Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God. - Matthew 5:9
Dear Jesus,
You tell me that the happy life is one where I take the peace you have made with me and use it to make peace with others. It's happy because peace is happiness. But it's also happy because I know I'm pleasing your heavenly Father with the wisdom and strength you provide. Help me to create peace by unconditionally apologizing for my sin toward others and by unconditionally forgiving those who have sinned against me. It's fun to watch your gospel work down where the rubber meets the road. Help me do the hard thing and really get things squared away between myself and others.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
Pursue peace with people more than cooperation with your wants and needs and you'll experience life in a whole new depth.
Additional Reading: Romans 12, Hebrews 12
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God. - Matthew 5:8
Dear Jesus,
For your whole earthly life you saw what your Father was doing because you had the purest of heart. I have come to realize that I most often don't see your Father, because my heart is impure. When I am purified by revealing truth and cleansing grace, then I see in every circumstance that he is working or my redemption and restoration. Everything in my life is to either save me or make me a blessing, or both at the same time. I can't wait to actually see you and the Father in heaven when my blinding sin is gone, but until then, your word helps me see you at work in my life. Help me to be less bitter and more gracious to others since you have purified me for that very thing.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
Clean people are fun to be around and spread their purity to others.
Additional Reading: Psalm 24, Psalm 73, 1 John 3:1-3
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Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy. - Matthew 5:7
Dear Jesus,
Your whole life was about mercy. You came to be merciful to those who deserved justice's wrath. You came to lift shame and guilt from our shoulders. You came to die so we might live. You came to show mercy to the worst and the best. How painful it must be when you see us mere sinners act as judge, jury and jail for fellow failures. You want us to show mercy like you. Fill me with your mercy so I am compassionate to those who hurt me or those I love. Make an instrument of your restoration instead of the critic. Help me overcome evil with your goodness. It will take a miracle from your grace. And I believe in you and your miracles.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
Vengeance makes the hurt never end. Mercy is the only path to peace's door.
Additional Reading: Matthew 9
Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. - Matthew 5:6
Dear Jesus,
I easily know every day that I am hungry and thirsty. It makes me look for food and water. To date, I have always had enough. After all, here I am with so much that I have to curtail myself. Be that as it may, I do not always recognize my great need for the righteousness you promise to give. I forget that the gnawing discontent in my soul springs from my sinful nature and the guilt it warrants every day. Today, I'm acknowledging it. I'm hungry to be made right with you, myself and others. I need to be at peace about myself. I cannot produce this peace on my own. I have to receive it from you. Many years ago, I learned about the peace that comes from grace that flows from your cross. I've even taught it to others. But even so, I often resort to denial, blame and repression to deal with the hunger I have for grace. Today, I won't do that. I'm sitting here before you the way my cat waits for me to pour food in his bowl. Please Jesus, fill me with the righteousness that comes from forgiveness and grace. Thank you that you do!
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
You cannot manufacture grace. By its very nature it has to be given.
Additional Reading: Romans 3 and 4
Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. - Matthew 5:5
Dear Jesus,
It's so easy to think everything depends on me. I repent of that large trust I have in myself. I am an ant on your hill. Help me to trust you in every endeavor and at every turn, so I learn to be gentle and unassuming instead of forceful and manipulative to get what I want or think is rightfully mine. Help me to trust you will give me many blessings and more than I could ever imagine. That way, I will quit thinking I need to make everything happen for me. You gave your life so I could live forever. Help me have faith that yields meekness in my heart and life.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
Additional Reading: Psalm 127, Romans 12, Philippians 4
Matthew 4:23-25
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. - Matthew 4:23-25
Dear Jesus,
Your miraculous acts of mercy, your adamant preaching of salvation and your tireless training of people, give me my marching orders for life. I will dedicate myself to relieving suffering, leading people to Christ and helping people grow spiritually. Then I will know that my life was invested for the greatest benefit of others. Help all Christians everywhere to focus on these better things. Your people are each only here for a brief time. Help us to number our days and use them wisely for eternity.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
To help people physically and spiritually, what more meaningful life could there be?
Additional Reading: Daniel 12
Matthew 4:18-22
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. - Matthew 4:18-22
Dear Jesus,
I have always been amazed by this short story of how your first disciples dropped everything to follow you. It actually scared me because I wondered if you would ever walk by and ask me to leave my family for you. I realize after reading John 2 and Luke 5 that these men had been around you before. They had heard you preach and they saw you change water into into wine. In fact on this day, you gave them a miraculous catch of fish. But even so, the fact that they left their everyday pattern for a life of discipleship instead of just fishing and gathering, is astounding. I want to live for the greater cause of your kingdom too. I am following you in a life of service too. Help me to prioritize being your disciple in every conversation, every relationship, every venture, every conflict and every moment. When I look back over my life, I want to see a landscape of people touched by you through my life.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
We aren't just existing. We are on a mission. Remember that in the smallest moments today.
Additional Reading: Psalm 90, 1 Peter 4
Matthew 4:3-4
The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
Matthew 4:3-4
Dear Jesus,
I have fallen prey to the devil’s temptations many times when I was under stress. I’m already weak and vulnerable and then when you add exhaustion, hunger and thirst, I am no match for Satan. I’m so happy you stepped in and replaced my failure with your victory. You were more hungry than I have ever been and yet you refused to take control without our Father’s approval. You won the fight I lost and them gave me the trophy. Thank you for taking the pressure for me. I love you and will defend your name
as long as I live.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
Jesus did what we had not so we could live where we have not.
Additional Reading: Hebrews 2-4
Matthew 3:7-10
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. - Matthew 3:7-10
Dear Heavenly Father,
You sent John the Baptist to confront the self indulgent and self righteous and to comfort the self condemning. I have all three spiritual maladies running through my spiritual veins. I feel his brave work penetrating my soul when I read his ancient words. I cannot claim heritage, works or intellectual prowess when I think about appearing before your throne. I depend entirely on your grace. Thank you for preparing me for your Son who did it all for me. I do not fear the fires of hell as long as Jesus has a tight squeeze on my hand. Help me to produce fruit that reflects appreciation for grace today.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
God threatens hell so we will run as fast as we can to heaven.
Additional Reading: 2 Corinthians 4 and 5
Matthew 2:13
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” - Matthew 2:13
Dear Jesus,
You were conceived under suspicion, born in a hovel hotel and then your family had to run for your lives. How could I ever think that you don't understand my trials. You experienced everything we do and then some. Give me your wisdom and peace so when I go through similar struggles I can keep my life in perspective and learn to adjust my attitude to fit the situation. Help me to remember that every event, no matter how random and negative it might seem, is still part of your wonderful plan for me. Give me the faith to trust the plans you are executing even though you won't show them to me until they unfold. A thousand thanks are in order for your willingness to enter this world ruined by sin so you could redeem sinners like me.
Amen.
Pastor Don Patterson
Jesus lived the same vulnerable life that we must live. He understands us when we chaff under it too.
Additional Reading: 2 Corinthians 8
Proverbs 25:21-22
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you. - Proverbs 25:21-22
Dear Lord,
My natural inclination is to get even or to reject people that rub me the wrong way. I am challenged by your word here to love them boldly. I understand that if I was an ancient person it would be like giving my evil neighbor a full jar of coals for his fire if he came by and asked for them to warm his house and cook his food. It would be a testimony to your unconditional love living in my heart. I do want people to meet you. Help them to meet you in me. I trust you will bless me as I love love others hugely in your name.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
Strive to say with Jesus, "If you have seen me you have seen the Father."
Additional Reading: 1 Corinthians 13, Ephesians 4
Proverbs 23:4-5
Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness.
5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle. - Proverbs 23:4-5
Dear Heavenly Father,
When I read your proverbs I sense that you are guiding me in the middle road between two disastrous ditches. The one ditch is laziness and the other is selfish ambition. Here you are helping me with the latter. It's so easy to get out of balance. Sometimes I can make seizing opportunities the only thing. That's when I start to work too many hours and tend to neglect relationships. It's not long before I'm tired, cranky and feeling isolated. I love how you demote the accumulation of wealth to its proper place in my heart. I love your word, Lord. That line, "Don't wear yourself out to get rich." says it all. My health and relationships are more valuable than wealth. Oh God, help me to live a balanced life as you have so graciously taught me. I want to be industrious but balanced. Your wisdom for your finite creatures is worth more than all the gold in the world.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
Don't let time, your most valuable possession, be wasted will you try too hard to accumulate more stuff.
Additional Reading: Matthew 6:24-34
Proverbs 18:3
Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions. - Proverbs 18:3
Dear Heavenly Father,
Give me the desire to gain understanding that is so strong that I don't even form an opinion about matters until I've heard every possible angle. I want to be done with quick judgments and strong early opinions. I want to let you teach me through your word and through the people around me. I want to fully understand what is going on in the lives of the people I love. Open my ears and my heart to compassionately listen and respond. Shut my mouth until I am totally sure that what I am going to say will bless people and not hurt them.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
It takes great strength and love to listen to another with an open heart.
Additional Reading: James 1
Proverbs 13:8
A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes. -Proverbs 13:8
Dear Heavenly Father,
Even in this ancient text you remind people that you give everyone an opportunity to make profit from their efforts and to save money. Keep me from being self righteously poor in my own perspective of myself. Give me the wisdom to find the balance between saving and sharing. Help me to keep away from wasteful spending that prevents me from being positioned to help myself and others later. Make me money wise in a faith based way. All I have comes from you. Don’t let me waste any of it.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
Managing possessions is a privilege and responsibility.
Additional Reading: Malachi 3, Luke 6:38, Luke 12
Proverbs 12:10
The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. Proverbs 12:10
Dear heavenly father,
Help me show faith toward you by taking good care of my pets and animals. Also, give me love for the wildlife that you have placed around me. All these creatures express your divine attributes and they are my friends. I want you to see that I appreciate you by the way I treat them. I also want the animals themselves to see what you are like by interacting with me. Help me be a good example to them all.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
We show our attitude toward the Creator by the way we treat his creation.
Additional Reading: Genesis 1 and 2
Proverbs 11:24-26
One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
26 People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell. - Proverbs 11:24-26
Dear Heavenly Father,
You and people recognize the supreme value of a generous person. When I share, everyone is blessed including you and me. Rescue me from stingy attitudes that make me fearful that you aren't watching to see my faith driven sharing. Pry my selfish fingers from money and things as if they give me life. Help me find joy in putting them to work for others and not just myself. Make me a happy go lucky servant of others in the way I freely let them share in my borrowed wealth from you. Make me like your Son who freely shared the greatest treasure with me at the greatest price.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
Generosity is easy to see from a distance because it reaches way beyond ourselves.
Additional Reading: 2 Corinthians 8 and 9
Proverbs 10:4-5
Lazy hands make for poverty,
but diligent hands bring wealth.
5 He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. - Proverbs 10:4-5
Dear Lord,
I want to be a hard working, productive saint. Help me to have two virtues: 1) a desire to accomplish tasks with the limited but useful talents you have given me and 2) a discerning heart to know what tasks are more worthy of my attention because they produce more results. I want to work hard and smart so together the hard work and smart choices pay dividends for my family and many other people. Drive laziness from my heart so I fill the day you have gifted me with accomplishments that I can build on tomorrow.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
Bees are among the most productive animals on the planet for their small size. Not a day goes by that they are not making honey for themselves and others.
Additional Reading: Psalm 90:15-17, Ecclesiastes 9:10
2 Corinthians 1:10b-11
On God we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. - 2 Corinthians 1:10b-11
Dear Jesus,
It blows my mind that you would say that any of us help anyone else through our prayers to you. I don't understand how or why you would wait for our prayers to help anyone. But to some extent you do, because your word says it right here in bold print. I accept this mystery just as I do the mystery of the Trinity itself. I will pray for my family and friends specifically and boldy expecting you to act more on their behalf because of my prayers. Thank you for giving me such an awestruck role in your divine activities. Prompt me by your Holy Spirit to pray well and often for your people so all of them are helped by my cooperation with you. Thank you that you also promise to pray to yourself for me by prompting your Holy Spirit to utter prayers I cannot.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
Talking to God for others is love and faith in motion.
Additional Reading: Romans 8:26-39
1 Corinthians 15:1, 57
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ... Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:1, 57
Dear Jesus,
This is the foundation of everything called Christian. You came and you saved us. Outside of this one truth all spiritual pursuits are foolishly short sighted and depressing because none can give us any hope of living beyond our short earthly vacation. Thank you for coming to rescue us. I put my hopes on you. You will take me to heaven. This is the truth upon which I will build and travel upon throughout my life. It‘s my spiritual concrete. It’s the foundation of all I believe.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
The gospel is the concrete foundation of all spiritual building and travel. Don’t take it for granted.
Additional Reading: 1 Corinthians 15
Psalm 150:6
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord. - Psalm 150:6
Dear Heavenly Father,
How easily I seek praise and how infrequently I think to give you praise. As the author of life, the benevolent giver of salvation and the great protector or all things, especially me, you deserve praise from every creature great and small. You are the most awesome reality who sits above everything you have made. In you we live and move and have our being. Help me to live as a small creature in your sight today, made valuable by your individual love for me.
Amen
Pastor Don Patterson
Next time you are slighted and feel hurt, think of God who lives with the same mistakes from all creatures every day.
Additional Reading: Psalm 103, Psalm 145