Presented to

From

Date
Prayers &
Promises
for
Women
© 2015 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Written by Toni Sortor.

Print ISBN 978-1-63058-870-0

Special Edition ISBN 978-1-63409-306-4

eBook Editions:
Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-63409-349-1
Kindle and MobiPocket Edition (.prc) 978-1-63409-350-7

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for
commercial purposes, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without written permission
of the publisher.

Churches and other noncommercial interests may reproduce portions of this book without
the express written permission of Barbour Publishing, provided that the text does not exceed
500 words and that the text is not material quoted from another publisher. When reproducing
text from this book, include the following credit line: “From Prayers and Promises for Women,
published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.”

All scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Published by Barbour Books, an imprint of Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719,
Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683, www.barbourbooks.com

Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value and biblical
encouragement to the masses.
Member of the
Evangelical Christian
Publishers Association

Printed in China.
Prayers &
Promises
for
Women
 Contents
Preface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Anger.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Answered Prayers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Beauty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Blessings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Caregiving. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Charity.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Childbirth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Children. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Children, Love of. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Contentment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Correction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Dignity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Faithfulness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Fear .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Forgiveness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Fruitfulness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
God’s Word. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
God’s Work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Good Wife, the. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Grief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Guidance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Guilt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Healing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Hope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Hospitality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Loneliness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Marriage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Money. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Obedience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Patience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Priorities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Promises. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Provision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Self-Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Self-Worth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Slander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Spouses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Trials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Virtue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Vows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Wartime. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Widows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Wisdom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Wisdom and Knowledge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Wives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Scripture Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
 Preface
S ome days prayers roll off our tongues without effort.
We have much to be thankful for—our families, our
faith, God’s provision, and all the promises we are heir to
through Jesus, our Savior. Other days prayers are harder to
come by. We may be facing a crisis, having problems with
the children, or just be too exhausted to pray. A woman’s
day is long; her duties seem never ending. Prayers & Promises
for Women is based on God’s promises—and there are many
of them. Some you already know, others might be new to
you, while still others will seem to be pointed to your
specific concerns.
This book is designed for women who are pressed for
time. If you feel the need to pray about a specific concern,
most likely you will find it in the alphabetical contents
pages. You may want to expand these prayers or tailor them
to your personal needs. They are meant to be used as prayer
starters, somewhat like yeast. At the very least, they should
give you some comfort and a quiet moment or two to catch
your breath.
There are several sections in this book devoted to the
stories of biblical women you may be familiar with. It’s clear
that women have always been important workers in the
Church, and it seemed appropriate to feature them in a
book designed for women. Other prayers are less gender-
specific but approached through women’s experiences and
needs. We hope you find this book helpful in your prayer
life.

Preface—11
 Household Peacekeeping
A soft answer turneth away wrath:
but grievous words stir up anger.
Proverbs 15:1

M ost often I am the one who plays the

role of household peacekeeper, Lord.
This is a double-edged duty. Not only must I
pacify the children and my husband on their bad
days, but I must also see that I don’t contribute
to the mayhem through venting my own anger.
When we’re having a “she hit me first” day,
Lord, help me hold my tongue until I can reply
with a healing answer, not an angry one. When
my husband comes home bristling because
something went wrong at work, give me calming
words, not words that will hurt or make him
even more upset. And when I am angry myself,
let me be an example of how to deal effectively
with anger. Help me to be the peacekeeper,
never the one who stirs up more anger.

12—Anger
 Avoiding Sin
Be ye angry, and sin not:
let not the sun go down upon your wrath.
Ephesians 4:26

F ather, You know all about anger, because

You have felt it Yourself. What You
condemn is not anger itself but the sins anger
gives rise to. It’s what I do when I am angry that
counts. Does my fury make me say words that
hurt and will be remembered for years? Is my tone
of voice a weapon instead of a healing salve? Do
I belittle those I love in the heat of anger? Or do
I remain as rational as possible, perhaps retreating
until I can discuss the problem in a loving
manner? The next time I am angry, I pray You
will guide me away from sin until I can speak
words of peace and comfort once again. Help me
to be an example to my whole family.

Anger—13
 Over the Top
It is better to dwell in the wilderness,
than with a contentious and an angry woman.
Proverbs 21:19

S ometimes my anger is so overwhelming that

I don’t like myself, Father. I hear my voice
go up an octave and know I am over the top.
The children hear that voice and run for the
hills, hoping I will calm down before they get
hungry. My husband’s face hardens into a mask
that tells me he would rather be anyplace but
here—even in a desert with no bottled water. I
am emotionally alone, and I deserve to be. Lord,
I need to ask for forgiveness from my family,
admit that my reaction was extreme, and ask to
be let back into the family. Give me the resolve
to make things better, to ignore my pride, and
to do whatever is needed to make us a family
again.

14—Anger
 Forgiveness
Be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ’s sake
hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32

A mother always forgives, Lord, even when

the offense seems unforgivable to others.
Despite their anger and shame, I’m sure that
even the mothers of hardened criminals find a
way to forgive their children. We have no
choice; we are, first and foremost, mothers. My
children deserve my forgiveness, too. They are
young, and their sins are small—if irritating—
when compared to others’ sins. When anyone in
my family does wrong, admits the wrong, and
repents of the wrong, show me how to follow
Your example, Father, and forgive for the sake
of Your Son, who came to forgive us all of our
sins and make us acceptable in Your sight. May
I never hesitate to forgive anyone when You
have already forgiven me.

Anger—15
 Elisabeth
But the angel said unto him,
Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard;
and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son,
and thou shalt call his name John.
Luke 1:13

Zacharias and Elisabeth had waited years for a

child, and now they both were old, well past
the age for bearing children, no matter how
much they wanted one. Then Gabriel, Your
messenger, appeared to Zacharias with the good
news that the son Elisabeth would bear would
prepare the way for the coming of Your Son.
Father, sometimes it seems my deepest desires
will never bear fruit, no matter how much I pray.
I go on with my life, but there is an emptiness
in my heart that only You can fill. I know not
all prayers are answered in the way we hope, but
many are, so I continue to petition You, for You
are my hope.

16—Answered Prayers
 Gabriel and Mary
And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth,
she hath also conceived a son in her old age:
and this is the sixth month with her,
who was called barren.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Luke 1:36–37

Gabriel told Mary that she would bear a child

by the Holy Ghost—Jesus, the Savior the
Jews had waited for. Then he gave her the news
that her barren cousin Elisabeth was also
pregnant, despite her age. Gabriel’s using
Elisabeth as an example of Your power must
have eased Mary’s mind, especially when he
concluded, “For with God nothing shall be
impossible.” Quite often I pray for what I
know is impossible, Lord. I know that in the
best of all worlds, most of my prayers will not
be realized. But some will, if they are in Your
will for me. For You, nothing is impossible.

Answered Prayers—17
 Elisabeth and Mary
Blessed is she that believed:
for there shall be a performance of those things
which were told her from the Lord.
Luke 1:45

L ord, Your promises never go unfulfilled, if

we have faith. Elisabeth and her cousin
Mary never doubted the words of Gabriel, Your
messenger. A barren woman in her old age and
a young virgin would both do the impossible
because that was what You wanted of them, and
they had faith that You can do anything. The
births of John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ
were out of the ordinary from the beginning; so
were the women who gave them birth. Father, I
don’t know how You will use my life, but I have
faith in Your promises and am always ready to
do Your will, no matter how impossible it seems
to me at the time.

18—Answered Prayers
 The Naming
And his mother answered and said,
Not so; but he shall be called John.
Luke 1:60

L ord, I remember how eager everyone was

to know the names of our babies. Family
and friends all had their own ideas, just as
Elisabeth’s did. They wanted her to name her
baby after his father, who deserved to have his
name carried on, but Elisabeth insisted the boy
be named John—the name You had given him
through Gabriel before he was even conceived.
Zacharias backed up his wife and obeyed Your
messenger: “His name is John.” Sometimes I
have to go against the wishes of others to do
Your will, Father, and it’s not always pleasant,
but Your wishes come before all others, and I
will do my best to honor Your name all my
days.

Answered Prayers—19
 Jerusalem
And thy renown went forth
among the heathen for thy beauty:
for it was perfect through my comeliness,
which I had put upon thee. . . .
But thou didst trust in thine own beauty.
Ezekiel 16:14–15

Y our chosen city, Jerusalem, was beautiful

because of Your beauty, Father—a city
made perfect through You. Its fame spread
throughout the world and, as people often do,
its inhabitants began to take credit for the city’s
beauty themselves, forgetting that its true
foundation rested on You and believing that its
beauty somehow came through their efforts. I
tend to do the same today, taking credit for
what I did not create on my own. Please don’t
let me fall into the trap of false pride. What-
ever small beauty I bring into this world is only
a tiny reflection of Your beauty, Your creation,
Your perfection.

20—Beauty
 The Person Within
For man looketh on the outward appearance,
but the Lord looketh on the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7

W e are too conscious of outward beauty

today, Lord. Our singers, our heroes,
our role models—even our politicians—are
expected to meet certain standards of beauty.
Even worse, we instinctively trust the beautiful,
never looking beyond their bodies, as though
perfect hair indicates a perfect brain or a pure
heart. When we stop to think about it, we know
this is foolish, but we rarely do think about it.
Make me more conscious of this error, Lord.
Teach me to look through appearance when I
choose my heroes or my husband. A perfect
hairdo should not unduly influence me—it may
be warming a very small brain. An expensive
Italian suit may very well be covering a dark heart.
Help me see beyond beauty—or the lack of it.

Beauty—21
 The Beauty of Holiness
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name:
bring an offering, and come before him:
worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
1 Chronicles 16:29

H oliness is true beauty, not what I wear or

how my hair is done or how white my
teeth shine. Indeed, holiness is Yours, never
mine. I am fatally flawed, but I worship One
who is perfect in all ways, One whose glory
alone is worthy of praise and thanksgiving.
There is no beauty compared to Yours, no
faithfulness like Yours. The little glimpses of
beauty that decorate my life are grains of silver
sand at the edge of an incomprehensible ocean
of beauty. I only see a grain or two in my
lifetime, but it dazzles my eyes and makes me
turn away blinking. I worship You in the beauty
of Your holiness.

22—Beauty
 The Work of Our Hands
And let the beauty of
the Lord our God be upon us:
and establish thou the work
of our hands upon us;
yea, the work of our hands
establish thou it.
Psalm 90:17

W hat I do for a living can be either

secular or sacred. The choice is mine.
The kind of work I do is not important. I can
do anything in a way that glorifies You, Father.
A worker in the humblest of jobs is just as
capable of demonstrating Your beauty as one in
the most exalted of positions. The next time I
am feeling unproductive or unappreciated,
remind me that I am working for Your glory,
not my own. A tiny bit of Your beauty is
reflected in my work, whatever it might be. May
those I work with always see You in my life and
be brought closer to You through me.

Beauty—23
 Mary’s Song of Praise
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the
low estate of his handmaiden:
for, behold, from henceforth
all generations shall call me blessed.
Luke 1:46–48

O f all the women in the world—young or

old, rich or poor, of high status or low—
You chose a young girl from an unimportant,
backwater province to bear Your Son, our
Savior. Her response was, appropriately, a song
of joy and praise, one of the most moving
prayers in the Bible. Mary understood that You
had given her a great honor that would be
remembered forever, and she welcomed it—as
well as the responsibility that came with it—
with joy. You bless my life in many ways every
day, Father. May I receive Your blessings with a
song of thanksgiving on my lips.

24—Anger
24—Blessings
 God’s Mercy
For he that is mighty
hath done to me great things;
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on them that
fear him from generation to generation.
Luke 1:49–50

M ary realized that her honor was not

of her own making but came as a gift
from You, Father. All she had done was live in
obedience to Your laws the best she could, as
had her fathers and those before them since
Abraham. You had promised to do mighty
things for Your people. Sometimes they had
obeyed You and flourished; other times they
had followed idols and felt the pain of Your
anger. However, Your mercy is always on those
who follow You, and their blessings flow from
Your constant love. Make me mindful of Your
great gifts, Father, that my song may praise
Your work in my life.

Blessings—25
Anger—25
 Scattering the Proud
He hath shewed strength with his arm;
he hath scattered the proud
in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats,
and exalted them of low degree.
Luke 1:51–52

M ary knew that she was not important

in the eyes of the world, not in the
ways people usually reckon importance. Pride is
of no value. It is a false feeling of righteousness
that only lives “in the imagination of their
hearts.” In choosing Mary to bear Your Son,
You ignored the proud and powerful,
demonstrating Your love for the unimportant
people of the world, those who follow Your
ways in spite of the world. Mary claimed no
part of Your glory. Help me to understand that
You value faithfulness and to trust in Your love
above all else, claiming none of Your glory as a
personal reward.

26—Blessings
 In Remembrance of
His Mercy
He hath filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath holpen his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy;
as he spake to our fathers,
to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
Luke 1:53–55

N ot only did You bless Mary, Father, but

You also blessed Israel, sending Your
Son to redeem this people You had always
loved. Your constant mercy to them had been
demonstrated from Abraham onward, even
when they sinned against You and followed
idols. Now Your promises to them would be
fulfilled through Mary’s delivery of the Savior.
Not all would accept this precious sign of Your
mercy, but the offer was made for all. I am not
worthy of Your gifts of mercy and forgiveness,
Father, but I accept them with the joy of Mary.

Blessings—27
 Being There
Cast me not off in the time of old age;
forsake me not when my strength faileth.
Psalm 71:9

T here comes a time in every woman’s life

when her parents—those strong, loving
people who gave their all to raising their
children—will begin to need help. When that
time comes for me, Father, give me the wisdom
to understand the problems they are having and
the often simple ways I can be of service to
them. Show me how to make time for them in
my busy life now, to give them what they need
and want the most—my love and attention,
time with their grandchildren, and my promise
that I will never forsake them. Above all, Father,
help us find the suitable balance between
independence and protection that will assure
their safety and maintain the dignity they so
deserve.

28—Caregiving
 Dignity
Honour thy father and thy mother.
Exodus 20:12

I n time, I may have to begin to play a more

active role in the lives of my aging parents,
Lord. My mother may need help with the
shopping; my father may need to be convinced
he should not drive anymore. I may have to help
balance their checkbook or help with their
investments. This can be a difficult time for all
of us, especially if they feel they are a burden. I
ask Your help when this time comes. Remind
me that their dignity must be preserved whenever
I need to help them. Keep me tactful, allowing
them as much autonomy as possible within the
bounds of safety and honoring their wishes
above my own. They gave me so much; now it
is my honor to give to them.

Caregiving—29
 Inclusiveness
But if any widow have children or nephews,
let them learn first to shew piety at home,
and to requite their parents: for that is good
and acceptable before God.
1 Timothy 5:4

D aughters are usually the caregivers of the

family when parents grow old, but
everyone has a certain amount of responsibility.
Don’t let me try to carry the load by myself,
Father. My brothers and sisters need to feel
included, no matter how far away they live.
Show us how each can contribute to our parents’
care, whether through more frequent visits,
phone calls, or financial help. Don’t let me get
so wrapped up in caring for my parents that I
shut out other family members. Everyone is
hurting right now—even those who seem
unconcerned—and I need to draw us all
together so my parents’ old age will be a time of
good memories for everyone.

30—Caregiving
 Helping Hands
If any man or woman that believeth
have widows, let them relieve them,
and let not the church be charged;
that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
1 Timothy 5:16

A s my parents age and need more and

more help from me, remind me that
other help is available, Father. Part-time
companions or nursing aides can ease my
family’s time burdens and make it possible for
my parents to stay at home. Senior citizen
centers can provide quality activities and care for
the elderly. Meals on Wheels or other similar
programs can assure proper nutrition for those
still living on their own. The costs are minimal
and often absorbed by insurance. My family and
I will provide all we can, but there is no shame
in asking for help when it is needed. You have
provided these helpers for us; let us use them
wisely, Lord.

Caregiving—31
 With the Same Measure
Give, and it shall be given unto you;
good measure, pressed down,
and shaken together, and running over,
shall men give into your bosom.
For with the same measure that ye mete
withal it shall be measured to you again.
Luke 6:38

L ord, I am very careful when baking to see

that my measuring is accurate. Dry
ingredients need to be shaken and pressed
down, especially brown sugar, or the results will
not be as sweet as they should be. Teach me to
be just as meticulous in my charity. The cup of
flour I loan to my neighbor should be a full,
generous cupful; the clothing I donate to charity
should be clean and in good repair, not clothes
that belong in the garbage. My acts of charity
reflect on You, and I want to bring You honor
at all times.

32—Charity
 Giving with Joy
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart,
so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity:
for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7

L ord, sometimes I start out to give gener-

ously but end up putting the large bill
back in my wallet and finding a smaller one to
put in the plate. Other times I see my pew-
mates giving more than I have out, so I quickly
exchange the bills again because I feel pressured
to be more generous. By the time the plate is
out of sight, I don’t feel at all cheerful. I know
that no one really cares what I give. I am putting
the pressure on myself and can blame no one
but myself. Don’t let me feel social pressure
that’s not even there, Father. No matter how
much or how little I can donate, I should give
joyously.

Charity—33
 Giving in Private
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men,
to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward
of your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 6:1

F ather, I would prefer to wait for Your

reward in heaven but, being human, I am
not always able to wait. Can I at least tell my
husband? He won’t tell anyone else, because my
good deed was really insignificant. But the smile
on his face is already my reward, isn’t it? Doing
Your work should not be like my old Girl Scout
troop, where we had to find at least one good
deed a day to report at every meeting. Help me
overcome the urge to pat myself on the back in
the sight of others and wait to hear You say,
“Well done.”

34—Charity
 The Reward
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning,
and thine health shall spring forth speedily:
and thy righteousness shall go before thee;
the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.
Isaiah 58:8

Y ouam promise me wonderful rewards when I

charitable, Lord. I will be “like a
watered garden, and like a spring of water,
whose waters fail not” (Isaiah 58:11). Good
health will come to me, as well as a good
reputation, and I will live a life of righteousness.
Remind me of this the next time I pass up a
charity event for an evening in front of the
television set or hang up the telephone without
even listening to the caller. I cannot answer
every request made of me, so I count on You to
guide me as to where I should invest my efforts
in such a way as to bring You glory.

Charity—35
 God’s Gift
For unto us a child is born.
Isaiah 9:6

F ather, how wondrous is the birth of any

baby, whether it is mine or Yours. I
spend hours watching this new being sleep. He
was created by my husband and me yet is so
different from us. I dream great dreams for this
child’s future. I know this baby—our baby—is
truly special and pray he will be a blessing to the
whole world. Mary did not know the whole
story of her child’s future (it might have broken
her heart to know everything), but she knew He
was a gift from You that would bless all Your
creation. Be with us today in our joy and stay
near as we strive to raise this baby in a way that
will please You and allow him to accomplish
whatever You have planned for him.

36—Childbirth
 My Reward
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:
and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psalm 127:3

Y ouLord,haveoneequipped me for many things,

of which is the ability to bear
children. You made my body strong. You gave
me a husband who wants children as much as I
do. You assured me we could be good parents
with Your help. Because of Your blessings, this
tiny baby has joined us and made us a family. I
know there is much work ahead of us in raising
this baby—physical work, emotional work, and
spiritual work—but the rewards of parenthood
are already far greater than its demands, even on
the toughest of days. May Your presence in the
midst of our family bless this child throughout
the years to come. Thank You, Lord. We will
not fail this child. We will treasure Your gift.

Childbirth—37
 Praise the Lord
He maketh the barren woman to keep house,
and to be a joyful mother of children.
Praise ye the Lord.
Psalm 113:9

N ot all women will have children, Lord.

Some never find the right man, the man
they want to have children with. Some choose to
be childless. They invest their efforts and time
in other pursuits and are happy with their
choice, a choice You have allowed them through
Your gift of freedom. Others will have difficulty
and years of sadness that may never lead
to motherhood. Whether motherhood comes
easily, is not chosen, or comes later than desired,
help me remember that our lives are a deep
concern to You. If it is in Your will, there will
be children. If this is not the path You have
chosen for a couple, You will make their lives
meaningful in other ways. Praise ye the Lord.

38—Childbirth
 Marvelous Works
I will praise thee;
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvellous are thy works;
and that my soul knoweth right well.
Psalm 139:14

M y baby knows my face, and her

crooked little smile is heaven to me.
Some people in the family do not believe my
baby smiles at me (“Gas,” they proclaim), let
alone that she knows my face and associates it
with good things, but she is truly wonderfully
made. While once she was a little creature
looking for food or comfort, concerned only
with her own needs, now she suddenly knows
how to give me comfort. I don’t know how this
happens, Lord, but I thank You for all the
detailed, complex, and mysterious work You
have put into this little baby and Your decision
to let me be the mother of such an amazing little
being.

Childbirth—39
 Correcting in Love
Children, obey your parents in the Lord:
for this is right. Honour thy father and mother. . .
that it may be well with thee,
and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Ephesians 6:1–3

E ven young children have responsibilities,

but You carefully pair every command with
a promise—a tactic that most mothers readily
learn. This is not bribery but cause and effect;
children who obey and honor their parents find
family life far more enjoyable than those who
don’t. Then You add a second promise that can
only come from You: “and thou mayest live
long.” Raising obedient, loving children requires
me to show gentleness and patience, not threats
or harshness. I pray that You will teach me how
to soften each correction with the same love I
receive from You, who guides and corrects me.
May Your patience and kindness be made
visible through my actions.

40—Children
 Fathers and Discipline
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father,
and attend to know understanding.
For I give you good doctrine,
forsake ye not my law.
Proverbs 4:1–2

M ost family discipline comes from me

because I am home more than my
husband, and correction is best done promptly.
Many fathers avoid disciplining their children,
not wanting to spoil the few hours a day they
are with them, but children need to know that
their fathers are concerned about them and love
them enough to correct them. Lord, help me see
when my husband needs help in this area. Don’t
allow me to shut him out of this responsibility
just because that may be the easy path. Don’t let
me overburden him, either, always making him
play the role of “bad parent.” Teach us to work
as a team in raising our children, sharing the
good times and the bad.

Children—41
 Riotous Children
Even a child is known by his doings,
whether his work be pure,
and whether it be right.
Proverbs 20:11

T here are certain children I do not want to

let into my house, knowing something
will be broken, the cat tormented, or some new
transgression taught to my children. These are
not really bad children, just poorly raised ones.
No one has taught them the basic rules of
acceptable behavior. Some of them I can work
with gently—not taking the place of their
parents but civilizing them a little through love.
Others I will have to banish until they come to
their senses or Your love reaches their little
hearts. Father, I pray for these riotous children
who need Your love and instruction so much.
Show me how I can help them in some small
way without taking over their parents’ duties or
heaping blame on anyone.

42—Children
 Young Lambs
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger:
but they that seek the Lord
shall not want any good thing.
Psalm 34:10

S ome children are born lions; others are

born lambs—but the meek shall inherit
the earth. That is Your promise, even if I do
not see it fulfilled in my time. It is a lot harder
to raise a lamb than it is to raise a lion, Father.
The lion soon learns to make his own way,
taking what he needs, while a lamb needs
constant protection and care. But sometimes
there is a drought and the lions go hungry, while
the shepherd is still there to feed and water the
lambs. Father, protect my lambs. Feed them on
Your love. Teach me how to shepherd them
through the hard times and help them act in a
way that is pleasing to You.

Children—43
 A Child in the Crowd
And he took a child,
and set him in the midst of them:
and when he had taken him in his arms,
he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive
one of such children in my name, receiveth me.
Mark 9:36–37

I n biblical times, young children were not

considered much use until they could
contribute to the family’s welfare. Yet You
reached through the crowd of adults, including
the disciples, and pulled a little child into Your
arms as an example of faith. This must have
surprised the child, who had undoubtedly been
jostled and shoved away by the crowd. He may
not have seemed important to the adults, but
You knew the importance of childlike innocence
and faith. Salvation lies along that path. I know
my children have much to teach me, Lord. Help
me be receptive to Your lessons, especially when
You send them through a child.

44—Love of Children
 Greatness Redefined
And whosoever shall receive me
receiveth him that sent me:
for he that is least among you all,
the same shall be great.
Luke 9:48

Y ouanyone
continued Your lesson by saying that
who welcomes You also welcomes
Your Father, who sent You. Social status,
education, riches—all the things that society
values—are not as important to You as faith,
which even the humblest child can possess.
This is a difficult concept to teach children
today, Lord. Society encourages the worship of
sports figures and pop stars, the rich and the
famous. I need to redefine “greatness” for my
children and show them worthy examples of
those who have received You. They need to
know that there is a better, more glorious way
to live—one so simple that even a young child
can understand it.

Love of Children—45
 Judgment
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
and the calf and the young lion
and the fatling together;
and a little child shall lead them.
Isaiah 11:6

C hildren are easily frightened by the prospect

of judgment. They know they have sinned,
just as we, their parents, have, and feel anxiety
about their accounting, even though they have
accepted their salvation through You. You gave
us this verse to reassure us. Who would be afraid
to live when the hunters and the hunted live
together in perfect peace? There will be no more
wars, no more politics, no more fear, only Your
righteous rule forever. “And a little child shall
lead them.” When my children ask about Your
coming, remind me of this promise so they will
not fear what should be a great day for us all.

46—Love of Children
 The Promise
For the promise is unto you,
and to your children, and to all that are afar off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Acts 2:39

P eter was surrounded by people asking

what they must do to receive the Holy
Spirit. His answer was simple: “Repent, and be
baptized. . .for the remission of sins” (Acts
2:38). This promise was given to all, from every
nation, of every status, near or far, adults and
children alike. You will do the calling; all we
need to do is repent and be baptized. The pro-
cess is simple so that even the simplest can
understand. Help me explain this to my children,
Lord. I yearn to know they belong to You, for
as John said, “I have no greater joy than to hear
that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4).

Love of Children—47
 Covetousness
Let your conversation be without covetousness;
and be content with such things as ye have:
for he hath said, I will never
leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Hebrews 13:5

I t is so easy to fall into the trap of covetous-

ness, Lord. Today everything is bigger,
better, new and improved. About the only thing
that doesn’t get repackaged every year is Ivory
soap, but that still gets me clean. I miss feeling
old-fashioned contentment, using time-proven
products, and watching the sun set instead of
the evening news. Still, I admit I am not totally
content. There’s just so much available, and
some of it looks pretty good. On days when a
commercial gets to me a little, remind me that I
have everything I really need, Lord. Best of all, I
have You, whose promises never change, and
You will always supply my true needs.

48—Contentment
 A Merry Heart
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.
Proverbs 17:22

I know a woman who overflows with a

merry heart, Lord. She smiles continuously
and laughs loudly, infecting everyone around her
with the giggles. She makes everyone feel good
about themselves, no matter what the situation,
because her concern for others is genuine. She is
a very sick woman but enjoys every moment of
life, whether it is full of joy or pain, and shrugs
off her illnesses. I frankly do not know how she
does it, but I do believe her happy heart has
lengthened her life. Lord, I wish I could live in
continuous joy the way she does. I would like to
be remembered for my laugh but am afraid not
enough people have heard it. I would love to be
content no matter what comes my way. Keep
this woman healthy as well as happy. The world
needs her.

Contentment—49
 Affliction
All the days of the afflicted are evil:
but he that is of a merry heart
hath a continual feast.
Proverbs 15:15

I have been afflicted in my lifetime, as have

most women, but You helped me walk out
of affliction and invited me to Your continual
feast. Right now I am still at Your banquet, but
I know affliction will come again. Right now I
am content and comfortable, enjoying life to its
fullest. I don’t know if I will feel that way when
trials come to me again, because I don’t really
have a merry heart. Like most people, I am
happiest when things are going nicely, but when
things go wrong, my heart is not so merry. Help
me get over this nagging self-doubt, Father.
Remind me that Your blessings are forever and
I have nothing to fear. Give me a merry heart, I
pray.

50—Contentment
 Fulfilled Dreams
Let not thine heart envy sinners:
but be thou in the fear
of the Lord all the day long.
For surely there is an end;
and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
Proverbs 23:17–18

W hy should my heart envy sinners? The

world may give them certain
advantages, but I am already content with my
life, so why would I follow them? I possess all I
need, more than they will ever enjoy: happiness,
joy, love, and forgiveness for my sins. Still, I can
understand that there are many good Christians
whose dreams are not coming true, Lord. They
struggle to make ends meet and provide for
their families, yet they walk through life with a
happy heart. Thank You for Your attention to
them, for Your provision, and for the promise
that their dreams will eventually come true. I
wish them the contentment I am now enjoying.

Contentment—51
 The Lesson
Now no chastening for the present
seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless afterward it yieldeth
the peaceable fruit of righteousness
unto them which are exercised thereby.
Hebrews 12:11

I am fairly sure that You occasionally have

to go to great lengths to get my attention,
Father. I rarely think that my troubles may
indeed be coming as Your means of correcting
me when I fall into some great error, because I
know You as a loving Father. But sometimes
when problems pile up, I just have to stop and
think: Did I do something that needs correcting?
I take time to confess my faults and ask Your
forgiveness, secure that You will forgive even my
hidden sins. Even if my prayer does not solve all
my problems, it does bring me back to You, and
perhaps that was the lesson I needed to learn in
the first place.

52—Correction
 The Wild Child
If ye endure chastening,
God dealeth with you as with sons;
for what son is he whom
the father chasteneth not?
Hebrews 12:7

T here is at least one in every neighborhood—

the wild child who only thinks of herself
and is never taught that certain behavior is
inappropriate. I do my child a disservice if I let
her think the world can be bent to her will.
Soon enough the world will teach her the hard
way, and I will be left to heal the wounds. Life
does have rules, and I need to teach them to my
children. Help me see when my children need
gentle, loving correction, and show me the best
approach to take. Let me be as kind and patient
with my children as You are with me, but don’t
let me fall into the error of letting them run
wild.

Correction—53
 Accepting Correction
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth:
therefore despise not thou
the chastening of the Almighty:
For he maketh sore, and bindeth up:
he woundeth, and his hands make whole.
Job 5:17–18

W hen You must correct me, Father, it

does not immediately make me happy.
It sometimes makes me struggle to get loose and
go my own way, especially when I don’t recog-
nize that I am dealing with Your correction. It’s
easier to blame someone else. But eventually I
see a pattern, or You open my eyes in other
ways, and I stop running away from You, be-
cause I know that You not only correct but also
heal. Your correction lasts only a moment; its
blessings are eternal. When I realize You are so
concerned for me and want to help me, I am
filled with gratitude and willing to be led in the
right direction.

54—Correction
 Worldly Correction
For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment,
worketh for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory.
2 Corinthians 4:17

T he world “corrects” me every day, Father,

quite often unjustly and in no way to my
benefit. At the time, the blows I suffer seem to
be more than I can bear. But with Your help I
do bear them, and when I bear them through
faith, my actions are examples of Your power
and love. The worst the world can do is kill me.
I’m not exactly eager for that, Father, but when
the time comes, I pray I will be able to bear
death as well as I bore life, secure in Your love
and looking to the salvation You have promised
is mine. Until then I will do my best to be Your
witness here on earth.

Correction—55
 The Feast
When the heart of the king was merry with wine,
he commanded. . .the seven chamberlains. . .
to bring Vashti the queen before the king
with the crown royal, to shew the people
and the princes her beauty.
Esther 1:10–11

A hasuerus had been entertaining for 187

days, the last seven of which had been a
lavish feast. Almost everyone was intoxicated
when the king sent his seven chamberlains to
bring Queen Vashti before the princes and his
party so they could admire her beauty. To
everyone’s shock, she refused to appear. Being
paraded before a bunch of drunks for their
amusement is not something any woman would
enjoy. All women have their standards; none
deserves to be treated like a piece of property.
When someone asks me to lower my standards
in order to make them feel like royalty, remind
me of Vashti and her dignity, Lord.

56—Dignity
 Contempt and Wrath
This deed of the queen shall come abroad unto
all women, so that they shall despise their
husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported.
Esther 1:17

T he king’s advisors saw danger in Queen

Vashti’s example. If she could get away
with being disobedient to the king, her act
would certainly affect every woman in the
kingdom. It would take time for the gossip to
spread—the kingdom was vast—but in time all
wives would hear the story and look on their
husbands with contempt and wrath. Or so the
wise men said. We know, Father, that such
broad conclusions are foolish. Most women
have respect for their husbands, and the example
of the queen would only be a problem for harsh,
overbearing husbands. Let us live in love and
peace, not fear losing some “authority” that
must be earned, not demanded.

Dignity—57
 Exile
Let there go a royal commandment from him. . .
that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus;
and let the king give her royal estate
unto another that is better than she.
Esther 1:19

B ecause Vashti refused to be paraded like

a woman of bad reputation, she was shut
off from the king, her royal estate as queen to be
given to another, more respectful woman. Most
women have had a similar experience in their
lives, Lord. We disagree with someone more
powerful than we are at work, and we lose our
job. We refuse to abandon our principles, and
the social invitations no longer include us. We
disagree with our husbands, and they give us the
cold shoulder for a day or two. Sometimes
we have to take a stand, no matter what happens.
When these times come, give us the character
and courage of Vashti, Lord.

58—Dignity
 Bearing Rule
He sent letters into all the king’s provinces,
into every province according to the writing
thereof. . .that every man should
bear rule in his own house.
Esther 1:22

A hasuerus’s actions probably made things

worse. I can just see the reaction of a
couple reading this notice. A woman would
laugh at a king whose pride was so hurt he
published such a decree. A man would puff up
in righteousness at first, until reality set in. After
all, you can’t legislate love and respect. It’s
foolish to even try. The lowest commoner in the
kingdom could do better than the king when it
came to domestic life. The next time someone
demands my respect, remind me that I have the
right to my own opinions and my own stan-
dards. When a husband rules his house, he does
so with his wife’s loving consent, not because of
some law.

Dignity—59
 Evidence
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1

L ord, astronomers have recently discovered

distant moons and planets they cannot see
through even the strongest of telescopes. By
observing the effects these bodies have on other
bodies—changes in orbit, for example—they
know these distant bodies simply must be there
or their effects would not be there. This is
“evidence of things not seen,” perhaps even the
“substance of things hoped for.” I admit I do
not totally understand how the astronomers do
this, but I find it comforting. There is so much
I do not understand about You. Still, I can see
the effects of Your actions, the evidence that
You are active in my daily life and the lives of
others. I do not need to physically see You to
believe. Your evidence is everywhere.

60—Faithfulness
 Not Wavering
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.
For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea
driven with the wind and tossed.
James 1:6

I ’ve been in rough seas, Lord. I know what

it’s like to be at the mercy of the waves, and
I don’t like it. If my whole life were similar to
the experience of being driven by the wind, I
would not only be miserable but I would never
get anywhere. To me, faith is a very big ship
with big motors and a captain who knows what
he’s doing. Faith keeps me on course. Sometimes
I waver. I don’t like the look of the waves ahead;
I fear we may be going in the wrong direction.
But I have a captain who never makes an error,
and the ship He commands is big and strong
enough for any wave.

Faithfulness—61
 Grace
For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God.
Ephesians 2:8

S ome days I get smug. My faith has brought

me through a bad time. Isn’t “my” faith
wonderful? I must be very good to have this
faith. Then I come back to earth. My being
good has nothing to do with my having faith. I
can’t earn faith; I can only borrow it. My faith
is on loan from You. It’s mine to cultivate and
grow and enjoy, but it’s Your seed, not mine,
and You give it to me out of love, not as a
reward for anything I’ve done or not done in my
life. I’m a sinner—I will always be a sinner—
but You have saved me through Your gift of
faith in Your Son, Jesus the Christ.

62—Faithfulness
 Living by Faith
And the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

L ord, You know I am a miserable sinner

unworthy of Your blessings, let alone Your
salvation. On my own, I am a hopeless case. I
gleefully jump over one sin and land right in
another. Yet You love me, You came to earth
to save me, and You entreat Your Father to
forgive my sins and accept me as a beloved
child. While my faith is small and puny, Yours
is perfect and mighty. The life I am living right
now is not the result of my faith in You but of
Your faith in me. Thank You for Your
sacrifice that saves me and makes me whole.
Without Your perfect faith, I would be
doomed.

Faithfulness—63
 Siblings
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart.
Leviticus 19:17

N o one suffers my disrespect more often

than a close family member, Lord. I
know my sister and brother all too well. It’s hard
to feel close to the big sister who tormented me
for years and would never let me borrow her
good clothes. My little brother spied on all my
dates and reported everything he saw to our
parents. Even as adults, they are capable of
hurting me more than anyone else because they
know exactly what will get under my skin. I
know this friction between us hurts our parents,
Lord, and ask You to help us all get along a little
better. Teach me to focus on the good times we
had together, not the bad, to quietly absorb their
little digs and concentrate on their good points
for the sake of family peace.

64—Family
 Brothers
Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother;
thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.
Psalm 50:20

M y brother is such an easy target, Lord.

I can embarrass him anytime I
choose. I know all his weaknesses, his little
secrets, and what I don’t know for sure I can
make up and get away with. He may no longer
hide under his bed and cry during thunderstorms,
but he is still not the bravest in the family. I do
slander him, making up childhood memories
that never existed for a good laugh at his
expense. No court would find me innocent.
Forgive me for treating a family member I really
do love this way. Show me his good points, for
I have overlooked or forgotten many of them.
For the sake of our parents, ourselves, and our
children, help me bring peace, forgiveness, and
love to our family.

Family—65
 Sisters
And why beholdest thou the mote
that is in thy brother’s eye,
but considerest not the beam
that is in thine own eye?
Matthew 7:3

M y sister and I have been at odds since

the day my parents brought her
home. I didn’t ask for a sister; I asked for a new
doll. Instead, I got a noisy, smelly little creature
who didn’t even know how to talk. I got
punished when she did wrong. When she hit
me, I was not allowed to hit back. We’re adults
now, and I am still a little disappointed in her.
At least now I realize that I have my own
problems, and she did not cause them. When I
need her, she is there for me. Help us overcome
our childishness and face the truth that we do
love each other. Neither of us is to blame for the
other’s childhood problems.

66—Family
 Family Justice
But why dost thou judge thy brother?
or why dost thou set at nought thy brother?
for we shall all stand before
the judgment seat of Christ.
Romans 14:10

I understand that it is not my job to judge

my sister or brother, Lord. When we were
young, that was the duty of our parents, and
they did a fair job of it with only a few
bad verdicts. My brother and sister through
blood deserve the same patience and love as
those in my Christian family. If I can forgive a
nonrelative who hurts me, I can be even more
forgiving within my family. If I can give charity
to strangers, I need to be at least as generous to
those related to me. Give me Your guidance,
Lord. Reveal the needs of my brother and
sister—whether they are physical, emotional, or
spiritual—and incline my heart to them.

Family—67
 New-Mother Fears
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love,
and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7

B efore I had children, I was young and

fearless. I had decades of life ahead of me
and no one else to worry about. That all
changed when my first child was born. I began
to live a safer life. Now I really had things to
worry about, responsibilities that at times
seemed worthy of fear. As I became an
experienced mother, my fears went away
(although some worry will always remain). I saw
that I could keep my children reasonably safe,
that living in fear was a terrible waste of time,
and that You had given me the powers of love
and a sound mind to guide me. Thank You for
helping me overcome my new-mother fears,
Lord. Life is too wonderful not to enjoy.

68—Fear
 Exhaustion
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid:
yea, thou shalt lie down,
and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Proverbs 3:24

S leep was indeed sweet when there was a

new baby in the house, Lord. It was also
nonexistent. My husband and I lived with
fatigue for three months, stumbling through the
days and longing for one good night’s sleep.
Not only did the baby’s crying keep us awake,
but so did the hypervigilance of new parents
that drove us to the baby’s room when things
were too quiet. Looking back at that time, I can
see that it was Your way of helping us bond
with our child—boot camp for parenthood.
Thank You for teaching us that we could handle
parenthood despite our fears and exhaustion.
Thank You for that first full night of sleep,
which was indeed sweet.

Fear—69
 Exile
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous,
and his ears are open unto their prayers:
but the face of the Lord is
against them that do evil.
1 Peter 3:12

I cannot imagine what it would feel like to

know that You had turned Your face
away from me, Lord. You would look after the
righteous but never even see me. You would
answer their prayers but choose not to even hear
mine. I would not exist to You. What loneliness!
What fear and desolation! Of course I am
thankful for the love and care You show to me,
but I take no pleasure from the suffering of
those You have turned away from. If it is in
Your will, rid them of their evil ways so they can
be touched by Your love again, made whole, and
brought back into fellowship with those who
follow You.

70—Fear
 The Evil One
Neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38–39

I know the evil one’s main goal is to

separate me from You, Father, by any
means possible, and there are lots of possible
means he can use. I have much to fear because
I am weak, and my faith is imperfect. But this
is one battle he can never win. He can never
stop You from loving me. You sent Your Son
to save me and make me whole, and the devil
will not prevail. I am Your adopted child
through Christ. I am Your beloved daughter.
Thank You, Father.

Fear—71
 The Virtue of Forgiveness
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged:
condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned:
forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.
Luke 6:37

L ord, it’s so easy to pass judgment on others

or condemn them. Sometimes it even
makes me feel good. “No decent woman would
dress like that,” I say, but what I mean is, “I am
a decent woman because I dress properly.”
When I do this, I am applying my personal
standards, not Yours. I am elevating myself, not
You. Anytime I become involved in judging or
condemning, I face the danger of having my
own standards being used against me. Forgive-
ness, however, is always a virtue. Keep me from
the temptation of making rash judgments or
condemning others, Lord. I have enough of my
own sins to confess and beg Your forgiveness for.

72—Forgiveness
 Cleansing Prayer
And when ye stand praying, forgive,
if ye have ought against any:
that your Father also which is in heaven
may forgive you your trespasses.
Mark 11:25

L ord, You make it quite clear that forgiveness

is a vital preparation for worship. In fact, it
should come before my other prayers, since the
forgiveness of my sins depends on my forgiveness
of others. If I go to services without forgiving, I
set up a roadblock between myself and You,
which is the last thing I want, since only You
can forgive me. Forgiving those who have
wronged me is not something I enjoy doing, but
it is simply good hygiene, like washing my
hands before eating. Remind me of this every
time I go to worship, Lord. Give me the
strength to forgive others so You will forgive
me my own trespasses.

Forgiveness—73
 My Guide
For if ye forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Matthew 6:14

I need to be forgiven for my sins, Father;

they are many, and they keep me from
fellowship with You. But if I have to forgive
those who have deeply hurt me, I find I have a
real problem. I can say the words, “I forgive my
sister for what she said,” but in the back of my
mind I hear, “No, I can’t. Not really.” I don’t
want to add lying to my sins, so what can I do?
I need Your help, Father. By myself, I cannot
truly forgive some wrongs, but Your strength is
sufficient. Show me the way to true forgiveness,
I pray. I want to do Your will despite my
weakness. Be my guide along this difficult path
that leads to my own sorely needed forgiveness.

74—Forgiveness
 Serial Sinning
And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day,
and seven times in a day turn again to thee,
saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
Luke 17:4

S ome people are just like little children who

never seem able to avoid mischief, Lord.
They trip their brother and apologize, then run
off to sock their sister, all the time saying, “I’m
sorry, Mommy. I’m sorry.” I’m not much better,
Lord. I shake off one sin, repent of it, then run
right into another, all the time claiming, “I’m
sorry. I’m really sorry.” And I am sorry every
time—just as my child is, just as my neighbor
is. My only hope is in You, whose patience is
perfect. If You can forgive me, surely I can
forgive my child or my neighbor, no matter how
many times forgiveness is required. Thank You,
Lord.

Forgiveness—75
 Patience
I am the vine, ye are the branches:
He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit:
for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:5

G rowing a fruit tree requires years of patience

to allow the roots to reach down into the
soil and establish themselves. Then the vine is
strong, and the branches are ready to bear. I
must allow myself time to take root in You,
Lord, before I will see the fruit of Your love.
The day I became a Christian, I thought every-
thing would change immediately, but the world
was still the same the next day, and so was I. I
didn’t know my roots were quietly growing and
that it would take years before I became a
mature, fruitful Christian. Thank You for the
patience You invested in me, Lord.

76—Fruitfulness
 A Nice, Sunny Spot
And he shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water,
that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
his leaf also shall not wither;
and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Psalm 1:3

I f I were a fruit tree, I would want to be

planted in a nice, sunny spot by a river.
That would take care of my strongest needs—
sunlight and water. Other trees planted in the
shade or a dry field would have a harder time,
and their fruits would not be as good as mine.
Where we are planted makes a big difference. I
am planted in You, Lord. I will take care to
keep my roots strong in You. I will have
patience, knowing my season is coming accord-
ing to Your timetable and trusting that with
Your help, every fruit I produce will be good.

Fruitfulness—77
 Bearing Fruit
Herein is my Father glorified,
that ye bear much fruit;
so shall ye be my disciples.
John 15:8

W hen I was called to be Your disciple,

Lord, my first thought was for my own
salvation. A great weight had been taken off my
shoulders; You promised me many things I
wanted and needed. All I had to do was accept
what You offered. I was pretty selfish about my
salvation. I finally realized that my soul had
another purpose: to glorify the Father who had
accepted me because of Your sacrifice. Whatever
fruit my life was to bear would be a song of
praise. Keep me mindful of this responsibility
throughout my life, Lord. All I am and do
should point the way for others, that they also
may enjoy the benefits of salvation and join
their voices in praise of Your Father in heaven.

78—Fruitfulness
 Singing without Words
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness,
which are by Jesus Christ,
unto the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:11

A s a child, I never raised my hand in

school unless it was obvious no one else
wanted to answer. Then I would raise my hand
to make my teacher feel better. The idea of
speaking in public makes me physically ill. Even
now, I could no more verbally witness than I can
fly. But You showed me other ways to witness
and give praise and glory to God. When I help
a neighbor in trouble, I am Your witness. When
I tell a child about You, I am bearing good fruit.
The same is true when I smile at a waitress or
thank my doctor for his good care. Thank You
for teaching me this, Lord. You have shown me
how to sing without words and serve without
notice.

Fruitfulness—79
 Eternally Useful
All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16

Y our Word was given to us thousands of

years ago, to a different time and different
people, yet it remains as useful to us as ever.
When You gave the Word to its writers through
inspiration, You gave us a book that would
stand forever because it deals with the human
heart, not a specific time and place. You meant
the Word to be eternally useful to all nations, all
languages, all civilizations. I admit there are
some parts of the Bible that baffle me, Father.
My understanding is weak. But when I am in
need of guidance, the first place I turn to is the
Bible. Any answer I need is in there if I search
for it diligently.

80—God’s Word
 Finding the Shoreline
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105

I f there’s one thing I need, it’s trustworthy

guidance, Lord. There is plenty of advice
available to me in these modern times. The
Internet is full of it—some good, some bad. If
I prefer hard copy, thousands of books are
published every year on religion and ethics.
Even television offers all types of advice for all
types of problems, whether I take it to heart or
not. If I took all the advice I hear seriously, I
would be driven like a wave from one place to
another without ever finding the shoreline.
There is only one way to reach the path to the
beach: trusting in Your Word. In darkness or
light, on fair days or foul, I can trust the light of
Your Word to bring me safely home.

God’s Word—81
 Baby Food
As newborn babes,
desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby.
1 Peter 2:2

W hen I was a baby, I tried to eat anything

I could hold in my hand, whether it
was good for me or not. When I became a
Christian, I did the same thing. I was in church
several days a week. I read theology books I
could not understand. I spent hours discussing
faith with other students. It nearly made me
sick. I was trying to eat the meat of faith with
baby teeth. Fortunately, a kind pastor handed
me a Bible and said, “Read this until you grow
up a little. You’re just a baby Christian now.”
I needed milk, not meat, and Your Bible
nourished me completely. Even now, when I can
digest everything better, Your Word is still the
best food for me.

82—God’s Word
 Guidance
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers
only. . . . Whoso looketh into the perfect law
of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not
a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work,
this man shall be blessed in his deed.
James 1:22, 25

G uidance is only useful when we listen to it

and take action based on it. It’s a foolish
traveler who asks for directions and drives off in
the wrong direction. Why bother to ask if you
don’t listen? Or why listen if you have no
intention of obeying? Your Word is my guide-
book, Lord, and I thank You for it, but some-
times I forget to act on what You teach me.
Why read about sisterhood and then go out and
slander my sister? Why study forgiveness if I
intend to hang on to my grudges? Show me my
errors and teach me the proper way to take
advice.

God’s Word—83
 Labor
Man goeth forth unto his work
and to his labour until the evening.
Psalm 104:23

S urvival mandates that we work, Father, and

our hopes of educating our children or
putting something away for our later years mean
that many women can no longer stay at home
when their husbands leave for work. This leaves
a lot of us feeling conflicted and guilty because
our mothers were always home when school let
out. Still, if I want to send my children to
college, work must be part of my life. I need an
attitude adjustment that can only come from
You. Let me be a cheerful worker, I pray. Re-
solve my conflicted feelings. Take away the guilt
that often comes with the need for child care.
Give me Your peace and an understanding that
all things work together for good when I follow
Your will.

84—God’s Work
 Laborers with God
For we are labourers together with God:
ye are God’s husbandry,
ye are God’s building.
1 Corinthians 3:9

T he best thing about working is knowing

I’m not working alone. I may plant the
seeds, but You water them. I may do the
weeding, but You send the sunshine. All I am
and all I do are done with You, the One who
created me and gifted me with whatever skills I
have. You give my work—whatever type of
work it may be—dignity and purpose. Your
faith in me enables me to continue my duties on
days when I would otherwise despair. At the
end of the day, my feet may be burning, but I
know I am walking in Your footsteps, and that
gives me peace. I thank You for the work I have.
May I do it in a way that is pleasing to You and
reflects Your glory.

God’s Work—85
 Working for God’s Glory
Every man’s work shall be made manifest. . .
the fire shall try every man’s work
of what sort it is.
1 Corinthians 3:13

I n the end, Father, You will be the judge of

my lifetime of work, and I know You don’t
care if I work behind a cash register or an oak
desk with a five-line telephone. It’s not what I
do that matters, but how I do it. Am I a cheerful
worker? Am I an honest worker? Am I a worker
whose love for You is evident in what I say and
how I treat my fellow workers? Do I care more
for my brothers and sisters than for my next
paycheck? I am Your ambassador, Lord, and
every day I try to show Your love to those who
do not know You. I pray that when the time
comes, You will find me worthy.

86—God’s Work
 Victory
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast,
unmoveable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that
your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58

I n my daily work I rarely experience victory.

I clean up one mess and move on to the
next, knowing even greater messes are just
around the corner. I never really seem to get
anywhere, to win any battles, or to see anything
truly completed. There are precious few victories
in my work. But You encourage me to hang in
there and keep on working for You, because
You have already won the victory in the most
important battle of all—the battle for my soul.
My daily problems come and go; yet if I remain
steadfast and dedicated, doing the work You
have given me to do, I am confident that my
reward awaits me. Thank You, Lord.

God’s Work—87
 Faithfulness
The heart of her husband
doth safely trust in her. . . .
She will do him good and not evil
all the days of her life.
Proverbs 31:11–12

F ather, through King Lemuel’s mother,

You gave him good advice on how to
rule his kingdom and find a good wife. First and
foremost, she said, a good wife can be trusted.
Her husband never has to worry about her
intentions or actions, because she will always be
faithful and considerate. The care of her family
is paramount to her; she helps provide for their
needs through the work of her hands. Her
priorities are always in order. Help me live in
such a way that my family finds me trustworthy,
Father. Give me faithfulness in all things large
and small, so I may be an example to my
children and a blessing to my husband.

88—The Good Wife

 Strength and Initiative
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it;
and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. . . .
She looketh well to the ways of her household,
and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Proverbs 31:24, 27

T he good wife’s work of making fine linens

is of such quality that she has money left
over when her family’s needs are met, so she sells
her excess cloth. She does not squander her
profits, however—she saves until she finds a
good in-vestment. This means even more hard
work for her, but she is strong and willing to
take on the responsibility, holding two full-
time jobs while still caring for her family. While
I cannot approach her perfection, with Your
help I can learn to handle our family finances as
carefully as she does. I pray You will show me
how to be a strong, loving woman.

The Good Wife—89

 The Rewards of
Hard Work
Strength and honour are her clothing;
and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom;
and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Proverbs 31:25–26

T he good wife brings honor to her husband

and children. She seeks out and provides
for the poor; everything she says is wise and
kind. Right now, her work seems hard and never
ending, but in time she will be able to rejoice,
because she will have taught her children how to
live, work, and prosper. The good deeds she has
done will be known to everyone, and she will
serve as the model of a virtuous woman. When
I grow old, Lord, may I also see the fruits of my
labor and rejoice, knowing that all my efforts
were well worth the time and energy I put into
them.

90—The Good Wife

 Call Her Blessed
Her children arise up, and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Proverbs 31:28

W hat more could any wife and mother

want? The good wife’s children have
seen her hard work throughout their childhood
and know how blessed they are to have her as
their mother. Through her example, she taught
them how to live a good, productive life that is
fruitful and secure. Because of her care, no one
in her has family ever wanted for anything. Her
husband, who has totally trusted her for all these
years, knows his trust is well placed and does
not hesitate to praise her publicly before the
village elders, who have also seen her life and
know her husband’s joy is well founded. I wish
I were half as competent as this woman, Lord,
and I will follow her good example to help my
family prosper as hers did.

The Good Wife—91

 Beyond Comforting
And all his sons and all his daughters
rose up to comfort him;
but he refused to be comforted;
and he said, For I will go down
into the grave unto my son mourning.
Genesis 37:35

J acob refused to be comforted when he

believed Joseph was dead. Nothing in the
world had meaning for him—his many other
children, his riches, even his God paled before
his grief. He was beyond comforting. In time we
all will descend into this dark hole in our lives
that turns our world into ashes, a place all
women know too well. When grief comes to
me, Father, I know You will understand if I turn
my face away from everyone for a time. I know
this because You suffered the same way at the
death of Your Son. In time I will return to life,
but for a while I will be beyond comforting.

92—Grief
 Seasons
To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven. . . .
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4

G rief is like a season in many ways. It goes

through stages, each with its own special
characteristics. Some of these characteristics are
brutal, Lord; others are comforting. But like the
seasons, grief eventually gives way to sorrow, to
acceptance, to understanding, even to joy for the
time we had with the one we lost. A wise
woman is always prepared for grief, because it
comes to all. A wise woman also knows that
grief does pass with time. When my time comes
to grieve, Lord, be with me. Hold me up with
Your mighty arms until I can stand on my own
once more. Hasten the passing of my season of
grief.

Grief—93
 Comfort
Blessed are they that mourn:
for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

W e may refuse to be comforted at first,

but with time we see there is no shame
in letting others weep with us. No one knows
what to say to a mourner, but words are not
really needed. When a friend of mine loses a
loved one, give me guidance on how I can best
help her. Perhaps I can watch the children to
give her some private time. Maybe sending a son
over to mow the lawn would help. Would she
want my husband to help her find the documents
she needs or give some financial advice? A few
days’ worth of frozen, home-cooked meals is
always welcome. I don’t want to intrude or seem
overbearing, so give me tactfulness and the
ability to see what is needed and how I can best
be of help.

94—Grief
 Healing
Praise ye the Lord. . . . He healeth the broken
in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Psalm 147:1, 3

I n a few months Your healing will begin

to be obvious, Lord. My friend will be
finished with most of the necessary chores death
entails. She will be back at work and beginning
to appear at church and community events. Her
children will be adjusting well. Although she
seems to be returning to normal, I must remem-
ber that my friend is still very much in pain.
This is a time when I must listen carefully,
Lord. If she needs someone to discuss future
plans with, make me available to her. If she
needs expert help, let me help her find good
advisors. Above all, give her Your guidance and
support as she makes important decisions about
the life she is rebuilding for herself.

Grief—95
 Getting Lost
I will instruct thee and teach thee
in the way which thou shalt go:
I will guide thee with mine eye.
Psalm 32:8

I am easily lost, Lord. My sense of direction

is terrible, and maps just confuse me. On
days before important appointments, I go out
and see if the roads I know take me where I
want to go, which usually means I get lost two
days in a row. I certainly need Your guidance on
the road. Of course I need it in more important
matters, too. Thank You for Your promise to
guide me in all things great and small. Your eye
is always on me, keeping me from error and
ensuring that I can always find my way home to
You, no matter how often I wander off the right
road or face detours and dead ends.

96—Guidance
 Planning
A man’s heart deviseth his way:
but the Lord directeth his steps.
Proverbs 16:9

I have made lots of plans in my lifetime,

Father, some of them just wishful
thinking, some very concrete and detailed. They
were all good mental discipline, but not that
many worked out the way I thought they would.
Some I was not at all suited for; others would
take me two lifetimes to complete. Still, it’s
good to have some idea of where I want to go
and what I will need along the way. Not all my
plans are in Your will, though—even those that
sound like good ideas to me. When they are
not, You show me a better idea, and I thank
You for Your guidance. Keep me on the right
path when my own plans are flawed, because
only You know where You need me to be today
and tomorrow.

Guidance—97
 Hold My Hand
I am continually with thee:
thou hast holden me by my right hand.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel,
and afterward receive me to glory.
Psalm 73:23–24

O ften I am like a little child in a big toy

store, running from aisle to aisle and
asking for everything that looks good. Sometimes
You grant me my wish; other times You say no.
Like a loving parent, You hold me by the hand
so I don’t get lost in the store, just as my mother
always did. Like my mother, You point out
when my wishes are poorly made or too expen-
sive for my soul. I admit that once in a while I
have a temper tantrum, disputing Your guidance
and wanting my own way, but You have never
been wrong. Thank You for Your love and
patience, for I will always need Your guidance.

98—Guidance
 The Pathway
And thine ears shall hear
a word behind thee, saying,
This is the way, walk ye in it,
when ye turn to the right hand,
and when ye turn to the left.
Isaiah 30:21

I f life is like a pathway in the woods, I’m

always making problems for myself along
the way. The woods are deep and dark, and I am
easily distracted. I go off to the left to find a
hidden spring that I can hear bubbling up, only
to lose the path. I follow the tracks of a deer
until sunset and barely find shelter before
darkness falls. I make the same mistakes on the
path of life, losing sight of the trail and calling
out for You to find me before it’s too late and I
am lost forever. Thank You for finding me,
Lord, for putting my feet back on the path and
leading me home.

Guidance—99
 Unworthiness
If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

O n my worst days I feel totally unworthy. I

gather up my little pile of sins like dirty
laundry and shake them toward the sky. “How
can You possibly forgive this sin?” I ask, repeat-
ing the process until all my sins have been
displayed. On my best days I calmly confess my
sins (the exact same sins I had the day before),
accept Your forgiveness, and go on with my life
without guilt. I suspect that both reactions to
guilt are acceptable, however. Confession is
confession no matter how I phrase it. You have
promised to cleanse me from all unrighteousness,
to wipe away my guilt and make me whole if I
confess my sins, and I thank You on both my
good and bad days.

100—Guilt
 The Empty Wastebasket
As far as the east is from the west,
so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12

I t’s good to know You keep no “permanent

file” with my name on it, Father. It would
take up a lot of space. Like a good businessperson,
You only handle a piece of paper once: read it,
act on it, toss it. Or in more biblical terms, hear
my confession, forgive me, then wipe away my
sins forever. Toss them in a basket on the far
side of the world and burn the contents of the
basket every night. I’ll surely be back tomorrow
with another load. Thank You for dealing with
my sins so thoroughly, Lord, for granting me a
new start every day and proclaiming that while I
am worth saving, my confessed sins are not.

Guilt—101
 My Self-Condemning
Heart
For if our heart condemn us,
God is greater than our heart,
and knoweth all things.
1 John 3:20

G uilt? I know it well. It lives in my heart and

tries to convince me that You could never
love me as much as You love far better people.
My heart tells me I barely have a passing grade
and should forget the honor roll. No singing for
me in heaven; I’ll probably be polishing silver
and gold all day. But You are greater than my
heart, Father, and when my heart is wrong, it
doesn’t fool You. You know everything that was
and everything that is yet to be. You forgive my
sins and make me far better than my self-
condemning heart thinks I am. Rid me of my
useless guilt. I would be honored to polish Your
silver for eternity.

102—Guilt
 A New Day
Therefore if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature:
old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

E very day I get to start over, fresh and clean,

because I am a new person after I confess
my sins and receive Your forgiveness. Yesterday
I was selfish; today I can be selfless. Yesterday I
was filled with deceit; today I can be honest. I
may fall backward into my old sins from time to
time, but tomorrow is always a new beginning,
and I do learn, if slowly. I have a lifetime of new
days to spend any way I choose, and I thank
You for that, because I’m bound to get it wrong
now and then. When I do, You wipe the slate
clean as the dawn and encourage me to try again.
Thank You for Your never-ending forgiveness.

Guilt—103
 The Most
Dangerous Illness
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5

S ome of my illnesses I can heal on my own

or with the help of my doctor. Some of
them, time will heal (or not). These are physical
illnesses, seldom serious but always frightening.
You are concerned with these illnesses and give
me aids such as prayer, but Your real concern is
the health of my soul, which was perilous indeed
until You sent Your Son to suffer in my place
and save me from my sins. Once I was freed
from my sins by His sacrifice of atonement, all
things became possible for me through faith,
including the healing of my body. Thank You,
Father, for sending Your Son when I was so
unworthy.

104—Healing
 Prayer Warriors
Confess your faults one to another,
and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
The effectual fervent prayer of
a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16

T here are prayer warriors all over the world,

many of them women, who pray daily for
the health of everyone suffering or in need,
whether they know them personally or not.
They do their work totally without fanfare,
sometimes as a group, often individually. If I
have confessed my sins and been forgiven,
somewhere someone will have been praying for
me, even if in a general way. I won’t even know
I am in their prayers and may never suspect that
my healing has come through them. Bless these
prayerful, unselfish people, Lord. Reward them
for their efforts on behalf of all believers who
are ill, and assure them that their efforts are not
in vain.

Healing—105
 Belief
Believe ye that I am able to do this?
They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
Then touched he their eyes, saying,
According to your faith be it unto you.
And their eyes were opened.
Matthew 9:28–30

I may pray day and night for healing, but

without believing in the One to whom I
am praying, my words are in vain. “According to
your faith be it unto you” is a great promise. It
is also a condition for healing. Sometimes I
forget this, Father. I toss out prayer after prayer,
just in case: in case You are listening; in case
nothing else works; in case You can actually do
this. On an ordinary day, I do believe You are
able to heal me, but sickness frightens me, and I
start qualifying every prayer. Forgive my
wavering, I pray. Strengthen my faith and make
me whole once more.

106—Healing
 The Sacrifice
But that ye may know that the Son of man
hath power on earth to forgive sins. . .
Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
And he arose, and departed to his house.
Matthew 9:6–7

T here is absolutely no doubt that Your Son

had total faith in You, Father. You gave
Him the power to forgive sins and heal, and He
did not hesitate to demonstrate Your glory
through His healing. He must have known that
His miracles would lead to suffering and death.
Being truly human, He must have felt some fear
because of what was to come, and yet He healed
to show us that You had given Him the power
to forgive sins, that all could be saved through
faith, even though He knew that every healing
brought Him closer to death. Thank You,
Lord, for Your great sacrifice.

Healing—107
 Anxiety
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art
thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God:
for I shall yet praise him, who is the health
of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 42:11

G eneralized anxiety, the doctors call it—that

nagging feeling that something is wrong but
cannot be pinned down. A lot of women know
this feeling. It seems to be our job to worry
about others and see dangers others never
glimpse. Yet You did not create me to live in
fear, but in hope. It is Your joy to watch over
me. Who could do it better? You are with my
husband on the long drive to work. You hold
my child’s hand at the crosswalk. I am not
responsible for everyone and everything—You
are, and I know You are trustworthy. Help me
to hope in You and trust Your protection.

108—Hope
 Real Dangers
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,
be sober, and hope to the end for the grace
that is to be brought unto you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:13

S ometimes danger is too real. A child be-

comes dangerously ill, a relative has a
stroke, or someone we love is in an accident. We
all react differently to such disasters, but even-
tually we all fall apart. Even those who seem
strong as a rock shake on the inside. Somehow
we manage to cope, to hold ourselves together
and do what needs to be done in spite of our
fear and grief. We live in hope: first in hope of
a cure, then, if that fails, in hope of salvation.
When all hope seems to be lost, Lord, be with
those who suffer. Help them to never abandon
hope, for all things are possible with You.

Hope—109
 Dying in Hope
The wicked is driven away in his wickedness:
but the righteous hath hope in his death.
Proverbs 14:32

T he life we have lived can be a great com-

fort to those we love when it comes time
for us to die. They have enjoyed our love; they
have witnessed our good deeds and seen the
evidence of our faith. They are secure in the
knowledge that we are with You even as they
mourn. They do not fear for our soul, and that
lifts a great weight from their minds. Even in
death, we comfort them. Teach me to live this
kind of life, Lord. Let me leave those I love in
peace, not fear. As a daughter, wife, and mother,
it has been my pleasure to ease the burdens of
those I love, and I would like to do so one last
time by living and dying in hope.

110—Hope
 Courage
Be of good courage,
and he shall strengthen your heart,
all ye that hope in the Lord.
Psalm 31:24

I am not naturally a woman of courage,

Lord. Superhighways make me nervous,
but they get me where I am going faster than
back roads do. I fear going to the dentist,
although she has never hurt me. I pick up a
small grandchild being approached by a large
dog, even if the dog’s tail is wagging happily.
“You worry too much,” my children say, and
they are right. None of this is Your fault, Lord.
I don’t even think it’s mine. It’s just the way I
am. Give me the courage I need to control my
fears, Lord. I know that You love me and watch
over those I love far better than I can. Strengthen
my heart.

Hope—111
 A Seat at the Table
Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
1 Peter 4:9

H ospitality involves an effort, whether it’s

hosting a dinner party for twelve or
throwing another potato in the stew for a child
who doesn’t want to eat at home that night.
Hospitality means greeting newcomers after
church services, maybe giving them the name of
a good babysitter or pizza place. It means going
to my child’s piano recital and applauding every
child, not just my own. It is doing little
kindnesses cheerfully. Lord, You welcomed me
into Your family with love and acceptance. I was
not worthy of Your hospitality, but You found
me a seat at the table and fed me with Your
Word. Help me be as kind to others as You
have been to me—cheerfully welcoming
everyone who wishes to dine with me tonight.

112—Hospitality
 What Can I Do?
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute
of daily food, and one of you say unto them,
Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;
notwithstanding ye give them not those things
which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
James 2:15–16

K indbe supported
words are good, but they need to
by kind deeds. None of
my good wishes and concern will feed a hungry
child or find a job for her father. Hospitality
always involves doing something. It may be as
simple as introducing a person to an agency that
will help or to a used-car dealer they can trust.
If I know a person’s needs, I can find a way to
help. Lord, I know that I cannot solve everyone’s
problems. Make me mindful of what I can do
and willing to take the time involved to ease
another’s burden.

Hospitality—113
 Unrewarded Kindness
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto
one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto me.
Matthew 25:40

T here’s a popular saying today that no good

deed goes unpunished. Sometimes it feels
that way. But no one promised that hospitality
and brotherly love would be easy. Certainly
there is no guarantee it will be rewarded here on
earth. I just have to continue to treat people
with dig-nity and hope I don’t get emotionally
mugged in return. Yet You have promised that
my good deeds will someday be rewarded, and I
trust Your Word. When my cynical attitude
keeps me from performing acts of hospitality,
give me the faith and strength to do what needs
to be done, not because I want a reward but
because it is an honor to do Your work.

114—Hospitality
 Entertaining Angels
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:
for thereby some have entertained
angels unawares.
Hebrews 13:2

W hen my husband brings home a

football buddy and introduces him as
Joe or Pete before they take over the sofa and
eat all the snack food within a two-block
radius, do I ever think this stranger could be an
angel? Do angels paint their faces blue on game
day? Well, I don’t know—and that’s the point.
This visitor could be just another couch potato.
He could be the CEO of a huge corporation
who enjoys slumming. Or, just maybe, he could
be an angel. Lord, whether he’s nobody special
or one of Your army is not really my concern.
He is a guest, and I owe him hospitality. Help
me be gracious when it’s time to go out into the
cold to buy more chips and beef jerky.

Hospitality—115
 The Lonely Sparrow
I watch, and am as a sparrow
alone upon the house top.
Psalm 102:7

S ome days I feel just like that lonely

sparrow, Lord. Everyone else is crowded
around the bird feeder, caring for their babies,
or flitting to and fro on urgent business, but I
sit alone, just watching. What am I looking for?
Will I ever find a flock of my own to join? Will
anyone ever fly up and join me on the housetop,
easing this sense of separation I feel so acutely?
Yet You tell me that not one sparrow falls
without Your noticing and that I am of more
value than many sparrows (Matthew 10:29, 31).
You see me there alone on my rooftop, Lord.
You feel my loneliness, and suddenly I belong—
and I can sing a song of joy.

116—Loneliness
 Never Alone
I am a companion of all them that fear thee,
and of them that keep thy precepts.
Psalm 119:63

I know a church that refuses to give in to

fear, Lord. Its doors are never locked, and
sometimes I go in on my way home, sit alone in
a pew, and enjoy the shadowed quiet. When I
go to services there on Sunday, the church is full
and no one needs to be lonely. The congregation
welcomes me with brotherly love. But I relish
my early evening visits with You, for although I
may be alone in the sanctuary, I feel the presence
of two thousand years of saints—brothers and
sisters You love and still call by name. Because
of You I am never lonely. My roots are deep;
Your family of faith is always with me.

Loneliness—117
 “Here I Am”
Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer;
thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.
Isaiah 58:9

F ather, from my childhood You have never

left me to struggle alone. All the years of
my life You have been there to help me carry any
burden I must bear, whether it is physical,
emotional, or spiritual. I call out to You, and
You answer, just as my mother always did. She
knew my voice and could pick out my cry from
a babble of voices; You know my heart. When I
cry out to You, You are there, just behind my
shoulder, ready to catch me if I fall, ready to
support me if I stagger. When my strength fails,
Yours is always sufficient. Thank You for Your
constant love and care, for picking out my cry
and never failing to rescue me.

118—Loneliness
 Accepting the Gift
And I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you another Comforter,
that he may abide with you for ever. . . .
I will not leave you comfortless:
I will come to you.
John 14:16, 18

L ord, You know that sometimes I reject

Your promises. When I am really lonely
and depressed, nothing seems to make me feel
better. I know You are with me; I know You
care when no one else cares—but some days
even that is not enough. The fault is in me, not
in You. On days like that, remind me that
although Your promises are free for the taking,
I still need to accept them, to claim them, and
then to live in faith that they are mine. No gift
is truly ours until we open it and accept it in
thankfulness and joy.

Loneliness—119
 The Offer
God setteth the solitary in families.
Psalm 68:6

F ather, those who are happily married

cannot understand how others can be
happily single, just as parents cannot under-
stand how others exist happily without children.
You have provided for those who do not want a
solitary existence, who need companionship and
love to soften the daily rough spots of life,
offering us marriage and parenthood. Not
everyone will accept this offer, but that is their
decision, and You respect their freedom of
choice. I should do the same, no matter how
strongly I feel they are missing some wonderful
blessings. Constantly pushing others to find the
right person (forgetting how difficult that can
be) only discourages everyone. Give me the
strength to let my children make their own
decisions—no matter how much I personally
want an armful of grandchildren to brighten my
old age.

120—Marriage
 Matchmaking
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers:
and a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Proverbs 19:14

A ll parents hope their children will marry

someone who will not waste the fruits of
their work, but now that arranged marriages are
a thing of the past, young men and women have
to find their own spouses. It’s a little inconven-
ient, but I preferred to find the right person
without anyone butting in—especially my par-
ents. The good news is that You quietly help us
out in our search, either bringing the right
person along out of the blue or helping us see
the desirability of someone we have known for
years. Those of us still looking welcome Your
help, Father. You know what I need, and I trust
Your provision, knowing You always act in my
best interests and want me to have a happy life.

Marriage—121
 Fruit for the Table
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine
by the sides of thine house: thy children
like olive plants round about thy table.
Psalm 128:3

I know that a good wife makes for a good

home, bringing uncounted blessings to
her husband. The psalmist speaks of the wife as
providing fruit for her family—olives and
grapes for the picking—but of course he means
much more. Fruit is a luxury more difficult to
grow and scarcer than grain; it brings sweetness
and happiness to what could otherwise be a
boring meal. I want to be like a fruitful vine by
the house, Lord. With Your help I can, whether
the fruit I bring is children, a cheerful attitude,
or money to help provide food for my family.
Show me the best way to contribute to the
happiness of my home and family.

122—Marriage
 Sanctification
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified
by the wife, and the unbelieving wife
is sanctified by the husband.
1 Corinthians 7:14

F ather, I believe that it is best for believers

to marry other believers. Their goals are
the same, their priorities agree, and life generally
has fewer conflicts. But love will have its own
way, and sometimes believers love and marry
nonbelievers. When this happens, I must assume
You have a reason. Many unbelieving spouses
have come to You through the good example of
their loving partners—not through their
preaching or nagging, but through the love they
share and the kind of life that love makes
possible. Let me not be quick to judge or
oppose such a marriage out of hand. Let me give
love time to do its work. I may never see the
result I want, but I am sure it is safely in Your
hands.

Marriage—123
 Great Riches
There is that maketh himself rich,
yet hath nothing:
there is that maketh himself poor,
yet hath great riches.
Proverbs 13:7

L ord, money is pretty tight around here. We

have enough to get by, but nothing extra—
no savings for emergencies or retirement. Still,
we have managed to educate our children, and
they are living good, useful lives. It involved a
lot of sacrifice to get them to this point, but it
was worth it all. I know others whose children
went to the best schools without financial aid or
loans and are now living at home and going
nowhere in the expensive cars they received for
graduation. I see the disappointment in their
parents’ eyes and thank You for helping us raise
children who appreciate what they have and
work hard to build their own lives, with or
without financial riches.

124—Money
 Riches Have Wings
Labour not to be rich:
cease from thine own wisdom.
Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?
for riches certainly make themselves wings;
they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Proverbs 23:4–5

O ver the years I have learned much about

riches—in principle. I have learned that
every time I save up a little, the roof will begin
to leak or the driveway will need repaving. As
soon as I make vacation plans and pay the non-
refundable deposit, one of us will not be able to
get that week off. I’ve gotten used to this, Lord;
I know how to roll with the punches. There will
be time to save more money, and we’ll take other
vacations. I am not seeking riches anyway.
Thank You for what I do have, which is
happiness. Help me to be wise with what money
I have and use it in a way that pleases You.

Money—125
 Quietness of Spirit
Better is an handful with quietness,
than both the hands full with
travail and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 4:6

I confess that I am easily vexed, Lord, but it

is just the grouchiness of old age, not true
vexation of my spirit. I have been blessed with a
good life. I learned to live the simple life as a
child, when we didn’t have much money but
always had fun. I learned to be thankful when
my children were born. I learned to give when
others gave to me. I have also discovered that
the world is full of very nice people doing their
best under the circumstances. Oh, there are a
few stinkers in the crowd, but overall I like
people. Thank You for all You have given me,
Lord, for all You have taught me, and for all the
good times still to come.

126—Money
 Meeting Together
The rich and poor meet together:
the Lord is the maker of them all.
Proverbs 22:2

I refuse to let envy cloud my life, Lord, but

sometimes it’s hard to feel that I have
anything in common with the rich. After all, I
could redo my kitchen on what they earn in less
than a month. If I were to suddenly become
rich, I wouldn’t even know what to do with the
money left over after my needs were filled.
There’s really a lot that the rich and poor could
learn from each other if they took the time, and
maybe they should, because we are all Your
children. We have You as our common ancestor,
the Creator who loves us all. When envy creeps
into my heart, let me be happy for those You
have blessed—in any way. There is more than
enough of Your love to share.

Money—127
 Esther and Mordecai
And the king loved Esther above all the women. . .
and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Esther 2:17

E sther must have wondered why her cousin

Mordecai, who had raised her after her
parents’ death, had brought her to this pagan
king, but she knew You had a purpose and was
obedient to the man who raised her. As You
planned, the king fell in love with the young
Jewish girl and made her his wife. You knew
that her obedience and brave actions would save
the lives of all the Jews in the kingdom,
including herself and Mordecai, but she would
not know that until later. I usually do not know
why my life takes sudden turns for the good or
the bad, Lord. All I can do is serve You faith-
fully—whether in a palace or an apartment—
until Your plan for my life is revealed.

128—Obedience
 Taking a Chance
Whosoever. . .shall come unto the king
into the inner court, who is not called,
there is one law of his to put him to death,
except such to whom the king shall
hold out the golden sceptre.
Esther 4:11

H aman had convinced the king that the

Jews were a rebellious nation that should
be destroyed. Hearing about the decision,
Mordecai sent Esther a message: She must
convince the king to overturn his decree, or they
would all be killed. The king had not called
for her, and going in unannounced could cost
her her life. She fasted for three days, gathered
up her courage, and went to the inner court.
She had no other choice. Thousands of lives
depended on her. When Your purpose is
revealed to me, Father, I must accept my
responsibility and do Your will, even if doing
so may be dangerous.

Obedience—129
 Justice
Let my life be given me at my petition,
and my people at my request:
For we are sold, I and my people,
to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish.
Esther 7:3–4

T he king was furious. Who dared do this

without his consent? He had given Haman
the power to kill Jews, but that was before the
king knew Esther and Mordecai were Jewish.
Mordecai had once saved the king’s life; Esther
was his queen. He had been tricked. Haman
would die, and somehow the decree would be
overruled. Father, it often seems that might
makes right and I stand no chance, but Mordecai
and Esther knew Your power can overcome
whatever evil men might plan. When I am in
despair, fill me with faith in Your justice. Give
me the courage to speak up for Your people,
even when I face personal danger by doing so.

130—Obedience
 Victory
Thus the Jews smote all their enemies.
Esther 9:5

T he king could not take back Haman’s

order that the Jews be killed, but he could
make it difficult to fulfill. He gave the Jews
permission to defend themselves, killing anyone
who attacked them and taking their property.
“And all the rulers of the provinces, and the
lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the
king, helped the Jews” (Esther 9:3). The faithful
actions of Esther and Mordecai saved not only
themselves but also their people. The Bible tells
us that many of the people of the land became
Jews as a result of the power given them by the
king (Esther 8:17). Father, the next time I am
faced with danger for Your sake, let me
remember that You are faithful to reward Your
people, no matter how much I may fear.

Obedience—131
 Without Wavering
Let us hold fast the profession of
our faith without wavering;
(for he is faithful that promised).
Hebrews 10:23

L ord, with Your blood You wiped away my

sins, leaving me promises to enjoy in faith
until You come back again to claim me as Your
own. It takes patience to live in faith, and I
confess that sometimes my patience runs thin. I
wonder why You don’t act in ways that I can see
and understand. Why is there so much evil and
suffering in this world that discourage both the
faithful and the unfaithful? I don’t understand.
Help me realize that my understanding is not
necessary for the completion of Your plan. You
understand everything; all I need to do is have
faith. In the meantime, keep me from wavering,
Lord. Your faithfulness is perfect, and Your will
will be done.

132—Patience
 An Instant World
For ye have need of patience, that,
after ye have done the will of God,
ye might receive the promise.
Hebrews 10:36

T his is an instant world, Lord. Patience is

not much valued here. If I don’t get what
I think I need, I take charge myself and double
my efforts, not even thinking about sitting back
in patience and waiting for You to act. Like a
little child, I run to and fro looking for
something to amuse me, even when I know it’s
not amusement I need. Just like a child, I get
myself in trouble when I run ahead of You. On
days when I go off on my own, draw me close
to You until I calm down and begin to think
clearly. Everything is under control. All I need
has been provided. All I need to contribute is
faith and patience.

Patience—133
 Suffering in Patience
For what glory is it, if,
when ye be buffeted for your faults,
ye shall take it patiently?
but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it,
ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
1 Peter 2:20

T here are days, Lord, when some in my

family see me all too clearly. I have a full
set of faults, and they remind me of each and
every one. I try to be patient, but I deserve what
I get, so my patience is not much of a virtue. On
the other hand, sometimes I actually do well and
find myself being punished for that. As much as
I want to, I seldom show patience then. I can see
it would be a virtue, but I can’t quite get there.
Give me patience on both the good and bad
days, Lord. My judgment is flawed, but Yours
is perfect.

134—Patience
 Motherhood
And let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6:9

M others understand becoming weary

in well doing and trying not to faint.
As a young mother, I was often ready for a nap
at 10:00 a.m. Nap time every four hours was as
vital to me as it was to the health and well-being
of my baby. Now my children are grown, and I
am reaping the rewards of my patience—
grandchildren and a quiet house. I thank You
for all of it, Lord, the exhausting years and the
years of peace and fulfillment. I learned patience
and stamina over those years, characteristics vital
to my faith today. Because of my training as a
mother, I may become weary but I will not give
up, for I know the harvest is well worth the
effort.

Patience—135
 Martha’s Hospitality
He entered into a certain village:
and a certain woman named Martha
received him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary,
which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
Luke 10:38–39

H ow honored Martha must have felt when

You accepted her offer of hospitality,
Lord. At the same time, she must have been a
little worried. Was there enough food available
for You and the disciples? Was it cooked prop-
erly? Were there enough clean bowls? Would
You like what she cooked? There is always the
possibility of disaster when unexpected guests
arrive. I can easily understand Martha’s worries,
Lord, but don’t let my worries make me shy
away from offering hospitality to anyone who
comes in Your name. One way or the other, I
will manage to get an acceptable dinner on the
table.

136—Priorities
 Martha’s Plea
But Martha was cumbered about much serving,
and came to him, and said,
Lord, dost thou not care that my sister
hath left me to serve alone?
bid her therefore that she help me.
Luke 10:40

I t was hot in the kitchen, with too much

work to do and too little help. Martha saw
Mary sitting calmly at Your feet when she
should have been sweating over the fire, as she
was, so she asked You to chase her sister back to
her duties. I’ve felt the same way many times,
Lord. All those perfectly healthy family members
are out there being sociable when all I have to
talk to is a pile of dirty dishes. Would it hurt
them to help out? In times like these, keep me
polite and gracious, not bitter. After all, the
dishes can always wait until the party is over.

Priorities—137
 Jesus’ Compassion
Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha,
thou art careful and troubled about many things.
Luke 10:41

Y ouMartha
showed so much compassion when
asked You to send Mary back to
her work, Lord. You understood that she was
worried about the many details involved in
entertaining. Your words demonstrated how
much You cared for her and acknowledged that
You knew how much she was caught up in
providing You a good meal, not something just
thrown together. That dinner was the way
Martha chose to show her love for You. Some-
times a kind word of understanding is all I need
when I feel overwhelmed, Lord. The cir-
cumstances may not change, but I feel better
about my burdens when someone simply
acknowledges them. Let me give the same
compassion to those who work so hard for my
benefit.

138—Priorities
 Jesus’ Answer
But one thing is needful:
and Mary hath chosen that good part,
which shall not be taken away from her.
Luke 10:42

Y ououralways manage to gently show us when

priorities are out of order, Lord.
Martha was so wrapped up in her work that she
had no time to listen to You, while Mary knew
that being with You and learning what You had
to teach her should be her highest priority.
There would be many more dinners to prepare,
but Your time on earth would soon be over.
Hospitality means more than good food; it also
involves spending time with those we invite into
our houses. The next time I get so involved in
the mechanics of hospitality that I never get to
talk to my guests, realign my priorities and help
me enjoy my own party.

Priorities—139
 The Promise
I will certainly return unto thee according
to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall
have a son. . . . Now Abraham and Sarah
were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased
to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
Genesis 18:10–11

F ather, You often seem to choose the

most unlikely women to bear extra-
ordinary men—the barren, the virgin, the
woman too old for childbearing. Doing the
impossible suddenly becomes quite possible for
these women. Whatever their physical condition,
Your promise to them is always fulfilled, and
Your will has its way. Whenever I feel that Your
promises are impossible for me—I am too old,
or too poor, or too unfaithful—remind me of
these extraordinary women of faith who did
Your will and saw Your promises to them
fulfilled despite the odds. Make their faith my
example and deliver me from doubt.

140—Promises
 Sarah Laughed
And the Lord said unto Abraham,
Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying,
Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
Is any thing too hard for the Lord?
Genesis 18:13–14

S arah was keeping out of the way in the tent,

but she heard Your promise to Abraham
clearly enough. Abraham was one hundred years
old, she was ninety, but You had just promised
they would have a son. These were normal
people in nearly every way, and the physical,
human impossibility of Your promise was just
too much for them. They both laughed at the
news (Genesis 17:17). When You take us by
surprise and offer us a promise far beyond our
ability to understand, our first reaction may be
to shake our heads and laugh. We know nothing
is impossible for You—it’s ourselves we are
doubting. We beg of You, have patience with us.

Promises—141
 The Promise Fulfilled
And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said,
and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham
a son in his old age, at the set time
of which God had spoken to him.
Genesis 21:1–2

Y oufatherpromised that Abraham would be the

of many nations and You would be
their God forever. You would give them the land
of Canaan as an everlasting possession and never
leave them as long as they obeyed Your
commands. But before Abraham could be the
father of nations, he needed to father a son—
not the son of a servant, but Sarah’s son, whom
You had chosen. And so it was. We cannot
begin to understand how Your promises are
fulfilled, Father, but we know nothing is
impossible for You and all Your promises will
come true. All we need is faith.

142—Promises
 The Power of Faith
Through faith also Sara herself received strength
to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child
when she was past age, because she judged
him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:11

S ometimes I wonder what would have

happened if Sarah had not had the necessary
faith. On their own, she and Abraham could
never have had a son. This is a moot point,
though: You knew Sarah did have enough faith,
or You would not have made the promise. I
often feel that I lack faith, Lord, that You must
be speaking promises meant for someone else—
someone more faithful and deserving of them.
Show me the error of this lack of self-respect, I
pray. If You give me a promise, Lord, it is because
I do have the necessary faith, whether I know it
or not. All I need to do is act on it.

Promises—143
 In the Temple
of My Heart
I will abundantly bless her [ Zion’s] provision:
I will satisfy her poor with bread.
Psalm 132:15

G od, You chose to make Your home in Zion

forever, where David’s descendants would
rule under Your law until Christ’s coming. In
return for Zion’s faithfulness, You promised to
amply provide for the city’s citizens, even
satisfying the poor with bread. No one would
be left out in Your chosen home. Now the
temple is gone, but You still live in our hearts,
and the promise still holds. When I am having
trouble with my finances, Father, remind me
that You will always provide, one way or
another, for those who love You. Give me
confidence in Your promises so I may never
worry about the welfare of my children, whom
You love even more than I do and have promised
to care for.

144—Provision
 Dealing Wondrously
And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
that hath dealt wondrously with you.
Joel 2:26

Y ouFather,
promised to do great things for Israel,
even more than You did for them
in the past, when You brought them out of
Egypt. You would defend them from attack and
restore the fruitfulness of the soil, enriching
them and guaranteeing them good lives. “The
floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall
overflow with wine and oil” (Joel 2:24).
Frightening events would soon take place, but
whoever called on the name of the Lord would
be delivered. “The Lord will be the hope of his
people, and the strength of the children of
Israel” (3:16). Through turmoil and fear, You
always protect and save those who love You.
You will provide; You will save.

Provision—145
 God’s Promises Are Sure
He hath given meat unto them that fear him:
he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
Psalm 111:5

F ather, being human with human weak-

nesses, we may forget our promises to
our children, but You never forget Your
promises to us. You remain honorable and full
of compassion, even when we are weak and
easily frightened. Your commandments stand
forever, as does the redemption of Your people
through Jesus Christ. Out of Your great mercy,
You will always provide for those who love You
and follow Your ways. Remind me of this when
I am in need of food or shelter, Lord. Sometimes
my needs seem to be the most important things
in my life, but I know this is only panic
speaking. I need never panic again: Your
promises are sure. Help my desperation of
today give way to Your reassurance and love.

146—Provision
 Worry
Therefore take no thought, saying,
What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or,
Wherewithal shall we be clothed? . . .
for your heavenly Father knoweth that
ye have need of all these things.
Matthew 6:31–32

W orry is our most useless emotion. It is

both unproductive and dangerous.
Sometimes it may prod me into taking action to
save myself, but even then there is no guarantee
that my actions will be effective, because I do
not think rationally when I am consumed with
worry. Most of the time, worry disables me,
locks me in my room, separates me from those
who would be willing to help. It convinces me
that I am unworthy, or stupid, or unforgiven—
all lies of the devil, not Your judgments. Being
concerned about my future is one thing; letting
worry cripple me is a lack of faith. You know
what I need, Lord, and You will provide.

Provision—147
 Keeping the Temple
Know ye not that your body is
the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you,
which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1 Corinthians 6:19

S elf-control is not a widespread virtue

today, Lord. Many pervert the concept,
turning it into “It’s my body, and I can do what
I want,” when its true meaning is more like
“It’s God’s body, and I need to control myself.”
My body is Your temple, the home of the Holy
Spirit who lives in me and guides me. Why
would I ever want to defile this temple for some
fleeting pleasure? Of course I am tempted—I
am fully human—but this body was made by
You to glorify You, not myself. Be with me
when I am tempted, Lord. Show me the true
joys of self-control, I pray.

148—Self-Control
 The Marriage Bed
Marriage is honourable in all,
and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers
and adulterers God will judge.
Hebrews 13:4

W ithin marriage, You deny us none of

the body’s pleasures, Lord. We are free
to demonstrate our love of each other’s bodies
without sinning, with creativity, passion, and
mutual consent. We may embrace pleasure
without sin, knowing that You have provided
these blessings out of Your great love for us and
Your joy in seeing us happy. But these blessings
are meant for marriage, and You will not tol-
erate our seeking them outside the marriage bed.
In the end, those who lack self-control in these
matters face Your displeasure and wrath. Thank
You for Your gift of sexual pleasures, but teach
us to use them wisely, according to Your wishes
for us. Keep us faithful to our spouses and to
Your laws of self-control.

Self-Control—149
 The Lord Delivers
The Lord knoweth how to deliver
the godly out of temptations.
2 Peter 2:9

S elf-control is not an easy path to follow.

Those of us who try to follow You know it
is steep, the footing insecure. Often it seems
that others are standing at the edge of the path
and throwing rocks under my feet, just to watch
me stumble. If I lose my footing and fall, they
take great pleasure in mocking me. Without
Your help, I would fail to reach my goal, but
You have promised that You will be there for
me when I call for help. I do not know how to
deliver myself from temptation, but You know
the way. You have been there. You suffered
temptation and won all Your trials. When I
stumble, Your arms catch me; if I fall, You bring
me to my feet and guide me onward.

150—Self-Control
 My Security
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:
for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown
of life, which the Lord hath promised
to them that love him.
James 1:12

W e are all tempted. I would be an un-

natural woman if I were not tempted,
some kind of alien living in a strange world
where the laws of nature did not exist. But no, I
am fully human, and I know temptation all too
well, Lord. You promise that You will reward
those who endure temptation and emerge vic-
torious, and I want this victory. When I struggle
in this battle, be with me, Lord. Show me the
path to victory every day, because sometimes I
find it hard to follow. You know every turn in
the road, and I will follow You in security all the
days of my life.

Self-Control—151
 A Woman of Value
The workman is worthy of his meat.
Matthew 10:10

S ometimes I hear of fantastically successful

women and feel I am loafing through life,
Lord. If I were to go to college, could I be like
them, or is it too late? The work I do could be
done by anyone. No one would miss me if I
never showed up at work again. Then I realize
that the high school girl I am teaching the ropes
to would be lost without me. So would the
unhappily married mother who needs my
shoulder to cry on. I will never sit in a corner
office of my own, but I am important here—I
am worthy of my salary. Thank You for the
work You have given me, Father, with its
opportunities to be of service to others and to
You. I am a woman of value, and my contribution
is great.

152—Self-Worth
 One Hair
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Matthew 10:30

M y husband loves this verse, Father.

Sometimes I hear him muttering in
the morning and know he is counting the hairs
in the sink, mourning their loss. He is glad that
You care for each and every hair remaining on
his head, but he’s not too pleased as his bald
spot widens. I know this verse is an illustration
of how important I am to You, Father. If You
care about such a small thing as one hair, I can
only imagine Your concern when I am sick or
suffering a loss. Bad things will come my way in
life, but I am secure in Your love that never fails.
I am constantly blessed by Your care and
concern. I am so important to You that even the
hairs of my head are all numbered.

Self-Worth—153
 Children of Light
Ye are all the children of light,
and the children of the day:
we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1 Thessalonians 5:5

A lthough the night has its beauty, daytime

with its light makes it easier for me to
watch for Your coming, Lord. Those of us who
know You are children of light, capable of
lighting the path to salvation for others because
we have gone that way before. “But let us, who
are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate
of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of
salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:8). You have paid
for my salvation through Your death on the
cross; You made me a child of light that I might
guide others to You. Although I was not worthy
on my own, You have made me worthy, and I
thank You.

154—Self-Worth
 Salvation
But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified,
but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11

O n my own, I am totally unworthy of

salvation, and nothing I do or say can
change that fact, no matter how much I try. I
was a sinner; I am a sinner; I will always be a
sinner. Yet, despite my disobedience and
stubbornness, You value me, Lord. You believe
I am worth saving, and You will go to any
length—even to death on a cross—to show me
Your everlasting love. You wash away my sins.
You make me holy. You stand before the throne
of Your Father and claim me as Your own,
exempt from sin and judgment. Because of Your
sacrifice, I am made worthy. Thank You, my
Savior.

Self-Worth—155
 Ministering to the Lord
And the twelve were with him,
and certain women, which had been healed
of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called
Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
and Joanna. . .and Susanna,
and many others, which ministered
unto him of their substance.
Luke 8:1–3

T he role of women in Your ministry is not

clear, but we can catch glimpses of them
now and then. As with many men You healed,
women also left their homes to follow You, to
minister to Your needs. They saw You were fed
and clothed, with a place to rest at night, taking
on those burdens to free You and the disciples
to do Your work. Many women carry on this
ministry today, quietly supporting Your work,
seeing to the details of church life. Only You
know who they are. Bless them and keep them;
give them Your reward for faithful service.

156—Service
 The Anointing
A woman in the city, which was a sinner. . .
brought an alabaster box of ointment. . .
and began to wash his feet with tears,
and did wipe them with the hairs
of her head, and kissed his feet,
and anointed them with the ointment.
Luke 7:37–38

T he Pharisee did not wash or anoint Your

feet, Lord, but a sinful woman did that
and more, washing Your feet with her tears,
wiping them dry with her hair, and anointing
them with precious ointment. Her faith was so
obvious that You forgave her sins and sent her
off in peace. I don’t think I would have the
courage to interrupt an important dinner and
beg Your forgiveness in such a dramatic way, but
I would like to honor You in my daily life. The
Phari-sees in my life may not approve of me,
but it’s Your forgiveness I seek, not theirs.

Service—157
 A Memorial to Her
Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought
a good work upon me. . . . Verily I say unto you,
Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached
in the whole world, there shall also this, that this
woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
Matthew 26:10, 13

T he disciples did not approve of this

woman “wasting” precious ointment on
Your head, Lord. The ointment could have
been sold to help many others. Only You
realized she was anoin-ting You for Your
approaching death on the cross. You were so
touched by her love and faith that You gave her
a place in Your gospel so the whole world would
know her story. I will never have the opportunity
she had to anoint You physically, but I do so
every day in my heart and know You care for me
as You did for her.

158—Service
 At the Cross
And many women were there beholding afar off,
which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering
unto him: among which was Mary Magdalene,
and Mary the mother of James and Joses,
and the mother of Zebedee’s children.
Matthew 27:55–56

M ost of Your disciples had scattered

and gone into hiding, fearing the
Jews would kill them for following You. Yet
many of the women stayed within sight of Your
cross. No one was worried about them
anyway—they were only women, so unimportant
to their world that most of their names are lost
to us. They had served You in life; they would
not desert You in death. I know You have given
them their reward in heaven, where they certainly
serve You now. Remember those who still serve
You today, who ask no glory for doing Your
work well and will never desert You.

Service—159
 Lying Lips
He that hideth hatred with lying lips,
and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
Proverbs 10:18

T ruthfulness is a great virtue to possess, but

it’s hard to maintain. Sometimes it seems
easier and less cruel to go with a little lie,
although it’s never a wise move and will
eventually cause more trouble than it’s worth.
But pretending to care for someone we dislike is
nothing compared to slandering that person.
Slander is a bold-faced lie about another. It’s
nearly always impossible for the victim to
disprove the lie, so the social damage can be
permanent. Father, if I can’t say anything nice
about a person, at least keep me from slandering
her. In the heat of anger, control my tongue,
because what I say then can be as damaging to
my soul as it is to my victim’s reputation.

160—Slander
 Recreational Slander
For I have heard the slander of many.
Psalm 31:13

W e are surrounded by lies and slander.

Politicians twist the facts to prove
whatever they want to prove. Corporate leaders
play with the numbers until they come out the
“right” way. But it’s not only the powerful who
slander—I can get an earful of it at any beauty
parlor or market. Some of this is recreational
slander, passing on to others the little lies I have
just heard. I tell myself that gossip is harmless,
at least until I am its victim and experience its
pain. Father, there is no way I can avoid hearing
gossip and slander, but I don’t have to delight in
it, let alone spread it. When I hear something I
know another would love to hear, make me stop
and think before I speak. What is to be gained
by spreading the news?

Slander—161
 “One of the Girls”
Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour,
him will I cut off.
Psalm 101:5

N ot only are we expected not to spread

lies about others in public, but You
admonish us not to speak slander in private.
Telling just one best friend a lie about another
person is a sin. I know that my friend is
incapable of not telling at least one other
person, who will tell another, and so on. Father,
I know there really is no such thing as private
slander. The only way to treat it is to let it die
with me. Help me not to react to it, let alone pass
it along. In time, people will realize I am not
playing the game and cease including me in their
gossip. Until then, guard my tongue and keep me
from temptation, no matter how much I want to
be “one of the girls.”

162—Slander
 The Wolf Pack
He that worketh deceit
shall not dwell within my house:
he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
Psalm 101:7

O f course women are not the only slanderers

around. Men have their own system. It’s a
bit subtler but just as dangerous to all concerned.
Men often climb the job ladder over the backs of
others who are victims of their outright lies and
innuendos. Good ideas are stolen; bad ones are
attributed to someone else. Sometimes several
men mount an attack on many fronts at once,
leaving their victim powerless, with no defenders,
just like a lamb surrounded by wolves. Lord, keep
my husband safe from these attacks. Even more
importantly, keep him from participating in the
hunt and innocent of the harm being inflicted on
others. The gains realized from this type of
activity are temporary, but Your Word is forever.

Slander—163
 A Good Thing
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing,
and obtaineth favour of the Lord.
Proverbs 18:22

F inding a spouse in biblical times must

have been as difficult as it is today. We
want someone to share the remainder of our
lives with, the good times and the bad, but it’s
not easy to find “a good thing”; it is truly a
blessing from the Lord. Today hardly any man
will openly brag to his buddies about his wife’s
admirable qualities. It’s not macho. Rather they
talk about “the old ball and chain.” Help me
realize that everything my husband says about
me, especially in public, does not always reflect
his true feelings. When his words hurt me, show
me how to explain this to him and let him know
I value his respect and love. I am “a good thing”
—I deserve to be treated with respect.

164—Spouses
 Due Benevolence
Let the husband render unto the wife due
benevolence: and likewise also the wife
unto the husband.
1 Corinthians 7:3

P eople change. At first, a new husband

and wife are so wrapped up in each
other, it’s like eating sugar with a spoon. You
want to brush your teeth, it’s so sweet. Over the
years, they grow used to each other and their
lives become the culinary equivalent of chewing
a lemon peel. They snap instead of discuss; they
belittle instead of praise. It doesn’t have to be
that way. Common politeness is due each
marriage partner. Father, when I hear myself
belittle my husband or speak to him harshly,
remind me that Your standard for marriage is
common respect and affection. I have found this
man with Your help, I love him, and it is my
pleasure to make him as happy as possible.

Spouses—165
 Uncommon Courtesy
Let every one of you in particular
so love his wife even as himself;
and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Ephesians 5:33

I t is the husband’s job to protect his wife as

he would protect himself. His self-love
should be no stronger than his love for his wife.
Even today, many men still walk on the curbside
of the sidewalk to protect their wives from water
splashes or runaway horses (it’s an old custom).
They hold open heavy doors and investigate
strange noises deep in the night. In return, we
wives should value our husbands’ consideration
and protection, seeing them as the signs of love
that they are. Lord, the next time I laugh at my
husband’s outdated chivalry, make me realize I
am laughing at his expression of love and not
giving him the respect he deserves.

166—Spouses
 Worth Losing For
Likewise, ye wives,
be in subjection to your own husbands;
that, if any obey not the word,
they also may without the word be won
by the conversation of the wives.
1 Peter 3:1

A man is a strange and wonderful creature.

He needs to feel in charge, even when he
knows he’s not. He can’t help it; that’s the way
the Lord made him, and if I need to lose a
disagreement or two, I consider my marriage
worth the loss. It’s not vital to my self-image,
and I usually win in the long run. Many men
have come to You through the respect of their
wives and the desire to claim the peace that they
see in their wives’ lives. Don’t let me concern
myself about the word subjection. I have better
things to which I can dedicate my life.

Spouses—167
 Varieties of Strength
In returning and rest shall ye be saved;
in quietness and in confidence
shall be your strength.
Isaiah 30:15

T he strength of women is not the same as

the strength of men. In times of danger, it
is usually the men who arm themselves and rush
out to defend their own through the use of
force. Women make their own preparations for
trouble, storing away food and water, seeing
there is enough clothing for all, preparing the
children for bad news. Men’s strength is loud
and brash; women’s is quiet and confident in the
Lord. Of course this is a generalization. Some
women fight; some men stay at home as rocks
of faithfulness. Lord, remind me that there are
many legitimate ways to respond to danger. If
I choose to fight, grant me Your protection. If
I choose to serve in another way, in quietness
and confidence in Your mercy, that too is
strength.

168—Strength
 Our Source of Strength
The righteous also shall hold on his way,
and he that hath clean hands
shall be stronger and stronger.
Job 17:9

O n my own, I am rarely as strong as I need

to be, Lord. Sickness weakens me; cares
and worry tire my mind and make me less pro-
ductive than I want to be. Old age will eventually
defeat my body. Even when I am physically fit,
I know there is weakness in me. But You pro-
mise that I will be able to continue in Your way
as long as I have faith, and I trust Your promises.
Make me stronger every day, Lord, no matter
how heavy my burdens may be. Show me all the
good You have done for the faithful throughout
history and give me some of Your strength
when my own fails. Let my dependence on You
turn weakness into strength.

Strength—169
 Powerlessness
He giveth power to the faint;
and to them that have no might
he increaseth strength.
Isaiah 40:29

S ometimes the world defeats me, running

right over me on its way to who knows
where. Caring for my family wears me out.
Struggling to survive financially is a nightmare,
while saving for my old age is a pipe dream. If I
ask for help from the government, I most likely
do not qualify, even if I complete the reams of
paperwork. My health insurance never covers
my illnesses, and I can’t afford it, so I count on
You to keep me healthy. I have no power to
change any of this, and sometimes it makes me
angry, Lord. Please increase my inner strength.
Remind me that although I seem powerless,
Your power knows no limits and You will
provide whatever strength I need to see me
through my current crisis.

170—Strength
 Both Full and Hungry
I can do all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:13

T he troubles I am having are nothing

compared to what Paul went through, yet
You taught him great lessons. “I know both
how to be abased, and I know how to abound:
every where and in all things I am instructed
both to be full and to be hungry, both to
abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4:12).
The result of his education was, “I can do all
things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Some of Your lessons are painful, Lord, but I
struggle to absorb them, to learn from them,
and to come through them a more complete
person. The fact that I do abound sometimes is
easier to take, but even that lesson has its costs.
May I learn to appreciate all that life offers,
knowing there is profit in both the easy and
hard times.

Strength—171
 Worry
For he hath not despised nor abhorred
the affliction of the afflicted;
neither hath he hid his face from him;
but when he cried unto him, he heard.
Psalm 22:24

F ather, my trials are not major, so far. I

have a child I worry about sometimes
and a husband with some health problems that
can be dealt with. But I know that things can go
wrong in an instant and sometimes find myself
waiting for the second shoe to drop. It’s im-
portant to me that You will be there when I
need You. You will not think less of me because
I need Your comfort or turn away and pretend
You do not notice my suffering. When I cry to
You, I know You hear, just as I can hear my
child crying a block away. Thank You for Your
promises and never-ending care.

172—Trials
 In the Midst of Trouble
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
thou wilt revive me:
thou shalt stretch forth thine hand
against the wrath of mine enemies,
and thy right hand shall save me.
Psalm 138:7

W e all seem to be walking in the midst of

trouble these days, Lord. Suddenly we
have enemies we never knew were enemies,
people who prefer deception and violence to
diplomacy. We do not understand them, and
they misunderstand us. We are a hurt nation—
an angry nation struggling to maintain its values
while still dealing firmly with those who hate us.
Guide our nation’s leaders during these difficult
times, we pray. Keep our sons and daughters
safe in Your arms. Bring peace and security for
all back into this hurting world so we may learn
the lessons of this conflict and live together in
harmony.

Trials—173
 My Defense
The Lord is my rock,
and my fortress, and my deliverer;
my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
my buckler, and the horn of my salvation,
and my high tower.
Psalm 18:2

N o matter what befalls me in my lifetime,

my defenses remain strong in times of
trouble. They are not the defenses of an armed
force, as necessary as that may be from time to
time; they are the safety of Your promises and
the assurance of Your mighty protection. Times
do get difficult in this world. Conflict is always
with us in some part of the world, and conflict
brings tension, but tension should never become
fear or the inability to enjoy this wonderful
world You have given us. I pray You will always be
my strength, my rock, my salvation. Hear me when
I call to You for help, for I know You love me.

174—Trials
 Overcoming the World
These things I have spoken unto you,
that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

L ord, You warned the disciples that the path

lying before them was both steep and
dangerous. During the course of bringing Your
Word to the world, they would become the first
martyrs of the Church, hounded and persecuted
to death on all sides. Still, You urged them to be
happy in this life. Although the world would
treat them wickedly, You had overcome the
world, and Your salvation was theirs forever.
The power of the world is no match for You,
and because of Your sacrifice, all it can do to us
is kill the body and free the soul for eternal life
with You.

Trials—175
 God’s Direction
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5–6

I never know what the day will bring, Lord.

A perfectly ordinary day may end with
glory or grief, or it may end like a perfectly
ordinary day usually ends. I try to prepare
myself for anything that comes my way, at least
mentally, but the truth is, there are too many
possibilities for me to even consider. All I can
do is put my trust in You and live each day in
the belief that You know how everything will
work out—even if I don’t. You will show me
which way to turn. You will guide and protect
me day after day. You have a plan, and although
I don’t know or understand it, I trust in You.

176—Trust
 Fear Not
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear,
though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried
into the midst of the sea.
Psalm 46:1–2

W hen troubles come, I never have to face

them alone. Thank You, Lord, for
always being with me as my refuge and strength.
Friends can fail, families can split apart, and my
whole world can be shaken to its foundation—
leaving me dazed and dis-oriented—but You
never change. Your truths are forever. You do
not shrug off my concerns and move on—You
are “a very present help in trouble,” standing
firmly at my side whatever happens, guiding my
actions, and giving me the strength to carry on.
When all else fails, when friends and family
desert me, I put my trust in You and am never
disappointed.

Trust—177
 No Prisoner of Fear
For the Lord God is a sun and shield:
the Lord will give grace and glory:
no good thing will he withhold
from them that walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts, blessed is the
man that trusteth in thee.
Psalm 84:11–12

O nce I put my trust in You, Father, I am

free to live in peace, no longer a prisoner
of fear. Your sun warms my heart, urging me to
go forth in victory and bask in the blessings that
fill my life. You withhold nothing good from
me, Your beloved daughter. Where I once
trusted in earthly powers—governments,
money, even the love and protection of others—I
was often disappointed, for they are only human
and have their own concerns to put first over
mine. But Your love and care never fail me, and
I am truly blessed.

178—Trust
 Finding Strength
They that trust in the Lord
shall be as mount Zion,
which cannot be removed,
but abideth for ever.
Psalm 125:1

M y trust in You not only brings

blessings and peace but also changes
me for the better. Once I was vulnerable to fear
and worry. I tried to combat these weaknesses
by taking charge of my own life and finding my
way on my own. I was my own responsibility; I
would take care of myself. I failed often, and in
response to failing, I believed that I was not
strong enough or smart enough. “There must be
something wrong with me,” I thought, and
there was. I had put my faith in the wrong
person. On my own, I am bound to fail. Now
that I have put my trust in You, I cannot fail, for
You are always the victor, and this knowledge
makes me strong where once I was weak.

Trust—179
 The Characteristics of Virtue
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home,
good, obedient to their own husbands,
that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Titus 2:5

M uch was asked of women in the early

days of Christianity. Your followers
were expected to behave according to the
highest of standards, to serve as examples of
faith, so both their husbands and You would
not be ashamed by their actions. They were to
lead other women to faith through their everyday
lives. Some went beyond serving as examples,
supporting and complementing the work of
You and Your disciples. Lord, I want to help
bring others to You, to be judged a virtuous
woman for Your sake, not for any glory that
might come to me. Use me as You see fit, be-
cause any work You give me is an honor.

180—Virtue
 A House of Prayer
Mine house shall be called an house
of prayer for all people.
Isaiah 56:7

A lthough this verse refers to Your temple,

it also applies to our own houses, which
should serve as houses of prayer for our family
and friends. A few minutes after entering a
house, the spirit of the house becomes obvious.
Some are filled with strife and conflict. Others
are peaceful but feel empty, totally secular. The
Christian’s house may be quiet or noisy, but the
Holy Spirit’s presence will be obvious. Lord, I
want my house to be Your house. The dinner
may burn, the children may be out of control,
but in the midst of it all, our house can be a
house of prayer, a place of comfort and peace, a
refuge to those in need. Help me make our
home a blessing for all who pass through its
door.

Virtue—181
 Castle-Keeping
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband.
Proverbs 12:4

T hey say every man’s house is his castle, a

stronghold, a place of refuge at the end of
a bad day. It provides safety for a man’s wife and
children when he is away, so he can do his work
without worrying about them. Above all, it is
the one place on earth where he can do as he
pleases, where he can rule as a monarch (a
benevolent one, we trust). Or at least it should
be that way. Wives can either help support this
castle or undermine its foundations. A virtuous
wife keeps the castle in good repair and through
her actions provides a crown for her fortunate
husband. Help me give my husband the aid and
support he needs. His life is hard, and he
deserves to live in an atmosphere of love and
security.

182—Virtue
 Wasting Time
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:
but a woman that feareth the Lord,
she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30

I know friends come and go, whether they

are rich and powerful or just ordinary
people. Currying favor with the “right people”
is rarely worth the trouble. They have nothing I
want and will soon move on to other friends
because I have nothing they want. Seeking
personal beauty is likewise a waste of time. I
may be able to hide the toll of time for a little
while, but eventually the wrinkles will prevail.
Help me invest my precious time in worthier
pursuits, Lord, ones that will provide lasting
satisfaction. I’m not sure what You will ask of
me, but I am willing to try anything You
recommend and give any resulting praise to
You, where it belongs.

Virtue—183
 Jealousy
And her adversary also provoked her sore,
for to make her fret, because the Lord
had shut up her womb.
1 Samuel 1:6

H annah was barren, but her husband’s

second wife was not and took every
opportunity to flaunt her fertility and torment
Hannah. Part of the problem was that Elkanah
loved Hannah more than he loved the wife who
gave him children. The poor man was caught in
the middle. Both women were jealous and
bitter—one because she could not have children,
the other because she was second in her husband’s
heart. Jealousy is such an easy trap to fall into,
Lord. It poisons a household and distorts reality
until imagined slights become sore wounds.
Even when I am as provoked as Hannah or as
bitter as Peninnah, keep me from jealousy. It
serves no useful purpose and renders me unable
to do Your will.

184—Vows
 The Vow
And she vowed a vow, and said,
O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt. . .
give unto thine handmaid a man child,
then I will give him unto the Lord
all the days of his life.
1 Samuel 1:11

V ows to You must be kept, Father. You

not only remember Your promises to us;
You never forget our promises to You. Hannah
understood the consequences of her vow: once
he was weaned, Samuel would have to leave her
and live at the temple. She would only see him
at the yearly sacrifice, where she would give him a
new coat for the year to come. Despite the
heartache this vow would bring her, she still
desired a child and made her vow. Help me treat
my vows to You as seriously as Hannah did,
Lord. If sacrifices are required of me, let me
bear them in faith.

Vows—185
 The Vow Still Stands
She bare a son,
and called his name Samuel, saying,
Because I have asked him of the Lord.
1 Samuel 1:20

N either Hannah nor Elkanah forgot

their promise to You. When their baby
was weaned, he would go to the yearly sacrifice
with his parents, never to return to their home
again. He was so young, but they trusted that
Eli would take care of him. Hannah and
Elkanah would only see their baby once a year
when they came to the temple. Both parents
must have dreaded that day, but You had blessed
them with a son, a son they had dedicated to
Your work, and they were prepared to see him
go on to do Your will. When the time comes
for me to release my children into Your care,
give me the courage to do so as graciously as
Hannah gave up Samuel.

186—Vows
 The Sacrifice
For this child I prayed;
and the Lord hath given me my petition
which I asked of him:
therefore also I have lent him to the Lord;
as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord.
1 Samuel 1:27–28

S amuel was weaned. Hannah and Elkanah

took their sacrifices to the temple, and
Samuel was part of that sacrifice. They took
him to the head priest and gave him up to God’s
work. Hannah was not as upset as we might
imagine. “My heart rejoiceth in the Lord,” she
prayed. “Mine horn is exalted in the Lord”
(1 Samuel 2:1). Hannah kept her vow joyously.
An answered prayer is always cause for joy. The
Lord had heard Hannah’s prayers, and Hannah
kept her vow, content to give her son into the
care of Eli. May I fulfill my vows as happily as
Hannah did, Lord.

Vows—187
 Deborah
I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding
the journey that thou takest shall not be
for thine honour; for the Lord shall
sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.
Judges 4:9

B arak would lead the Israelites against

Sisera, the commander of the Canaanites,
on one condition: if Deborah would go with
him. Deborah agreed readily but warned Barak
that this battle would not be won by him, but by
a woman. To his credit, Barak did not protest
Your will. There are several outstanding women
in Your Word, Father, each obedient to Your
commands, each a strong woman. I hope I will
never be called to war—or my children—and
that You will protect the women serving in our
armed forces today. They have chosen a difficult
life, these sisters of Jael, but You will make them
as strong and brave as the men they serve with
on the battlefield.

188—Wartime
 Jael
Jael. . .took a nail of the tent, and took a hammer
in her hand, and went softly unto him,
and smote the nail into his temples,
and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast
asleep and weary. So he died.
Judges 4:21

T his seems like a brutal way to win a war,

but what other weapon did Jael have at
hand in her tent? She used what she had. Sisera
had erred in thinking Jael was a helpless female,
paying dearly for his lack of judgment. You
know that women are often underestimated,
Lord. Sometimes we are called to use what we
have on hand to protect ourselves and our
family or do Your will in some other matter.
We would prefer to live a life of peace, but when
we must fight for those we love, You give us the
strength to do the unthinkable.

Wartime—189
 Sisera’s Mother
The mother of Sisera looked out at a window,
and cried through the lattice,
why is his chariot so long in coming?
why tarry the wheels of his chariots?
Judges 5:28

S isera’s mother played the role that most

women play in wartime: she stayed home
and waited for her son’s return. But it was taking
too long, and she was worried. Of the three
women in this story, hers is the hardest role.
Deborah had Your active support and knew
victory would be Yours. You helped Jael rise
above her fear and kill the enemy. But that night
Sisera’s mother would mourn, and our hearts
must go out to her, because we understand her
pain too well. Comfort all the wives and
mothers who sit and wait, Lord, no matter on
what side their loved ones fight. Give them
Your consolation and comfort when the terrible
news arrives.

190—Wartime
 Victory
So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord:
but let them that love him be as the sun
when he goeth forth in his might.
Judges 5:31

I n this particular battle, You were strongly

on the side of those who love You, and
You played an active role in the outcome. Your
soldiers shone like the sun at its rising; they
could not lose. Our battles today are often not
so clear-cut. Both sides may claim Your support
and guidance, going forth in confidence and
faith into a battle where victory or defeat may be
equally unclear. It is not always possible to be as
strong and secure in faith as Deborah and Jael;
sometimes we must weep with Sisera’s mother.
All we can do is defend ourselves when we must
and pray for Your help, knowing You hear the
cries of all women caught up in war.

Wartime—191
 The Mother-in-Law
And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law,
Go, return each to her mother’s house:
the Lord deal kindly with you,
as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
Ruth 1:8

D isaster had stricken the family, killing

Naomi’s husband and her two sons,
leaving Naomi and her two daughters-in-law
to fend for themselves. Naomi would return to
her own land, but she could not support her
daughters-in-law, so she begged them to return
to their parents, where You would provide them
with new husbands. Naomi was destined for a
hard, cruel life. She was too old to remarry and
would live on the edge of society. She put on a
brave face and sent them away for their own
good. A widow’s life is hard, Lord, but You
always provide for the needs of Your followers,
and You had a plan for Naomi and Ruth.

192—Widows
 Ruth the Widow
Whither thou goest, I will go;
and where thou lodgest, I will lodge:
thy people shall be my people,
and thy God my God.
Ruth 1:16

O rpah took Naomi’s advice, returning to

her parents, but Ruth refused. She would
stay with Naomi and help her survive. She was
young and strong. There was work she could
do. She would even work at gleaning the fields
after the harvest, if need be—even though it
meant being chased away by the harvesters and
treated as a thief by the owners of the fields.
One way or another, they would not starve.
Widows have to make difficult decisions like
this every day, Lord. All alone, with no one but
You to care for them, they work at jobs no one
else wants, for pay that barely feeds them. Help
meet their needs; give them the hope that
comforted Ruth.

Widows—193
 Naomi’s Despair
Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the
Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
I went out full, and the Lord hath
brought me home again empty.
Ruth 1:20–21

W hile Ruth had faith in the future,

Naomi did not. Her childhood friends
welcomed her back, but she rejected their kind
words. She said You had dealt her a blow she
could not bear; the loss of her husband and sons
had made her bitter. She was too old to survive,
even with Ruth’s help. Sometimes I feel the
same way, Lord. Even if I have food and shelter,
the joy has gone out of my life and left me
empty and angry. In times like these, I need
Your reassurance that You will never give me a
burden without helping me bear it. Be my
strong shoulder, my hope of a better future.

194—Widows
 Boaz and Ruth
It hath fully been shewed me,
all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law
since the death of thine husband.
Ruth 2:11

T he story of Naomi and Ruth was be-

coming known in the area. Boaz, a relative
of Naomi’s husband, allowed Ruth to glean in
his fields, making sure the harvesters intentionally
left enough grain behind to feed the two women
he had come to admire. In time he came to love
Ruth as a woman. They married, and she bore
him a son who would be the grandfather of
David and the ancestor of Jesus, Your Son.
Lord, everything I do has the potential of being
part of Your plan for the world. I don’t know
the effects of my life now; I sort of stumble
around and hope for the best. But You do have
a plan, and that plan is good.

Widows—195
 Basic Training
Train up a child in the way he should go:
and when he is old,
he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6

I am no educator, Father, and my knowledge

of theology is far from great, but I long
to teach our children about You through my
daily life and example. Long lectures and great
wisdom are fortunately not necessary for this
type of teaching. My children watch what I do
and say and follow in my footsteps from a very
young age. What they learn as children, they
will remember all their lives. I ask Your wisdom
and guidance, Father. Instruct me in the best
ways to teach my children about Your great love
and the proper response to it. I trust You will
guide me so I may serve You all the days of
my life.

196—Wisdom
 The Peace of God
And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord;
and great shall be the peace of thy children.
Isaiah 54:13

A child who accepts You as her Savior

possesses an inner peace that no army
can ever guarantee, Lord. Turmoil is part of our
life on earth, and children sometimes have much
to worry about, much to fear from others. But a
child who clings to You knows a special peace
that overcomes all fears. The victory has already
been won, and she has nothing to fear from
the hands of her Savior. This knowledge is the
greatest gift I can pass on to my children. I have
the faith that overcomes, and I wish this blessing
for them. Help me teach all our children about
You, about Your great promises, and about the
peace that I pray will be their inheritance.

Wisdom—197
 Wise unto Salvation
And that from a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:15

F ather, everything a child needs to know

about You is available to him through
the Bible, with a little help from the adults in his
life. Learning scripture leads to wisdom, which
in turn leads to faith in Jesus and salvation.
What greater gift could a parent give a child
than helping him learn and love Your Word? I
am not a biblical scholar, Lord. There is a lot in
the Bible that I do not understand right now but
will come to understand sometime in the future.
Even so, I love You and Your Word and pray
You will help me instill that love in all my
children, so we might spend eternity together
with You.

198—Wisdom
 True Riches
That the generation to come might know them,
even the children which should be born;
who should arise and declare them
to their children.
Psalm 78:6

I have an inheritance to pass on to my

children, Lord—stories of Your power
and deliverance, Your great works, and Your
boundless love for all the generations before us
and all those yet to come. I have little money
or possessions for our children to inherit, but
if I do my job well, they will be blessed with
faith and empowered to pass that faith on to
my grandchildren. What more could I possi-
bly desire for them? Temporal riches are as
nothing; they stay behind when we go to
meet You. When times are hard and I become
discouraged, be with me, Lord. Keep me a
faithful teacher of the Way for the sake of
my children and all those to come.

Wisdom—199
 Knowledge and
Understanding
For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth
cometh knowledge and understanding.
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous.
Proverbs 2:6–7

I know that wisdom is more than knowledge,

Father. Knowledge is helpful in life, and I
encourage my children to seek it because it is
beneficial to know history, languages, science,
and mathematics. But even the uneducated may
have wisdom, which is understanding how to
apply knowledge in our daily lives. The most
learned of people can still embrace evil, but the
wise know better. You promise to lay up sound
wisdom for the righteous so they will understand
how You want them to live and thereby bring
glory to Your name. If I have to choose between
giving my children knowledge or wisdom, I
would choose to give them an understanding of
the wisdom that comes from You.

200—Wisdom and Knowledge

 Looking in All
the Wrong Places
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
that giveth to all men liberally,
and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
James 1:5

E mbracing wisdom is not difficult for a

child of God; finding it is harder. In our
search for wisdom, we often chase after it in the
wrong places. The evening news may give us the
facts, but its interpretation of the facts is often
flawed. Professors try to build wisdom through
the teachings of knowledge, but a wise student
carefully evaluates any conclusions a teacher
draws from the facts. Only You are the perfect
source of wisdom, Father. You give it to us
liberally when we ask for it, never considering us
stupid or leading us astray. You have given
us Your Word as the best schoolbook of true
wisdom.

Wisdom and Knowledge—201

 Seeking the Wise
For God giveth to a man that is good
in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy.
Ecclesiastes 2:26

W isdom and knowledge working together

give me the best chance of happiness. I
want my surgeon to know every detail of my
operation—all the facts of the procedure. I also
want him to know if the operation is wise. Would
another treatment be better suited for me? Am I
emotionally, physically, and spiritually fit for an
operation, or will it bring me more problems than
it will solve? In other words, I want a surgeon
who is both technically and ethically sound. If I
find one like that, I have the best chance of
experiencing the joy of healing. No one is perfect,
but when I am in need of professional services of
any kind, guide my choices, Lord.

202—Wisdom and Knowledge

 Glory
For God, who commanded the light to shine out
of darkness, hath shined in our hearts,
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6

W e cannot bear to see Your glory directly,

Father. It would blind us if we tried;
we would have to turn our faces away, just as our
eyes naturally close in the face of a strong light.
But You knew we needed to see the little we can
bear, so You sent Your Son to give us a taste of
glory. Through His life and ex-ample, Jesus
gave us knowledge of Your power, Your
greatness, and Your love. You do not overwhelm
our poor bodies in their weakness. Someday we
will be strong enough to be in Your presence
without turning away. Until then, thank You
for the knowledge of Your Son.

Wisdom and Knowledge—203

 Serving as an Example
I will therefore that the younger women marry,
bear children, guide the house, give none occasion
to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
1 Timothy 5:14

T hese days there are many other activities

that could be added to the list above: work
forty hours a week, lead a Girl Scout troop,
manage a church fair, take the dog to the vet,
and so on. Whatever I do as a wife—and how
I do it—must be done in a way that brings
honor and glory to You, Lord. Sometimes I
have to swallow my anger and endure criticism,
but even that must be done with a smile, for I
am Your representative here on earth and should
give no one the opportunity to reject You
because of my actions. When I am within
seconds of being a bad example, send me Your
peace, I pray.

204—Wives
 Being a Peacemaker
The contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
Proverbs 19:13

T he main concerns of my life are my

husband and children, plus others I value
highly. I want to be a peacemaker at home, at
work, and in the church, not an irritating
dripping that never stops and puts everyone in a
foul mood. Hounding my husband to mow the
lawn according to my schedule may get the job
done but ruin the weekend. Insisting that
homework be done right now makes the kitchen
table a prison to my children, not a happy
gathering place for family get-togethers. I must
remember that my priorities are not necessarily
the priorities of those I love, so please give me
the sense to step back and allow everyone a little
leeway to lead their own lives. I want to be a
blessing, not an irritating drip.

Wives—205
 In the Limelight
Even so must their wives be grave,
not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
1 Timothy 3:11

S ome days I think it would be nice to be a

minister—until I come to my senses. I
could not survive the limelight that comes with
the job. And yet, almost every day someone
looks at me and, on a bad day, might very well
find reason to say, “If she’s a good Christian, I
don’t want to be one.” What I do reflects on my
husband, my children, my church. There’s no
way to avoid this, and I’m not sure there should
be. I’m human, I make mistakes, and I have to
live with the consequences. When I am a poor
example to everyone I meet, grant me forgiveness,
Father. Grant those I offend the wisdom to
understand that no one is free of sin but Your
grace is sufficient.

206—Wives
 Piety
Now she that is a widow indeed,
and desolate, trusteth in God,
and continueth in supplications
and prayers night and day.
1 Timothy 5:5

B eing a woman suddenly alone in the

world is terrifying, Lord. Choosing to
live alone is one thing, but the suddenness of
widowhood leaves little time for adjusting,
especially if the mortgage payment is due. Still,
singleness has its blessings. Suddenly there is
time for piety—for reading, contemplation,
and prayer. There is time to learn to trust in
Your provision and that of others who care. It
will probably be necessary to find a decent job
and discover along the way that I can take care
of myself. Be with all women living alone, Lord.
Be their faithful companion and guide as they
struggle to build a new life based on Your love
and care. May their faithfulness encourage
others facing life alone.

Wives—207
 The Seller of Purple
And a certain woman named Lydia,
a seller of purple. . .
which worshipped God, heard us:
whose heart the Lord opened,
that she attended unto the things
which were spoken of Paul.
Acts 16:14

L ydia had never heard the story of Jesus,

even though she worshipped You, Father.
She was a businesswoman selling expensive
purple cloth she made—a very busy woman.
She may just have been curious at first, always
interested in new developments, but You opened
her heart, and she listened carefully to everything
Paul said that day. I have to admit that sometimes
I don’t really listen, Lord. I have too much to
think of and too little time to absorb every
sermon the way I should. But You promise You
will come into my heart and live there if I
welcome You, just as You did for Lydia. Come
into my heart, Lord Jesus.

208—Work
 Lydia’s Hospitality
And when she was baptized,
and her household, she besought us, saying,
If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord,
come into my house, and abide there.
Acts 16:15

L ydia was a woman of action. Once she

accepted You as her Lord, she told the
story to her whole household—slaves, servants,
and perhaps children (there is no mention of a
husband)—and everyone living with her was
baptized. Then she saw another need and
invited Your disciples to live in her house while
they were in the area. She was so sincere in her
hospitality that the disciples found they could
not refuse her wishes. First Lydia welcomed
You into her heart, Lord; then she invited the
disciples into her home. I pray I may be half as
dedicated and loving as this newborn babe in
Christ.

Work—209
 Dorcas’s Works
This woman was full of good works
and almsdeeds which she did. . . .
She was sick, and died.
Acts 9:36–37

D orcas, a seamstress of talent, was also a

busy woman who found time for Your
work. When people came to her for help, she
never turned them away; she was loved by all the
widows in town. After she took ill and died, her
many friends begged Peter to come to her
house, at least to pray for her and comfort the
mourners. He found her laid out in her room
with a crowd of weeping friends at her side. I
know that death comes to us all, Lord, but
sometimes I feel I cannot give up a loved one,
especially a person of good works. In a time
such as this, send me Your comfort and peace, I
pray.

210—Work
 Dorcas Raised
Peter put them all forth,
and kneeled down, and prayed;
and turning him to the body said,
Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes:
and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
Acts 9:40

T he story of Peter bringing Dorcas back

to life spread far and wide, with great
consequences. Many hearing the news came to
believe in You because of what You did for this
good woman. They did not expect to be raised
immediately when their own time came, but
they had heard of Your power and glory among
those they knew and welcomed You into their
lives. Dorcas was a blessing during her lifetime
and continued to be one even after her apparent
death, through Your power. May I work to be
such a blessing to those around me in my daily
life.

Work—211
 Scripture Index
Genesis
17:17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
18:10–11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
18:13–14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
21:1–2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
37:35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Exodus
20:12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Leviticus
19:17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Judges
4:9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
4:21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
5:28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
5:31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Ruth
1:8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
1:16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193

212—Scripture Index
1:20–21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
2:11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195

1 Samuel
1:6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
1:11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
1:20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
1:27–28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
2:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
16:7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

1 Chronicles
16:29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Esther
1:10–11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
1:17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
1:19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
1:22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
2:17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
4:11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
7:3–4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
8:17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
9:3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
9:5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Scripture Index—213
 Job
5:17–18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
17:9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

Psalms
1:3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
18:2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
22:24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
31:13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
31:24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
32:8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
34:10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
42:11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
46:1–2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
50:20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
68:6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
71:9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
73:23–24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
78:6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
84:11–12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
90:17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
101:5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
101:7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
102:7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
103:12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

214—Scripture Index
104:23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
111:5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
113:9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
119:63. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
119:105. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
125:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
127:3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
128:3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
132:15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
138:7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
139:14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
147:1, 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Proverbs
2:6–7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
3:5–6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
3:24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
4:1–2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
10:18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
12:4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
13:7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
14:32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
15:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
15:15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
16:9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Scripture Index—215
 17:22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
18:22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
19:13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
19:14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
20:11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
21:19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
22:2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
22:6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
23:4–5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
23:17–18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
31:11–12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
31:24, 27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
31:25–26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
31:28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
31:30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

Ecclesiastes
2:26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
3:1, 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
4:6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Isaiah
9:6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
11:6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
30:15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

216—Scripture Index
30:21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
40:29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
53:5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
54:13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
56:7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
58:8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
58:9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
58:11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Ezekiel
16:14–15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Joel
2:24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
2:26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
3:16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Matthew
5:4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
6:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
6:14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
6:31–32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
7:3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
9:6–7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
9:28–30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Scripture Index—217
 10:10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
10:29, 31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
10:30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
25:40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
26:10, 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
27:55–56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

Mark
9:36–37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
11:25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Luke
1:13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
1:36–37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
1:45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
1:46–48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
1:49–50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
1:51–52. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
1:53–55. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
1:60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
6:37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
6:38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
7:37–38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
8:1–3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
9:48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

218—Scripture Index
10:38–39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
10:40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
10:41. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
10:42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
17:4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

John
14:16, 18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
15:5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
15:8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
16:33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

Acts
2:38, 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
9:36–37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
9:40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
16:14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
16:15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

Romans
8:38–39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
14:10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

1 Corinthians
3:9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Scripture Index—219
 3:13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
6:11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
6:19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
7:3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
7:14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
15:58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

2 Corinthians
4:6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
4:17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
5:17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
9:7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Galatians
2:20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
6:9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

Ephesians
2:8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
4:26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
4:32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5:33. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
6:1–3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

220—Scripture Index
Philippians
1:11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
4:12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
4:13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

1 Thessalonians
5:5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
5:8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

1 Timothy
3:11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
5:4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
5:5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
5:14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
5:16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

2 Timothy
1:7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
3:15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
3:16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Titus
2:5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180

Scripture Index—221
 Hebrews
10:23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
10:36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
11:1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
11:11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
12:7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
12:11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
13:2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
13:4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
13:5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

James
1:5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
1:6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
1:12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
1:22, 25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
2:15–16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
5:16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

1 Peter
1:13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
2:2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
2:20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
3:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
3:12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

222—Scripture Index
4:9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

2 Peter
2:9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
1 John
1:9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
3:20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

3 John
4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Scripture Index—223
 Toni Sortor was a freelance writer and editor in
suburban New York. She co-wrote several Barbour
books, including The Word on Life, Prayers and Promises,
and Daily Wisdom for Couples.