Ask the Lord to increase your faith so you are completely confident that He cares for you every day of the year.

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 11-12

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 11:11-12

A land of hills and valleys which drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year.

Migdal is the home of Mary Magdalene, the one to whom Jesus first appeared after His resurrection. Jesus cares for people. We recognize His care for our countries, as well. Canada’s official motto is, “He shall have dominion from sea to sea,” “Ad mare usque ad mare” (Psalm 72:8). It’s always good to reflect on why we obey God. Are we motivated by fear or love? For Mary, out of whom Jesus had cast demons, it was love that brought her to the garden. Because of love she stayed close to Jesus as He carried His Cross. Psalm 103:13 & 14 tells us that, “as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear (hold in awesome reverence) Him. He knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust.” Are we, like Mary, confused and sorrowful? Peter writes, “Casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Dear Lord, I ask You to increase my faith, so that I am totally confident that You care for me every day of the year. As I look back over each day, You have cared for everything about me. Together we are winning! Thank You! Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

In spite of my battle with leukemia (because of God’s care I’m winning the fight), I find doors of opportunity open everywhere. On December 19, 2012, I witnessed, along with the Rt. Hon. David Johnson, Canada’s Governor General, on the large screen, the launch of a Russian Soyuz rocket, bound for the International Space Station. Sitting in the rocket’s nose was the future commander of the station, Chris Hadfield. My daughter Elaine and her family attended church regularly with Chris’ parents for several years. They prayed together for God’s care. I’m sure our Canadian astronaut prayed too. I don’t know if this was mentioned on the news, but the head of Canada’s space agency told us that an Russian Orthodox priest prayed with the three men personally before they ascended to their cockpit. This happened in Kazakhstan. For those of us who remember the 70 years of official Soviet atheism, this says that God is still at work and still cares for people.