November 7

Attitude of Gratitude – Day 7 by SGLY Ministry

I AM GRATEFUL FOR….CARE OF GOD
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7[NKJV]

An Attitude of Gratitude Thought and Prayer:
Dear God, I am so grateful that You care for me.
Each day, even if I have no one near who really cares about me, I can feel secure that You do care for me, and that I can cast all my cares upon You.

In the morning when I awake, You are there welcoming me to enjoy a new day with You.(Psalm 139:18)
In the evening you are there to listen as I reflect on my day.(Psalm 141:2)
In the night You are there to watch over me while I sleep.(Psalm 42:8)
Thank You God, for all the love and care that You have for me.(Ephesians 2:4)
And thank You Jesus, for the sacrifice You made so I could have this loving relationship with Father God.(John 3:16-17)

for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God–Jesus

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Make Prayer A Priority

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35 (NIV)

My day planner was bursting at the seams. Each small square on the calendar was crammed with conflicting responsibilities: children’s music lessons or play practice, church meetings, work deadlines. Even brief moments of social life required budgeting well in advance. I was so busy that I resented the time I had to spend sleeping. And in the midst of my overscheduled life, God continued to
call me to spend daily quiet time with Him.

How could I fit in one more thing? Didn’t He understand how important all my activities were? The work of the day insisted on its own urgency, so I often rushed through a token devotion and hurried prayer.

Reading through the Gospels, I discovered that Scripture mentions many times how Jesus went away to pray—sometimes early in the morning, sometimes overnight.

When life is overwhelming, setting aside time for prayer feels counterintuitive. Surely diving into the work of the day will bring more progress than stepping aside for prayer. Jesus understood the pressure of time. His brief years of ministry were limited, and there were so many people who needed truth, forgiveness, healing. His disciples needed to be taught. The Father’s plan needed to be carried out. Yet He made prayer a priority.

As busy as my life might be, I will never carry the weight of responsibility that Jesus did. He came to redeem the entire human race. Yet instead of frantic urgency, He consistently modeled a life of prayer, of retreat, of seeking a quiet place.

Martin Luther said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” That level of commitment, along with the consistent example of Jesus, inspires me to find my own solitary space and time each day to spend time in prayer.

Faith Step: If your day feels too full, take a risk and schedule some extra prayer first, trusting Jesus to provide what you need for all the other responsibilities.

—Sharon Hinck

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Today's Bible Verse: Psalm 56:8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? (ESV)

Keeping Track of Your Tears

Do you ever feel like God has forgotten you? Does it seem that he is far off and does not care about what you are going through? Not only does he know the number of hairs on your head, God has counted those times you've tossed and turned all night. He is intimately aware of your suffering and your tears. In verse 9, just before these words, David declares, "God is for me."

God has not forgotten you. He can account for your every move. He's even keeping track of your tears. God is for you!

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Worry

So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. (NLT) Matthew 6:34

At the very root of worry is fear. Fear of the unknowns or what if's can erode away the security we find in God. Don't let this fear overtake you and allow the worry to creep in your thoughts. Place your confidence in Jesus that He will provide and comfort you. Then pray.

Daily Bible Devotion

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Bible Verses

Isaiah 40:28-31 “Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

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Hebrews 13:6 – So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

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Ephesians 2:19-22 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

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Cast all your cares on Him; for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

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Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. — Psalm 41:1

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Psalm 85:8 8 I will listen to what God the LORD says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants— but let them not turn to folly.

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Prayers

Prayer for the Work of This Day

Almighty God, thank you for the work my hand may find this day. May I find gladness in all its toil and difficulty, its pleasure and success, and even in its failure and sorrow. I would look always away from myself, and behold the glory and the need of the world, that I may have the will and the strength to bring the gift of gladness to others; that with them I stand to bear the burden and heat of the day and offer you my work, as well as I may accomplish it, as praise. Amen.

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Lord, in utter humility I thank you and glorify you, that you might hear the prayer of one so small as myself, amidst the billions of souls among billions of stars in one of billions of galaxies in your universe. Let me go forth in your peace, keeping your Spirit always in my mind; and bless me, I pray, that I might always follow your will and live in the radiance of your blessing. Amen.

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Comfort

Father, in the darkness of night You are composing a new song for me that I might sing a hymn of praise. Many will see and fear and put their trust in You. By day You direct Your love, at night Your song is with me – a prayer to You, the God of my life. When my heart is breaking You take up the cadence and blend it with Your song of comfort. In the name of Jesus I thank You for loving me. Amen.

Psalm 40:3; Psalm 42:8

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Living in Wisdom

Ephesians 5:15-21

Dear Father,

Fill me with your heavenly wisdom, which involves alertness to problems and opportunities, avoidance of addictions, fullness of your Spirit, overflowing joy, and constant thanksgiving!

For your heavenly wisdom is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. And true wisdom begins with awesome reverence for you!

To you be all the glory, honor, and dominion. Forever and ever!

In the name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.

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Has the Lord ever abandoned anyone who held him in constant reverence? Has the Lord ever ignored anyone who prayed to him? The Lord is kind and merciful; he forgives our sins and keeps us safe in time of trouble. Ecclesiastes 2:10–11

Dear Father in heaven, Mighty God in heaven and on earth, quicken us by the Word you have sent and by all you have done for us in your mercy and steadfast love. Keep us eager and joyful even in difficult and troubled days. Grant us unfailing trust in you, to give us firm ground under our feet so that we can always thank and glorify you. For you, O Lord, are our God. You are our Father, and you will never forsake your children in all eternity. Amen.