To Gain Christ

 

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.

—Philippians 3:8-9a (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

Help me let go of anything that keeps me from knowing You. Teach me to value nothing above the joy of gaining Christ and becoming one with Him.

 

 

Teach me that I should consider all the things that I might pursue in life here on earth as worthless—when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus, as my Lord.

 

May all the things that I choose to pursue, help me grow in my knowledge and understanding of the attributes and character of Christ, so that I would learn to become more like Him.

 

Use every opportunity, every challenge, every disappointment, and every blessing You place before me, to produce a good work in me and through me, so that You would be glorified and I would be sanctified—and ultimately, perfectly fashioned into the image of Christ. 

Help me let go of anything that keeps me from knowing You. Teach me to value nothing above the joy of gaining Christ and becoming one with Him.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Training for Godliness

 

 

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

 

—1 Timothy 4:8 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

Help me to keep my priorities in order, so that I might enjoy the greater benefits You have promised, both in this life and in the life to come, and bring You glory with my life.

 

Don’t allow me to neglect my physical body but give me the wisdom to know how best to take care of it, as You grant me the discipline to do so—so that I will be physically able to accomplish the work that You call me to do.

 

But beyond physical training, let my heart be even more devoted to the training and development of my spiritual life—knowing that it is with spiritual strength and faith that the true battles of this life are waged and won.

 

And help me to remember that, in training for godliness, I must not only set aside that which is evil, but also choose to do that which is good—so that in my obedience to You I will find peace and joy, and by godly living I might bring You glory.

Help me to keep my priorities in order, so that I might enjoy the greater benefits You have promised, both in this life and in the life to come, and bring You glory with my life.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Like a Breath of Air

 

 

O LORD, what are human beings that you should notice them,
    mere mortals that you should think about them?

For they are like a breath of air;
    their days are like a passing shadow.

 

—Psalm 144:3-4 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

O LORD, Our Father in Heaven,

Out the vastness of all that You have created, You choose not only to notice us, but to pour out over us Your mercy, grace, and love, in abundance!  Such things are too great for me to ever fully understand—and yet I believe!

 

What is it about human beings—mere mortals—that You should pay us any attention, that You should set Your thoughts on any one of us?  And why would a holy, righteous, and just God want anything to do with me?

 

The answer lies somewhere in the truth that though You are holy, righteous, and just, You are also equally merciful, gracious, and loving.  It is the completeness of Your perfect character that has chosen to call us into relationship with You.

 

You have loved us, chosen us, called us, and wanted us in this intimate relationship with You so that we could be made perfect in Christ—and so we would show forth the glories of our God to all the world with our lives! 

 

So, though I may not see or fully understand Your plans and purposes for my short life, may I submit myself to Your Will in all things—trusting in Your great love for me—and love You back as a reflection of all the love I have been given.

 

Out of the vastness of all that You have created, You choose not only to notice us, but to pour out over us Your mercy, grace, and love, in abundance!  Such things are too great for me to ever fully understand—and yet I believe!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Essence of All

  

 

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”

 

—Matthew 7:12 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to prove my love for You, by loving others in the same way that I would want to be loved—in the same way that I have been loved by You.

 

Help me to see that how I want others to treat me goes far beyond merely wanting them to refrain from hurting me. Help me to recognize how much I desire to be truly seen and not ignored, heard and well understood, and sincerely loved despite all my failures and shortcomings—as evidenced by what others say to me and about me, and by their actions toward me.

 

Then, help me always look for opportunities to actively do those good things for others, just as I would want them to do for me—with the pure motive of a sincere heart that wants what You want for all Your children.

 

Just as You have poured over me Your immeasurable love, according to Your patience, compassion, kindness, goodness, gentleness, mercy, and grace, let me pour out all these things on others—as You empower me by Your Spirit to fulfill the law of Christ.

 

Help me to prove my love for You, by loving others in the same way that I would want to be loved—in the same way that I have been loved by You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Our Potter

 

 

But now, O LORD, You are our Father,
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all of us are the work of Your hand.

 

—Isaiah 64:8 (NASB)

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Like a skilled potter patiently fashions his lump of clay according to his plans, continue to make me into that uniquely original vessel which is perfectly suited for Your purposes and divinely marked for all to see—a product of Your gentle, loving hand, who bears within himself the image of his Maker.

 

It is You, O LORD, who has created me and given me life—and it is to You that I owe my life and my existence—so mold me as You will and make me Your very own!

 

With gentleness and patience, remove from me that which does not reflect Your long-planned purposes for my life—and smooth away any rough edges, so that I would become all that You intend for me to become, according to Your perfect design.

 

To those areas where I am vulnerable to failure, those places where I am weak, add the strength of Your grace—as You help me to seek out, and more fully depend on, the power of Your presence in my life to lead me through.

 

According to that same marvelous grace which You pour out over me, let others see Your hand at work in me and through me—that they may also want to know intimately the One who uniquely and masterfully crafted them to carry His image for His good purposes.

Like a skilled potter patiently fashions his lump of clay according to his plans, continue to make me into that uniquely original vessel which is perfectly suited for Your purposes and divinely marked for all to see—a product of Your gentle, loving hand, who bears within himself the image of his Maker.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

This Same God

 

 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

—Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

 

 

 

Provider God,

 

All thanks be to You, for You are always faithful to take care of me—to supply all my needs according to Your glorious riches in Christ Jesus!

 

Because of Your faithfulness, and out of Your unfailing love for me, I have always had everything that I needed to be able to carry out Your plans and purposes for me—and so it shall be for the rest of my days.

 

Never let me forget that the supplying of my needs is not according to any of the limited resources that I can see here in the natural, but rather, according to the supernatural and inexhaustible supply of Your glorious riches—prepared for us who have found our life in Christ Jesus.

 

Help me to be faithful to carry this message of hope to others—that this same abundant and glorious supply is available to all who believe and have received the redemptive gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

 

All thanks be to You, for You are always faithful to take care of me—to supply all my needs according to Your glorious riches in Christ Jesus!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Childlike

 

“I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

 

—Mark 10:15 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Loving Father God,

 

Teach me how to come to You like a child, that I might enter into all that You have for me—both in the here-and-now, and for all eternity to come.

 

Teach me how to come to You with childlike humility—knowing that I have only my heart to offer You and that I can do no good thing apart from You.

 

Teach me how to come to You with childlike dependence—knowing I am helpless and hopeless without You, but that even still, I can find my help and hope in You.

 

Teach me how to come to You with childlike inquisitiveness—that I might gain knowledge, grow in wisdom, and leave behind my foolish ways.

 

Teach me how to come to You with childlike faith—asking confidently for Your best for me and believing You will give me every good thing You have for me.

 

Teach me how to come to You with childlike obedience—willingly going and doing that which You require of me, knowing You always have my best interests at heart.

 

Teach me how to come to You with childlike gratefulness—giving thanks and rejoicing in all situations for all Your goodness, knowing You work all things together for my good.

 

Teach me how to come to You with childlike love—a love that is purely motivated and freely offered, just because of who You are.

 

Teach me how to come to You like a child—that I might enter into all that You have for me, both in the here-and-now, and for all eternity to come.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.