.

✔️ Ask God for help – Move from self-reliance to faith.

✔️ Fully surrender – Give every part of life to God.

✔️ Trust in God’s power – He can resurrect what seems lost.

✔️ Don’t wait for rock bottom – Choose to let go before life forces me to.


Friday, December 1, 2023

Four Reasons Not to Give Up

In 2 Corinthians 4:18 it says, “We don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.” (NLT)


If my focus is shortsightedwhere I’m only thinking about my current difficulties or painthen it’s only natural to want to give up.


But if I begin to look at things from an eternal perspective, then I’ll be able to keep going, no matter what happens.


That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT).


This passage gives me four reasons to stay strong emotionally and never give up:


First, I am to never give up, because “our [my] spirits are being renewed every day.” I wouldn’t dream of going a whole week without food, but some people don’t even open their Bibles for an entire week. That’s depriving the soul of the most essential nourishment it needs! To renew my spirit, then get into God’s Word every day.


Second, I am to never give up, because “our [my] present troubles are small and won’t last very long.” Problems don’t come to stay; they come to pass. Even if I have problems that last my entire life, it would be miniscule compared to the trillions of years I’m going to experience in heaven. I should learn that problems on earth are temporary and that God has long-range plans for me.


Thirdly, I am to never give up, because my problems will “produce for us [me] a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” God is using everything in my life—even the hard stuff—to build my character for eternity. Romans 8:28 says, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (NIV).


Lastly, I am to never give up, because I am to “fix our [my] gaze on things that cannot be seen.” When I’m focused on things that last forever, I’m able to finish the race because I have long-term thinking. My attention is fixed on eternity. 


So, I need to consider what I’m focused on today? Instead of looking at my problems, start looking at Jesus again. And don’t give up!


In short, I need to learn to see troubles as opportunities. There is purpose in my suffering. The ultimate hope is that this life is not all there is. Knowing that I will live forever with God in a place without sin and suffering can help me live above the pain I face in this life.

I shouldn’t just look at what’s going on right now. I need to focus on the eternal. Difficulties don’t last. But hope in God will. No matter what my circumstances are, they are temporary. No problem comes to stay in my life. It will pass. Even if it is a lifelong chronic problem, because I won’t take it into eternity. So don’t shuffle along, absorbed with the things right in front of me. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ, that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective” My hope in Christ will become a hope fulfilled. 

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

How to Have Lasting Change in Life

In Romans 12:2 I read, Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (NIV)


To have lasting change in my life, I need to refocus my mind. Specifically, I need to change my thought patterns away from what I don’t want to focus on and toward what I do want to focus on. Because whatever I focus on is what my mind moves toward.


Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2 NIV). This is the blueprint I’ll need in order to change my thought patterns. It breaks down like this:


Do not conform.” How often do I let others shape my life? God doesn’t want me to be like someone else; he wants me to be the person he made me to be. So don’t copy, don’t conform, don’t try to be like anyone else.


The pattern of this world.” Pattern means the model of everything I’ve learned in life so far. If I want to change, I have to change my pattern, or model of living, that I’ve learned in my life. I need to replace the old, unhealthy pattern with a new one modeled after the life of Christ.


Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Transformed is the same as the word used for metamorphosis, the process a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly. In the same way, God wants to transform me into a completely new person by renewing my mind.


How does this happen? The Bible tells you in Ephesians 4:22-24 “to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (NIV).


This means I need to do some putting off and do some putting on, and the putting off has to happen before the putting on can begin. It’s just like trying on clothes in a department store. Before I can try on the new stuff, I have to take off the old stuff.


I can start today by beginning to let go of the old attitudes, thought patterns, and images I’ve been living with. Then get ready to put on the new garments God has for me.


In summary, I shouldn’t conform to the pattern of this world, rather I should be transformed by the renewing of my mind. To have lasting change, I need to refocus my mind. Specifically, to change my thought patterns away from what I don’t want to focus on and toward what I do want to focus on. Because whatever I focus on is what my mind moves toward. Romans 12:2 is the blueprint I should use in order to change my thought patterns. In breaking this verse down it says, “Do not conform.” I need to consider how often I let others shape my life? God doesn’t want me to be like someone else; he wants me to be the person he made me to be. So don’t try to be like anyone else. “The pattern of this world,” refers to the model of everything I’ve learned in life so far. If I want to change, I have to change my pattern, or model of living. Replace the old, unhealthy pattern with a new one modeled after the life of Christ. Lastly, “Be transformed by the renewing of my mind.” God wants to transform me into a completely new person by renewing my mind. This happens by putting off my old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; so that I can be made new in the attitude of my mind; and to put on the new self, created to be like God. This means I need to do some putting off and do some putting on, and the putting off has to happen before the putting on can begin. I can start today by beginning to let go of the old attitudes, thought patterns, and images I’ve been living with. Then get ready to put on the new garments God has for me.


I am to not copy the behavior and customs of this world, which is selfish and corrupting. My refusal to conform must go even deeper than just behavior and customs, it must be firmly planted in values rooted in my mind. Only when the Holy Spirit renews, reeducates, and redirects my mind am I truly transformed.


Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 


Today, I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in my new job.  I pray all these things through you Son Jesus’ name, Amen.

Friday, March 13, 2020

Relying on God’s Power, Not My Own

In review of Isaiah 40:28-31 this morning, its says,  He never grows tired or weary . . . He strengthens those who are weak and tired . . . those who trust in the LORD for help will find their strength renewed.” (GNT)

Even the strongest people will get tired at times, but God's power and strength never diminish. He is never too tired or too busy to help and listen. His strength is my source of strength. When I feel life crushing me and it seems that I cannot go another step, I can call on God to renew my strength

Trusting in the Lord is expecting that his promise of strength will help me rise above life's distractions and difficulties. Believe that God loves me and wants what is best for me. I can relax and have confidence that his purposes are right, and that he has the power to control all of what's around me and my life. Though my faith may be struggling or weak, accept his provisions and his care for me.

The worst times of life exhaust and drain me. When the roof of my life is falling in, I might look up in despair and say, “What now? What next? I can’t handle one more thing.”

In 2 Corinthians 1:8, Paul tells of having similar thoughts. He says, “We were really crushed and overwhelmed, and feared we would never live through it” (TLB).

It sounds like Paul was about ready to give up. But see what happens next: “We felt we were doomed to die and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead. And he did help us and saved us from a terrible death; yes, and we expect him to do it again and again” (2 Corinthians 1:9-10 TLB).

Paul knew that, since God can raise the dead, he certainly could help him. And this is true for me as well. That same power that raised Jesus is available to me.

Jesus’ resurrection means no situation is hopeless and no problem is too difficult. If God can raise a dead man, he can resurrect my health. He can infuse new life into my career.

I receive this kind of power when God fills my life with the Holy Spirit.

The Bible says, “For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7 GNT).

When God’s Spirit fills my life, I will have true self-control for the first time. I no longer bashed back and forth by circumstances. With Christ as my Master, I can master my situation. I’ll no longer be relying on my own power to hold all the strings of life together. I’m depending on God’s power.

He never grows tired or weary . . . He strengthens those who are weak and tired . . . those who trust in the LORD for help will find their strength renewed” (Isaiah 40:28-31 GNT).

God is faithful. No matter what I’m facing, he will carry me through it.

In summary, my God will never grow tired or weary. He will strengthen me when I'm weak and tired. When I trust in him, I will find my strength is renewed. His power and strength never diminish and He is never too tired or busy to help and listen. His strength is my source of strength. So when things get taxing and burdensome, I can call on God to renew my strength. My trust in Him is the expectation that his promise of strength will help me rise above life's distractions and difficulties. I can believe that God loves me and wants what is best for me. I can have confidence that his purposes are right, and he has the power to control and use all things. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to me. God can resurrect my health and infuse new life into my career. I receive his power when God fills my life with the Holy Spirit. I can master my situation. I'll no longer be relying on my own power to hold the strings of life together. Instead I'll be depending on God's power. No matter what I'm facing, he will carry me through it.

Father I see that you never expected me to carry all of my burdens on myself. You want me to put my trust in you and allow you to strengthen me. You’ve given me the Holy Spirit to help me. I just need to remember to turn to and trust you. This morning I pray that through your Spirit that you’ll continue to help me with this perspective. I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my tasks, my leadership and my interactions with others. I pray for healing from my infection. I also pray for those who are extremely concerned with the pandemic that now faces our country and state. I pray peace for them and that it turns them to you for help and understanding. I pray that you protect myself and my family from this. Also I pray for protection for my team and their families as well as our other co-workers. These things I pray through your Son Jesus name, Amen.