Monday, March 15 – Day 27

Seeking His Righteousness In Our Communities
Seek God…to intervene to bring forth justice

Day after day we see injustice; we hear injustice; we feel injustice. The sights and sounds of injustice flood our lives from every direction -coming from neighborhoods, family, work-places, radio, TV...... Sometimes before I get too anxious about it all, I know I just need to turn off the TV and instead re-focus myself on who God is. He is the God of justice. His Word says so. His promises are true. His character shows it and His love reassures us that at some point His justice will be done in every situation. "Vengeance is mine...says the Lord" (Hebrews 10:30). Even as we see people continue their wicked ways in cauldrons of evil, we know that at the end of their days they will have to stand before a righteous, holy Judge (God) and give account for their lives. .....talk about having a bad day!

But in the meantime - I can, you can, as a community of believers we can cry out to God Almighty for Him to break the schemes of the enemy and overthrow evil. We can know that we are heard when we appeal to the Lord for His goodness and His love to intervene in our city, our courts and our legislatures. There is no God like our God. He is worthy to be praised.

Tawnya Gardener
The Salvation Army

Friday, February 26 - Day 10

Day 10: Seek God … for God to unite His people.
[Psalm 133:1,3; John 17:22-23]

The “unity” or “being one” of these verses does not mean “let’s be one big happy denomination”! These statements point out a “relationship” desired by God of His followers. This is not just a relationship with God, but it is a relationship with fellow believers that glorifies God!

Think of it like this: The Body of Christ is a Family. The various Church congregations are like brothers and sisters in this Family. Each “child” has his or her own unique qualities and character. That does not make one “child” better than the other. Each is loved by the Father; each will accomplish its purpose. But the Family is still one!

Now, consider these verses from this perspective: “How good and pleasant it is when the various Church congregations get along together! … For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forever more.” (Psa. 133:1,3). And think of the prayer of Jesus in John 17 when He prays (vv. 22-23), “The glory which You have given Me I have given to those who are true followers but belong to different church congregations, that they may be of one purpose in bringing glory to My Name, so that the world may know that You have sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”

It’s like what I’ve told my church family, “We don’t have a corner on truth, but we do have the Truth on the corner of 29^th and D Avenue NE. Know it; believe it; live it; and share it!”

Lord: Renew our appreciation of Your desire for all of Your followers to be united in purpose; forgive us where we have wandered away for our own selfish preferences; give us a new heart of love for each other, even as You have for us, and let it be all for Your glory! Thank you! Amen.

[Pastor Gary Austin, Cedar Rapids Grace Church, Cedar Rapids, IA]