We prepare to pray, yet our minds wander and every distraction is magnified. That’s when we simply bow our hearts and say, “Lord, teach us to pray!”

It starts as broken glass. Ruined. Thrown away. But then something amazing happens. Over time, the useless shards are rolled and tumbled until something beautiful is created. It’s just like how God takes our broken pieces and crafts beauty.

We can quench our thirst with a variety of products. They may come in attractive packaging and satisfy us for a while, but we will be thirsty again. So drink from the source of living water—Jesus. You will never thirst again.

The color of your skin, where you come from, and other people’s misconceptions about you don’t matter. Jesus died for you; and when you believe this truth, God welcomes you with open arms into His family. You are accepted by God, and you are His child. Read more: http://odb.org/2015/08/06/family-privilege/

It’s humbling, really. When you consider the entire universe, the billions of stars and people, the noise and activity that never end . . . and He chose YOU! The Creator of everything made you, died for you, and wants a relationship with you.

Days have a way of blending into each other. The repetition of life dulls our senses until our world can become gray. But like refreshing rain, God gives us splashes of joy to color our world and to help us see with new eyes.

Through our own narrow lens of experiences, our viewpoint is often unclear and unreliable. We can feel confused and in the dark. When we realign our perspective to God’s vision, we can see clearly.

Darkness. The world was in darkness. But we knew the Light was coming because God promised His arrival. Suddenly, one night so long ago, He came bursting into our world as a baby. And just like the morning sun, He overcame the dark of night and gave us hope.

Do you ever feel like you’re drowning? Like there’s an ocean of pain and problems and you can’t breathe? But there is One who saves. Who rescues. Who brings your life out of the deep and into the light. His name is Jesus, and He wants to rescue you. Read more: http://odb.org/2015/02/24/longing-for-rescue/

People or things will try to distract you, but keep going.