Whether it is a pesky weeklong cold during the start of the fall weather, a chronic illness, or a serious disease. We or people we know are living life today with sickness. God did not intend for us to be sick in this world. Our bodies were perfectly designed to be healthy and strong. However, when we sinned and darkness entered the world, sicknesses came to be.

Feeling heartbroken is probably one of the worst pains we endure as humans. It’s an outwardly unseen injury, a wound so deep, no one else can remove the pain from us no matter how many sweet, comforting words they speak to us.

Today as we pray through the first candle, hope, may we be reminded of the fulfilled promise of Jesus as the Messiah long awaited by the people of God.

We are called to be good stewards of our time, talents, and treasures. But where things can get sideways is when we begin to worship an orderly and predictable life to the point where we come unglued when something threatens our plans. For some of us, uncertainty is a stumbling block to joyfully submitting to God’s divine interruptions.

This time of year is not just about the gifts, the songs, the food, and the decorations. It’s a season of remembrance, it’s a season of giving and serving those around us just as the King of Kings left his home in heaven to come to earth in the most vulnerable form — a baby — to grow, live, and die a brutal death on a cross for us.

Thanksgiving is not just God’s will for one day a year, but for every day of our lives. As we pray for Thanksgiving may it remind us to be thankful always.

I recently called one of my siblings to ask about holiday gathering plans. I wanted to know if he’d be okay with having the thanksgiving meal at our house this year. The conversation was going great until we began to go over the guest list.

Life is hard, struggles are real, but the Lord is still good. In our lives, in the midst of all our hard places, we can still find so much that we can be thankful for. God calls us to be a thankful people.

This is the season of harvest. A time of celebration, brilliant leaves, and Thanksgiving. As we reflect in our hearts this fall, we can be reminded to take time to praise God in prayer though gratitude.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are possibly the only times when every family member can come together and finally catch up. Although this can be a joyous time seeing on another, there might be some questions that can go too far.

You can be fully devoted to the Lord in a way that a married person cannot. Today as we pray over singles, may we remember that they have a beautiful purpose in God’s kingdom.

Have you ever been hated? If so, you’re in good company because Jesus was perfect, yet He had those who hated Him to the extent of wanting Him dead. More concern should be if the world loves us because it’s a sign we most likely aren’t living our lives for God.

As we are surrounded by loved ones, co-workers, and strangers who do not have Jesus in their hearts, may this be a reminder for us to pray boldly for them and to speak up and share the gospel in authentic ways while we have the time. One of the most powerful ways we can minister to them is by prayer. Let’s take time today to lift up those we are burdened for to know Christ.

Our walk with God isn’t always easy or straightforward. There are times in our spiritual lives when we feel overwhelmed.

There are also moments when we are serving the Lord faithfully and do not know how He is going to show up in the midst of the busyness and in our inadequacies. However, He is ever faithful to provide all that we need in Him to accomplish His kingdom work even when we feel weak.

Do you ever feel like you’re going through the same battle again and again? Like you never find relief from the struggles you’re facing? Maybe, like me, you’ve heard the saying— that each one of us is either about to enter a battle, right in the middle of one, or coming out of one into a time of rest.

Today’s prayer is a very personal one for me, and I hope it reaches and touches those in similar situations. My mother has Alzheimer’s — early-onset — she’s only 58. Even if she wasn’t so young, Alzheimer’s is still a horrible disease that changes the very core of an individual until, in one long, agonizing process, you can no longer recognize the person sitting in front of you, and neither can they.