Return to the Lord

      "Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend              your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding          in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a          grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God? (E.S.V., 2001, Philippians 1:21). 

Dear Lord Jesus, when I read this passage today the Holy Spirit moved in me and I felt great compassion and sadness knowing how great a need there is to be in a relationship and covenant with you, your teaching, having your transforming power work through all of us on this planet we call Earth. Please use me, my wife, our children, their spouses, and their children as your chosen instruments to bring the good news of Jesus Christ into the lives of those who do not yet walk with you, those who do not serve you, those who do not love and adore you. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

"All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies" (E.S.V., 2001, Psalms 25:10). A path is a means by which to get to a destination. In this psalm the destination is God's eternal 'love and faithfulness' to those persons, his creation who walk with him along this path. This is why Jesus' said, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (E.S.V., 2001, Matthew 7:103). 
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"The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble" (E.S.V., 2001, Proverbs 4:18-19). Dear Lord God, "not by might, nor by power", but by your Holy Spirit shall I walk with you along a 'path of righteousness' (E.S.V., 2001, Zechariah 4:6). In Jesus' name. Amen.