What do you need God’s help with today?

Where have you already seen God at work this week?

Is there something you need to thank Him for? . . . What?

Wisdom is the ability to use your knowledge and experience to make good decisions and judgements.

Acceptance is the willingness to allow, or agree to, something that involves a challenging situation or circumstance.

Wisdom and acceptance work hand in hand when, with God’s understanding and help, you wisely realize and accept how to appropriately deal with a difficult circumstance.

The other aspect of the two working together comes from realizing and believing in God and the living, breathing relationship you experience with Him.

“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.”
~ James 3:17

Sometimes you don’t “get over” the stresses and hurts . . . you have to just “get through them” with God’s help, the supportive hand of Christ, and the whispers of encouragement from the Holy Spirit.

But today is a new day . . . reevaluate, revise, rearrange, recheck, reimagine . . . every day can be a new start, a new beginning! Start fresh today!

Time and again God does great things for you and me . . . for every one of His children . . . yet in the midst of a “battle” we often forget to see His hand in creation around us.

Be thankful . . . think things through, pray about them, listen and hear God’s guidance, have trust, faith, and hope in Him, and accept that God is for you.

Talk with God . . .

PAUSE . . . ask God to open your eyes and ears to the glory around you . . . to help you grasp what He offers in the goodness and decency of creation, so that you can focus your heart beyond the crazy world and rest in Him.

Are you ready to face the day with a renewed heart and a refreshed mind?

Are you ready to talk with God, have a conversation beyond a list of your wants?

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously
to all without reproach, and it will be given him." ~ James 1:5

Rethink & Consider . . .

Sometimes finding peace, realizing how to get to that space even for a moment, can be daunting. Look around you . . . you will see others who have made it through tough times with God as their foundation, who are at peace no matter what life has thrown at them . . . take that as an affirmation that peace is possible. Know God loves you, He cares about you, and is the everlasting God that has been there for His children, is here now, and will be there in the future!

“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.
For as members of one body, you are called to live in peace.
And always be thankful.” ~ Colossians 3:15

Know that peace and serenity come from within. It is okay to not “know” the answers to every little thing, and some of the big things too. There are times when a new day is just that—a clean slate to start fresh, try a new approach, or just move forward. You have the wisdom to realize that, and if you let it, your heart and mind can accept that.

Imagine . . .

Imagine standing in a park and looking to the side to see a Bible leaning against a tree, pages blowing in the wind. What is the story of why it is there? Is it lost, forgotten, forlorn? Was it left because someone found the answer they needed right then and were in a hurry to respond to The Word? Was it “placed there” by God because He knows you need to open it today, to read His Written Word, and talk with Him?

Whatever the reason the Bible is resting there, it is ready to be opened, read, and used again and again.

When is the last time you opened your Bible and actually read with intention, soaked up the words and message?

Where is your Bible? Do you even have a Bible? Do you need a new Bible to start a new day, a new chapter in your life?

“Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, 
and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other,
‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us
on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” ~ Luke 24:31-32

Reflect & Pray . . .

Think about this . . . it is said that serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm. Every life is filled with a variety of “storms” . . . with squalls, showers, thunder and lightning, a blizzard or tornado or hurricane once in a while, and even too much sunshine sometimes. Peace comes in how you handle the storms, the wisdom to know you can’t do it all on your own, and accepting help—from God and from others.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” ~ Psalm 46:10a

Prayerfully ask God . . . to help you revisit the first lines of the serenity prayer and to show you the path to follow to live it out . . . where to accept, where to change, and that you do have the wisdom to “know the difference.”

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
the courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Look Ahead/In the Moment/Today/Tomorrow . . .

Try to understand where the peaks and valleys are in your life, and trust and know that God is there every step of the journey.

Albert Einstein wrote, “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”

Sometimes that understanding is just knowing you will never understand, but that doesn’t stop life or stop you from living.

Hold onto this image . . .
As you move into the next moment, the next day, and beyond . . .  When you need a reminder that everything is in God’s time, think of a string of lights . . . a single color, multi-colored, bright white, warm amber . . . whatever color, shape, or type is your favorite. Start with the closest light on the string, move to the next, then the next. You can’t see what is at the end, but you know it is there and you know what to expect.

Following Christ is like following that string of lights . . . take it a step at a time, you can see the light in the distance, you don’t know how the journey will end, but you trust He is there, and through faith, you know what to expect.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.’ ” ~ John 8:12

People change, seasons will change—your perspective can change too—if you let it.

Never give up . . . never cease praying . . . just accept that a response may not be today, or even tomorrow . . . but don’t stop hoping, caring, loving, trusting, listening, and praying.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.” ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

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A Focus for Walking the Labyrinth . . .

Remember again . . .

You are on holy ground. Simply let God know that you would like to be closer to Him. Keep paying attention. Have an open mind and open heart. Give thanks for whatever comes.

Come talk with God often, walk with Christ, and listen for the Holy Spirit’s whispers in your heart.

Lord, I come, I confess . . . Bowing here, I find my rest
Without You, I fall apart . . . You're the one that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You . . . Every hour, I need You
My one defense, my righteousness . . . Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more . . .
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free . . . Holiness is Christ in me

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You . . . Every hour, I need You
My one defense, my righteousness . . . Oh God, how I need You
                                                                (Matt Maher, “Lord, I Need You”)

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything
we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds
as you live in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:7

BELIEVE IN GOD ~ FOLLOW CHRIST ~ LISTEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT