Good morning, Lord

Galatians 6:17

" Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." NIV 1984

The Greek word for "marks" in this verse is phonetically spelled stigmata, which is only used one time in the New Testament in Galatians 6:17, and comes from the root word stigma. From biblehub.com:

HELPS Word-studies

4742 stígma – properly, a brand mark burned into the skin; (figuratively) "holy scars" that go with serving Jesus as Lord (used only in Gal 6:17).

4742 /stígma ("brand-mark") refers to the literal scars on Paul from the lictor's rods at Pisidian Antioch, the stoning at Lystra, etc. These "marked Paul off" as the slave of Jesus (bearing "holy scars for Christ").

[Brand-marks (4742 /stígma), like "tatoos" (Gk stigmata), were burned into the skin of slaves in NT times – proving they belonged to a particular owner.]

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Good morning, Lord, thank You for the marks You bore for us, and for the marks Paul bore for Your glory. I'm very cautious about praying this, but if this body You have given me is meant to bear some sort of physical marks for Your causes and purposes, then not my will, but Yours be done! Please prepare us for that which You have planned for us (Ephesians 2:10). May we, like the early apostles, rejoice to suffer shame for Your name (Acts 5:41).

Thank You that we already have stigma, the marks of changed lives and hearts and eternities. Thank You that we are branded and belong to You, and not to the one who would have us believe otherwise. Thank You for the great cloud of witnesses we read about in Hebrews, thank You for all the stigma and shame and suffering they bore for Your name, may we, like them, do our part, today, tomorrow, while it is our time, our turn.

Praise be to the Lord forever! Amen and Amen. Psalm 89:52

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Acts 5:40-42

" His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ."

Ephesians 2:10

" For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Good morning, Lord

Psalms 45:1

My heart is stirred by a noble theme

as I recite my verses for the king;

my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer."

Good morning, Lord, please help us find our noble themes in this life, that which You created us to do, that which You created for us to accomplish. Please help us die today to self and live only for You and Your glory. Amen, Jesus, amen.

Good morning, Lord

I the LORD do not change... Malachai 3:6a

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Good morning, Lord, You know what is changing in our lives, in the world today, and how unnerving and unsettling change can be. Please help us cling to You and Your promise of Your unchanging nature. We are so fickle, You are so solid, we need solid ground to stand on, You are our rock, our fortress, and our shield. Please forgive us for putting our trust in sandy soil, that which time and the elements can quickly erode away. Amen, Jesus, amen. 

Good morning, Lord

I Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (NLT)

II Corinthians 12:8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NLT)

Good morning, Lord, thank You for this offer from Your Word, please help us give You that which we were not designed to carry, that which You command us to give to You. Please help us understand the sufficiency of Your grace, please drive that point home to our hearts, please help us find the strength You have waiting for us, in our weakness, we pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Good morning, Lord

And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. Revelation 5:9

"...purchased..." from the Greek agorazo, from Biblehub.com:

59 /agorázō ("acquire by purchasing") stresses transfer – i.e. where something becomes another's belonging (possession). In salvation-contexts, 59 (agorázō) is not redeeming ("buying back"), but rather focuses on how the believer now belongs to the Lord as His unique possession (J. Thayer). Indeed, Christ purchases all the privileges and responsibilities that go with belonging to Him (being in Christ).

Good morning, Lord, thank You for purchasing us, for making us Your own, for showing us how much You love us. Please help us love others with the sacrificial love only You can put in our hearts. Please help us die to day to self, and live for You, for love, for eternal life, we pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Good morning, Lord

Proverbs 3:5-6
" Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight."

Good morning, Lord, I come to You as one who really needs direction, and guidance, and peace, and perspective, please fill me with these precious divine blessings, please help me be still and know You are God, I pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Good morning, Lord

But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. II Corinthians 2:14

"....leading in triumph..." - thriambeuonti

From Biblehub.com:

Strongs: Definition (properly: I lead one as my prisoner in a triumphal procession, hence) I lead around, make a show (spectacle) of, cause to triumph.

Good morning, Lord, thank You that we are Your captives. Thank You that sin and death have been defeated in our lives, please help us fight the good fight, not for victory, but from victory, for You have already won! You are the triumphant One, we are Yours, thank You that we are, please make us the spectacles You need us to be to shine in the darkness You have placed each one of us in, in Jesus name we pray, amen.