Heartlight/Leaves of Light

[Judy Harder]

August 19

1 John 5:12
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Thoughts on today's verse

This statement is both a reminder of God's glorious grace and also of our need to share that grace with others.

Prayer:

Father of all nations, resurrect in your people a desire to spread your grace to every language, tribe, nation, and people. Empower us with your Spirit so we will speak the Gospel of Jesus with boldness and respect to a world that does not know him. Use us to help others come to life in the Son! Through whom we pray. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

August 20

Psalms 16:8
I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Thoughts on today's verse

There are many things that can trouble our lives, but none that can shake us loose from the grip of God's grace if our hearts remain close to Jesus as our Lord, and our hope remains focused on the Lord's return. If Jesus is our Lord, then all of life's greatest blessings lie ahead of us and we will let nothing rob us of this coming glory!

Prayer:

Holy Lord, you are worthy of majesty, honor, and praise. I lift up your name, O God, and place it above every name. As I look to the future, I want to honor you and find you there. Since I believe you will never leave or forsake me, I will always look ahead to find you leading the way. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

August 21

Psalms 42:8
By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me -- a prayer to the God of my life.

Thoughts on today's verse

I have always loved music. To this day, songs help unlock the part of me that is most yielded to God. It helps me declare my love for him and my praise to him. But as the psalmist says, at night, especially on those nights when sleep is hard to come by, his song is with me.

Prayer:

O God of my life, thank you for music and song. Thank you for giving me so many good things to sing joyfully about. Thank you for hearing my heart when I sing, not just my words or just the song's melody. I long, dear Father, for the day I get to hear you sing. Until then, fill my life with your song. Through Jesus I ask it. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

August 22

Romans 8:32
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all -- how will he not also, along with him, give us all things?

Thoughts on today's verse

If God gave up his Son to save me, what would he not give up to bless us and keep us! That's Paul's point. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, he tells us we are bought with a price to encourage us toward holiness. Here, he makes the same point, but to give us assurance. Isn't it amazing how the truth of God's grace contains such a multifaceted blessing.

Prayer:

Almighty God, I am overwhelmed at your sacrificial love offered to me in Jesus. Father, please use your Spirit to stir me to service in response to your grace and have this Comforter build my assurance of the salvation and blessings that you so long to give me. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.'

[Judy Harder]

August 23
Psalms 94:18-19
When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

Thoughts on today's verse

While we are amazed at the vastness of God's reach and the awesome breadth of his power and the glorious sweep of his majesty, the incredible truth is his personal nearness to us. He chooses to know us and be actively involved in the trials and triumphs of each day with us. How will today, or tomorrow, be different because you are aware of his presence and companionship?

Prayer:

God who is near, please hear my heart. I am overwhelmed at your presence near me and within me. The comfort you bring when I am under siege, the strength you offer when I am weak, the courage you give when I am under attack, and the hope you instill when all seems hopeless -- these gifts of your presence are precious to me. Without your presence I would not know where to go or why I am here. Thank you for knowing me. I look forward to knowing you one day as you know me today. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

August 24

Psalms 116:1-2
I love the Lord, he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

Thoughts on today's verse

Understanding the Lord's love and nearness should lead us to serve him and continue our relationship with him. While we love God for many reasons, we want to express our love to him today especially for his personal concern for us.

Prayer:

Father who knows each hair on my head and thought of my heart, thank you for hearing my prayers. Thank you for answering so many with the answer I sought from you. Give me patience when I cannot see your hand in other situations. I believe and trust you are there and working for my good even when I can't see it. Please strengthen my faith so that I will never outlive my trust and faith in you. Through Jesus I ask this. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

August 25

Psalms 119:165
Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.

Thoughts on today's verse

As someone who had a very clumsy stage of life, this promise is almost beyond believing -- nothing can make me stumble! But when it comes to living life, if I know God's will and love it, I will do it. Then nothing can make me stumble.

Prayer:

Thank you God for this day. Thank you for all that lies ahead. Thank you that I don't have to face with doubts about my basic values and without a sense of your will for my life. Stir in me a love for your will and your way so that nothing can make me stumble. Empower me by your Spirit and guide me by your truth so that I may more perfectly reflect your character. Through Jesus I pray. Amen

[Judy Harder]

August 26

Romans 12:4-5
Just as each of us has a one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Thoughts on today's verse

One of the key realities of Christianity is belonging. I belong! I belong to God. I belong to Jesus. I belong to Jesus' body the Church. I have a place and a purpose in that body. I belong!

Prayer:

Help me, Father, to find the place where I'm suppose to fit in your body. Until then, I pledge to try all sorts of ministries so that your Spirit, and not just my own preference, will guide me into your place for me to serve. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.'

[Judy Harder]

August 27

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

Thoughts on today's verse

It is naive to think that trusting in God solves all of our problems -- Christians have many of the same problems that unbelievers do because they share the same mortal flesh. On the other hand it's true that if we trust in God, we believe our work stands or falls in his hands and that ultimately we will share in his victorious and glorious presence. It means our lives will not be lived in vain. That's not just confidence, but it's the foundation to true peace -- life lived to its fullest and richest knowing that it matters and we don't need to be anxious about its results.

Prayer:

Almighty Prince of Peace, thank you for giving me the assurance that my life will not be lived in vain. May I share that peace with others today. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

August 28
John 6:29
Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: To believe in the one he has sent."

Thoughts on today's verse

Do you believe in Jesus? Do you really believe? Shortly after Max Lucado came back from his mission work in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he shared with a group of his closest friends that his theology was pretty simple. He didn't have a handle on a lot of the big difficult theological problems that divide folks. But Max said he came to the firm and deep conviction that God loves us and he showed that love by sending Jesus to live among us, to die for us, and to be raised from the dead so we could, too. This is the work of God -- amazingly simple and awesomely powerful.

Prayer:

Holy God, I do believe that Jesus came to earth, died, and was raised from the dead. Please help me show and share that message with those around me looking to find hope and help. Holy Spirit, open my eyes to those around me who are searching,. Father, I want so much to share in your work, please help me as I rededicate myself to it today. Through Jesus my Savior I pray. Amen.