I Stand Amazed

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
    the moon and the stars you set in place—

what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
    human beings that you should care for them?

—Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT)

Creator God,

As I gaze upon the night sky—as I try to take it all in, but fall so short of being able to comprehend the vastness of all that You are and of all that You have made—I am overwhelmed with amazement at Your love for us!

I am amazed at the intricate details with which You created, and set in place, the moon and each of the stars in the multitude of galaxies that You designed.

I am even more amazed that You created them all and put them on display for us—to demonstrate Your power and greatness and majesty to all of mankind—in order to reveal Yourself to anyone who was willing to look and see.

I am most amazed that You would make mankind the reason for, and focus of, everything that You have created—that You not only think about us, but truly care for us and make us the objects of Your immeasurable love.

As I gaze upon the night sky—as I try to take it all in, but fall so short of being able to comprehend the vastness of all that You are and of all that You have made—I am overwhelmed with amazement at Your love for us!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Owning My Part In Peace

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

—Romans 12:17-18 (ESV)          

Prince of Peace,

Help me be that person who breaks the cycle of evil and chooses to do what is right—that person who pursues peace with everyone.

Help me to realize that evil done to others, in response to evil they have done to me, will only breed more evil—and that if I choose this destructive course, evil will always have me in its grip.

Rather, free me to walk uprightly before others and be careful to love others as Christ loves me—being willing to quickly and freely offer my forgiveness, because of my gratitude for the undeserved favor You demonstrated toward me when You forgave me of my sin.

And while it is not always possible for me to live at peace with everyone, remind me that I must always do my part to be a peacemaker.  For only by doing my part, will Your peace remain within me.

Help me be that person who breaks the cycle of evil and chooses to do what is right—that person who pursues peace with everyone.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Servant Of Everyone Else

After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?”

 

But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. 

He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

—Mark 9:33-35 (NLT)

Dear Lord,

May the things that I say and do—and the deepest thoughts and motives of my heart—be pleasing to You, so that I never have to be ashamed when asked to account for them.

Help me to be on guard against being caught up in striving for my own personal gain—only to find myself allowing my own ambition to push aside Your plans and purposes for me.

Help me to watch that I don’t allow my own insecurities or pride to cause me to put too much stock in the power of my position or the amount of prestige it might happen to carry—but humbly remember that I am nothing without You.

Help me to fully understand that all of my energy, time and talents should be directed to knowing Christ for myself and making Him known to others—through service to them.

Help me to follow Christ’s example of leadership and take on the role of servant to all—out of the unfailing love You placed in my heart when You first loved me.

May the things that I say and do—and the deepest thoughts and motives of my heart—be pleasing to You, so that I never have to be ashamed when asked to account for them.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.