Category Archives: Christ

DEAR GOD: Doing It All For YOU!~

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“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31, KJV

Living Every Moment Unto the Lord
by C D SWANSON~

This verse is deceptively simple, yet it carries a profound challenge for modern life. In a world that constantly pulls our attention in a thousand directions—notifications, deadlines, errands, responsibilities—it’s easy to compartmentalize our faith. We treat “spiritual life” as something that happens during prayer, church, or moments of crisis. But Scripture insists that everything—even eating, drinking, commuting, cleaning, working, resting—can be an act of worship.

Today’s culture often measures value by visibility. If it’s not impressive, posted, or praised, it feels insignificant. But God’s economy is different. He sees the unseen. He honors the quiet faithfulness of a heart that chooses Him in the ordinary. When you wash dishes with gratitude, when you speak kindly in a stressful moment, when you choose integrity at work, when you vacuum your living room with a peaceful spirit—these are not small things. They are offerings.

Living for God daily doesn’t require dramatic gestures. It requires intention. It requires remembering that God is present in the mundane, not just the monumental. When we shift our mindset from “I have to do this” to “I get to honor God through this,” the ordinary becomes sacred. The routine becomes meaningful. The day becomes holy ground.

This verse invites us to live with spiritual coherence—one heart, one purpose, one devotion—woven through every moment. Not perfection, but presence. Not performance, but surrender. Not striving, but abiding.

Lord, teach me to live each moment with You in mind. Help me to see my daily tasks not as burdens but as opportunities to honor You. Fill my heart with gratitude, my hands with purpose, and my spirit with peace. Let my choices, my work, my words, and my quiet moments reflect Your goodness. Shape my days so that everything I do—seen or unseen—brings glory to Your name. Amen.

Reflective Thought

What would change in my day if I truly believed every moment could honor God?

DEAR GOD: I Am Rooted In What Endures Forever~

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The Grass Withers The Flower Fades But The Word Of Our God Stands ...Being born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and bideth forever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man asthe flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof faileth away, but the Word of the LORD endureth forever. And this is the world which by the gospel is preached unto you.  1 Peter 1:23, 24, 25 (KJV)

These verses should speak directly to our very soul, as this is the substance of which we are to live and abide as Christian followers. The world is corrupt, and filled with so many dark moments, and scenarios, but we are to put on the “incorruptible” which is to say the “WORD” of the LORD.

All things are subject to “perish” – all have a season and time to live here on earth.  The grass, flowers, even automobiles have a time limit until they are no longer useful. But our spirit and being born again is “forever alive” and not subject to death. For it is said, in Romans, 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD.”

We will never “die” we are going on to eternal life once we leave these “flesh bodies.”  But until such time, we need to be diligent in all aspects of our life, in what we do, take on, and choose. We are to be respectful of others, but to adhere to the LORD and His will and commandments, over everything – and everyone.  For He is what matters, and He is the nucleus of our existence.

Peter reminds us that our new life in Christ isn’t fragile or temporary. We were reborn through the incorruptible Word of God, something that doesn’t fade, wrinkle, or wither like human strength does. Everything earthly eventually dries up, but God’s Word — and the life it produces in us — remains steady, eternal, and untouched by time.

This incredible truth is what drives Christians to devotion, worship and passion for our LORD. The fact that His WORD (which Jesus is the living Word – John 1:1) – Incorporate the Word into every detail of life and obey Him with a fiery spirit of devotion. 

He came for us, to save us. To redeem us from sin, and to bring us ever lasting life.

  • Those who believe in Him shall never die!   
  • Those who drink from His Water, shall never thirst!  

No matter how innocent something may seem, if it is NOT of the LORD, don’t fluff it off thinking “oh well it’s harmless, how bad can this be?”  Rather -Instead, turn from it – no matter the consequences, even if it “offends someone” or someone is not in agreement with it. 

Jesus said, “anyone who is against us is not of us“(Matthew 12:30). And ostensibly, He warns us in Mark 9:40, and Luke 9:50  – “Whoever is not against us is for us.”  

Today as you go about your daily activities of living – are you ready to defend and guard your heart, soul and mind in the name of the LORD?

“Father, thank You for giving me a new life that cannot decay or be taken away. Let Your Word take deeper root in my heart, shaping my thoughts, my choices, and my peace. Help me stand on what is eternal, not on what fades. In Jesus name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: My Heart Trusts You Solely

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“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5 (KJV)

My Heart Trusts You Solely~
By C D SWANSON

Loving God and trusting God are not two separate paths — they are one intertwined journey of surrender, devotion, and confidence in His character. When Scripture calls us to trust the Lord with all our heart, it is inviting us into a relationship where fear loosens its grip, self‑reliance fades, and the soul finds its true anchor.

Trusting God is not passive. It is an active, daily choice to place the weight of your life — your hopes, your wounds, your uncertainties, your future — into His hands. It means believing that His wisdom surpasses your understanding, His timing surpasses your impatience, and His love surpasses your fears.

Loving God means drawing near to Him with affection, reverence, and desire. Trusting God means resting in Him with confidence, peace, and surrender. Together, they form a life that is not shaken by circumstances because it is rooted in Someone unshakeable.

There will be days when trusting feels difficult — when the path is unclear, when prayers seem unanswered, when your heart feels fragile. Yet it is in those very moments that God invites you deeper. He does not ask you to understand everything; He asks you to trust Him through everything. He does not demand perfection; He desires your heart. He does not expect you to carry the weight alone; He offers Himself as your strength.

To love God is to trust that He is good. To trust God is to love Him enough to let go. And in that letting go, you discover the peace that only His presence can give.

Where in your life is God inviting you to trust Him more deeply today?

🙏 Closing Prayer

Father, teach my heart to love You more deeply and trust You more fully. When my understanding fails, let Your wisdom guide me. When fear rises, let Your peace settle over me. Draw me into a place of surrender where my confidence rests not in myself, but in Your unfailing love. Strengthen my faith, steady my steps, and help me walk each day with a heart anchored in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

DEAR GOD: We Rest Quietly In You~

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Psalm 37:7 Rest In The Lord (devotional)01:26 (orange)

 Rest In The LORD
by C D SWANSON

“Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.” — Psalm 131:2 (KJV)

Resting Quietly in the Father’s Arms

Psalm 131:2 paints one of the most tender pictures in all of Scripture: a soul quieted like a small child resting against its mother. Not striving. Not demanding. Not wrestling. Simply trusting.

This is the heart of holy silence.

When we choose stillness before the Lord, we are not withdrawing from life — we are returning to the One who holds life itself. Silence becomes a sacred posture, a way of laying down our anxieties, our noise, our endless inner motion, and letting God steady us.

In today’s world, quietness is almost countercultural. Everything pushes us to react, respond, explain, and perform. But this verse invites us to do the opposite: to quiet ourselves intentionally, to settle our souls in God’s Presence, and to rest like a child who knows they are safe.

When we offer the Lord a day of silence, we are offering Him trust. We are saying, “Father, I don’t need to fill the air with words. I just need You.” In that stillness, Christ meets us. He softens what has grown tense. He calms what has been stirred. He reminds us that we are held.

Let today’s quiet be a gentle surrender — a way of drawing closer to Christ not through effort, but through rest.

🙏 Prayer

“Lord, quiet my soul before You.
Teach me to rest in Your Presence with the trust of a child.
Let my silence today become worship,
my stillness become surrender,
and my waiting become a doorway into deeper fellowship with You.
Hold my heart steady, calm my thoughts,
and draw me closer to Christ with every quiet breath. In Jesus name, 
Amen.”

DEAR GOD: You Are The Love That Found Us

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The Work of the Trinity in Salvation - Thinking on Scripture

Your Love Saves
by C D SWANSON

 

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8

 Meaning for Today

Romans 5:8 is one of the clearest declarations of Christ’s unconditional love. Paul emphasizes that God did not wait for humanity to become worthy, moral, or spiritually mature before extending salvation. Instead, Christ acted first — demonstrating a love that is proactive, sacrificial, and undeserved. In a world where love is often transactional or based on performance, this verse confronts us with a radically different model: divine love that initiates, heals, and transforms.

Today, this message speaks powerfully into a culture marked by insecurity, comparison, and conditional acceptance. Many people struggle with feelings of inadequacy or failure, believing they must earn approval — even from God. Romans 5:8 dismantles that fear. Christ’s love is not a reward for righteousness but the foundation that makes righteousness possible. His sacrifice reveals a God who sees us fully, knows our flaws, and still chooses to redeem us. This truth invites believers to rest in grace, extend compassion to others, and live with confidence rooted not in personal perfection but in divine mercy.

 “LORD -thank You for loving me long before I ever sought You. Help me understand the depth of Your sacrifice and let Your love shape my thoughts, actions, and relationships. Teach me to walk in grace, to extend mercy, and to reflect Your heart in all I do. In Jesus name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: Your Light Entered Our Night~

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“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” — John 1:5 (KJV)

A Christmas Eve Story
by C D SWANSON

On a quiet Christmas Eve, a small town lay wrapped in winter’s hush. Snow drifted gently from the sky, softening rooftops and muffling every sound. In one little house at the edge of town, a single lantern glowed in the window. It belonged to an elderly woman named Miriam, who had made it her tradition to keep a light burning through the night.

Children often asked her why she did it. She would smile and say, “Because once, long ago, a Light came into the world—and the world has never been the same.”

This year, a young boy named Daniel knocked on her door. His family had just moved to town, and he felt lonely, unsure, and a little lost. Miriam welcomed him in, offering warm cocoa and a seat by the fire.

“Why do we celebrate Christmas Eve?” Daniel asked, staring at the lantern.

Miriam leaned back, her eyes reflecting the flame. “Because tonight reminds us that God stepped into our darkness—not with thunder, not with armies, not with force, but with a Child. A Child who carried a light so bright that no night could overcome it.”

She told him how Jesus’ birth was like a lantern in a world that had forgotten hope. How shepherds saw the sky blaze with angels. How wise men followed a star through deserts. How ordinary people found extraordinary courage because they believed the Light had come for them.

Daniel listened, feeling something warm stir inside him—something like hope, something like belonging.

When he left, Miriam handed him a small candle. “Take this home,” she said. “Let it remind you that the Light of Christ doesn’t just shine to us—it shines through us.”

As Daniel walked back through the snow, he held the candle close. And for the first time since moving, he didn’t feel alone. The light flickered gently, as if whispering that even the smallest flame can push back the deepest night.

That LIGHT is always shining – the LIGHT OF CHRIST!

Light of Christ

Christmas Eve is more than a date on the calendar—it is a threshold between darkness and dawn. The world, in all its confusion and longing, pauses to remember that God chose to enter human history not with spectacle but with tenderness.

The Light of Christ is not merely illumination; it is revelation. It reveals who God is—merciful, near, compassionate—and who we are meant to be—bearers of hope, carriers of peace, reflections of divine love.

This light does not erase the world’s shadows, but it transforms them. It teaches us that darkness is not the final word. That despair is not destiny. That every human heart, no matter how weary, can become a lantern of grace.

On Christmas Eve, we are invited to open the windows of our souls and let that ancient, eternal light shine again. Not just for ourselves, but for a world aching for warmth, truth, and renewal.

A Prayer for the World  

“LORD of Light, on this Holy Christmas Eve, let Your brightness enter every corner of our world. Shine into places torn by conflict, into hearts burdened by sorrow, into homes longing for peace. Let Your love warm those who feel forgotten, Your hope lift those who feel weary, and Your truth guide those searching for meaning. Bless every reader with comfort, courage, and a renewed sense of wonder. May Your light shine through us, that we may become beacons of kindness in a world that needs it. In Your Holy Name, Amen.”

DEAR LORD – I Cast My Burdens Down~

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“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee…” — Psalm 55:22 (KJV)

Letting Go Before the Mind Runs Away

Anxiety often begins with a single thought that snowballs into something heavier than we can carry. Catastrophic thinking tries to convince us that danger is everywhere and that we must brace for the worst. But the Lord invites us to lay every burden — imagined or real — at His feet. When we pause, breathe deeply, and welcome His Presence into the moment, the storm inside begins to quiet. He sustains us not by removing every challenge, but by steadying our hearts so fear no longer leads the way.

LORD- I place every anxious thought, every fear, and every overwhelming feeling into Your hands. Teach me to release what I cannot control and to rest in Your sustaining peace. Calm my mind, steady my breath, and fill me with the assurance that You are near. Let Your Presence anchor me when my thoughts try to run ahead. In Jesus name, Amen.

Reflective Question

What anxious thought are you holding today that you can gently place into the Lord’s hands?

 

DEAR GOD: You Are Our Bread Of Life~

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Bread of Life — St. Catherine of Siena

 

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
–John 6:35

 

The Bread of Life: Eternal Satisfaction in Christ

John 6:35 stands as one of the most profound declarations of Jesus’ identity and mission: “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” This verse is not merely poetic; it is deeply theological, practical, and transformative. It reveals Christ as the ultimate source of spiritual nourishment, the one who satisfies the deepest longings of the human soul.

Bread in the ancient world was the staple of daily life. To say “I am the bread of life” was to connect with the most basic human need. Just as bread sustains physical life, Jesus sustains spiritual life. He is not offering temporary relief but eternal fulfillment. Hunger and thirst symbolize the restless human condition — our search for meaning, peace, and belonging. In Christ, that search finds its end. He is not one option among many; He is the essential sustenance without which life cannot truly flourish.

The context of John 6 is crucial. Jesus had just fed the five thousand, a miraculous provision of bread and fish. The crowd pursued Him, hoping for more physical food. But Jesus redirected their attention from the material to the eternal. He challenged them to see beyond their stomachs and recognize their souls’ hunger. The miracle of bread was a sign pointing to Him as the true bread. In essence, He was saying: “Don’t just seek what perishes; seek Me, the one who gives eternal life.”

This verse also emphasizes faith. To “come to Him” and to “believe in Him” are parallel expressions. They signify trust, surrender, and reliance on Christ. Belief is not intellectual assent alone; it is a wholehearted embrace of Jesus as Lord and Savior. The promise is staggering: those who come and believe will never hunger or thirst again. This does not mean life will be free of trials, but it does mean that in Christ, the deepest needs of the heart are met. He provides peace in turmoil, hope in despair, and joy in sorrow.

Furthermore, this verse speaks to the exclusivity of Christ. No philosophy, possession, or relationship can ultimately satisfy. Only Jesus, the bread of life, can fill the void. This is why believers throughout history have testified that knowing Him is sweeter than any earthly gain. In Him, we find not only sustenance but abundance — life eternal, overflowing with grace.

” LORD-Jesus, Bread of Life, we thank You for being the one who satisfies our deepest hunger and quenches our thirst for meaning and peace. Teach us to come to You daily, to believe in You fully, and to rest in Your promise of eternal life. May our lives reflect the joy of being nourished by Your presence. In Jesus name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: You Are My Shepherd – I Will Not Want~

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Good Shepherd Wallpaper

 

Micah 5:4 – “He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.”

“Shepherd Strength and Secure Living”

This verse from Micah is a profound testimony to the Lord’s goodness. It speaks of God’s strength not as distant power, but as intimate care—the shepherd standing among His flock. The imagery reminds us that security is not found in worldly guarantees, but in the majesty of His name. His greatness is not confined to one place or one people; it reaches to the ends of the earth, assuring us that His care is universal and His promises unshakable.

The testimony here is that God’s Presence is both protective and empowering. Just as a shepherd guides, nourishes, and defends, so the Lord has guided His people through trials and triumphs. To live securely in Him is to rest in the assurance that His strength is sufficient, His majesty is eternal, and His love is unfailing.

How can we allow the Lord’s shepherding strength to shape the way we live securely in Him each day?

Supporting Scripture

John 10:11 – “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

“Heavenly Father, we thank You for being our Shepherd, for standing among us with strength and majesty. Lord, help us to live securely in Your promises, trusting that Your greatness reaches every corner of our lives. May we rest in Your care, walk in Your guidance, and rejoice in Your unfailing love. Let our testimony be one of gratitude and faith, pointing others to the security found only in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”