Sunday, April 27

“If one falls down, his friend can help him up, but pity the man who
falls and has no one to help him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:10

This verse is an example of what has happened to my daughter. We celebrate our Christmas together over New Year’s each year with our three children and their families. Our daughter Cathy and her family came home a day early so they could go skiing. As she was following her son down one of the advanced hills she fell. Cathy fractured 6 vertebrae’s in her back and had to be transferred to a Trauma Center in Robinsdale, MN. Almost 4 months later she is still not back to work and continues to wear a body cast for much of the day. But the Lord has blessed her with so many friends. For all this time friends and church members have been praying for her continuously, have brought over meals, and one woman comes and cleans her home once a week. She has always been a giving individual and she has been very blessed with many people who are picking her up now when she has fallen down.

Lord, I ask that each person that reads today’s devotion will remember to help pick up a friend. To have a friend, you first have to be a friend. Amen.

Monday, April 28

“Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved,
for you are the one I praise.” Jeremiah 17:14

This is the verse my daughter hung onto as her back continues to heal. Days when she could not move in her hospital bed and after when she had to have the body cast put on every time she had to go to the bathroom or sit up. The Lord is healing her and we know He will continue to heal her. The Lord will restore her health, so she can do things once again for her family, friends, and return to work full time.

Lord, I ask for healing for the many people who are reading this devotion today. Amen.

Tuesday, April 29

“Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us his ways,
and we shall walk in his paths.” Micah 4:2

Recently a friend of mine, Marion, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer gave me the book “Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On” by Stormie Omartian. Marion has lived with this book at her bedside since she returned home from Marshfield. The peace she has found walking each day with the Lord, with just enough light for that day, has been an inspiration to all of us. Life is a walk and each day can be done with just enough light for that day. Yes, tomorrow will be determined by the steps I take today.

Lord, help each one of us to walk in your light and to remember that you will give us just enough light for the steps we are to take today. Amen.

Wednesday, April 30

“... do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will
worry about its own things.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Psalm 84:11

This is a verse that I myself cling to. So often when our loved ones are hurting we find it difficult not to worry. I have to refer to this verse mentally many times a day. My wonderful mother-in-law always worried about what the future would hold. So many of the worries she verbalized never did come to be and I remind myself of that.

Lord, let me take one step at a time, that I do not worry what tomorrow will bring because you have provided enough for today. Amen.

Thursday, May 1

“... I have opened a door for you that no one can close.” Revelation 3:8

The Lord has opened a door for each one of us and what we choose to do with that open door is our responsibility. Many years ago I embroidered a picture with the verse on it that said “When God Closes a Door – He always opens up a window for us”. It is sometimes hard to accept the negative things that occur in our lives – loss of a job, financial problems, death of a loved one – and when we think the future is bleak, the Lord always shows us another way. He opens a little window to allow his Holy Spirit to come into our lives and let us grow.

Lord, I ask that you open a window to each one of us who is facing a problem today that we feel we can not handle. Amen.

Friday, May 2

“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit,
if the Spirit of God lives in you.” Romans 8:9

As we take one step at a time each day with the Lord we have the Holy Spirit living within us. The Holy Spirit will help you and will empower you to overcome temptations. I continuously struggle with my weight. I have tried every diet on the market. I know it is the sinful nature that lives within me. I try to let the temptation of food go and trust in the Holy Spirit, but for some reason Lord I always take it back.

Lord, let us remember that your Holy Spirit is in our lives and can help us control each sinful temptation that comes into our lives today. Amen.

Saturday, May 3

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace
at all times and in every way.” Thessalonians 3;16

As we walk with God we realize his timing is everything. When we trust him in everything in our lives God will give us the Peace we need. The peace like Marion is experiencing each day as she faces her cancer. We can all experience this peace in our lives in every way. We must turn our troubles, frustrations over to God and learn not to take them back. As the days go by, I know my daughter sometimes struggles finding peace in her life, but I know the Lord will provide her the sufficient peace she needs in every way.

Lord, I ask you to be with each one of us today and provide peace at all times and in every way. Amen.