Thankful In All Circumstances

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

—1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

Gracious God,

No matter the circumstances in which I find myself, may I always remain thankful to You—confident of Your love and care for me at all times and in every situation.

When things are good, help me not to forget that it is by Your unmerited favor that I am blessed and I must never take those blessings for granted, but use the opportunities that I am given for Your honor and glory.

When things seem not so good, help me to look for Your hand at work in me and all around me—trusting that You are using every circumstance to help me to learn, to grow and to draw closer to You, so that I might truly see that You are everything that I need.

When I feel overwhelmed by the hardships of this life, remind me that You are always with me to keep me in perfect peace and safety—if only I will allow You to carry my burdens for me.

So, not my will, but Your will be done in my life—for I know that Your plans and purposes for my life are far better than my own could ever be.

No matter the circumstances in which I find myself, may I always remain thankful to You—confident of Your love and care for me at all times and in every situation.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Not Just Talk

For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.

—1 Corinthians 4:20 (NLT)

LORD of my Life,

Help me to submit my will, my plans and my purposes to Your perfect will, plans and purposes for my life—so that Your mighty power might truly be alive in me.

Help me to realize that my experience of the spiritual realm over which You are sovereign is not by an abundance of empty words of mere intent on my part—but that it is revealed and made alive by my experience of the power of Your Holy Spirit working in me, through me, and all around me.

By the power of Your Holy Spirit, continue to change my heart so that my walk—the evidence that proves what I truly believe—more perfectly reflects my talk—that which I claim to believe.

Let my life be lived as an outward manifestation of the grateful response of my heart to everything that You are revealing to me about what You are doing by Your magnificent power within the spiritual realm.

Help me to submit my will, my plans and my purposes to Your perfect will, plans and purposes for my life—so that Your mighty power might truly be alive in me.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

All Things Beautiful

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

—Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Oh that I might see the beauty of everything that You have created—of all things You have done—and rest in the assurance of Your sovereignty, mercy, grace and love.

Help me to accept that I am not able to see the whole scope of the work You are doing from beginning to end—and that sometimes it will be hard for me to see the beauty of what You have done, because the work is not yet complete.

Thank You for that glimpse of the perfection of eternity that You have planted in my heart—a taste of what is to come that keeps me never quite satisfied with anything this world has to offer, but always yearning for the perfect world that will only come by Your perfect rule.

Thank You for making me in Your image—so that the longing and hungering of my heart can only be truly satisfied by more of You in my life.

Oh that I might see the beauty of everything that You have created—of all things You have done—and rest in the assurance of Your sovereignty, mercy, grace and love.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.