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DAY 121M O N DAYBe still, and knowthat I am God.PSALM 46:10 (ESV)THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLDI’d failed again. With something big thistime. Something that might have hurtsomeone I love. The realization cut to myheart and stirred up doubts about otherareas of my life. No wonder I couldn’tsucceed at my career, relationships, oreven my to-do list.I tried to cope by flitting from one lowstakes task to another, hoping to boost myconfidence so the taste of failure woulddisappear.The Scripture printed on a wall hangingin my house confronted me. Be still.Stillness couldn’t lift my burden, could it?I stopped moving anyway. Took a breath.And gave more thought to the rest ofthe verse.What does it mean to know God isGod? The answer came to me on wingsof peace. God is God; I am not. I’m goingto fail sometimes, but ultimately nothingdepends on me being perfect, becauseI’m not God. I need to stop trying to carrythe weight of the world on my shoulders.That whole world I’m attempting to carryis already held safely in His hands.JERUSHA AGEN
T U E S DAYDAY 12 2Do not be afraid; do notbe discouraged, for theLord your God will be withyou wherever you go.JOSHUA 1:9 (NIV)HE IS WITH ME WHEREVER I GOI’m not much of a traveler. Until I wasmarried, I can barely recall any excursionsoutside of my great state of Minnesota,aside from occasional trips to NorthDakota and Wisconsin.While distance was not a factor, I knewthat no matter where I went, God was withme. He was there when I walked six blocksto school as a little girl and when I rodemy bike all around our neighborhood. Hewas with me when I got my driver’s licenseas a teenager. He was with me when, asa new bride, I crossed the river from St.Paul to live in Minneapolis. He was with myhusband and me when we flew to Belgiumfor the trip of our lifetime.No matter how short or long thedistance from home, I have never had tobe afraid that I was venturing out alone. MyGod has always gone before me and hasalways been with me wherever I went.LIZ KIMMEL
DAY 12 3W E D N E S DAYHe answered, “I tell you,if these were silent, the verystones would cry out.”LUKE 19:40 (ESV)THE PRAISE OF STONESI’ve heard stones singing praise. No, notliterally. But when I hike along the northshore of Lake Superior, the waves stir theshore into a gentle clatter. The smoothrocks glisten in deep shades of jade, rust,and dove gray, reflecting the beauty ofthe Creator. Wildflowers bow their headsin worship. Pines whisper of His strengthand sheltering arms. Sunrise paints a storyof rebirth across the sky. The beauty andvariety all cry out that our God is creativeand powerful and loving.Since mountains and oceans, trees andstones, stars and galaxies all glorify theCreator, I want to join the chorus, just asthe onlookers did when Jesus rode intoJerusalem. They proclaimed, “Blessed isthe King who comes in the name of theLord.” (Luke 19:38 NASB) That is a refrainwe can join every day, uniting with all ofcreation in declaring the awesome gloryand tender mercy of our King of kings.SHARON HINCK
T H U R S DAYDAY 12 4He is close to all whocall on him sincerely.PSALM 145:18 (TLB)IN JESUS’S POCKETRecently, a friend and I walked theneighborhood, commenting on thebeautiful lilies and lilacs we passed. Buther expression turned somber as sheremembered the tragic loss of her son ina car crash only months before. Sheadded, “Why does God make us suffer?”I stopped to give her a hug and saidI didn’t know. The best I could do was topick a dandelion to stick in her pocket.I don’t doubt God’s love and mercy towardme, but I wanted to know too. Why do wesuffer here on earth?Whenever something bad happens,I feel angry and I briefly wonder if God ismad at me. But then, I sense how closeHe is. An all-over warmth tells me that Heis near. God’s love is a fragrance, sweeterthan the flowers in my neighborhood. Istill don’t know why we suffer, but I doknow that when I am hurting, Jesus comesnear—as if He’s got me safe in His pocket.LINDA S. CLARE
DAY 12 5F R I DAYThey devoted themselves tothe apostles’ teaching and tofellowship, to the breakingof bread and to prayer.ACTS 2:42 (NIV)NOT WHAT WE EXPECTEDI felt sure I knew what my husbandand I were looking for in a new church.Something traditional. An organ insteadof a worship band. Familiar, old hymns.A place to worship, where we could alsomeet friends our age. We visited churchafter church. Some even met thosequalifications. But nothing felt right.Then one day, we learned about a newlyformed home church. Out of options, wewent. The church was definitely outsidethe box. Not an organ in sight—instead,worship music played on the television.The service was casual, conversational—not at all traditional. And the dozen or socongregants? Everyone seemed at leasttwenty years our junior. It was as if Godwas saying, Don’t get too comfortable.Don’t get too set in your ways. We startedworshiping there and considered theyounger points of view (and shared our“experienced” ones). We learned newsongs. We met new friends. I was lookingfor a traditional church, and foundsomething totally opposite. And it feelsright.PEGGY FREZON
S AT U R DAYDAY 126But Lord, be merciful to us, for we have waitedfor you. Be our strong arm each day and oursalvation in times of trouble.ISAIAH 33:2 (NLT)A TIME TO THINKMany are so preoccupied with work that theyallow little time for prayer.WATCHMAN NEE, CHURCH LEADER AND TEACHERA TIME TO ACTPray and release your worries.A TIME TO PRAYFather, may my prayers for others be as constantand natural as breathing.
DAY 127S U N DAYGod is my strength and power: and he makethmy way perfect.2 SAMUEL 22:33 (KJV)A TIME TO THINKI would rather walk with God in the dark than goalone in the light.MARY GARDINER BRAINARD, POETA TIME TO ACTFill your mind with Christ.A TIME TO PRAYLord, hold on to me as I go forward with faith in You.
of peace. God is God; I am not. I’m going to fail sometimes, but ultimately nothing depends on me being perfect, because I’m not God. I need to stop trying to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. That whole world I’m attempting to carry is already held safely in His hands. JERUSHA AGEN Be sti
