Owning Nothing, I Have Everything

Our hearts ache, but we always have joy.  We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others.  We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

—2 Corinthians 6:10 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for giving me great hope in You—so that I can choose to live each day with joy, regardless of my circumstances, or what the world may think—and in You find everything I need.

There will always be times when my heart will ache—because of the disappointments and injustices that I experience personally, or that I may observe in the world around me. 

But You have come to give me hope, that my heart may rejoice in You—as I trust in Your sovereignty, mercy, grace and love.

Help me to remember that You have given me this hope-filled joy, so that I will always have something to give to others—as I make spiritual deposits into the lives of those around me and encourage them in their walk with You.

What joy is mine to know that though I own nothing in this world—for everything belongs to You—I have everything I need and more in Christ.

Thank You for giving me great hope in You—so that I can choose to live each day with joy, regardless of my circumstances, or what the world may think—and in You find everything I need.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Secret Things And Things Revealed

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

—Deuteronomy 29:29 (NIV)

Infinite and All-knowing God,

Don’t ever let me forget that in order to please You, I must walk by faith and not by sight—and demonstrate my faith by acting in obedience to that which You have taught me through Your Word.

In Your infinite wisdom You have chosen to make me finite in my ability to comprehend and understand the wonders of all that You are and of all that You have created—that I might not depend on my own understanding, but that my dependence might be upon You.

So, help me not to get caught up in futile attempts to try to understand things that I was never intended to fully understand in this life—things that will only be revealed when You take me home to be forever with You there.

Don’t allow me to become so concerned with how You will take care of me in the future, that I become negligent of my responsibilities to live one day at a time and enjoy the blessings of obedience in this moment.

Help me to understand that even though You have not revealed everything there is to know, You have shown me enough truth that my only response should be obedience—from a humble and submitted spirit.

Remind me that any disobedience in me is an act of my own rebellious will—and is not because I lack the knowledge I need to obey.

Help me to rest in the assurance that I serve an infinite and all-knowing God who loves and wants me—a God who is sovereign over all His creation—who has revealed all the truth that I will ever need in order to be saved by faith and to walk in obedience to Him.

Don’t ever let me forget that in order to please You, I must walk by faith and not by sight—and demonstrate my faith by acting in obedience to that which You have taught me through Your Word.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

My Future Hope

Do not let your heart envy sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.

There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.

—Proverbs 23:17-18 (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

No matter what trials and tests I may face here on earth, may my heart always be filled with zeal for You, knowing that there is a future hope that is mine, which will never be cut off from me.

Don’t ever let me be envious of those in this world who seem to prosper, though they do not follow after You and have little regard for how they live.

Make me zealous for You—as out of reverence for who You are, and the mighty things You have done, I purpose to give You everything I am in obedience to Your commands.

May I truly celebrate, every moment of every day, that joy which is mine because of the eternal hope that I have in Christ—a hope that cannot be cut off.

No matter what trials and tests I may face here on earth, may my heart always be filled with zeal for You, knowing that there is a future hope that is mine, which will never be cut off from me.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.