Father, we look to You this day to bring us word of Your unfailing love, for we have put our trust in You. You are our strength every morning and our security at night. Your steadfast love reaches to the heavens and Your faithfulness fills the skies. There is no one like You that provides for our every need. You are our salvation in times of distress, so it is under Your protective wings that we find refuge and safely abide. Amen.

Father, the cares of this world often press in on us and weigh our hearts down. It’s not your desire that we carry this heavy load because You are the Burden Bearer. You use the difficult circumstances of our lives to bring glory to Yourself as You bring spiritual maturity into our relationship with You. There are many situations where we’ve been dealt with unjustly, with unkind words thrown our way. Our typical response; “NOT FAIR!” But Your pattern of returning kindness to those who were hostile toward You serves as a sterling example to us when we’re hurt by other’s words or actions. Our faith is strengthened and our character is sharpened in the torrent of such hurtful circumstances. We must commit them to You and respond in Christian virtue. We invite You to take the evil that Satan hurls at us and turn it into glorious occasion for Your power to be released and healing to take place. It is in the name of Jesus that we pray and believe. Amen.

Father, You made it possible for us to experience this earthly journey in abundance when You sent Jesus to earth. He came that we might have the fullness of the Spirit within our lives. The devil comes to steal from us and destroy our lives but as we test Your Word we find that You supply in abundance Your peace, joy, purpose for living and an overcoming spirit in the midst of the enemy’s arsenal of weaponry. Through many tribulations we will enter Your Kingdom, but it will be worth it all when we see Christ. Keep us faithful till then. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Father, the day to day living can be so challenging and easily drain us of the pleasures in life if we’re not careful. We thank you for our family and friends who pull us away from that mindset and add laughter to our lives, as well as the unexpected events that make us laugh at ourselves. Would you bring heartfelt laughter to the hearts of our readers today as they go about their daily duties. May they hear laughter and may they make laughter, verbally, and in their hearts. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Father, I consider the words of Nehemiah who wrote, “The joy of the Lord is my strength” and Solomon who reminds us that “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” Both verses speak about matters of the heart where we store up Your love, joy and goodness. Help us not to rely solely on external stimulus to bring forth a smile, but let our smiles be contagious as they are evidence of Your abundance within in our lives. Help us to find a person today who has no smile so that we can pass ours onto her or him in the Name of Christ Jesus we pray. Amen.