Good Fruit!

 

 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

 

—Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Let my life continually abound with the good fruit that is produced by Your Spirit—as I submit to Your will for me and embrace Your power at work within me to change me.

 

Teach me to be a person who loves You and loves others—with the deep, God-kind of love that can only come from You.

 

Teach me to be a person who overflows with unrelenting joy—because of the strength you give me for today, and the hope for tomorrow that is mine in Christ.

Teach me to walk in that peace that only You can give, which passes understanding—and, in as much as is my part, to live at peace with everyone.

Teach me to patiently bear with others, with kindness and gentleness—just as You have always been patient, kind and gentle with me.

Teach me to remain faithful to You—at all times and in every situation—just as You have always proven Yourself faithful to me.

Teach me to have a gentleness of spirit and exercise self-control at all times—as I humble myself and surrender my control to Your Spirit, for Your glory and honor.

Teach me to reflect the character of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, always.

 

Let my life continually abound with the good fruit that is produced by Your Spirit—as I submit to Your will for me and embrace Your power at work within me to change me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

As Light into the World

 

 

I have come as Light into the world, so that no one who believes in Me will remain in darkness.

 

—John 12:46 (NASB)

 

 

 

Dear Lord Jesus,

 

Thank You for coming from heaven into our world as Light—so that we who believe would no longer have to remain in darkness but could live an abundant life in the Light of Truth.

 

Before I knew You, my life was darkened by my sinful nature. I didn’t have any real comfort, contentment, peace, joy, or hope. I didn’t know what love was. I lived in fear—because my life was full of lies. I did not live in the Truth.

 

Since I have believed in You, and received You as Light into my darkened heart, the Truth of Your Word has set free from those things that held me captive and kept me from living the abundant life that You have called me to live. Now, I am forever held in the Light of Your love.

 

So, no matter what evil may come, may I always choose to walk in the Truth—allowing the Light of Christ in me to radiate from me into this darkened world—so others might see and want the blessing of living that abundant life of peace, protection, provision, and purpose that only You can offer.

 

Thank You for coming from heaven into our world as Light—so that we who believe would no longer have to remain in darkness but could live an abundant life in the Light of Truth.

 

This I pray in Your Glorious Name, Lord Jesus, Amen.

Plans and Purposes

 

 

Many are the plans in a person’s heart,

    but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

 

—Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

 

Sovereign LORD,

 

Help me always to lift all my plans before You—with my palms wide open—as I submit my will to Your will, my plan to Your plan, and give my life over to Your perfect purpose.

 

You know every plan of my heart—before it is ever formed in my thoughts. 

 

You know when I make my plans in perfect concert with Your will for me.  And You know when I make my plans without first considering or consulting You at all. 

 

You know when I make my plans after much prayer and meditation on Your Word.  And You know when I make my plans despite what I have heard from You, in great foolishness and selfishness.

 

Yet regardless of all my plans, it is always Your purpose that prevails.

 

So, mold my plans to accomplish Your purposes and help me to have faith to believe that Your plans are always best—and that Your plans cannot be stopped.

 

And help me to remember that Your plans are always crafted with my best interest at heart—and for my ultimate good—a reflection of Your perfect and unfailing love for me.

 

Help me always to lift all my plans before You—with my palms wide open—as I submit my will to Your will, my plan to Your plan, and give my life over to Your perfect purpose.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

A Long and Prosperous Life

 

 

Does anyone want to live a life
    that is long and prosperous?
Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies!
Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 

—Psalm 34:12-14 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Make every word I speak be virtuous and true, every action I take be kind and good, and create in me have a heart that searches for peace and works to maintain it, down every path You have me walk.

 

Help me not to speak evil things—words that hurt, rather than heal; words that tear down, rather than build up; words that bring despair, rather than hope.

 

And keep me from telling lies—words that deceive, rather than reveal; words that slander, rather than commend; words that omit, rather than declare the whole truth.

 

Help me to remember that while it is good for me to turn away from evil, You desire so much more of me—that to be truly obedient to You, I must also do those things that are good.

 

Help me to understand that to live in the peace You want me to enjoy, I must never stop searching for that peace and working to maintain it, through all my thoughts, words and actions.

 

Help me to do all these things, as a testimony to Your power at work in me, so that I may live long enough in this world to accomplish Your plan and purpose for me here.

 

Make every word I speak be virtuous and true, every action I take be kind and good, and create in me have a heart that searches for peace and works to maintain it, down every path You have me walk.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Help Us!

 

 

 

Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name;
And save us and forgive our sins for the sake of Your name.

 

—Psalm 79:9 (NASB2020)

 

God of our Salvation,

 

Only You can help us—for only You can save us and forgive us of our sins!

 

Help us! Move as only You can move! According to Your absolute power and Your never-failing love for Your children, unfold before us what is best for us—for the glory of Your name.

 

Save us! Deliver us from evil! Because You are Holy and Just, do not let the evil of this fallen world overtake us—for the sake of Your name.

 

Forgive our sins! Bring us to repentance! Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us and call us into Your Presence once again—that Your name would be made great in all the world.

 

Only You can help us—for only You can save us and forgive us of our sins!

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

 

All Who Call Upon Him

 

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He will also hear their cry and will save them.

 

—Psalm 145:18-19 (NASB)

 

Faithful and Loving LORD,

 

What an amazing comfort to know that You are near, that You hear us when we call on You in truth, that You fulfill our desire when we fear You, and save us in every way!

 

May my response to Your promised nearness be to call upon You in truth—that is to call upon You from a clean, sincere, and devoted heart, a heart that beats after Your own heart.

 

May my response to Your promise to fulfill my desire be to fear You—that is to praise, worship, and serve only You, in holy awe of all You are and all You have done, so that my greatest desire is to know You and to make You known.

 

May my response to Your promise to hear me and save me be to cry out to You with confidence—that is to recognize my total dependence on You and find my hope in Your faithfulness to all Your promises.

 

What an amazing comfort to know that You are near, that You hear us when we call on You in truth, that You fulfill our desire when we fear You, and save us in every way!

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Love and Loyalty to the LORD!

 

Love the LORD, all you godly ones!
    For the LORD protects those who are loyal to him,
    but he harshly punishes the arrogant.

So be strong and courageous,
    all you who put your hope in the LORD!

 

—Psalm 31:23-24 (NLT)

 

 

Forever Faithful LORD,

 

May the evidence that I love You be demonstrated by my undivided loyalty to You—as You comfort me with the knowledge that I remain under Your protection and that I can trust You to be forever just.  Make me strong and courageous, as I choose to make You my only hope!

 

Help me to prove my love for You, by walking uprightly before You—choosing never to divide my loyalty, but rather, making Christ alone the Lord of my heart and my life.

 

Let me always walk humbly with You, rejecting all pride that may try to raise its ugly head within me—so I might escape the punishment that is reserved for the arrogant, and so I can represent Christ well to the lost of this world.

 

Let me receive the strength and courage I need to face all the evil that surrounds me without fear—strength and courage that You give freely to those who put all their hope in You.

 

May the evidence that I love You be demonstrated by my undivided loyalty to You—as You comfort me with the knowledge that I remain under Your protection and that I can trust You to be forever just.  Make me strong and courageous, as I choose to make You my only hope!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.