My new daily devotional on work and God can be found at:

http://www.thehighcalling.org/

Look for the “Daily Reflection”

O give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 136:26

Click here to read all of Psalm 136

Prayer

On this last day of the calendar year, it seems only right to give You thanks, dear Lord, for You have made Your steadfast love known to me in so many ways this year.

You have given me purpose for living,
For Your steadfast love endures forever.

You have forgiven my sin and renewed me in Your love,
For Your steadfast love endures forever.

You have surrounded me with loving family and friends,
For Your steadfast love endures forever.

You have called me to a wonderful church,
For Your steadfast love endures forever.

You have graced me with wise counselors,
For Your steadfast love endures forever.

You have reached out to me when I have been discouraged,
For Your steadfast love endures forever.

You have blessed me with good health and great adventures,
For Your steadfast love endures forever.

You have drawn me closer to Yourself, helping me to walk with You each day,
For Your steadfast love endures forever.

And so much more . . . ,
For Your steadfast love endures forever.

How I give You thanks, O God of Heaven,
For Your steadfast love endures forever.

Postscript

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword. . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31-35, 37-39

Restore us, O God;
let your face shine,
that we may be saved.

Psalm 80:3

Click here to read all of Psalm 80

Prayer

As we near the end of a calendar year, we look back at the old and forward to the new. But the change from 2007 to 2008 doesn’t mean much, actually. Just because we’re in a new year doesn’t mean we’ll be new. Only You can restore us, Lord. Only you can make us new.

This is what we ask: Restore us, O God! Let Your face shine on us. Look upon us with favor. Make us, not just new, but into the people You have designed us to be.

In the year to come, may we be more devoted to You, more submitted to You, more empowered by You, more filled with Your joy. Amen.

Questions for Reflection

In what ways do you seek God’s restoring grace?  Have you taken time to tell the Lord about your desires?