The Draw of the Morning

Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You. – (Psalm 143:8, NLT)

Show me Your faithful love this morning. I trust in You. Show me what I should do. I put my life in Your hands! – (Psalm 143:8, ERV)

 

Part of the draw of the early morning is the silent stillness. It is in this quiet space, that I most clearly am aware of His love and direction, as I am intentional to quiet myself before Him, and listen for His leading. The masks that we sometimes wear, have not yet made way, and we are at our most real as we rise. If we can give ourselves to the Lord at the start of the day, we are more apt to be aware of what He is asking as the day unfolds. May we trust in the Lord and His faithful love, and place our lives in His hands. Let His goodness and grace lead us in the ways we are meant to go.

O Lord, as I rise,

Let me be aware;

Of Your tender love,

Your mercy and care.

For I trust in You,

Please show me the way;

To walk where You ask,

To in Your will, stay.

I place my whole life,

In Your very hands;

Lead me and guide me,

To walk out Your plan.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You speak to our hearts of Your unfailing love each new day, and You show us where to walk. Thank You that we can trust our lives in Your hands. Forgive us for our lack of faith, or for not taking the time to slow down and listen to Your leading. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would give ourselves to You completely, and trust You to lead us in all things and at all times. Show us how to love others with the unfailing love that You give so generously to us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we listen for Your unfailing love each morning as we rise, and we trust in You completely to lead us the ways in which we are meant to go. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalm 23:6

 

To Be Light and Life

You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. – (Matthew 5:14-16, NLT)

 

When we are in Christ, we are called to be light and life. If the light of Christ lives in us, it cannot be hidden. Rather, it is meant to shine forth in every area of our lives, so that all may see and know that it is Christ in us that brings any good forth from us. The challenging part is that we are flawed and sinful beings. We fall short, EVERY SINGLE TIME. So often we do the very things we don’t want to do, or don’t do what we know we ought to do. In our own accord, nothing we do will ever measure up. However, Christ in us, can accomplish far more than we could ever hope or imagine, when we are firmly rooted and established in Him. He takes our broken bits and somehow turns them into something beautiful that can reflect His goodness in our own story, and can be used again and again, for His glory. May we receive and embrace the grace that God gives when we trust in Him, and go forth to shine His light for all to see through how we choose to follow Him.

 

The light of the world,

We are called to be;

So our deeds through Christ,

Are what people see.

May it be made clear,

That all good that’s shown;

Is because of Christ,

And His love made known.

Do not choose to hide,

The glory of grace;

But go forth and love,

So all seek His face.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are light and life and hope for all who seek You. Thank You that Your light lives in us when we choose to trust in You. Forgive us for hiding who You are in us, or for not following the leading that You call us into. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would walk in obedience and allow Your light to shine brightly, wherever we may go. Show us how to love others in such a way, that our good deeds direct hearts to You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek to live as Your light in all that we say and do. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You? – Psalm 71:19

Hand-Crafted for Good

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)

 

As I am preparing to go to high school camp as the girls’ cabin leader next week, this verse is a great reminder for my heart. I want to do and be all that God desires, yet in Him, I already am. My job is to show up and be available. He prepared the way, long before I even knew that I would be going. Some of the details that have come to light this week have been mind-blowing. The way that God has orchestrated the pairing of the person whom I will co-lead with is unbelievable. She and I have walked parallel roads, and share stories that are so similar, it is almost eerie. Just knowing that, I cannot even begin to fathom the other details that He has prepared for the benefit of the campers and fellow leaders. It is going to be a phenomenal week. When we are mindful of who we are in Him, and allow Him to be God and we choose to show up and walk where He leads – the possibilities are endless. May we choose to embrace the grace of being His handiwork, and move forward in faith where He calls.

 

Hand-crafted, we’re His,

Created in Christ;

Made to do good works,

Our Father’s delight.

Prepared in advance,

The Lord makes a way;

For us to follow,

So we can obey.

It is from this space,

Of obedience;

That lives can be changed,

And hope can advance.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we are Your workmanship, created in You to do good works that You prepared in advance for us to do. Thank You that You equip us and walk beside us in the process. Forgive us for thinking that we have to do anything in our own strength or of our own accord. Teach us to trust You more. Show us how to do the things You have prepared in advance for us to do. Lead us to love others in the same way that You love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we do that which You have prepared for us to do. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You? – Psalm 71:19

Freedom from Fear

I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears. – (Psalm 34:4, NLT)

 

Typically, I don’t think that people who know me would consider me to be fearful. In fact, often my sense of adventure leads people to believe that fear is seldom on my radar. Unfortunately, fear has a way of creeping into unexpected cracks, and wreaking havoc where we least expect it. Strength, courage and boldness come more easily in areas that the Lord has shown His faithfulness before. However, there are spaces where prior experience sends up all sorts of red flags, and fear fights to prevent forward momentum where we are called to move. This, this is the place where persistence in prayer is the only way past our past. As we pray, He is faithful to meet us, take us by the hand, and lead us forward into the freedom that He intended for us all along. When we find ourselves face-to-face with fear, may we pray to the Lord for His help; for He is faithful to meet us in our need and lead us to the freedom He designed for us for all our days.

 

No one is fearless,

For fear finds a way;

To rise and threaten,

Where peace ought to reign.

We’re not to be stuck,

Nor crippled by fear;

For God will answer,

Each prayer, He hears.

He grants us courage,

To face the unknown;

Provides new freedom,

Where our faith is grown.

Rise up warriors,

Pray, for He is near;

The Lord will answer,

And free us from fear.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can pray to You, and You answer us. Thank You that You are the One who will take us by the hand and walk us through the places that we are held captive by fear. Forgive us for not calling on You for help and staying stuck in the spaces where fear holds us prisoner. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would bring each fear before You as it is identified, and trust You to lead us forward, despite what we see or have experienced in the past. Show us how to walk beside people in the strength of Your love, so that they too may find freedom from the fears that keep them captive. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we give our fears to You, and trust You to set us free. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Listen… be wise, and keep your heart on the right path. – Proverbs 23:19

 

Strength and Courage are Fueled by Hope

So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! – (Psalm 31:24, NLT)

Be strong and brave, all you who are waiting for the Lord’s help. – (Psalm 31:24, ERV)

Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up. Expect God to get here soon. – (Psalm 31:24, MSG)

 

To hope in the Lord is to wait in expectation – trusting that God will do what He says He will do. If we trust Him to be faithful, we find courage and strength as we wait. Though so often we cannot even begin to see how a promise might be fulfilled, we have the blessed assurance that God is in charge and we are not. He is faithful to complete what He begins, so we need not fear in the face of what we cannot see. May we be of good courage and take heart, for the Lord, our God, is our help and our hope. Let those who hope in the Lord find strength and courage in Him.

 

Wherever we go, 

Whatever we do;

May we offer praise,

Directly to You.

For all of our strength,

Both inside and out;

Come from You, dear Lord,

Remover of doubt.

Help us to be strong,

And courageous too;

As we choose to wait,

And hope in just You.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can be strong and of good courage because we have hope in You. Thank You that You are faithful to help us as we seek You. Forgive us for our lack of faith, that gives way to fear and doubt. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would wait in hopeful expectation as we pursue the things of You. Show us how to love others in such a way, that they too, may come to know the hope that is found in You alone. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we are brave and strong as we wait in hope for Your word to be fulfilled in our lives. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

I thank and praise You, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power. – Daniel 2:23

Commit All Things

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you. – (Psalm 37:5, NLT)

 

When we take the hopes and dreams that have been planted in our hearts and set aside our agenda and expectations, it is remarkable to see what God will do when we trust and give it all to Him. His help most often comes from unexpected directions in unusual ways. Be it big or small, when we commit what we do to the Lord, He helps and walks beside us in all. May we give all that we do unto the Lord, and trust Him to be our help as we move forward in faith.

 

In all that we say,

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And all that we do;

May we turn to trust,

And give all to You.

For You are our help,

Where we lack the strength;

You supply our need,

To go any length.

Nothing is too small,

All matters to God;

So give and choose trust,

May our hearts applaud.

God is so faithful,

Choose trust and don’t doubt;

Evidence surrounds,

Just stand and look out.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can commit everything we do unto You. Thank You that when we trust You, You are our help. Forgive us for our lack of faith, or for thinking that the little things are of no concern to You. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would place all things in Your capable hands, and allow You to be God. Show us how to love those around us in a way that demonstrates the help and hope that is found through fully following You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we commit all that we do before You, trusting in Your faithful help and hope. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence. – Acts 2:28

Fully Trusting Him

The Lord is my strength and my shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. – (Psalm 28:7, NLT)

 

God is so good. He gives strength, protection and joy as our hearts are in need, and something within us cannot help but rise up and respond in gratitude. I would love to say that I trust Him with all of my heart. There are days that I do. Sometimes, fear or doubt find a doorway, and keep me from fully trusting Him. In those spaces, it is where I need His help all the more. When He brings such spaces to my attention, I have the opportunity to turn to trust once again. Each time I place the fear or doubt in His hands, He carries it for me. Where fear formerly reigned, new measures of faith are gained. May we trust the Lord anew this day, as He is our strength and our shield – ever present to help. Let the joy in our hearts flow freely as we sing songs of praise for who God is and all that He does.

 

My strength and my shield,

Let trust fill my heart;

For You are my help,

Where all joy does start.

May what leaves my lips,

Be songs of sweet praise;

With all gratitude,

For all of my days.

Let the joy within,

Flow by His great grace;

As trust rises up,

In the Lord’s embrace.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your strength and protection. Thank You that You alone are worthy of all of our trust. Thank You that You help us and fill us with Your joy. Forgive us for not trusting completely or not giving proper praise where praise is due. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would give You our whole heart all of the time. Show us how to let our very lives sing songs of thanksgiving before You. Help us to love others in such a way, that they too, might come to know the safety and strength that You provide. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust You to be our strength and protection and to fill us with Your joy. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. – Genesis 21:6

Reminders of You

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say. – (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, NLT)

 

There are days that I need to have this taped to my forehead. The last day or so has been among them. One minor incident drew out of me, a response that was completely unwarranted and out of character. After an early morning run that included good conversation with a trusted friend, the real reason for my reaction reared its ugly head. My own fear got in the way, and I could not recognize what was right in front of me. I have all of the grace and comfort, hope and strength that I need to navigate every situation. It is my charge to seek the Source when things seem awry. Thankfully, He is gracious, and provides people to help point out the truth when we lose sight of Him who is holding us in His hands. May we go forth this day in trust, as the Lord who loves us will give us grace, comfort, hope and strength in every good thing we do and say.

 

Lord Jesus Himself,

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Full of love and grace;

Grants us His comfort,

As we seek His face.

He gives strength to stand,

In word and in deed;

Our Hope and our Peace,

He will meet our need.

Choose now in stillness,

Let His love make way;

Comfort and strengthen,

All we do and say.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You love us by Your grace and You give us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope. Thank You that You comfort and strengthen us in every good thing. Forgive us for not seeking You, or neglecting to recognize the depth of our own need for You in all things. Teach us to trust You more. Show us how to love others in such a way, that we might offer Your grace, comfort and hope to strengthen those in need. May many come into a lasting relationship with You as a result. Be glorified O God, as we trust in You for all that we say and do. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; …write them on the tablet of your heart. – Proverbs 3:3

Praying on Purpose

It is easy to get caught up in the rigor of daily life, and forget just how critical it is to lift up one another in prayer. When we cover each other, there is power released through our prayers. Protection, courage, passion and perseverance all come by His grace when choose to be intentional in our prayers.

 

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of His call. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. – (2 Thessalonians 1:11, NLT)

 

That is the very sort of covering that I desire, so that I might live my life worthy of His call. I am well aware that on my own, I cannot accomplish that which I am prompted to do. However, by His strength, I can do all things that He asks of me. Faithful women of prayer have gone before me. My grandmother and my mom are both women whom I know have lifted many words heavenward on my behalf. The grace that I have been given, has largely been prayed in by them and faithful friends. I desire to do the same. May we each have the seed planted deep within our heart, so that we would be people who faithfully and consistently pray for those around us.

 

Power is released,

When we choose to pray;

The grace to do good,

To walk in His way.

As faith leads us on,

Shows us what to do;

Ask God for the help,

To see His plan through.

May we choose live lives,

Worthy of You, Lord;

Praying by Your grace,

Use all You afford.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace and the power that is released when people pray. Thank You that You hear every prayer that is lifted before You, and You give what is needed to accomplish that which we are called to do. Forgive us for our lack of faithfulness in prayer. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would bring before You, every need, concern, praise, and hope – daily. Show us how to pray as You would have us pray. Lead us to love those around us in a way that encourages each to seek You for strength and grace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we pray for the people around us, trusting You to enable each of us to live lives worthy of our call. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad. – 1 Chronicles 16:31

His Plans Are Firm Forever

But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; His intentions can never be shaken. – (Psalm 33:11, NLT)

The Eternal’s purposes will last to the end of time; the thoughts of His heart will awaken and stir all generations. – (Psalm 33:11, VOICE)

 

The plans and purposes of God cannot be altered nor changed by human persuasion. Just because we think we know what may be best, God’s ways are always higher than our ways, and His plans higher than ours. God wants the very best for us, His created, so He will not allow our short-sightedness to shake His plans for our ultimate good. Instead, He stirs in us, a desire to seek Him and His will. As we follow after Him, He draws us unto Himself, and points us to the path that leads us on to life everlasting. May we choose to give ear to His leading, so that we might walk in the light of His love where He is calling. Let every heart seek the Lord, and answer that which He is asking.

 

The plans of the Lord,

Stand firm for all time;

They can’t be shaken,

Holy and divine.

What He is asking,

Draws us to His side;

Where hearts awaken,

Cross faithful divide.

Let us choose to seek,

Pursue the Lord’s will;

Fulfill what He asks,

By faith, pray, be still.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Your plans stand firm forever, no matter what goes on in the world around us. Thank You that Your intentions can never be shaken. Forgive us for the lack of security in our stance at times, as we are easily shaken when things around us fall apart or go sideways. Teach us to trust You more, so that no matter what goes on in or around us, we know that Your ultimate plan remains. Show us how to love others in such a way, that they might see You through what we say and do. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek to follow the plan that You place before us, and to trust in the way You call us to walk. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. – Galatians 5:22-23