Wrestles nights. I can’t sleep. It just seems like the burdens are building. And growing before my very eyes. Like mountains in front of me. And then…the avalanche happens.
And I can’t move…in any direction. Freezing my steps…in my tracks. I can’t move. And I give up. I give in. I’m done. Oh, I’m so done.
But then… I Prayed.
Oh Lord, let not Satan take my life in this way. You said, “Trust me.” You said, “Let me take the burden.” But it seems, to me, the burden is me. It seems, to me, the burden is my cage. And everywhere I go…there I am. In my cage. Please, unlock the door. Release the bondage of my chains. Please, oh please, move the mountain. With the swipe of your hand.
Today, it’s a fresh start. You’ve released me. But I look around. And all I see is pain and suffering in this world. That doesn’t give me much hope. It makes me sad. In fact, it makes me wonder, What kind of God you are? Because there are so many that will suffer in pain. Calling out to you, many will die in pain. On this day, today, many will die, crying out to you. If you don’t care for them, how can you care for me? I wring my hands in grief. I wring my hands for the loss of those near me. And deep in my soul, I have doubts. I wonder. Why don’t you care?
But then… I Prayed.
Please place your hand on my loved ones and bring your healing Please release them from this temporary pain, and make it go away If it be your will, breath new life into their lungs And spare them this time from the grave
I fail, constantly, it seems. There’s no other way to explain it. I can’t excuse it. I can’t change it. I’m a mess. I will fix it. I will rely on my own two hands. To maneuver my way; dodging; escaping the situation.
But then… I Prayed.
Oh God, let not my will, but your will be done. I’ll get out of your way; and simply bow to my knees I’ll ask, and seek and knock…and let you do the rest as you will. And regardless of the outcome; I’ll remain faithful to you.
We are made for community…and not to stand alone. And the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, And he prayed fervently that it might not rain, And for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
May our prayers be as faithful as Elijah. Who was diligent; unswerving; and enduring in his prayer That over the long haul, we may receive the blessing as he did.
Song: Lord, We Lift Our Hearts – An Acappella Vocal Band
Song: Lord, We Lift Our Hearts – Duet Vocal
Almighty God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, We come before You today with hearts full of praise and adoration. You are the One who spoke the universe into being, the Sovereign King over all creation. You are holy, mighty, and worthy of all glory and honor. We lift Your name high, for You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. Your love endures forever, and Your faithfulness continues through all generations.
Heavenly Father, we gather in Your presence as Your children, each carrying our own burdens, hopes, and prayers. You see us, Lord, just as we are, and You meet us with a love and compassion that never fails. You are the God who knows us intimately and cares for us deeply.
Today, we lift up those among us who are facing sickness. Lord, we ask for Your healing hand to rest upon them, bringing strength to their bodies, peace to their minds, and comfort to their spirits. For those who care for the sick, we pray for endurance, wisdom, and grace as they serve with love and dedication.
We also intercede for those struggling with loss—whether it be the loss of jobs, financial security, or loved ones. Lord, be their provider, their peace, and their comfort. Open doors of opportunity for those in need, and remind them that You are the God who sees and provides. For the grieving, surround them with Your love, and let them find solace in Your promises.
We thank You, Father, for the servants among us—those who give selflessly, reflecting Your light through their actions. Bless them abundantly, strengthen them for the tasks You have set before them, and fill their hearts with the joy of serving in Your name.
In the midst of trials, we pause to thank You for Your unwavering faithfulness. Even when life feels uncertain, You remain our solid rock. Thank You for the gift of grace through Christ, for the hope we have in Your promises, and for the assurance that You are always with us.
Lord, as we enter this time of communion and tribute to the Lord’s Supper, we beseech You to hear our worship on this day. Let it rise as a fragrant offering before You. May You be pleased with the way we worship, with the words of our mouths, the meditations of our hearts, and the unity of our fellowship. Transform our hearts as we remember the ultimate sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who gave His body and shed His blood for our salvation.
May our worship honor You, and may our hearts be renewed by Your Spirit. Draw us closer to You, and fill this place with Your holy presence.
We pray all this in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
She arrived 12 weeks early in the middle of the night
They swooped her away and took her out of sight
The doc came back at 3 AM with a warning
There’s a 50/50 chance she won’t see the morning
But she proved them all wrong day after day
She was a fighter refusing to give up her way
Mommy and daddy held to their dreams of hope
Prayin’ hard every hour was the only way they could cope
[Chorus]
She was a fighter, not in anordinary in any way She wasn’t givin’ up, gettin’ stronger every day It was up to her and God now to make this beautiful pearl Because it became clear real fast, daddy couldn’t save his little girl
She could fit in a shoe box with plenty of room to spare
Daddy couldn’t take his eyes off her, watchin’ her gasp for air
Hooked up to wires and tubes and wrapped in her cocoon
It was clear she wasn’t comin’ home anytime soon
But the day did come when she was strong enough to thrive
They took their baby girl home, thanking God she was alive
They gave her all the love and attention every baby needs
And if that wasn’t enough, they prayed for strength on their knees
[Chorus]
She was a fighter, not in an ordinary in any way She wasn’t givin’ up, gettin’ stronger every day It was up to her and God now to make this beautiful pearl Because it became clear real fast, daddy couldn’t save his little girl
She grew up so quick and turned into a sweet beautiful girl Her contagious quirky smile with those pretty blonde curls She was feisty and funny and loved to get attention Accepting everyone as her friend without pretension
Life wasn’t easy for her, she struggled to make the grade
But she didn’t give up or quit, in spite of the hand she played
She was no ordinary girl in an ordinary town
She’d be there for you, and never let you down
[Chorus]
She was a fighter, not in an ordinary in any way She wasn’t givin’ up, gettin’ stronger every day It was up to her and God now to make this beautiful pearl Because it became clear real fast, daddy couldn’t save his little girl
The clouds rolled in, the storms were fierce and strong In her teenage years she struggled to belong At every twist and turn there were obstacles to overcome Her heart became broken, she was empty, she grew numb
It was easier for her to quit than survive another day
And the unordinary girl gave up, she lost her way
The voices in her head told her she had failed
Rather than keeping her shit together, she bailed
[Bridge] She thought she had it made All her plans were laid But she reached the baracde And then she was swayed To the dark side
Her dreams were dismayed She lived her life afraid She’d been played And so she strayed To the dark side
Daddy fell into the trap that was waiting on him to wane
He turned to his bottle and lines on the table to numb the pain
It was more than he could take, his little girl’s plight
And he lost the will to live, he lost the will to fight
He turned his back on his family, giving up on all that once mattered
Where was Jesus now? Now that his life was shattered
Everyone around him left because they couldn’t stand the sight
Of a man who withered into nothing, refusing to seek the light
[Chorus]
She was a fighter, not in an ordinary in any way She wasn’t givin’ up, gettin’ stronger every day It was up to her and God now to make this beautiful pearl Because it became clear real fast, daddy couldn’t save his little girl
Like every pearl that grows from a grain of sand
So too this beautiful woman was shaped by God’s hand
For He never left her side in spite of her struggles and pain
It’s always through hardship and failure that we find true gain
She found her daddy at the bottom of his cave
Drinkin’ his way to oblivion, drinkin’ his way to the grave
She reached down in the pit and pulled him up to stand
They held each other tight, and walked out of the cave hand-in-hand
[Chorus]
She is a fighter, not in an ordinary in any way She isn’t givin’ up, gettin’ stronger every day It’s up to her and God now to make this beautiful pearl Because it’s clear real fast, daddy can’t save his little girl
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Devotional: Deep Roots, Strong Growth
Life is full of storms—whether physical like hurricanes or emotional and spiritual. Storms test the strength of what lies beneath the surface. In Psalm 1, the psalmist beautifully contrasts two kinds of people: those deeply rooted in God’s Word, like a tree planted by streams of water, and those blown about like chaff in the wind.
The metaphor of the tree is powerful. A tree thrives because of its hidden roots, reaching deep into nourishing soil. Similarly, our spiritual formation, the unseen part of our lives, shapes everything else. It’s what keeps us steady when life’s storms come. When our roots are anchored in Christ, we’re not only sustained but fruitful, providing shade and sustenance to others.
As we reflect on the devastation of trees uprooted during storms, especially mango trees, which are particularly vulnerable due to shallow roots, that’s a picture of what happens when our spiritual lives lack depth! Like those trees, we too can fall when challenges arise unless we cultivate deep, abiding roots in Jesus.
Spiritual formation is about more than knowledge—it’s about transformation. It’s about becoming who God designed us to be, aligning the interior (our heart and relationship with God) with the exterior (our actions and mission in the world). Practices like meditating on Scripture, prayer, and reflection help us grow deeper into Christ, drawing from His life-giving waters.
Let’s make it our goal to be trees firmly planted by the streams of God’s grace, with roots that grow deep into His love and truth. Then, when the storms of life come, we’ll stand firm, flourishing not only for ourselves but for the world around us.
Prayer:
Lord, Thank You for being our stream of living water. Help us to grow deep roots in You, anchoring our hearts and lives in Your truth. Teach us to align our interior lives with Your Spirit so that our outward actions reflect Your love and mission. Make us like trees planted by Your streams, steadfast in storms and fruitful in every season. May our lives be a testament to Your grace, offering shade and sustenance to those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Psalm 1:
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
Interpretation for Today’s Life
Blessed is the one who refuses to press the Easy button by following the ways of the wicked rather than taking the path of integrity and hard work Blessed is the one who avoids temptations of the wicked, like… …Cheating on my taxes by submitting false documentation and using the excuse “The Government owes me this” …Short changing the cashier when I know I was given too much change in return, resulting in a shortage in their cash drawer to be reconciled and flippantly using the excuse “That’s their loss, my gain” …Taking credit for someone else’s accomplishments to make me look better, rather than speaking the truth and giving credit where credit is due and using the excuse “I did most of the work anyway and I deserve the credit” …Covering up my own mistakes by blaming someone else behind their back and using the excuse “They never do anything worthwhile and this wasn’t my fault” …Taking it out on another in fits of anger or other types of control and using the excuse “They never help me out when I need it or give me a break; I’m always bailing them out” …Not trusting you God with my brokenness and failures, and instead turning to addictive behaviors using the excuse “I can solve my own problems; and, God wouldn’t help me anyway” …Making myself out to be more important than you God, and thus committing the vilest of sin using the excuse “Who are you God that I would trust you with my problems? You never answer my prayers. I’ll fix it myself” Bless us Lord instead when we thirst for your Words of life and meditate on them day and night Bless us when we sing praises and pray to you in our cars on the way to work or school or during our morning devotion Bless us when we pray for others and when we lift them up to you on their behalf Plant us and root us in your Words, like a tree next to a stream of water soaking up the deep waters of life Let our leaves flourish and never wither May our trunk grow strong to withstand life’s storms and the never ending attacks of the wicked May you prosper all of our activities… …In our interactions with family and friends and our coworkers …With every conversation we have with those as we go about our day that they may see You living within us …When we are thankful and gracious to those around us and can see when someone needs encouragement in their day …When we offer forgiveness to those who hurt us and when we are quick to say we are sorry when we hurt others …When we do not pass up any opportunity to do a kind deed to the least of these among us May we not be like paper rubbish blown hither and yonder in the wind like the wicked who have no direction or purpose but of themselves May we not stand condemned in the judgement but remain strong in the assembly of the righteous Watch over us, oh Lord, in our walk of righteousness And keep us from the destructive ways of the wicked For you are our God Glory to God in the highest
Verse 1: I will trust You, Lord, my shelter, my song Planted by Your stream, where my roots grow strong When the heat is near, still my leaves stay bright In the darkest storm, You will be my light
Pre-Chorus: Oh, my heart is grounded deep in Your grace Anchored in Your presence, I will stand in faith
Chorus: Like a tree beside the river, I will stand so tall Through the fire, through the season, You’re my all in all My leaves stay green, my soul stays strong Your love sustains me all life long I will bear Your fruit, Lord, make me new I am deeply rooted in You
Verse 2: I will drink Your Word, let it fill my soul Day and night I’ll seek You, Lord, You make me whole When the winds arise, I will not be swayed For my roots run deep, I will not be afraid
Pre-Chorus: Oh, my heart is grounded deep in Your grace Anchored in Your presence, I will stand in faith
Chorus: Like a tree beside the river, I will stand so tall Through the fire, through the season, You’re my all in all My leaves stay green, my soul stays strong Your love sustains me all life long I will bear Your fruit, Lord, make me new I am deeply rooted in You
Bridge: No fear in the drought (No fear, no fear!) No doubt in the storm (No doubt, no doubt!) Your love is my anchor (My heart is Yours!) I’ll trust You, Lord (Forevermore!)
Final Chorus: Like a tree beside the river, I will stand so tall Through the fire, through the season, You’re my all in all My leaves stay green, my soul stays strong Your love sustains me all life long I will bear Your fruit, Lord, make me new I am deeply rooted in You
Outro: Deeply rooted, never shaken By Your love, I stand so strong Deeply rooted, always faithful In Your hands, I belong
[Verse 1] Devil on the run He’s a wicked beast Tried to take me down But he lost his feast He kicked me hard Left me buried deep But I rose in grace While he lost his keep
[Verse 2] In my darkest night I forgot the gift I had He pulled me low Told me lies and made me mad But even in the pit Jesus called my name Now I walk in light I’m not the same
[Pre-Chorus] Don’t be fooled By the snake in the weeds He don’t care ‘Bout your hope or your needs He can’t give life Only takes what you earn He’ll torch it all Just to watch it burn
[Chorus] Now I rise, now I run By the power of the Son But the Devil is a liar He’s Done!! Ain’t no grace where he’s from Tried to steal, tried to kill But my soul he couldn’t take Devil’s on the run ‘Cause I’m saved by grace
[Verse 3] Chains are gone Yeah, the stone rolled back He lost the war On a bloodstained track Truth is fire And the lie won’t stand I’m a child of God With a sword in my hand
[Chorus – repeat] Now I rise, now I run By the power of the Son But the Devil is a liar He’s Done!! Ain’t no grace where he’s from Tried to steal, tried to kill But my soul he couldn’t take Devil’s on the run ‘Cause I’m saved by grace
[Bridge – Breakdown / Call & Response] Oh the blood! Oh the Lamb! Crushed the devil With a mighty hand Ain’t no grave! Gonna hold me down! I’ve been bought And I wear the crown You can growl You can scream But you can’t run From the King Devil’s on the run— He lost everything
[Final Chorus – Tag out strong] Now I rise, now I run By the power of the Son But the Devil is a liar He’s Done!! Ain’t no grace where he’s from Tried to steal, tried to kill But my soul he couldn’t take Devil’s on the run Yeah, the devil’s on the run Jesus won — and I’m saved by grace
Now I rise, now I run By the power of the Son But the Devil is a liar He’s Done!! Ain’t no grace where he’s from Tried to steal, tried to kill But my soul he couldn’t take Devil’s on the run Yeah, the devil’s on the run Jesus won — and I’m saved by grace
