Let It Be to Me According to Your Word

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God….  Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”

—Luke 1:30, 38a (NKJV)

Sovereign and Loving LORD,

Grant that I would always willingly submit to the plan that You have for me—that I would simply trust and obey—even when I don’t understand the full implications of those things to which You have called me.

Thank You for the favor that You pour out on me every time that You allow me to be a part of Your amazing story of redemption and restoration in the lives of those that You put in my path—and for the blessing that comes upon my life, even through the pain and hardship I might face along that journey.

Help me to take seriously the part You expect me to play—remembering that I am always called to be “on mission” wherever I go, ready to surrender to whatever You ask of me.

Let my sole motivation be to bring Glory to You, as I seek to please You in everything that I think, and say, and do—and as I place my life in the hands of the One who came as a baby to be the Savior of all mankind.

Grant that I would always willingly submit to the plan that You have for me—that I would simply trust and obey—even when I don’t understand the full implications of those things to which You have called me.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Putting All of My Hope in My Savior and My God

Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!

—Psalm 42:11 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

In those times when I am tempted to become discouraged, help me to reason with my heart—and remember that all my hope is found in You, my Savior and my God!

Help me to see that when I become discouraged, I have “mis-placed” my hope—that I have placed my hope in something or someone other than the only One who is worthy of my praise.

Help me to see that when my heart is saddened, I need only raise my voice to You, the One to whom all praise is due—and You will lift me up once again into your Presence, where I find the joy of my salvation and the abundant life that You offer me.

Because You are my Savior and my God—the One who drives away all doubt, fear, and sadness by Your love, the One who renews my courage, hope and joy—I will sing my praises to You, yet again!

In those times when I am tempted to become discouraged, help me to reason with my heart—and remember that all my hope is found in You, my Savior and my God!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Privilege of Living in Your Presence

One thing I ask from the LORD,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
    and to seek him in his temple.

—Psalm 27:4 (NIV)

O LORD My God,

May the one thing I ask for, the only thing I seek, be the privilege of dwelling in Your Presence—of gazing on Your beauty, in an abiding, unbroken, intimate relationship with You!

King David wrote of his desire to make Your house his home—knowing that Your house was where Your Presence could be found, and that in Your Presence he would find everything that He needed.

And so it is true for me, that in Your Presence I can experience provision for all my needs, protection from all my enemies, comfort for all my sorrows, wisdom to discern the truth of Your Word, a knowledge beyond my intellect, the power, strength and courage to do Your will, and a peace that surpasses my own understanding.

Help me to be ever mindful that You are always with me, You never leave my side, and that You are, in truth, alive within me—so that I won’t be tempted to wander my own way, but can personally experience all the grace and truth of the abundant life that I find, when I seek out Your Presence.

May the one thing I ask for, the only thing I seek, be the privilege of dwelling in Your Presence—of gazing on Your beauty, in an abiding, unbroken, intimate relationship with You!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.