By GARY ANDREWS
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It wasn’t long ago when a very wise lady told me she only prayed for two things for her life. She also told me she prayed for a lot of people and situations but she was only interested in a couple of things for herself.
She stated, “I pray every day that the Lord will let me live until I die.” Many different reactions come when she tells people of this request. Many will furrow their brow and some will smile with misunderstanding written all over their face. However many people, especially in the older generation, understand exactly what she is saying.
I remember my paternal grandmother lying in a nursing home bed for five years before the Lord called her home. She did not know any of her family, had to be helped up and down to the bathroom, and on many occasions was fed through a tube. One often has to wonder the reasoning of the Lord when He allows a person such as this to live out her remaining years not knowing anyone around her or able to do anything for herself. I can only envision the Lord using this experience to help others gain patience and wisdom on caring for His people. My grandmother was a Christian lady and I remember staying with her when I was young and being carried, not sent, to church by her.
Many people today do not understand why someone would suffer and be a burden on someone until they die. These people may not know Jesus personally and doesn’t understand His grace and mercy. These people also don’t understand that when you accept Jesus as your Savior that your life on earth may end but your eternal life will be with Him in His heavenly home. Agnostics and atheists of today will tell you that the life you are living now is the only one you will ever have and that when you are buried you are through. Maybe this is why they are so burdened about the luxuries of the world and doesn’t worry about anyone else but themselves.
My wise friend prays for these people often and hopes that they will soon find their way to the cross and understand why Jesus died for them also. She prays that they will find their way to the resurrection morning and understand that Jesus lives today and wants them to understand that His grace and mercy is free for the asking. One only has to go to Romans 3:23-24 in the Holy Bible, God’s inerrant Word, to understand Jesus wants you to be one of His own.
My friend is a wonderful lady and a great, true friend. She loves people and she loves Jesus. She is about doing His work in everything she does. Her request of living until she dies is the same as mind. Both of us want to do God’s work until He calls us home. We don’t want to be a burden on anyone when we aren’t able to do His work anymore and just want to be at home with Him.
Her second prayer is that she outlives her teeth. This also is a good prayer.
Prayer: Thank you Jesus for the life you have allowed me to have. I pray that you will take me home when you are through with me on earth. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Romans 3:23-24; Monday – Isaiah 28:10-15; Tuesday – 2 Peter 1:19-21; Wednesday – 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24; Thursday – Mark 7:5-13; Friday – Philippians 3:17-21; Saturday – Thessalonians 1:8-10.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals. com.

By GARY ANDREWS
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Have you ever felt sorry for yourself? Most of us have and we go around saying, “Woe is me” to anyone that will listen. Sometimes we feel as though we are the only person in the entire world that is hurting and everything is about us at that certain time.
Ann Landers once said, “When life’s problems seem overwhelming, look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself fortunate.” What a tremendous statement by a lady who has given all types of advice to millions around the world.
There are going to be times when we have our ups and downs but at any given moment we can look around us and find someone that is hurting and, most of the time, our problems won’t be near as bad as we think they are. Sometimes we feel abandoned and all alone because we have wrapped ourselves up in our problems and will not let anyone in to help us. It seems as though no one cares and the Psalmist tells us in 38:11, “My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.”
The Bible also tells us that there is one that will never leave us and that is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We live in a land that has been blessed so abundantly and there are so many ways that we can help ourselves or find ways that can bless us even in our lowest self-appointed times. After Moses died and the Israelites, who were afraid because they had lost their leader, were ready to cross into Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua to tell His people not to fear. The Lord continues to be with us that trust in Him and look to Him for guidance and leadership. Joshua 1:5 tells us, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
When we are feeling down and out all of us that know the Lord need to remember He is with us always and will never leave us. He will provide for us whether it is through a relative, a friend, or in some other form, God will bring you through whatever type problem you seem to be having.
There is no reason for us to ever feel sorry for ourselves if we have the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. He is and always will be with you in time of sorrow, need, joy, or any situation. We just need to look to Him, ask Him to help us, and then reap the blessings He has for us.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for always being with me and giving me comfort in my darkest times. You are a gracious and merciful God and have blessed me in so many ways. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Philippians 2:12-18; Monday – Numbers 16:12-20; Tuesday – Luke 23:26-30; Wednesday – Job 19:14-19; Thursday – Hebrews 11:11-16; Friday – Ecclesiastes 1:2-11; Psalm 73:12-28.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals. com.

By GARY ANDREWS
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As a small child and on into my teenage years I had no other option of doing anything on Sunday mornings except going to church. For me it was not a problem because I loved going to church and enjoyed Sunday school. My teachers made it fun and entertaining and I learned as the scriptures were being taught.
There were many others just like me that was pushed or coerced into going to church until they were given the opportunity of making their own decision. Many gained an attitude of apathy toward the church and even toward God because of these mandatory rules. They have shied away from the Biblical teachings of the church and have become indignant toward others that try to get them to attend again.
In the last book of the Old Testament a Jewish Prophet named Malachi addressed the same issues that many of us are facing today. The Jewish people were in hard times, just as many of us are, and believed that God had let them down. They were a complaining people and developed a sense of apathy to the one and only true God. They were listening to false teachers and corrupt leaders. Many of them were unfaithful in their marriages, neglecting their families, taking advantage of the weaker people, neglecting true worship to God, and holding back their tithes to the church.
These people were doing all of this even though they were living under God’s blessing. Doesn’t this sound familiar? Aren’t we doing the same today as the Jews were centuries ago?
All one has to do is listen to the very biased news media about the unscrupulous politicians and the false teachers of today and see that we are a people being led away from the one and only true God. We are fast becoming a nation of unfaithful and unappreciative people and this really hinders the work of the church and hinders the blessings we all want and desire.
We have become a people that want to give a token to the Lord instead of our best. We have become a people that holds on to what the Lord has provided to us and refuse to give back that portion which He has asked for. We have become a people that has forgotten who is ultimately in charge and provides for us everything that we have and need.
Even though as children and young teenagers we were prompted and made to go to church because it seems our parents had a better understanding that the Lord provides. Many of us have fallen away from our roots and forgotten that God is watching us. We have forgotten that God challenges us to challenge Him. Malachi challenged God’s people to take God seriously, not just in giving but in every aspect of life.
All of us need to renew our love for God Almighty and take Him seriously at His Word. We need to rid ourselves of the apathetic attitudes we have and go forth and tell everyone about how good God is to us and why the fellowship of church strengthens our relationship to Him and others.
Prayer: Father, thank you for your mercy and graciousness. You have blessed me beyond measure and I have taken it for granted. Let me be a leader among the people of your church and get my apathetic ways behind me. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Malachi 1:1-5; Monday – Luke 18:1-8; Tuesday – Zephaniah 2:13-15; Wednesday – Matthew 22:1-14; Thursday – Lamentations 1:8-12; Friday – 2 Peter 2:4-22; Saturday – Proverbs 14:11-15.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals. com.

By GARY ANDREWS
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Watching a version of “Cinderella” the other day I was reminded of a great quote; “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” What a tremendous saying. I often wonder how many of us in the world today let so many opportunities pass by us and we are so busy searching for the perfect fit that we miss what God intended us to do.
As in this story life sometimes treats us as if we are step children, by default on terms that weren’t accepted by love, and we allow others to treat us like they want to. We allow our self-confidence to be shaken and we tend to move away from our family, friends, and more importantly, our dreams.
We tend to look at what the world is telling us to do and let go of our passions. Many times we sink back into our inner shell and forget that this is a great big beautiful world that the Lord has given us. Some of the time this is caused by tragic events in our family or friends and we forget who is really in charge. Losing a loved one, being mistreated by people you trust, or making a change in your vocation can lead to doubts and inner fears that will cripple our attitudes and take us backwards.
The fear of embarrassing ourselves often keeps us from pursuing opportunities. Losing our self-confidence is one of the worse things that could ever happen to us. Losing sight of Who is really in control, and this is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, hurts us more than any human action possibly could.
The Bible speaks to us about confidence all through its pages but in Psalm 37:7 we are told, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;…”
How many of us really do this. How many times have you gone to the closet to pray and ask the Lord to help you alleviate your problems and then actually listen to Him. How many times have you intended to follow your heart’s desire, knowing the Lord is with you, and let the world change your mind and take away what you really needed to do.
As it was with Cinderella we have to regain our confidence in people around us, especially our family, friends, and dreams.  Even though this movie doesn’t mention God, all of us that are Christians realize that we have a hope for the future with Him. He doesn’t promise us a perfect world or a perfect life but He does promise us eternal life with Him when we leave this world behind. No other one or anything this world can come up with can give you that assurance.
Prayer: Thank you Lord Jesus for the assurance that you give me. Thank you for the confidence I can have through you. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible reading: Sunday – 2 Corinthians 3:1-6; Monday – Psalm 138:1-3; Tuesday – Matthew 6:16-21; Wednesday – Job 42:1-6; Thursday – Ephesians 3:14-21; Friday – Lamentations 3:19-27; Saturday – James 1:2-8.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals. com.