Living in This Evil World

 

And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

—Titus 2:12-13 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to live in this evil world in a way that brings glory to You—as I look forward with hope to that wonderful day when all of Christ’s glory will be revealed.

 

You have told me to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures, and yet I must still live in this world—which is full of godlessness and sin.

 

So, help me to stand against the temptations of the world—by granting me the wisdom I need to correctly discern good from evil, the strength I need to make right and pure choices, and the assurance of Your love and goodness that I need to live a life that is devoted to You.

 

Help me to live purposefully while I am here—as I use the gifts and talents that You have given me to be a part of building Your Kingdom here on earth.  And let me look forward with great hope and anticipation to the day when my battles with temptation will end—when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, comes again.

 

Help me to live in this evil world in a way that brings glory to You—as I look forward with hope to that wonderful day when all of Christ’s glory will be revealed.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

When Gossip Stops

 

 

Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

 

—Proverbs 26:20 (NLT)

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me never allow myself—in any way—to be the wood that fuels fires of contention and strife by joining in with others in gossip.

 

May the thoughts, motives and intents of my heart be right and pure and holy, so that those things which fill my heart—and flow from my mouth—will produce the good fruit of one who loves by only speaking words of truth and grace.

 

Help me remember that it is not enough to refuse to start or repeat gossip—I must also refuse to listen to gossip—refuse to allow my ears to receive and my heart to be polluted by that which is garbage to my soul.

 

So, help me to be bold and loving enough to challenge anyone who chooses to gossip, to stop—in the hope that they might repent and that we all would benefit from the peace and unity that comes when gossip stops.

 

Help me never allow myself—in any way—to be the wood that fuels fires of contention and strife by joining in with others in gossip.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Perfect Faithfulness

 

 

O LORD, You are my God;

I will exalt You, I will praise and give thanks to Your name;

For You have done miraculous things, 

Plans formed long, long ago, [fulfilled] with perfect faithfulness.

 

—Isaiah 25:1 (AMP)

 

 

Sovereign and Faithful LORD,

 

You are—and forever will be—my God!

 

May I always honor and praise You—exalting You with every area of my life and giving thanks to Your Name with every word of my testimony.

 

Help me to remember and to boldly declare all the wonderful things that You have done—those miraculous things that I have read about in Your Word as well as the wonderful, amazing and supernatural things that I have witnessed first-hand in my own life.

 

Thank You for showing forth Your sovereignty with perfect faithfulness—as You fulfill every plan that You formed long, long ago, according to Your specific timing and purpose, for Your upmost glory.

 

You are—and forever will be—my God!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Written on My Heart

 

 

 

I take joy in doing your will, my God,

    for your instructions are written on my heart.  

 

—Psalm 40:8 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Father God,

 

May my greatest joy be found in doing Your will!

 

Help me to remain passionate about discovering Your will for me—as I take the time to quiet my mind, to search the scriptures, and to allow Your Spirit to reveal the Truth that is waiting there for me in Your Word—so that Your instructions would be established within my heart, and I might faithfully apply them to my life.

 

May my earnest seeking after Your will result in Your instructions being written so deeply within my heart that that which is my duty to do—as a follower of Christ—will truly become my joy and delight and privilege to do!

 

Then help me to live out the rest of my life in Your Truth—and experience the joy and the peace that come when I put all my trust in You and follow Your instructions, in willing and heartfelt obedience to Your will for me.

 

May my greatest joy be found in doing Your will!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

No Complaining and Whining!

 

Now the people became like those who complain and whine about their hardships, and the LORD heard it; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and devoured those in the outlying parts of the camp.  —Numbers 11:1 (AMP)

 

Sovereign LORD,

 

Help me not to become like those who complain and whine about their hardships!  Help me instead be grateful in all things—recognizing that the mercy and grace that You have poured out on me infinitely exceeds any momentary hardships I might encounter here in this life!

 

It is easy to fall into the trap that the enemy has set for me—to join in with the culture around me and focus my attention on everything that seems wrong in my life and find myself stirring up Your anger against my ingratitude.

 

Like the Israelites, You have called us, as believers, to be set apart from the world we live in—declaring the praises of our God—that others might see that we are different and be drawn to the Light of Christ in us.

 

Help me remember that this doesn’t happen when what comes out of my mouth sounds no different than the rest of the world—that I can’t sing Your praises and complain about the circumstances that You have sovereignly allowed to me to experience at the same time!

 

Show me that, in all things and at all times, You are working everything together for my good, because You love me and have called me according to Your purpose for me.

 

Help me not to become like those who complain and whine about their hardships!  Help me instead be grateful in all things—recognizing that the mercy and grace that You have poured out on me infinitely exceeds any momentary hardships I might encounter here in this life!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Unbridled Tongue, Deceived Heart

 

 

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

 

—James 1:26 ESV

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Save me from the hypocrisy of claiming to be spiritually mature, when my unbridled tongue tells a different story.

 

Show me how to control my tongue.  Keep me far from any tendency to gossip about, or to put someone down.  And help me to do away with all boastfulness and arrogance—so I might live in humility before You and my fellowman.

 

Keep me from speaking manipulative words, exaggerations, or lies of any kind.  Let me only speak only words of truth—with compassion and empathy, with patience, kindness and gentleness—in love.

 

Help me never to allow any words that stir up strife to cross my lips.  Let me instead speak words that only offer peace to the hearts and lives of those that hear them—so that I might represent Christ well, and so You can use my words to draw them into an ever-deepening relationship with You.

 

Save me from the hypocrisy of claiming to be spiritually mature when my unbridled tongue tells a different story.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Our Strength!

 

They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

 

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our LORD. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

 

And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.”  So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.

 

—Nehemiah 8:8-12 (NLT)

 

Loving LORD God,

 

Let my joy never waver, my strength never wane, as You help me to understand the truth of the good plans You have laid out clearly before me, in the pages of Your Word.

 

As I come to understand Your Word more and more—and in that understanding, my sins are brought to light before me—help me not only to mourn my sin and repent, but help me even more to rejoice in the power of Your love to remove my sin from me, so my joy in You might not waver and cause me to lose strength.

 

Help me to live in the understanding that my joy in You will strengthen me to be obedient to the things that You have placed before me to do and cause me to be able to resist any temptations from the enemy to do the wrong thing.

 

Help me to spread the joy that acceptance of Your salvation and obedience to Your Word brings, by sharing with others the abundant blessings You have placed on my life—materially, physically and spiritually.

 

Let my joy never waver, my strength never wane, as You help me to understand the truth of the good plans You have laid out clearly before me, in the pages of Your Word.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.