January 21, 2026
Happy Wednesday, everyone! It is a beautiful, sunshiny day, and if I still lived in California, I would have gone outside to walk for my quiet time this morning at 7 a.m. (Believe it or not, it’s mostly safe to do that in CA if the sun is shining.) But I have lived in Virginia for nearly 19 years now, and I know better. It is beautiful and sunny outside, but the temperature is 34 degrees and feels like 28, and even colder weather is to come this weekend! Folks are already talking together about stocking up the must-haves early, and states of emergency are being considered for VA and MD. Our first responders will be getting leadership together soon to put in place the protocols and procedures that have been prepared beforehand for this kind of thing. They know from experience that it is far better to be prepared than to be taken by surprise and find out that needed supplies and equipment are now unavailable.
I think there is a correlation here for Christians. I have been in church ministry now for nearly 40 years, and I have known quite a few who said they were believers but couldn’t understand why they were constantly being blown around by the circumstances of their lives. Money troubles, rebellious kids, rocky marriages, etc, etc. It was like they kept running out of the house in their shorts every day without checking with the experts, only to be surprised and confused by hypothermia – their spiritual and physical exhaustion, the chaos that reigned in their homes, and their assumption that it was because God was “far away” and likely “too busy” to help them out.
So here is the correlation. I believe that every created being knows deep inside that there is a Creator, and that they should be communicating with Him and following His instructions as they live life. Scripture says very clearly in Psalm 104 and 147 that the animals know enough to look to God for His provision, and that He feeds them when they cry out to Him. So why don’t we humans do that? Why do we have to be reminded to come to God every day for nourishment and encouragement and instruction? Why must we who were created in His image pretend that He doesn’t exist? Can we can do this thing called life on our own? That we are too busy to come to Him for help – so much so that we continue to struggle and strain and strive to obtain the things we need to be happy, fulfilled, safe, and satisfied, when He has promised to give to us all that we need and so much more (see Matthew 6:31-33, Ephesians 3:20)?
When we get together every Sunday, we worship God for His power, His presence and His immeasurable knowledge. He is always capable of caring for our needs. He always has a plan for us that will bring us good and will bring Him glory. He loves us without limit or expectation or measure. We thank Him for all these things as a part of our worship. This Sunday, let’s go one step further. Let’s acknowledge His power/presence/knowledge in and over our lives, and then accept His promise of love and blessing with gratitude, even if we are not sure we have it. We do, you know – if our Father says we have something, it is ours – even if we cannot see it yet (see 1 John 5:15). Then let’s change the way we do things. If God always keeps His promises, and He has promised His children that He will provide for us, let’s believe it and act on it. Let’s check in with Him before we take off to live our busy days. Let’s make our relationship with Him the first priority in our lives instead of giving Him the leftovers, and carry out our other duties as assigned with the understanding that we are doing them for the Lord (Colossians 3:17). Let’s be grateful for every good thing He gives us and say “Thank You” to Him often throughout the day. Let’s make our worship a lifestyle.
See you on Sunday, weather permitting, for worship!
Careen
Worship Songs for January 25:
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name – Keith & Kristyn Getty – https://youtu.be/06nyyjiNU6I?si=VG3mJHKoPsc47AF-
Praise to the Lord the Almighty – Shane & Shane – https://youtu.be/O25pj_Nimc4?si=hS3yUro9MppN-0sf
The Lord Almighty Reigns – Keith & Kristyn Getty – https://youtu.be/2TdEZXPuKOo?si=C0Hw_o0FEHBAS2dH
Jesus You Alone – Highlands Worship – https://youtu.be/ymMa0lN-QwQ?si=OnEeHw-X8AN09dnw
