You have given me permission to not worry about anything (Matthew 6:34, Philippians 4:6), but instead to seek first Your Kingdom, and You will take care of “all these things” (Matthew 6:33).

You have told me the first and most important commandment : to love You with all that I am and to love my neighbor in the ways that I love myself (Matthew 22:37-39).

You have told me Your will for my life : to be sanctified (1 Thessalonians 4:3) and to be thankful (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Wherever You have me, Your will is that I be made more holy and more grateful right there. (paraphrase from Elisabeth Elliot)

Your commands give me marching orders towards freedom from the culture I live in and from the culture that lives inside of me.

Your Words write my permission slip, and Your miraculous grace fuels obedience in my wayward heart that truly leads to MY GREATEST JOY!

You give me permission to be glad in my weaknesses so that I am well aware it is Your strength that makes me strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

You give me permission to cast the cares that weigh heavy on me upon You because You care for me. In my mother’s words, “Not only does God care about you, He cares for you . . . in your place.”

You give me permission to say, “I can’t.” And You meet me in that honest confession with the strong declaration that, “YOU can.” You invite me to come to You in my weariness, and You will give me rest (Matthew 11:28).

Your permission slip is really a beautiful invitation to me. It is an invitation to peace.

Thank you, Merciful Father, for the simplicity (though eternally complex) and the clarity (though infinitely incomprehensible) of Your Holy Word gifted to us. Oh, may we savor and treasure it and FIND YOU THERE as You have graciously revealed Yourself to us.