Daily Prayer

Great morning! How are we faithing? Man is it good to be alive! Even in the midst of turmoil and grief, it is good to be alive! In the middle of trials and heartache, it is good to be alive. While everything around us crumbles, it's still good to be alive. Why this optimism when everything seems dismal? Jesus the Christ is why! When we were under the law and were striving to please God we we were failing miserably. When we try to be good and fail, when we seek goodness and try to be clean by the worlds standard we are still like filthy rags! Better people than me have done wonderful things, walked fine lines of goodwill in this world and yet are no better off than the that robber who just went to jail. Sobering and makes you throw your hands up and say"what for?" doesn't it? Well guess what, stop striving for goodness and focus on the savior! Stop looking at yourself for towing the line and look to Jesus! You can't improve and you can't move your stature any higher without the grace of Jesus. Look at these;

1 Peter 3:18
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
NIV

1 Peter 2:24-25
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
NIV

2 Corinthians 5:21
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
NIV

1 John 4:8-10
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
NIV

If we can earn righteousness then why did Jesus die? If we are capable of being good, why do we need a savior? The answers are evident. When we goof up it proves we are in need of a savior and when we believe and seek God's will instead of pursuing the acts of goodness, we become better. We can't seek to be better but by grace and love from God we become better. Move our focus from "I gotta be good" to "Lord show me your will". This is truth;

Romans 5:9-11
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
NIV

The price is paid! We are reconciled to God! We are able to approach the throne of God unencumbered by that bag o' sin we no longer have to drag with us like when we were lost! Our shoulders are light because Jesus took the bag off us! That is why we are excited to be alive!
Remember Julie and Derrick Napier and their preemie baby girl, Madelyn Noel...pray for wisdom and pray for your co-workers...don't forget our leaders cause man o man they need wisdom...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the exuberance and joy our spirits hold since we met you! Lord guide our minds and lives so we live for you and not get so bogged down with this world. Lord thank you for loving us enough to send your son so we don't have to carry the load of sin. Lord we praise you for all you do. Lord give us the wisdom we need to see truth and make the choices you want us to make. Make us keenly aware of the grace we have from you. Lord we lift up the children to you. Heal them, keep them safe, wrap your arms around them and let them know you are there. Thank you for your Word that teaches us every day. in Jesus holy name, Amen