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September 16, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on Trust in God’s plan

Trust in God’s plan

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Lord, thank You that You have a plan for me. I know in my head that it will be what I most need, but my heart’s not finding it easy to trust in that right now, when You’re asking me to give up my own plans. Help me to be willing to surrender to You, placing my future completely in Your hands. Help me to be patient and willing to wait on Your timing, You know patience isn’t my strongest point! Help me to wait and trust with a sure hope – You keep Your promises.

[Tweet “Be patient. God has a far better plan for us than we can imagine.”]

September 14, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on Be brave!

Be brave!

I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” John 14:33 ERV

Lord, much as I wish You did, You never promised we’d have an easy life. Instead, You promised that we’d never have to face anything alone, because You would always be with us. You overcame even death, so You are surely able to defeat any troubles I face! Help me to be strong in You, knowing Your peace. Help me to trust in You, knowing that You have already overcome it all. Help me to feel Your presence with me, knowing I am never alone.

[Tweet “Whatever trouble we face today, Jesus has already overcome it, and He stands beside us.”]

September 9, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on Whatever happens…

Whatever happens…

Always be full of joy. Never stop praying. Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Lord, when my days seem hard, it’s easy for me to forget to pray. Please, help me to remember to give You thanks, not just on the good days but every day. The days I feel least like doing it are the days I need it most of all! Thanking You is the way to feel more joy, the joy You want to give to us, the joy You want us to live in, the joy You want us to overflow with.

[Tweet “Thanking God, even on the tough days, is the way to feel more joy.”]

September 7, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on Peace of heart and mind

Peace of heart and mind

I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27 The Living Bible

Lord, watching the news is scary. So much war, so much fear, so much trouble. And our lives and homes can reflect that, on a smaller scale. The world needs to know the peace You offer. Every one of us needs to know the peace You offer.

I want to help, but too often, I’m part of the problem. In my flawed and fallen human way, instead of bringing peace to my little part of the world, it’s far too easy for me to bring fear and anger and restlessness.

Please, help me to rest in You. Help me to open my heart and mind to You. Help me to open myself to Your comforting Spirit so completely that Your peace fills my heart and mind and washes away all that is not peace and love and trust in You. Help me to share Your peace with those around me. Thank You!

[Tweet “If we want to help create peace, we need to know God’s gift of peace in our own hearts and minds.”]

September 4, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on Becoming new

Becoming new

When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 The Living Bible

Lord, thank You that my past life is forgiven and behind me. Thank You for the ways You’re always working in my life to make me new. Help me to accept the process of growth and change.

Help me to trust in You, when the process feels strange and frightening, even painful, as You change me from my old self to the new person You created me to be. Help me to trust You when it feels cramped and confined, like the butterfly still in its chrysalis. Help me to trust You when my wings are still crumpled and creased and I can’t fly yet.

And most of all, when You’re ready for me to fly, help me to know that I only do it through You. In my own strength, I can do nothing. Your power sustains all life, from every beat of a butterfly’s wings to every beat of my heart.

[Tweet “God sustains all things, from the beat of a butterfly’s wings to the beat of our hearts.”]

[Tweet “God will forgive our mistakes and make us new! Ask Him. Trust Him.”]

September 2, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on Patience, please, and can I have it right now?

Patience, please, and can I have it right now?

But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard — things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Galatians 5:22,23 The Message

Lord, that saying “Give me patience and give it to me now” is a joke, I know. But it’s so true to how I feel at the moment. Help me to open my heart more and more to Your Spirit. Help me to make choices that grow Your fruit in my life. Help me to accept the circumstances of my life and the people in my life as they are, not how I want them to be. Help me to have a heart truly devoted to serving You, through willingly serving those You ask me to serve. Help me to feel Your joy and serenity and love, filling me to overflowing. And help me to accept Your time frame may not be mine, but to trust that Your will shall be done, in all things.

[Tweet “When we live God’s way, all sorts of good things grow in our lives”]

August 31, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on God’s mighty power

God’s mighty power

Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of — infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. Ephesians 3:20 The Living Bible

Lord, You know the challenges the week ahead holds for me. It looks from here like far more than I can handle on my own. Please, be with me. Work through me, so that in Your power I can do what right now feels impossible. Help me to allow You to direct my week and all I do, accepting that Your priorities may not be my priorities, but knowing that in You, all things work for good.

[Tweet “Allow God’s mighty power to help you do far more than you think is possible!”]

August 28, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on The God who gives hope

The God who gives hope

[Tweet “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him… Romans 15:13”]

Lord, You know right now, I’m not feeling a lot of joy, or peace, or hope. But You are the God of hope. Please, help me to trust in You, even when I feel far away from You, and I can’t see You working in my life. Help me to know that no matter what I feel, You are always there, loving me, supporting me, working Your grace in my life.

[Tweet “Even when God feels far away, He is near, working His grace in my life”]

August 26, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on He shall strengthen your heart…

He shall strengthen your heart…

Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Psalm 27:14 NKJV

It’s been a difficult year so far. Lots of dark storm clouds, very little sunshine.

Some days, it feels like I’m living in the shadowlands. Like I’m being tested right to the limits. Like as soon as one thing is sorted out, something else comes to take its place, needing immediate attention. Like everyone else needs so much from me, their needs have to come ahead of my own.

Like some days, God is a long way away from me.

Yesterday, I read a wonderful blog post by Jennifer, on incourage.me. She said:

God is moving in our lives regardless of our ability to see it. There is grace for us. His love is beyond our comprehension. Allow Him to fill your heart. Christ can change us immeasurably through His grace.

He covers us in the grace and healing we need. Bring yourself as close to Him as possible and stay there. Ask Him in faith and you will find grace even in the shadow of darkness, and His grace will change your life.

I needed to hear that. Maybe you do, too?

[Tweet “Even when we can’t see it or feel it, God is working in our lives.”]

August 24, 2015
by autumn macarthur
Comments Off on To love on the difficult days

To love on the difficult days

I may speak in different languages, whether human or even of angels. But if I don’t have love, I am only a noisy bell or a ringing cymbal. I may have the gift of prophecy, I may understand all secrets and know everything there is to know, and I may have faith so great that I can move mountains. But even with all this, if I don’t have love, I am nothing. I may give away everything I have to help others, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing by doing all this if I don’t have love.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth. Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits.

1 Corinthians 13: 1-7, ERV

Lord, You tell us over and over how important it is for us to love others. But some days, it’s not so easy. Some days my heart is hurting. Some days my heart is closed. Far too often, I fail to love as I should.
Please, help me to love. Help me to trust. Help me to hope. Help me to never give up on anyone. Help me to speak only words of love.
You can see our hearts. You can see the truth, in ways we can’t. You hold each one of us in Your mercy and grace.
So help me not to judge, but to love. Help me to meet the judgment of others with Your love. Help me to seek Your will in everything, above all else.

[Tweet “Some days it’s not easy to love the way God wants us to, but He will help us. Just ask Him.”]

Autumn Macarthur

Real romance, real faith!