Search for Good!

 

 

If you search for good, you will find favor;
    but if you search for evil, it will find you!

 

—Proverbs 11:27 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Good and Gracious Father,

 

Help me search for that which is good—as You unfold this day before me—so that evil will not find me, but I will experience favor wherever You lead.

 

Remind me that there is good to be found all around me—when I search for it! Help me to look for that good in every person I encounter and in each circumstance that I face.

 

Save me from every temptation to search for evil—and don’t let me walk away from Your sheltering protection. For I know that I will never find evil before it finds me—because it watches for every opportunity of catching me unprotected, that it might destroy me.

 

In everything, help me keep my eyes fixed on You—the Author of all things good—so that all my thoughts, words and actions will be filled with Your goodness and love, and I would bring honor to You.

 

Help me search for that which is good—as You unfold this day before me—so that evil will not find me, but I will experience favor wherever You lead.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Mark Out a Straight Path

 

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

 

—Hebrews 12:12-13 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

With each new challenge that comes, grant me the wisdom to renew my grip on the plans You have for me, and the strength and courage to recommit myself to follow the straight path of obedience, for the benefit of all those around me.

 

When I find myself facing difficulties—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—and when I am weary from the fight, help me take a new grip on the call You have placed on my life to follow You.

 

Help me to push forward through those fears that would weaken my knees and undermine my effectiveness—as I courageously face the unknown in the confidence that I am not alone, because Your Spirit upholds me according to the power of Christ at work in me.

 

Help me to follow that straight path of willing obedience to You in all things, so that those who are weak and have been injured in this good fight of faith will see You at work—both in me and through me—and be encouraged, strengthened, healed, and made whole again in You, for Your glory!

With each new challenge that comes, grant me the wisdom to renew my grip on the plans You have for me, and the strength and courage to recommit myself to follow the straight path of obedience, for the benefit of all those around me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Prayerful, Watchful, Thankful

 

 

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

 

— Colossians 4:2 ESV 

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

 

May I forever devote myself to continue in steadfast prayer to You and watch with great expectation and thanksgiving for You to answer with my best interests at heart—bringing You the greatest glory and me the greatest good.

 

May I never grow weary in prayer but remain steadfastly committed to deepening my personal relationship with You through continual, prayerful, conversation with You.

 

May I remain alert, watchful, and persistent in prayer, confident that You hear the requests that I make and are faithful to answer according to Your perfect timing and best plan for my life.

 

May I always be thankful to You for the answer—even before the answer comes—as an act of my faith and trust in Your mercy, grace, goodness, and unfailing love towards me.

 

May I forever devote myself to continue in steadfast prayer to You and watch with great expectation and thanksgiving for You to answer with my best interests at heart—bringing You the greatest glory and me the greatest good.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Answer Me

 

 

Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,
    for I am poor and needy.

 

—Psalm 86:1 (ESV)

 

 

 

 

 

Loving and Compassionate Father God,

 

Don’t allow me to ever take for granted the truth that, like a good father, You bend down to listen to my every word and understand every matter on my heart—then lovingly and compassionately answer me according to what is best for me.

 

Thank You that because You are a loving and compassionate God, I can be confidently assured that You will never disregard or dismiss the cries of my heart.

 

With that confidence that You hear me, help me to always come to You in humility, recognizing that I am poor and needy—that without You I am nothing and apart from You I can do no good thing.

 

Thank You for answering me out of the infinite vastness of Your love, understanding, and wisdom, so that I can always trust that You answer will set me on the very best path that You have for me—and that in walking that path with You, I will find my every need met.

 

Don’t allow me to ever take for granted the truth that, like a good father, You bend down to listen to my every word and understand every matter on my heart—then lovingly and compassionately answer me according to what is best for me.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Be Still, Don't Worry

 

 

Be still in the presence of the LORD,
    and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
    or fret about their wicked schemes.

 

—Psalm 37:7 (NLT)

 

 

 

Loving LORD,

 

Bring me into the stillness and peace of Your presence and help me wait patiently for You to act, as You work in me, through me, and all around me. Don’t allow me to worry or fret over evil people, or their wicked schemes, but keep my eyes fixed on You.

 

Help me rest confidently in Your loving presence, far from the restless anxiousness that this life brings. Make me content to be where You have me now, and assured that You never stop working, never stop unfolding Your perfect plan.

 

Help me not to get caught up in fretting over those who seem to be getting away with their evil schemes—who make a game of life and appear to be winning, as they play that game by their own set of rules and leave the truth behind to chase after lies.

 

Help me remain in Your presence and live out my life within the protection that Your instructions promise, never compromising the truth. Help me remember that as I wait for You, You will set all things right—every hurt, every offense, every injustice—according to Your perfect timing, plan and purpose, and for Your greatest glory.

 

Bring me into the stillness and peace of Your presence and help me wait patiently for You to act, as You work in me, through me, and all around me. Don’t allow me to worry or fret over evil people, or their wicked schemes, but keep my eyes fixed on You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Word of God

 

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

 

—Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that Your Word is so much more than just words on a page. Thank You that it is alive and powerful in me!

 

Never let me forget that Your Word is filled with Your life and power as the Almighty God. For it tells me who You are—as my Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Sanctifier—and tells me who I am as Your child, in Christ—so that when I go to Your Word and allow Your Word to wash over me, it heals me and makes me whole.

 

Help me to hear and understand Your Word—so that I can receive all the Truth that it contains into my heart. And then help me willingly and obediently apply that Truth to my life—as my loving and grateful response for all You have done for me.

 

Use Your Word to plunge deeply within me, to separate and expose the innermost thoughts and desires and motives of my soul and spirit—and to bring to light anything within me that is not in line with the Truth, so that I can repent and walk in the fullness of life to which You have called me.

 

Thank You that Your Word is so much more than just words on a page. Thank You that it is alive and powerful in me!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

For Those Who are Righteous

 

But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough.

You are a God who does what is right,

and you smooth out the path ahead of them.

LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name. —Isaiah 26:7-8 (NLT)

 

 

 

Gracious and Loving LORD,

 

Help me to walk in right-standing with You—exemplifying both moral and spiritual integrity in all I do—by the power of Christ in me—so that my path will not be steep and rough but be smoothed out before me by Your hand.

 

You have called me to obedience for my own good—so my way will not be rough and steep. Help me to obey both Your Word and Your Spirit, as I follow You!

 

You are the upright God—the One who always does what is right. You smooth out the path of those who are righteous—for those who are in right-standing with You—because they have put their trust in You.

 

We show our trust in You when we obey Your laws—when the deepest desire of our hearts is to glorify Your name!

 

Help me to walk in right-standing with You—exemplifying both moral and spiritual integrity in all I do—by the power of Christ in me—so that my path will not be steep and rough but be smoothed out before me by Your hand.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.