The One Who Does These Things

I am the LORD, and there is no other.

    I create the light and make the darkness.
I send good times and bad times.
    I, the LORD, am the one who does these things.

—Isaiah 45:6b-7 (NLT)

Sovereign and Loving LORD,

You are the LORD, and there is no other! Sovereign Ruler over light and darkness—good times and bad—You use all things for my good and for Your glory!

May I never question the wisdom of Your plans and purposes for everything that You allow to happen in my life.

For out of the darkest nights of my life, You have brought forth the greatest blessings and from my hardest struggles, You have forged within me ever greater strength, faith, and victory—as You tell the story of Your love for me through the pages of my life.

May I never resent anything You choose to send my way.  For if I allow You to do so, You will use all things to help me grow spiritually, as You deepen my understanding and wisdom—that I might use what I have learned as a testimony to others of Your goodness and love.

Help me to thank You in the good times—and in the bad times help me to remain thankful to You, so that I might be open to see Your hand at work on my behalf and be quick to respond to what You have to show me.

May I never question the wisdom of Your plans and purposes for everything that You allow to happen in my life.

You are the LORD, and there is no other! Sovereign Ruler over light and darkness—good times and bad—You use all things for my good and for Your glory!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Treasures Of Wisdom And Knowledge

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

—Colossians 2:2-3 (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

May the only treasures I pursue be those treasures of wisdom and knowledge that I find hidden in Christ.

Place within me the desire to seek only after that which would encourage my heart—as I look to You alone for my salvation—and unite me in love with other believers, so that I may one day walk in the full riches that can only come from a complete understanding of the mystery of You.

Continue to work in me to bring me to that complete understanding, so that I can walk in confident assurance of the great truths that I find in Your Word without doubting—and so that I can boldly acknowledge the power of Christ at work in me before this lost and dying world.

Help me to search diligently for Truth—which can only be found in Your Word as revealed by Your Spirit—that my soul might be comforted in the knowledge and wisdom I find there and I might live the rest of my days at peace, in Your strength and power, and with fullness of joy.

May the only treasures I pursue be those treasures of wisdom and knowledge that I find hidden in Christ.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

With Humility Comes Wisdom

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with humility comes wisdom.

—Proverbs 11:2 (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

Grant me genuine humility of heart—that I might walk in wisdom all the rest of my days here upon this earth.

Save me from becoming prideful by keeping me mindful that any good in me is not by my own design or effort—but rather by Your grace and gifting, and is intended to empower me to do good works that would bring You glory, honor and praise.

You didn’t grant me gifts and talents to make me look good—but rather that others might see Christ in me and be drawn into an intimate, personal relationship with You.

To imagine that I have accomplished anything outside of Christ’s power at work in me would be prideful—and would only lead to my shame and disgrace.

Help me to make much of You—and very little of myself—finding my value only in who I am in Christ.

Grant me genuine humility of heart—that I might walk in wisdom all the rest of my days here upon this earth.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.