Ed Christian's World

Finding Contentment…

As we begin this new day, let’s find solace and strength in the familiar words of Psalm 23:1.  This verse, a cornerstone of faith, offers a profound promise of provision and peace.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

This simple yet powerful declaration speaks to the heart of our relationship with God. It’s more than just an acknowledgment of His existence; it’s a deep, personal connection, a recognition of His active role as our Shepherd. 

Think about the intimacy of that image – a shepherd, constantly attentive to the needs of their flock, guiding them to nourishment and safety.  This is the kind of care God offers us. “I shall not want” – this isn’t a promise of a life free from challenges. 

Life will inevitably present us with difficulties, with moments of scarcity and longing.  Rather, this verse speaks to a deeper, spiritual contentment.  It’s about recognizing that in God, we have all we truly need. 

He provides not necessarily everything our desires crave, but everything our souls require:  grace, strength, guidance, and unwavering love.  It’s a shift in perspective, from focusing on what we lack to appreciating the abundance we already possess in Christ.

This verse invites us to cultivate a heart of gratitude.  To look beyond the surface of our circumstances and recognize the hand of our Shepherd at work, even in the midst of hardship.  He leads us to “green pastures” – moments of peace and restoration – and “quiet waters” – times of reflection and renewal. 

He restores our souls, gently mending the broken places within us.  And even when we walk through the “valley of the shadow of death,” those dark and frightening times, we can find comfort knowing He is with us, His rod and staff providing protection and guidance.

Let’s carry this truth with us today:  We are loved, cherished, and cared for by a Shepherd who knows us intimately.  In His presence, we can find a contentment that transcends our circumstances.

Dear Heavenly Shepherd,  Thank you for your constant care and unwavering love.  Help me to truly understand the depth of your promise in Psalm 23:1.  Quiet the clamor of my desires and open my eyes to the abundance you have already placed in my life.  When I feel lost or afraid, remind me of your presence and guide me with your loving hand.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Life lived in connection with God has purpose and direction, like a sharpened pencil ready to create. 

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

We Who Are On Earth…

We are to pray, “Our Father Who Art in Heaven”. Notice that it speaks of God’s “art,” but there’s nothing about your “art” at all. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in one place or another.

Thus, it doesn’t talk about where you are because if it talked about a specific place in the Lord’s Prayer, then you would be limited to that particular place. But it doesn’t matter where you are.

It only matters where God is. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in a high place in your life or a low place. It doesn’t matter whether you’re going through a tough time or the worst time you’ve ever been through.

Wherever you are, you can still pray. It doesn’t even matter if you’re in a place where you feel so far from God that it seems He won’t hear you. Pray! Because the Lord is seated on the throne in heaven, and He loves you.

He is in heaven, and He will always be there for you. Reach out to Him. He is reaching out to you. Pray, because you don’t have an ‘art’, but God does.

Pray without ceasing.  1 Thessalonians 5:17

Lord, thank you for your constant presence, even when I feel distant or lost.  Thank you for my location, my circumstances, and my feelings. Do not limit your love or your ability to hear me.  I bring my worries, my joys, my hopes, and my fears to you now.  Help me to remember that you are always on the throne, always in control, and always reaching out to me.  I lift my voice to you, knowing that you hear me.  Help me to pray without ceasing, to keep my heart and mind focused on you.  Amen

Today, no matter where you are, enter the Holy of Holies and spend time in His presence.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Find Your Still Point…

In the whirlwind of our lives, a gentle whisper cuts through the noise: “Be still, and know that I am God.”  It’s an invitation, not a demand, to find a sanctuary within ourselves where we can connect with the divine.  Psalm 46:10 isn’t about emptying ourselves, but about opening ourselves to the fullness of God’s presence.

Think of it like this:  a rushing river, churning with rapids, can obscure the treasures hidden beneath the surface. Only when the waters calm, when the current slows, can we glimpse the vibrant life teeming below. 

Similarly, in the stillness, we dive deep into the ocean of God’s love, discovering depths we never knew existed. It’s not always easy. Our minds, accustomed to constant activity, may resist the quiet.  But it’s in this sacred pause that true transformation begins. 

Being still means quieting the internal storms – the anxieties, the need for control, the clamoring voices – and creating space for God to fill us with peace.

Imagine the weight of worry lifting, the tension in your shoulders melting away, as you simply be in God’s presence.  It’s a moment of pure connection, a breath of fresh air in the midst of chaos.  In that stillness, we find renewal, healing, and clarity of purpose that the world can’t offer.

Heavenly Father, in the midst of the daily rush, I hear your gentle call: “Be still.”  Help me to answer, to quiet the noise both around me and within me. Create a sacred space in my heart where I can meet with you.  I lay down my worries, my plans, my need to control, and surrender them to your loving care.  As I embrace the stillness, let your presence fill me, your peace wash over me, and your love calm my restless spirit.  Speak to me in the silence, Lord. Let me hear your whispers guiding my steps and shaping my path.  Remind me that in this stillness, I find you, and in finding you, I find the strength I need for each day. Thank you for your constant presence, always there, always transforming. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Remember: Worry is a conversation you have with yourself about things you can’t change. Prayer is a conversation you have with God about things He can change.

Walk with God, hand in hand, every single day!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Unlearning to Pray…

How do we pray? There are seminars, books, teachings, and all sorts of things on how to pray. Jesus, who knows best, taught us how to pray. He started out by saying, “Our Father”. Romans 8:15 says, “…we cry out, Abba, Father.”

Abba is the Hebrew word for Daddy. The Lord wants us to forget our ideas of prayer- the complexities, the formulas- and learn the most profound truth in the word Abba. Learn from that little baby in the cradle.

It doesn’t know many words, but when it’s sad, hurting, or in need, it cries out. So when you are sad or hurting, cry out. Pour out your heart to God. When you have a need, bring it to Him.

Also, when you have joy, share it with Him. Let your joy overflow in worship and praise and, like the baby, cry, “Abba.” There’s no need for eloquent words. Simply be like a baby resting in your Father’s loving arms.

Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.  Psalm 5:2

You don’t have to know the right formula. Just simply pour out your heart to Him. Keep it simple, keep it basic, and keep it, Abba.

Abba, Father, thank you for the gift of prayer, for the ability to come to you as a child to a loving parent.  Help me to release my worries and anxieties, and simply rest in your presence.  Teach me to trust in your care, share my joys and sorrows with you, and listen for your voice.  May my prayer be a constant conversation with you, my Abba. Amen.

Be like a child today ” pour out your heart and bring your needs to your Abba”, your Daddy.

Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Anxiety….

Today, lets take a deep breath, let’s begin this day by placing all our worries in God’s hands and trust in His perfect timing. Remember, His plans for you are beautiful!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God
Philippians 4:6

We all experience that gripping feeling of worry.  It might be a health issue, a struggling relationship, or uncertainty about the future.  Sometimes it’s not one major problem, but a collection of smaller anxieties that become overwhelming.

In these moments of worry, God, through Paul, encourages us to bring everything to Him.  Not just the significant issues, but every single anxious thought, fear, and burden.

What is the surprising part? He asks us to approach Him with Thanksgiving.  This isn’t about being thankful for the difficulties themselves, but about remembering God’s past faithfulness, which fuels our hope for the present.

Today, you don’t need to hide your worries.  God invites you to bring each concern to Him, knowing He cares deeply for you.

Reflect on these questions:
* How can I turn my anxieties into prayers today?
* How can gratitude shift my perspective on challenging situations?

Dear Heavenly Father, as I start this day, I’m trying to hold onto Your words about not worrying. I know it’s what You want for me, but sometimes my mind just won’t stop spinning with all these concerns. When those anxious thoughts creep in, help me turn them into prayers instead. Thank You for all the times You’ve carried me through, even when I didn’t realize it was You. When things get tough today, remind me of Your faithfulness. Fill my heart with that peace that only You can give – the kind that doesn’t make sense to the world but means everything to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith. The beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always

Ed 🙏🏼

No Limits…

The Israelites, despite receiving daily manna (a bread-like substance) from God in the desert, grumbled about wanting meat.  This angered God, yet He told Moses He would provide meat for an entire month.  Moses expressed disbelief, but God responded, “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?”

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Has my arm lost its power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!”   Numbers 11:23

God then caused a wind to blow, bringing vast numbers of quail from the sea.  The quail covered the ground for miles in every direction, flying only about three feet high. 

The Israelites were amazed by this display of God’s power. Just as God provided for the Israelites, He is preparing to act in your life. 

He’s about to orchestrate events in your favor, bringing opportunities and blessings you couldn’t have achieved on your own. 

Perhaps you lack the necessary connections, experience, or background, but your faithfulness and devotion to God have positioned you for His blessings. 

He is about to bring about a shift: from financial struggle to abundance, from dependence to ownership, and from scarcity to surplus.

Father, thank You that Your arm has never lost any of its power, and You control the winds and bring Your blessings to me. When it looks too big for me, I know that with You all things are possible. I believe that You are not limited by anything that I face. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

With God, nothing is impossible. Matthew 19:26

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Depth of Our Devotion…

Today, we’ll explore a verse that unveils the depth of devotion God desires from us, as shown in Mark 12;30

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
Mark 12:30

In our pursuit of loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we may find ourselves wondering where to begin. The answer lies in a simple yet transformative practice: gratitude.

Gratitude is the spark that ignites a deep, abiding love for God. It’s the lens through which we begin to see His hand in every aspect of our lives. When we cultivate a grateful heart, we train our eyes to see the countless ways God is moving, providing, and caring for us.

Each whispered “thank You” becomes a seed of love, planted in the fertile soil of our hearts. As we water these seeds with consistent acknowledgment of God’s goodness, they grow into a lush garden of adoration and devotion.

Through the practice of gratitude, we discover that loving God with our entire being isn’t a distant, abstract concept. It’s a natural outpouring of a heart that recognizes the depth and breadth of His love for us.

Today, embrace gratitude as your pathway to a deeper, more intimate love for God. Let each thankful thought and word draw you closer to the heart of the One who loves you beyond measure

Heavenly Father, In my journey to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, guide me to start with a heart of gratitude. Let me see Your hand in the small and grand moments of my life, acknowledging each as a gift from You. As I express my thanks, deepen my love for You, allowing it to flourish and encompass every part of my being. Help me to recognize and cherish Your constant presence, finding new reasons to be grateful each day, and drawing closer to You in every grateful thought and word. Thank You for Your love that never fails, a love so grand that it compels me to love You in return with all that I am. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely… He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Be Careful…

When God has given you direction for your life, don’t let people talk you out of it. If God wants you to do something different, He’ll tell you. You don’t have to rely on someone else to hear from God for you.

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  1 John 4:1

Here’s the key: Everyone is not who they say they are. This is where discernment comes in. Today’s Scripture says to test the spirits. What is their track record? Do they have good fruit? Are there other people who can vouch for them?

Don’t get caught up in their charisma or how articulate they are. You have to go beyond face value. Listen to what you’re feeling inside. They may look and sound the part, but if you feel an uneasiness, an unrest, something saying, “It’s not right,” that’s the Holy Spirit warning you.

Don’t ignore it. That’s the spirit of discernment, helping you to know things that you can’t see. You can’t see motives. You can’t see intentions. But because of the integrity of your heart, God will keep you from making a mistake.

Father, thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit to be my helper, my counselor, and my guide. Thank You that You’ve promised to lead me on the right path. Help me to be discerning of any distracting voices. Help me to be sensitive to hear how You are speaking to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼