Nothing About Me You Don’t Already Know

O LORD, You have searched me and known me.

You know my sitting down and my rising up;
         You understand my thought afar off.

You comprehend my path and my lying down,
         And are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word on my tongue,
         But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

You have hedged me behind and before,
         And laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
         It is high, I cannot attain it.

 -- Psalm 139:1-6 (NKJ)

Omniscient God,

There is nothing about me that you don’t already know altogether!

Help me to understand just how deeply and intimately You know me, so I will see that before You, it is pointless for me to pretend to be someone who I am not.

You have examined me…and continually examine me…in every detail, in every way…and You know me better than I know myself.

You pay attention to every action I undertake…even if it is just to sit down or to stand up.

You know at all times, what I am thinking…to the point of knowing my thoughts before they are even fully formed in my own mind.

You know when I go out and when I lie down…and my reasons and motives are laid bare before you for everything that I do.

You know exactly what I am going to say before I say it…before the words form in my mouth.

Thank You that You keep me under such scrutiny…and that Your hand is ever upon me so that I don’t escape You.

Your intimate knowledge of me is a wondrous and miraculous thing…which is beyond my human ability to comprehend.

So help me to come before you just as I really am, knowing that…

There is nothing about me that you don’t already know altogether!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

It Is Not Enough

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

--Galatians 5:25-26 (NIV)

It is not enough for me, Lord, that I have my life in You through Your Spirit.

I want to walk in line with Your Holy Spirit at all times, moving forward in Your plan for my life, by allowing Your Spirit to have complete control over my conduct…without exception.

Because I know if I allow Your Holy Spirit to work through me in every detail of my life, I won’t fall into the trap of irritating and provoking others, by comparing myself to them as if I was better than them, or even allow myself to become discouraged, by thinking that I am somehow less than someone else and wanting what they have.

I want to accept myself and others as interesting originals, uniquely crafted by You and according to Your plan.

So, I ask you to help me submit my conduct to the leading of Your Spirit in all things, so that I may please you in everything I say and do.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

My Hope, My Strength, My Salvation

So do not fear, for I am with you;
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

--Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Faithful God,

You are my hope, my strength, and my salvation!

Help me to take comfort in the truth that You are always with me...

…and I have nothing to be afraid of or to stress over.

Help me to never forget that you are my God, so I need not lose courage…

...nor lose my resolve to carry out your plan for my life.

Thank you that as I put my faith in You, that You fill me with strength…

...in my body, in my mind and in my spirit.

Thank you for continually lifting me up and keeping me safe...

...in Your righteous, and powerful, and saving, right hand.

You are my hope, my strength, and my salvation!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

You Are God, And I Am Not

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 

How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."

--Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV)

Just and Holy God,

Help me to keep this straight: that You are God, and I am not.

Remind me that I have no business having a self righteous, critical spirit about me.

Remind me that it is not my place to jump on every opportunity to point out the faults and failures of others and pronounce judgment on them for their shortcomings.

Remind me that I would not want to be treated that way by others…with no mercy or love.

Remind me that as I allow Your Holy Spirit to guide me to the truth, that You will help me properly discern the character of others, so that I can make right choices between good and bad people as well as good and bad things.

Remind me that as the character of others is revealed to me, that I must allow the love of God to cause compassion for that person to rise up in me…rather than condemnation.

Remind me that I must be continually examining my own thoughts, motives and actions, willingly submitting myself for correction and redirection, so that I can be available, for You to use me, to help others…not as I might choose, but as You direct.

Help me to keep this straight: that You are God, and I am not.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Make Me A True Treasure Hunter

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

--Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJ)

Father God,

Make me a true treasure hunter…
…so I will find my treasure is in You.

I don’t want to be someone who goes around greedily hoarding up things here on earth for himself…

…because any of those so called “treasures” that I have today, could be gone tomorrow--destroyed, lost, or even stolen.

Make me a true treasure hunter…

…so I will find my treasure is in You.

I want to be someone who goes around storing up things that have eternal value…

…because anything I do in this life that carries with it eternal value, is rewarded in heaven and can never be destroyed, lost, or ever stolen.

Make me a true treasure hunter…
…so I will find my treasure is in You.

I want to be someone whose treasure is in heaven…

…so my heart will be there also.

Make me a true treasure hunter…
…so I will find my treasure is in You.


In the name of Jesus, Amen.
 

Shine More Brightly Through Me

“You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 

Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

--Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJ) 

Light of the world,

Shine more brightly through me…

…because You, my God, have called me to carry on the work that You began when You first sent Your Son, Jesus, to bring light and life to a dark and dying world.

Shine more brightly through me…

…because the light of life that You placed in me is not just for me, but for all people, and it will not go unnoticed, but will draw men to You, as I allow the life of that light to shine through me.

Shine more brightly through me…

…because as others pay attention to any good coming through my efforts, they need to know that You are the source of all things good and perfect and give all praise to You, my God.

Shine more brightly through me,

Light of the world.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Help Me To Remember

Above all else, guard your heart,
   for everything you do flows from it. 

Keep your mouth free of perversity;
   keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 

Let your eyes look straight ahead;
   fix your gaze directly before you. 

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
   and be steadfast in all your ways. 

Do not turn to the right or the left;
   keep your foot from evil. 

--Proverbs 4:23-27 (NIV)

Dear Lord,

Help me to remember,

    That I must guard my heart most of all,
        In order to keep it safe from harm,

    That I must watch over it,
        In order to keep it under control,

    And that I must fill it with the good things that come from You

        In order to make sure that those things that flow from my heart will be a

        continual source of life…not only for me, but to others as well.

Help me to remember,

    To pay attention to what I say,
        So that I only speak life-giving words,

    To be careful to keep my eyes on the path that You have put me on,
        So I won’t get distracted by worthless things that would waste my time,

    And to remove those immoral things that would cause me to stumble along the way,
        So that my feet will be firmly planted on the clear path You have established, beneath

        my feet, for me.

Help me to remember,

    Not to let anyone or anything cause me to swerve off the path You have made for me…
        …that path that leads to life!

Help me to remember,

In the name of Jesus, Amen.
 

Help Me To Learn To Come To You

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,  for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

--Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Loving Father,

Help me to learn to come to You,

before I find myself worn out and loaded down by all those things that this life has thrown my way…those things that I have willingly picked up and tried to take care of on my own…so that I can learn to find...in You...the rest, relief and refreshing that I so desperately need.

Help me to learn to come to You,

so that You can help me to balance and carry out those responsibilities that You have called me to carry out, with the inner strength that comes as I learn from You…and as I find peace and quiet for my soul in Your presence.

Help me to learn to come to You,

knowing that what You require of me is comparatively little…and easily taken care of…when I allow You to show me the way.

Help me to learn to come to You.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Give Us Strong Hearts

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

--Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)

Father God,

Give us strong hearts.

I ask that You would pour out Your Spirit on all of us, from the limitless riches of Your glory, and strengthen us with power in our innermost beings, in order that we may open our hearts and that, in response to our faith, Christ would make our hearts His home.

Give us strong hearts.

Empower us, by Your Spirit, to build upon the foundation of love that You have already established in us, to be able to somehow grab hold of that which cannot ever be completely known--that is, the infinite measure of how wide and long, how high and deep is Christ’s love for us--so that we can live in the fullness and power of Your love.

Give us strong hearts.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

I Want To Live...Purposefully

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
  
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. 

If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 

To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 

--I Peter 4:7-11 (NIV)

Most Merciful God,

Because the end of all things as we know them is near…and soon Jesus will return…help me to remain clear-minded and exercise self-control in all things.  As I rely on Your Spirit, lead me to keep Your purpose for me clearly defined, so that I can remain in fellowship with You and pray effectively, in the chaos of these difficult times.

Most importantly, help me to love others deeply, with an intense and unfailing love, forgiving and disregarding their sins and offenses against me, so that I am doing my part to prevent strife and promote unity.

Help me to willingly offer my hospitality to every child of God, without complaining, as a representative of God Himself.

Help me to be faithful to use the gifts You have given me to be a blessing in the lives of others, in whatever ways You direct me, by Your strength and grace within me.

When I speak, fill my mouth with Your words and not my own. 

When I am used by You to serve others, let it be clear to all that any good that comes through me is not according to my own strength or ability, but only by Your hand at work through me, so that all praise will be to Your son, Jesus Christ.

For He alone is worthy of all the glory and power forever and ever.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

You, My Lord, Are Good And Kind

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

I Peter 2:1-3 (NIV)

You, my Lord, are good and kind.

I have tasted of Your goodness from the day You saved me.

So, I ask you to:

Set me free from every trace of wickedness and any desire within me to cause pain, injury, or distress to others.

Set me free from any tendency to deceive others, so that my true intentions will always be understood and my actions will reflect my words.

Set me free from the temptation to pretend to be someone that I am not and help me to be, vulnerably and sincerely, who I am.

Set me free from any envy for, or resentment towards the blessings I see in the lives of others, so I may be content in my own life.

Set me free from using my words to slander another person's reputation, or to hurt or insult others.

Create in me a thirst for the pure spiritual milk of Your Word, just as if I had the survival instincts of a healthy newborn baby, who is driven by an unrestrained hunger for the nourishment of his mother’s milk.

Because, I know without the truth of Your Word, I cannot grow into the man you called me to become, the day You saved me and I first tasted that,

You, my Lord, are good and kind.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

God Of Peace, Be With Me

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

 Philippians 4:8-9

God of Peace…

…be with me, today.

Let my thoughts be saturated with whatever things You show me to be true,
    Everything that I discover to be worthy of reverence and honor,
        All things that are morally upright and good.

Let my thoughts be pure, free from those things that weaken or pollute me,
    Focused on those things that are lovely, and endearing,
        Filled with that which is worthy of the highest esteem.

Let my thoughts contain only that which is excellent and worthy of praise.

Let me put into practice all that I have learned, received or heard from You, along with that which I have seen in You, so I can have the assurance that You will indeed…

…be with me, today,

God of Peace.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

I Want To Be That Guy

 Blessed is the man
         Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
         Nor stands in the path of sinners,
         Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
         And in His law he meditates day and night.
 He shall be like a tree
         Planted by the rivers of water,
         That brings forth its fruit in its season,
         Whose leaf also shall not wither;
         And whatever he does shall prosper.
         
 The ungodly are not so,
         But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

--Psalm 1: 1-4 (NKJ)

Gracious God,

I want to be that guy who is BLESSED.

I don’t want to be that guy who listens to the advice of the wicked or is influenced by their bad example.

I don’t want to be that guy who allows himself to stand around doing nothing in the midst of evil people who continue in pursuing their sinful ways.

I don’t want to be that guy that sits down, joining company with those who would dare to ridicule You and defiantly reject the Truth of Your Way.

I want to be that guy who is happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable.

I want to be that guy that has cultivated a desire to hold Your Word in his heart.

I want to be that guy who’s best joy comes from considering, studying and meditating on Your Word…all the time, day and night.

I want to be that guy who is like a tree that was planted by the streams of water…nourished, strong and steadfast, ready to see You move through him to help others and bring glory to Your Name.

I want to be that guy who knows that a life lived without You is worthless and will count for nothing.

I want to be that guy who is BLESSED,

In the name of Jesus, Amen.