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Written by Curt Thompson, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from his book “The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves.”

Shame is not just a consequence of something our first parents did in the Garden of Eden. It is the emotional weapon that evil uses to corrupt our relationships with God and each other, and disintegrate any and all gifts of vocational vision and creativity. These gifts include any area of endeavor that promotes goodness, beauty, and joy in and for the lives of others, whether that be teaching our first graders, loving our spouse well, managing forests, conducting healing prayer services, creating a new medical technology, offering psychotherapy, or composing symphonies. Shame is a primary means to prevent us from using the gifts we have been given. And those gifts enable us to flourish as a light-bearing community of Jesus followers who work to create space for others who wish to join it to do so. Shame, therefore, is not simply an unfortunate, random, emotional event that came with us out of the primordial evolutionary soup. It is both a source and result of evil’s active assault on God’s creation, and a way for evil to try to hold out until the new heaven and earth appear at the consummation of history..[There is an] alternative story of goodness and beauty that God is telling, the one God is imagining for us all, one in which he is doing “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.      

Prayer:

Written by Max Lucado, a contemporary pastor, author, and speaker. This is an excerpt from his book “Pocket Prayers.”

Father, you are so worthy of it all—my attention, praise, worship, and love. Your works are amazing, beyond anything I can even express. Help me be a light that shines toward you today. It is often hard for me to stand out from the world and be different. Give me the courage to make your goodness known and to never be ashamed. Please give peace to my friends who are standing up for you and as a result have found themselves friendless or with few who understand them. I thank you for your wonderful works and all that you have done and will do. In the glorious name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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Written by Debbie McDaniel, a contemporary writer.

All across our nation, Thanksgiving is a day that we set aside in order to do one thing. Be thankful. And usually what goes along with it, is lots of food, family and friends, laughter and fun, times of giving to others in need, maybe some football, or traditions that you’ve recognized through long years. And sometimes too, there is also loneliness. And struggle. Or deep loss. Feelings of hurt and painful circumstances that you’re still trying to hurdle over. Whatever you’re facing this Thanksgiving Day, in the midst of all of it, may we remember again that God gives us the opportunity each and every day, to give worship and thanks to Him. Every morning He gives us breath, is His invitation to come joyfully into His Presence. He reminds us that He alone is God and we belong to Him. He assures us that His plans in our lives are for good, that his love covers us securely, and His faithfulness extends from generation to generation. No matter what, He’s given us so many reasons to choose thankfulness and joy this day. Let’s do what the Psalmist of this great chapter says: Shout for joy. Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him with joyful songs. Know that He is God. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. Recognize His goodness, love, and faithfulness, through all the generations of our family.      

Prayer:

Written by Debbie McDaniel, the author of today’s meditation.

Dear God, Thank you for your goodness and for your blessings over our lives. Forgive us for when we don’t thank you enough, for who you are, for all that you do, for all that you’ve given. We’re so grateful for your amazing love and care, for your mercy and grace, for always working on our behalf, even behind the scenes when we’re unaware. Thank you that you are always with us and will never leave us, even through loss and the most difficult of times. Thank you for your incredible sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on you afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy, this Thanksgiving Day and every day. We give you thanks and praise, for You alone are worthy! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Written by Amanda Idleman, a contemporary writer.

If we all step back and make the choice to draw bigger lines for who our family can be and is, the whole world becomes a better place. God calls us his children. That means, as believers, we all are brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s easy to say that in passing, but so much harder to live it out in the day-to-day. Family is messy. It’s a lifelong commitment. You also don’t get to choose your family. I think these facts are also true when it comes to being the body of Christ. The church is a messy place; we have to stay committed to each other, and we don’t get to choose who joins the club. We love people just as they are…Embracing friends, co-workers, neighbors, and more as a part of your tribe is a way to share the love of God in a way that changes this world for the better. We are made to be together, but our world has become increasingly isolated and lonely. When we make a choice that a friend, a neighbor, a vulnerable family, or a coworker is worth loving in the same way Jesus loves us, we start to create bonds that build us up and keep us from getting dragged into the dark… Each person plays a vital role in working together with others who know Jesus around them. When we embrace our God-given purpose, we get to be Jesus to others here on earth. What an astounding thought that when I see my fellow worshipers raising their hands beside me at church, I am seeing part of Jesus at work in the world! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can bring light into the darkness. We can stop the powers of death on chaos by confidently being ourselves and choosing to love the people around us beyond what is considered reasonable.       

Prayer:

Written by Lysa Terkeurst, a contemporary American author.

Oh Lord, give me a mind and a heart like the Father’s heart. Let me be able to know what God thinks and feels towards His people so that I may be able to represent Him correctly. Give me a heart that wants to serve others. Let me be sensitive to the needs of those around me, that I may offer help where I can. Use me for your glory, Lord. Use me to build up your Church. Let the world see You in me, my God. Your word tells me that I am a member of the body of Christ. Amen.

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Written by Seth Scott, a contemporary professor of counseling.

To experience true freedom, we must train and practice through discipline, whether in spiritual matters or physical, because we are holistic, embodied beings. I am not free to do anything, I am only free to do those things for which I have the capacity gained through discipline, grace, or situation. For example, if my daughter is running in a marathon and I want to run with her, I am only free to enjoy this experience if I have disciplined my body and mind through practice and exercise. The more I train, the more expression of freedom I have to draw on the reserves of strength I developed. I only have as much freedom to experience and enjoy a relationship with my wife or children as the discipline I committed to spending time and energy devoted to building that relationship. The extent on my freedom in all things depends on the depth of my discipline toward growth in the expression of that freedom…Our calling to freedom is a calling to live as God created us and intended us to be. We were created to live in perfect relationship with God, one another, ourselves, and creation. Sin distorted our view of all these elements, turning our desires and perceptions inward. We are no longer free to run the race set before us because we carry the burden of our sin nature and the impediments of temptation block our path. … Freedom in Christ is the freedom to live as we were created to live, serving one another in love, through the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we can also experience God’s love expressed through His Spirit in Christian community.   

Prayer:

Written by Lindsey Borngren, a contemporary therapist and writer.

Dear God, I pray that with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in me, I can guard the minutes and hours you have given me. I pray for self-discipline. And I pray that you would do more with my minutes and hours than I, alone can. Amen.

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Written by Uli Chi, a contemporary businessman and writer.

Our relationship with God is neither straightforward nor without challenges. To begin with, we are confronted with the paradox that, despite God’s remarkable care for us, God is regularly experienced as hidden or absent. In Jesus’ wonderfully evocative language, God is “your Father who is in secret” (Matthew 6:6 NRSV). Further, his words suggest more than God’s hiddenness and absence. They point to at least two other surprising aspects of our relationship with God. First, God is present in the ordinary and the everyday, not just in the dramatic and spectacular. While Jesus’ life and ministry showed occasions of miraculous healing and demonstrations of power, much of his life did not. And particularly in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spotlights God’s presence and work in the ordinary and everyday… Second, “your Father who is in secret” suggests that God works from the inside out. Previously in the Sermon, Jesus underscored the importance of our interior life and how it relates to our outward behavior. He warned against anger that develops into murder and lust that leads to adultery. In other words, we need to pay attention to what’s going on inside of us, not just to our actions. In Jesus’ teachings, the human heart matters a great deal. And the “heart” involves more than just our feelings but includes all our interior capacity to consider and to choose… love is the ultimate measuring stick. 

Prayer:

Written by Uli Chi, the author of today’s meditation.

Father in heaven, we are grateful for your great love for us, for the work we’ve been given to do, and for the world in which we live. Enable both our inner lives and our outer actions to be rooted in that love. Help us to live coherent lives where our performance is an expression of who we really are. And shape who we are to be more like you. We ask in your name, Amen.

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Written by Mark D. Roberts, a contemporary author and speaker.

When we take in the wide expanse of biblical teaching on sabbath, it seems clear to me that God intends for us to rest regularly and intentionally. Our times of rest may well be private, though we also need to gather with other believers on a weekly basis for worship and fellowship. Moreover, though we rightly put aside our ordinary work in order to receive God’s gift of rest, we should follow Jesus in recognizing that certain kinds of work – healing, for example – are fully consistent with faithful sabbath keeping. The sabbath is God’s gift to humankind, a gift that enhances restoration, relationship, and reflection. I believe we need to receive this gift today as individuals, friends, families, and churches. 

Prayer:

Written by Rick Warren, a contemporary pastor, speaker, and author.

Dear Lord, help me to make every Sabbath about you. Quiet my heart, give rest to my soul, and refocus my spirit—for true renewal comes only from you. Holy Spirit please help me to be intentional with my time and worship, and encourage me to find rest in you alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.  

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Written by Meg Bucher, a contemporary author.

Hopelessness is an epidemic. So many of us wrestle with anxious thoughts, worries, fears, and depression as we walk through our everyday lives…God designed us to live in community, and to love and be loved by the people He has purposefully placed around us. If we seek His help to unravel doubts and worries, sadness and despair, we can step into the Light. The Creator of the Universe doesn’t want us to suffer needlessly. Though pain and trials are certainly a part of this world, His mercies are new each morning. He loves us, and seeks to bless us in the midst of the mess. He is our healer, able to shine light in the dark places of our lives. When we allow Jesus to shine His reality into our situation, we will find the Hope …in Him …we’ve been looking for all along. “Realize that you are forgiven, you no longer sit in darkness,” The Life Application Bible notes advise, “and you have been given the path to peace.” The Holy Spirit, for every believer in Jesus, is alive and active in our lives. The third person of the trinity, He illuminates the Word of God, translates the mumblings of our prayers to heaven, and shines light on the Lord’s will for our daily lives. 

Prayer:

Written by David Adam, a contemporary author and journalist.

Circle me, Lord.

Keep protection near

And danger afar.

Circle me, Lord

Keep hope within.

Keep doubt without.

Circle me, Lord.

Keep light near

And darkness afar.

Circle me, Lord.

Keep peace within.

Keep evil out.

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Written by Reba McEntire, a contemporary singer.  This is an excerpt from her book “Not That Fancy.”

The best way for me to be still in my spirit is to go out for a long walk. I love being outside and looking at God’s creation. Watching the clouds go by and listening to the birds sing always fills me with peace. I felt the same way when I was a girl riding through the hills on our ranch. There’s just something about being alone in nature that helps me listen in a way I can’t in the middle of the hustle and bustle of my usual life. One day back in 2014, when I was out walking, I said, “Okay, Lord. What do You want me to do?” and He said, “Pray for peace.” So I did. A few days later I was out walking again, and I asked again, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” and again He said, “Pray for peace.” “Well, I’ve been doing that.” “Sing it,” He said. So I started singing, “Pray for peace. Pray for peace.” A while after that, I asked God what He wanted me to do with that song, and He said, “Record it.” So we did. We recorded it and made a music video that included people from all over the world praying for peace. I was so moved to see the Lord at work in the lives of so many different people in so many different places. I don’t write a lot of songs, but when the Lord gives you such clear direction, you listen.  When I’m going through something tough, most of the time God just wants me to be still and listen to the instructions He’s giving. It’s about His time, not my time. His will, His way. Not mine. … I hope these words will help you to be still and listen for Him. And I hope you’ll find in Him what I always have — love, strength, peace, and wisdom.

Prayer:

Written by Rebecca Barlow Jordan, a contemporary author.

I need you and love you, Lord. And I ask you to speak through your Word and in these quiet moments together. Whisper or shout into my spirit, whichever you want, and whatever I need the most. But most of all, just receive my praise as I focus my thoughts only on you. I’m listening and anticipating as I read and meditate on your beautiful Word. Amen.

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Written by Charles Stanley (1932 -2023), a pastor, author, and speaker.  This is an excerpt from his book “Trusting God With Today.”

Mystery often surrounds the person of the Holy Spirit — our understanding is often muddled about who He is and what He does. However, it is not possible to make progress in the Christian life apart from His presence. This is because the Holy Spirit is God’s personal representative here on earth, and His role is to be our Helper and Comforter. In Greek, this word is parakletos, and it suggests that He gives us aid much like a legal counselor or advocate would. He comes alongside us, giving us strength and encouraging support. However, if we do not recognize His presence, authority, and power, we can mistakenly believe and act like we are in this life alone. Jesus knows how important His presence is with us. Therefore, the Lord in His great compassion and wisdom sent His Holy Spirit to teach, guide, and help us. He instructs us in the truth and is our personal advocate before the throne of God. This is our peace and strength regardless of the circumstances — whatever we face, Christ faces it with us personally through the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

Written by Charles Stanley, author of today’s meditation.

Jesus, thank You for the enduring presence, wisdom, comfort, and power of Your indwelling Holy Spirit with me. Amen.

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Written by Dennis Hollinger, a contemporary professor and ethicist.

Likely one of our first responses to terrorist acts is anger. Whenever we are attacked physically or psychologically, resentment and belligerence arise within us. Anger is a good gift, for it enables us to deal emotionally with violations, injustices, and evil that threaten our life and integrity. But anger is also fallen, and so it easily turns to unbridled anger that comes to control us. In its fallen state unbridled anger tends to build a history that won’t let go and thus perpetuates disgust, disrespect, and eventually violence, as the blood boils within us. As Horace, the Roman poet, put it, “Anger is a short madness” It’s because of the brutal impact of anger upon both the victim and the offender that the Bible has wise direction, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Eph. 4:26). Our natural unbridled anger needs to be transformed into righteous indignation, a holy wrath with strong feelings directed toward the evil, sin, and injustice perpetrated. Righteous indignation moves us beyond the uncontrollable outrage directed against individuals to a more principled anger focusing on the evil done. Such redeemed anger is perhaps akin to God’s own holy wrath. Such anger arises from God’s holiness, for sin and evil are direct contradictions to God’s own nature and actions. If we are not angered by terrorist events. we likely have little sense of either goodness or evil. But if we live in unbridled anger, we may succumb to the very evil that outrages us in the first place. Thus, righteous indignation, not unbridled anger.

Prayer:

Written by Kim Snodgrass, a contemporary writer.

Beloved God, cultivate in my heart a genuine love of others; a righteous anger towards those things that separate me from you and others. Allow the love of others to be my driving force so that with your help I may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you. Amen.

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