Ronald A. Beers - In the Morning When I Rise: Life-Giving Conversations with God

Living Expressions invites you to explore Gods Word and express your creativity in ways that are refreshing to the spirit and restorative to the soul.

Visit Tyndale online at www.tyndale.com.

TYNDALE, Tyndales quill logo, Living Expressions, and the Living Expressions logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

In the Morning When I Rise: Life-Giving Conversations with God

Copyright 2020 by Ronald A. Beers. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of mountains copyright elgad/Depositphotos.com. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of sunrise copyright valio84sl/Depositphotos.com. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of birds copyright Ingimage/Depositphotos.com. All rights reserved.

Designed by Ron C. Kaufmann

Scripture quotations are adapted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Tyndale House Publishers at , or call 1-800-323-9400.

ISBN 978-1-4964-4215-4

Build: 2021-04-21 15:25:19 EPUB 3.0

D O YOU LONG TO HEAR Gods voice more clearly? Do you wish he would speak into your current situation? It can be tempting to believe that God is silent about the struggles and challenges you face every day. However, nothing could be further from the truth. He wants you to tell him whats on your mind, and he wants to tell you what is on his mind. God speaks to us primarily through his Word, the Bible. To hear him, you simply need to take the time to quietly listento read his Word and hear him speak through it. This book offers a unique way to help you do that.

In the Morning When I Rise poses many of the questions you may want to ask God. Over the course of one hundred mornings, you are certain to find many questions that you would love to hear God answer. Whats wonderful is how God answers each of these questions in his Word.

Each reading begins with two related questions. The answers are drawn directly from the Bible, often using several verses woven together from different parts of Scripture. In some cases, the verses have been slightly paraphrased in voice or tense to keep with the theme of God talking directly to you.

Gods Word is different and more powerful than any other book ever written. Because the Bible is a living document, conceived and inspired by God himself, it uniquely applies to each person who reads it, and God speaks uniquely to each individual through itthough of course there are also many truths and principles that apply to all people.

After you have spent time listening to God speak, pray the prayer that follows in each daily reading. These prayers are also taken directly from Scripture, and the wording has occasionally been adapted to fit the theme of your response to God. Let these prayers bless, inspire, and motivate you at the beginning of your day.

At the end of each reading, a short devotional thought or exercise will help you apply more deeply what you have read. This is the only part of the days reading that is not adapted from Gods Word.

Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of this devotional:

1. Read slowly. Gods Word was never meant to be skimmed over. It is deep, rich, and worthy of your attention. Take the time to allow Gods words to sink into your heart.
2. Read often. We encourage you to stay committed to reading Gods Word daily, because the more you read it, the more you will learn to recognize Gods voice. Learning how to distinguish Gods voice from your own, or from the voice of the enemy, has great power in your life.
3. Read prayerfully. Each morning, take time to settle into a quiet place, relax, and pray for an open heart as you read Gods Word. Ask God to help you set aside distractions so you can be fully present and ready to receive his truth.

God has something to say to you about whatever issues and concerns you are facing. We pray that he will richly bless you as you ask him your questions, read his Word, and learn to recognize his voice.

In Psalm 27:8, God gives us an invitation: Come and talk with me. May your heart respond as King Davids did: Listen to my voice in the morning, L ORD . Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly (Psalm 5:3). Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress (Psalm 59:16).

HE IS MAKING YOU INTO A NEW PERSON!

Anyone who belongs to me has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! From my glorious, unlimited resources, I will empower you with inner strength through the Holy Spirit.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17; EPHESIANS 3:16

Dont copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let me transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know my will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

ROMANS 12:2

Since I have heard about you, Jesus, and have learned the truth that comes from you, help me throw off my old sinful nature and my former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes. Help me put on my new nature, created to be like youtruly righteous and holy.

EPHESIANS 4:21-24

B efore you came to know Jesus Christ, you operated only in your own strength. When you began a personal relationship with Jesus, you became filled with the Holy Spirit, and the very life and power of God now dwells within you. God uses many avenues to transform your thinking and thus your actions, but you have to be open to his work and surrender to the process of change. Pray the prayer above with your hands open and lifted toward heaven as a symbol of your surrender to Gods transforming work in your life.

THE FREEING POWER OF THE RESURRECTION

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if your hope in Christ is only for this life, you are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead.