Devoted

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. – (Colossians 4:2, NIV)

Never stop praying. Be ready for anything by praying and being thankful. – (Colossians 4:2, ERV)

Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. – (Colossians 4:2, MSG)

To devote oneself to God is to be dedicated and committed to communicating with our Creator. It is an intentional act of speaking and listening, by which we give our gratitude and present our petitions to the Lord. We are charged to be watchful and aware, which sets our hearts at the ready as we communicate with and praise God. This purposeful devotion results in constant communion with Christ. He is faithful to meet us each time we draw near, as He hears our prayers and praise, and speaks to our hearts as we wait in silent stillness. May we choose to pray diligently, for as we do, we are aware and equipped, and overwhelmed with gratitude to God.

Because of Jesus,

We have access to;

The Holy Father,

Who blesses, renews.

In this sweet freedom,

We are called to pray;

Commune with the Lord,

Throughout ev’ry day.

Faithful to meet us,

The Lord’s ever near;

Each praise and request,

In love, the Lord hears.

With wonder, seek Him,

Ask and we’ll receive;

Direction and help,

And all that we need.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to come near and commune with You. Thank You that You are but a heartbeat away. Thank You that You hear our petitions and praise, and that You answer us as we call on You. Forgive us for merely presenting a laundry list of requests. Teach us to see all of the reasons we have to praise You as we go about our days. Show us how to love those around us in ways that make Your goodness and love evident. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we continually pray, prepare and praise through our time intentionally spent with You. Amen.

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

I call on You, my God, for You will answer me; turn Your ear to me and hear my prayer. – Psalm 17:6

Dependent for Peace

You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You. – (Isaiah 26:3, HCSB)

God, You give true peace to people who depend on You, to those who trust in You. – (Isaiah 26:3, ERV)

You will keep the peace, a perfect peace, for all who trust in You, for those who dedicate their hearts and minds to You. – (Isaiah 26:3, VOICE)

Early mornings are my favorite time of the day. The world is still sleeping and the house is silent. My mind and heart have intentional time to focus on He who is our peace, and I am typically flanked by two sweet sleeping puppies. In the same way that they trust me to provide for them and keep them safe, we too need to trust in God. It is in the space of trusting Him that we understand His peace, regardless of what goes on around us. By starting each day in the silent stillness with God, my heart is filled and equipped to navigate the day. May we ever keep our minds dependent on God, for it is in trusting and depending on Him that we know His perfect peace.

There is perfect peace,

That we all may know;

It’s found in Jesus,

Where His love is shown.

As we choose seek Him,

Surely we shall find;

His loving kindness,

That gives peace of mind.

So, choose to trust Him,

He’s faithful and true;

His grace abundant,

As He leads us through.

Throughout each new day,

He will remain near;

And give us His peace,

And make our paths clear.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are where we find peace as we trust and depend on You. Thank You for quiet spaces to seek You. Forgive us for taking our eyes off of You, as peace is disrupted when we depend on anything other than You. Teach us to trust You in all things and at all times. Show us how to love those around us well, so that we can share Your goodness, grace and peace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we depend on You to be our perfect peace. Amen.

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

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13

Rest and Be Refreshed

Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him. – (Psalm 62:5, HCSB)

I must calm down and turn to God; He is my only hope. – (Psalm 62:5, ERV)

My soul quietly waits in the True God alone because I hope only in Him. – (Psalm 62:5, VOICE)

This is a great reminder to continue to prioritize my time during summer break. Rest is not simply a stopping of doing, but rather is an intentional turn to God to be our peace and our hope. He provides rest where we need it most, and is where our hope is found. There is a quiet waiting in the seeking of our Savior. In the silent stillness, we are reminded of Who our hope is, and peace that surpasses our understanding grants us rest. May we ever turn to the Lord to provide rest and hope, for He is the source of each.

I trust in the Lord,

My sweet space of rest;

He grants us His hope,

And loves us the best.

In Him, there is peace,

Comfort and great calm;

There’s healing in hope,

His love’s soothing balm.

So turn to the Lord,

Seek Him for true rest;

Hope everlasting,

How life is lived best.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can find quiet rest in You in every season. Thank You that You provide times of extra rest to refresh us and remind us of where hope is found. Forgive us for losing sight of You when chaos crowds us. Lead us to be intentional in our time with You. Show us how to love those around us in ways that offer peace and rest and refreshment. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we invest time in seeking You to find rest and be reminded of the hope that is held forever in You. Amen.

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

Therefore my heart is glad and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely. – Psalm 16:9

In Trust, I Rise

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in Your word. – (Psalm 119:147, NIV)

I get up early in the morning to pray to You. I trust what You say. – (Psalm 119:147, ERV)

Before the day dawns, I’ll be crying out for help and wrapping Your words into my life. – (Psalm 119:147, TPT)

 

Early mornings have been my favorite time of day for many years. When I was a small child, rising early meant the promise of watching cartoons prior to whatever plans the day held. As I grew older, I discovered the beauty found in the silent stillness, while most of the world still sleeps. For an introvert in a highly interactive role, rising early to ready myself for the day, is essential. Some days, it is praying, and others, it is a sort of crying out for help, as I seek strength and wisdom to find the fortitude to forge forward in faith. No matter how I wake and approach God, He is faithful to meet me as I am. His word is alive and active; ever teaching, correcting, and challenging me to be more of who He is calling me to become. I trust Him and place my hope in He who is faithful forever. May we ever pursue our Provider, and trust His word to work in our lives.

 

Before dawn appears,

In faith, I choose rise;

To call on the Lord,

Have Him lead my life.

For as I choose trust,

Always I have found;

He’s faithful and true,

His wisdom is sound.

Help me to live well,

A life built on trust;

Renewed each morning,

Wise, faithful and just.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that whenever we come to You and pray to You, You are faithful to hear us. Thank You that we can trust in Your word. Thank You for the gift of early mornings and the capacity to rise early. Thank You for the gift of the silence of early mornings, while the world still sleeps. Forgive us for not being intentional in our pursuit of You and Your word. Teach us to trust You more so that we would be purposeful in prayer and seek to study and know Your word. Show us how to love those around us with faithfulness and grace, so that they might see Your heart through our love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we love You and trust You and choose to spend time seeking You, because You are faithful and worthy of all of our trust. Amen.

 

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

 

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12

He Hears

In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly. – (Psalm 5:3, NIV)

Every morning, Lord, I lay my gifts before You and look to You for help. And every morning You hear my prayers. – (Psalm 5:3, ERV)

In the morning, O Eternal One, listen for my voice; in the day’s first light, I will offer my prayer to You and watch expectantly for Your answer. – (Psalm 5:3, VOICE)

 

This is yet another reason why I rise so early each day. In the morning, before the world wakes, I read and reflect on God’s promises and present my requests before Him. He listens to us whenever we pray, but for me, it sets my heart right for the day. Yesterday, His grace was abundant, as my humanity and frustration flared up a bit as I first walked into my classroom after being away for a few weeks. It was in a state of disarray, and at first, I felt quite disrespected. The still small voice reminded me that the kids can’t really see past the revolving door of strangers, and they act out accordingly, rather than think about where they are and the possible reason for my absence. After I had the tables scrubbed and garbage off of the floors and bookshelves, I was better able to regain perspective and hold hope and positive anticipation for the day. I found a few sweet notes left by students on my desk, and my demeanor softened further. My colleagues were extraordinarily kind and welcoming, and by the time the bell rang for kids to head to class, I felt prepared and eager to see my students. After greeting them at the door, listening to announcements and taking care of attendance, I filled them in as to why I had been away for the past few weeks. The somber quiet in the room showed me that they understood the weight of my circumstances, and many of them were imagining themselves in my shoes. They were wonderful the remainder of the morning; even my students who often struggle to focus. I know they love their moms deeply, and I think it hit home for them too. Unfortunately, halfway through my second class with my kiddos, I received a strange text from one of my sons. He was quite concerned about an odd symptom, that he feared was asthma related. We did a bit of problem-solving and back-and-forth, but by the time my lunch was nearly over, I knew I was going to need to take him in to Urgent Care. Thankfully, a guest teacher was available for the second half of the day, and I was able to leave for the afternoon. As I arrived on my sons’ campus, there were three ambulances in the bus loop. All I could do was pray, “Dear Jesus, please don’t let that be for my son!”

Thankfully, the ambulances were not for my boy, and I was able to pick him up and get him checked at Urgent Care without incident. The symptoms were wise to get checked, as he continues to near adulthood and must learn to listen to when things seem “off” with his health. Everything came back as clear, and they chalked it up to something muscular/skeletal. For me, it had become a blessing of some bonus time with my boy that I would not have otherwise had, so I teased him about the lengths he went to, to get solo time with me. 🙂

As for mom, she is continuing to do the difficult work. After a stroke, it is common for the large muscle groups to “wake up” first, and then the signals to continue to make their way down to the smaller. For mom, her glutes and hip flexor have been cooperating for several days, and it seems that her quad is not joining the party! In her right arm, her shoulder has begun to awaken, and her right tricep is also starting to receive signals. Each new movement is a huge celebration, as the ability to regain movement that was lost is a miracle in the making. Speaking to she and my sister on the phone last evening, I was able to hear more strength in her voice than I have heard before.

May we ever begin our days with the Lord, presenting our requests to He who is abundantly able to do all things.

 

Early each morning,

Mom in OT, working on standing, balance, and utilizing her left hand for day-to-day tasks.

This is why I rise;

In silent stillness,

Hope is realized.

Placed on the altar,

Each hope and my needs;

The Lord is faithful,

His love far exceeds.

All grace for today,

Hope for tomorrow;

His peace in chaos,

Comfort in sorrow.

Ever seek the Lord,

He’s faithful to hear;

All that we ask Him,

As He remains near.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your overwhelming, never ending loving kindness and grace. Thank You that You hear our every prayer. Thank You that You never leave us nor forsake us, even in the moments when we question “why”. Forgive us for our fears and frustrations with the frailty of our humanity. Teach us to trust You more, and to see the blessings that You provide, even in the seemingly awful or inconvenient situations and circumstances that we find ourselves in. Show us how to love and bless those around us in ways that help them to see the good, even when circumstances are not. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we love You and trust You, and place our prayers before You anew every morning. Amen.

 

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

 

Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! – Psalm 116:2 

Pray Expectantly

Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to You and wait expectantly. – (Psalm 5:3, NLT)

Every morning, Lord, I lay my gifts before You and look to You for help. And every morning You hear my prayers. – (Psalm 5:3, ERV)

In the morning, O Eternal One, listen for my voice; in the day’s first light, I will offer my prayer to You and watch expectantly for Your answer. – (Psalm 5:3, VOICE)

 

Most mornings, I am up long before the sun has risen. This is a treasured time of solitude in the silent stillness, where I am able to invest time in His word and reflect on God’s goodness. Though I am spending this time intentionally, my prayers are fairly familiar each day, as my main request is to be equipped to love well. The Lord is faithful and kind, and grants far more patience than I would ever have on my own. However, I imagine there is far more that I ought to be asking for. There are dreams and desires that He has planted in my heart that lie dormant and hidden, rather than being placed on the altar with anticipation before Him – hopes of mighty movement in lives, circumstances, and things yet to come, that I need to present before Him and watch expectantly for Him to answer. God is faithful forever, if we only choose to come before Him in trust. May we begin each day presenting our praise and petitions before our faithful Father, and watch expectantly for Him to answer, as He always hears.

 

O Lord as I rise, 

I come first to You;

With all that I am,

Trusting Your word’s true.

Listen for my voice,

At the dawn’s first light;

I know You’ll hear me,

In us, You delight.

I’ll offer requests,

And all of my praise;

Watching for answers,

You’re faithful always.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can come to You each morning and present our requests to You, and You hear our prayers. Thank You that we can pray anytime about anything, and You are available and willing to listen. Thank You that You long for us to be in communication with You. Forgive us for neglecting to bring forth the things that we keep hidden in our hearts, as You already know them anyway. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would seek You for all things, and wait in expectation, knowing that You are moving on our behalf to bring answers. Guard our hearts from discouragement when answers do not come in the time frame we are hoping to see. Thank You that Your timing is perfect. Show us how to love and pray for those around us in meaningful and tangible ways. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we lift our prayers and praise before You each morning, and wait expectantly for You to answer. 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

More of You

The first step to becoming wise is to look for wisdom, so use everything you have to get understanding. – (Proverbs 4:7, ERV)

You will search for Me, and when you search for Me with all your heart, you will find Me. – (Jeremiah 29:13, ERV)

 

The first verse is part of the passage that is included in my daily reading, and the second was in the home screen of my Bible application. I found it interesting that the two came in tandem, as God is our source of wisdom, and is found when we seek Him. Wisdom goes beyond knowing facts and figures; it is a deep imparted understanding of that which is beyond our comprehension without God’s intervention. As we seek the Lord, He reveals more and more of Himself to us, and we begin to grasp a glimpse of who God is and how great His love for us truly is. Our seeking is answered through time in His word, in worship, in prayer, and in silent stillness before Him. When our ears and hearts are open to hear the Lord, He imparts His wisdom and understanding upon us. What once was a mystery, becomes foundational knowledge that we can hold firm in our hearts. May we ever seek the Lord and His wisdom, so that we grow in our understanding of who He is and how great His love is for us all.

 

Wisdom is granted,

To those who choose seek;

The heart of the Lord,

He’s faithful to speak.

He’ll tell of His love,

Reveal mysteries;

Help our hearts to hold,

The grace hope carries.

So search for the Lord,

For wisdom and grace;

He’ll meet those who seek,

And show us His ways.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are faithful to be found by those who seek You. Thank You that You reveal Your wisdom to those who seek to understand. Forgive us for not pursuing new insight and understanding and simply settling for what we already know. Teach us to hunger and thirst for more of You, as we never arrive at knowing all there is of You. Show us how to love those around us in such a way, that they might see Your heart through how we love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek more of You each day. Amen.

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

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ. – Ephesians 2:4-5

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 Choose to Be Still

“Be still, and know that I am God!…” – (Psalm 46:10a, NLT)

“Be still, be calm, see, and understand that I am the True God…” – (Psalm 46:10a, VOICE)

 

Life can get extraordinarily busy. I am no exception. This is by far, my busiest season, as I am on the go from 3:30am to 8:00pm or later most weekdays. The reason for such early rising is to provide myself the opportunity to do just as this verse instructs. Beginning my day in silent stillness before the Lord, offers calm and clarity to take on each new day. It can be easy to get caught up in the busy, and forget Who has equipped us to do the things that we do, and as we make way through the midst of it all, how deeply we are loved by Him. Our reason to be still is to come into a space of understanding of who God is, and how He loves. As we learn and grow, we are compelled to go forth and do likewise – not out of obligation nor selfish ambition, but simply because we are loved we and want to do the same. May we take pause and be still before the Lord, so that we may hear His heart for us, and understand the greatness of our God.

 

We are invited,

to come before Christ;

in quiet stillness,

where hope’s realized.

As we choose be still,

our hearts come to know;

the greatness of God,

and how His love flows.

True understanding,

place of clarity;

is found in stillness,

solidarity.

Let our hearts be calm,

come into His rest;

know He is the Lord,

and He loves us best.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we quiet ourselves before You, we come to understand more of who You are, and how You love. Thank You that You are the True God who knows us and loves us, in spite of ourselves. Forgive us for not slowing down to be still before You, as we miss out on all that You have for us. Teach us to be still and set our hearts on You, as we further discover who You are and how You love. Show us how to demonstrate the love and grace that You give to us and to all whom we encounter. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we choose to be still and recognize the greatness of You. Amen.

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

Father, I thank You that You have heard me. – John 11:41