Looking Forward

How far into the future do you plan? Do you look forward to something in the distant future? Or are you only looking at later today or tomorrow? Do you plan beyond next week? What are you anticipating? What has you joyously anxious while waiting for it to happen?

Planning for the future can be difficult to do. So much of the future is unknown. Sure, we can make our plans, but we know much of it is out of our control, even if we won’t admit it. Our best laid plans often go awry. One thing or another swoops in and disrupts them.

Perhaps the longest range plans we make are weddings a year or more out, college graduation four years out, or retirement several years or decades in the future. Yet, none of these are guaranteed. Things happen. A speed bump or roadblock slows them down or causes us to draw up a new plan. Retirement can be especially difficult. Many think they have planned well only to discover they do not have near enough to retire when the time comes.

The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of the Messiah, some eight-hundred years before Jesus would come. Based on Isaiah’s prophecy, the Israelites were looking toward His coming yet had no idea when He would. God did not provide a timeline, so Isaiah could not provide one. He did provide characteristics of the Messiah. He would have the spirit of the Lord resting on Him, be wise, understanding, knowledgeable, a counselor, powerful, in awe of God, following his will.

We, too, look forward to Jesus coming. But we look forward to His return. Much like the Israelites, we do not have a timeline. It is challenging to continue to look forward and be obedient. We can grow lax in our obedience, just as the Israelites did. Yet, it is those who continue in their obedience who will be rewarded by God. Therefore, continue in obedience to God, even though you do not know when Jesus will return.

I pray we all look forward to Jesus returning to claim His own. I pray we hold fast to our faith. I pray each one of us will remain obedient to God’s commands and reap the reward he has for us. Look forward to Jesus returning. Hold onto your faith. Obey God’s commands. Reap your reward.

Isaiah 11:1-2

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, 

and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 

The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, 

the spirit of wisdom and understanding, 

the spirit of counsel and might, 

the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Give Thanks and Sing Praises

How thankful are you? Do you recognize the many blessings you have been given? Are you thankful for each one of those blessings? Do you sing praises to God for them? Do you sing praises to bless God’s name? Does singing praise lift your heart?

We often overlook the small, everyday blessings. We take them for granted. Yet, God continues to bless us with them. Not only do we not thank God for them but we don’t praise God for them either. Some of us are not keen on singing praises daily.

The Psalmist instructs us to give thanks to God, not half-heartedly, but with our whole heart. We are told to tell of God’s wonderful deeds. We are encouraged to be glad. In that gladness, we are to exult God. That gladness and exultation results in our singing praises to God. Those praises acknowledge how wonderful, amazing, powerful, creative, and all-knowing God is.

Today, let’s be thankful and sing praises to God. Let us open our hearts to him. Let us sing his praises with joyful voices. Sing out, whether you think you can sing or not. Lift your voice and make a joyful noise to the Lord! God delights in our singing and praising him. He delights in our thankfulness and blesses us. When we are thankful and praise him, he is like a delighted parent with their children.

I pray we all are thankful to God for his blessings. I pray we praise him both day and night for who he is. I pray each one of us sing out our praises and thankfulness to our awesome God. Thank God for your blessings. Praise God today. Sing praise to him. God is awesome.


Psalm 9:1-2

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; 

I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. 

I will be glad and exult in you; 

I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Like a Thief in the Night

Have you ever wondered where some of our sayings originated? Don’t you think some of them have an interesting story behind them? Have you considered some of them originated from the Bible or a preacher long ago simplifying what the Bible said? We might have one today.

Read today’s passage. What saying comes to mind? I’m guessing you came up with the same one I did: Like a thief in the night. I also imagine that you have heard it used in ways that have nothing to do with how it might originally been used. But that’s how it goes with sayings. Their use morphs over time.

Notice that Jesus uses the example to drive home the point that no one knows when He will return. It also could have been used because the average person can understand it, even today. We typically hear of robberies taking place at night or when people are away. It is still a shocker to hear of a bank robbery “in broad daylight.”

Just as it was stated yesterday, Jesus says we are to be ready. We must remain vigilant in our following His commands. Our momentary lapses must end quickly and with our repentance. Our hearts desire is to follow Him and be like Him. He must be our role model, example to follow, and mentor. When we decide we will follow Jesus with every bit of our being, not only will our lives change for the better, but we will be ready when He returns.

I pray we all see and hear Jesus’s point. I pray we are vigilant in following His commands. I pray each one of us choose to follow Jesus with every bit of our being so we ready when He returns. Like a thief in the night. Follow Jesus’s commands. Follow His example. He will be your mentor.

Mathew 24:43-44 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Are You Ready?

Are you ready? Do you believe in being prepared? Do you train yourself to be prepared for whatever life throws your way? Do you think about the many possibilities for any given situation? Or do you just take life as it comes? Do you live life willy nilly?

Being ready for any given situation is near impossible. Accidents that happen out of the blue can completely derail us. Yet, there is much we can be prepared for. We can prepare for that big speech. We can prepare for the next day. We can prepare for a coming storm.

Being prepared is good. It can keep us from being surprised. It can prevent us from being turned topsy turvy when something goes wrong. It is often by being prepared that we withstand a coming storm, whether a weather storm or an emotional storm. So, yes, being prepared is good.

Yet, how many of us are prepared for the return of Jesus Christ? To be ready, we must live our life for Him. We need to choose to obey God’s commands. We need to be willing to give up our favorite sin. After all, how many of us want to be caught in our sin when Jesus returns? I dare say none of us.

Jesus tells us that no one knows when He will return, not even Himself. He tells us that it is the Father’s decision regarding when He will return. He even gives the example of Noah, when the people were eating and drinking when the flood came. The people thought Noah was crazy until the flood hit. Then they were desperate. Just as they had no time nor option to repent and be saved, we won’t have that option either. Our only option is to be ready when He returns.

I pray we all choose to obey God’s commands. I pray we choose to give up our sins. I pray each one of us will choose to be ready when Jesus returns, knowing there will be no time when he does. Obey God’s commands. Give up your sins. Be ready when Jesus returns.

Matthew 24:36-37 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

Positive Example

What is your idea of improvement? How are you setting yourself up for success? What is your definition of success? How do you migrate your way out of bad situations into good situations? Are you hanging on to bad habits that are keeping you from being the best version of yourself?

We often hear about seeking self-improvement. There are many books written on the topic. There are more lists of advice for being better than we care to count. Though they may make good points and provide incremental steps toward improvement, they often leave out one key point.

The Apostle Paul tells the church in Rome to throw off their old self. He says they are to give up their former ways that were self-destructive. He tells them to step out of the darkness and into the light. Why? Salvation is near. They are encouraged to put on Jesus, to live their life for Him, to give up personal desires. That is good advice and encouragement for us as well.

Imagine how we could influence the people around us if we were to give our bad habits, our sinful ways. Setting a positive example for the people around us, for our children and grandchildren, is the best thing we can do for the future. We set the example by putting Jesus, living for Him, and setting aside our personal desires.

Paul doesn’t give this advice lightly. He does so with the weight of eternity and a love for the people weighing on his shoulders. Every good pastor has that same mindset, a desire to lead people to live for Christ. Nothing is more life altering nor more impactful than living for Christ and setting a positive example for others.

I pray we all give up our destructive behavior. I pray we set aside our personal desires. I pray each one of us will put on Christ, living our lives for Him, and setting a positive example for others. Give up destructive behavior. Set aside personal desires. Put on Christ. Live for Christ. Be a positive example.

Romans 13:14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Wake Up

How aware are you? Do you use your peripheral vision? Is your head on a swivel when you are in an unfamiliar area? Do you pick up on the subtle signs of another person? Do you recognize when they are angry, upset, hurt, or uncomfortable? Are your eyes open and observing?

Being aware can be a challenge. Yet, being aware can keep us out of trouble. Many of us will be a little more alert when we are in an unfamiliar area, especially if we are in a foreign country. Being observant can also clue us in on the feelings of someone else.

During my time in the Marine Corps, I was taught to be alert at all times. Being alert has saved me grief a few times. We were especially alert when we were deployed in a foreign country. We were made aware of local customs and culture. Even when we were at our home base, we were taught to be aware when going into town. It wasn’t paranoia, simply being alert and aware of what was going on around you.

The Apostle Paul tells the church in Rome to wake up and be aware. They were to understand that walking around oblivious to what was going on was not acceptable. They were followers of Jesus and were to be alert for those who would do them harm and recognize they were saved. They were to know their behavior did not just represent them but Jesus as well.

We, too, need to wake up. We need to let go of the mindset that we only represent ourselves. We represent Jesus in every moment of every day. There are people who want to see us fail. They want to point their finger at us and laugh at us for failing to live up to the standard. So, we need to wake up, recognize our situation, and choose to do our best to follow Jesus’s example.

I pray we all choose to wake up. I pray we decide to be alert and aware of our situation. I pray each one of us realizes we not only represent ourselves but represent Jesus every moment of every day. Wake up. Be alert. Be aware. Recognize your situation. Know that you represent Jesus.

Romans 13:11a Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is already the moment for you to wake from sleep.

Look Forward to Worship

What brings you joy? What makes you glad? Does being with family and friends make you happy? What about co-workers? Does seeing your favorite team win bring you excitement and happiness? Are you happy when you go to the church building for worship services?

Being glad or happy can depend on the situation. Some will make us happy and others won’t. Many of the earthly things that makes us happy are short lived. They are fleeting moments. It is not to say they are bad, just momentary. But what if there was a place that could make us glad regularly?

There is such a place, if we approach it with the right frame of mind. Going to our local church can make us glad. It can lift our spirits. We see people like us, people who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Though none of them are perfect, we can worship with them every week knowing we are saved through the same blood.

The Psalmist was glad to the temple. He was happy to go before God and worship. It was a reminder that God cares for his people. It was an opportunity to express thankfulness to God in community with others. Being together, corporately praising God is uplifting. We receive something when we attend worship services, whether we think we do or not.

As Sunday approaches, we should look forward to worshiping God with others. We should look forward to going to the church. Praising God and thanking him for his grace, mercy, and love should lighten our hearts. After all, everything we have, including the very air we breathe, is a gift from God.

I pray we all look forward to worship services. I pray we go to church with an attitude of thankfulness. I pray each one of us seek to praise God corporately, thanking him for his grace, mercy, and love. Look forward to worship. Be thankful. Praise God. Accept his blessings of grace, mercy, and love.

Psalm 122:1

I was glad when they said to me, 

“Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

Prophecies and Promises

We all need something to look forward to. Whether it is goal to achieve, a child to be born, a promotion in a job, or a relationship blossoming, we need a future with promise. Why? It provides us with hope. That hope is the driving force that gives us a reason to continue.

God gives us hope, if we will only read his prophecies and promises. The Israelites had hope of the Messiah coming. They looked forward to the Messiah restoring Israel, making them a great nation once again. Their hope carried them through many difficult times.

Though we know today that the Messiah has come and He will return, there are still prophecies and promises from God yet to be fulfilled. Some of those prophecies were made in the Old Testament and some in the New Testament. They all foretell God showing his glory, an eternity spent with him, and his righteous judgment.

In today’s passage, through the prophet Isaiah, we see that God’s house shall be above all. Though Isaiah uses the imagery of a mountain, it should not be taken literally. Often prophecies use figurative visuals to present the Israelites, and us, with an image we can relate to. The point is that God’s house will be the place everyone goes to. They will naturally be attracted to it to worship him. His light will shine all around.

We may hear of “a city on a hill.” The phrase should remind us of God’s prophecy and promise of eternity. It should remind us that we have hope because of those prophecies and promises. That hope can carry us through whatever trial we face. We know there is an eternal home waiting for us.

I pray we all read the prophecies and promises of God. I pray we put our hope in the prophecies and promises of God. I pray each one of us has a hope in God that will carry us through whatever we face. Read God’s Word. Read God’s prophecies and promises. Put your hope in God.

Isaiah 2:2

In days to come 

the mountain of the Lord’s house 

shall be established as the highest of the mountains 

and shall be raised above the hills; 

all the nations shall stream to it.

Such a Time as This

Have you ever wondered why you were born when you were? Do you wonder why you are experiencing the things you experience? Have you considered there is a plan for you? Have you thought you were put right where you are, at this specific time for a reason?

Timing can be everything. Missing being in a vehicle accident because you had to change your shirt can cause us to thank God. Arriving at the store just before it becomes extremely busy can make us feel lucky. Being at the right place at the right time is important.

Many of us don’t often think we are put in this specific time, place, or situation for a reason. We often think it is all random. Even though everyone has the blessing from God to make our own choices, God is still in control. He knows the choice everyone will make at any given time and puts people in situations to be of assistance.

Because God is in control and puts us in specific situations, he expects us to use our blessings, skills, and spiritual gifts to aid in resolving issues. The issue may be feeding the hungry, lifting someone up in need of it, befriending someone, listening to others, lending a helping hand, or merely being present. Do not underestimate any of these reasons, and there are many more.

So, the next time you are wondering why you are put in the middle of a specific situation, rather than complaining, ask God what he wants you to do. See it as an opportunity to be part of God’s bigger plan. Be open to being used by God and trust that he is in control. Know that God has put you there for just such a time as this.

I pray we all trust that God is in control. I pray we ask him to reveal his plan for us. I pray each one of us realize that God has put us right where he wants us to be for just such a time as this. Trust that God is in control. Ask him to reveal his plan. Know that God has put you where he wants you.


Esther 4:14b “Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.”

Act on Faith

How is your prayer life? What do you pray for? Do you pray for your family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances? Do you pray when people ask you to pray? Do you ask others to pray for you? How often do you pray? Are you praying that God’s will be done?

Prayer is our communication mechanism with God. From personal experience, many of our prayers are personal. We pray for things we want done. We pray for healing, relationships, jobs, and general well-being. We don’t always pray for God’s will to be done.

Though Jesus gave us one example of how we should pray in what we commonly call The Lord’s Prayer, His example of prayer just before going to the cross gives us an even more profound example of prayer. He prayed that God’s will be done. He was willing to give up His personal desires for God’s. He knelt down and submitted to the Father’s will.

When we are willing to kneel and submit to God’s will, we follow Jesus’s example in the best possible way. It isn’t easy. We must let go of our own desires, giving up our will to obey God’s will. It won’t be comfortable. It won’t be popular. We may be required to go where we don’t want to go. Yet, we can trust in God’s promises.

How do submit to God? We can only do so in faith. Our faith includes belief, trust, and action. We believe God has a plan for us. We trust he will fulfill his promises. We act on our belief and trust. Our action is to submit to God’s will, giving up our will and following his plan for our lives.

I pray we all follow Jesus’s example. I pray we choose to give up our will and submit to God’s will. I pray each one of us believe God has a plan for us, trust his promises, and act on our faith. Follow Jesus’s example. Submit to God’s will. Believe he has a plan for you. Trust God’s promises. Act on faith.

Luke 22:41-42 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done.”