To Always Have Joy

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 the joy that You have made available to me—a joy that is independent of my circumstances and mine to have, whenever I choose to receive it from Your hand.

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

But You came to give me hope, that my heart would rejoice in You—as I trust in Your sovereignty, mercy, grace and love, as I watch for You to work all things together for my good, and as I trust You to guide me to my forever home with You.

Help me to remember that You have given me this hope-filled joy, so that I will always have something to give to others—no matter how poor I might be—that their joy might be full.

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

Thank You for the joy that You have made available to me—a joy that is independent of my circumstances and mine to have, whenever I choose to receive it from Your hand.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Your Will, Not Mine

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

—Matthew 26:39 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Help me to embrace the example of Jesus—who when faced with the hardest of decisions, found peace in asking that Your will would be done, over His own.

In all of my praying to You—in all of my asking—let my requests always hinge on Your will being done rather than my own.

But also, let my heart become so in union with Your heart that I would no longer ask for anything that was not within Your will.

And keep me ever mindful that Your will is not only best, but that Your will is always the best for me—that Your will encompasses an infinite perception of all that has ever been, that is now, and that will ever be, while my will is clouded by my limited, finite perception.

Grant me the peace that comes from knowing that You use everything I experience to draw me closer to You—as the source of my peace, provision, and protection—and move me forward with You—in Your good plan to break my will, to mold me, and to make me more like Jesus.

Help me to embrace the example of Jesus—who when faced with the hardest of decisions, found peace in asking that Your will would be done, over His own.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

For Everyone Who Believes

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.  For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous.  He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

—Romans 3:22-24 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Help me not to think of myself as better than anyone else—for all of us have sinned and fall short of Your glorious standard. 

Help me to remember that my right-standing with You—along with all the blessings that flow from that relationship—came by the grace that You showed me, in light of my faith in Jesus Christ, and is available to anyone who chooses to believe.

Help me to show others how You freely and graciously declare that all who believe—no matter who they are—are righteous through their faith in Jesus Christ.

And help me to live in the freedom that You granted me from the penalty that my sin demanded—by humbly and obediently living my life for Your glory, honor and praise.

Help me not to think of myself as better than anyone else—for all of us have sinned and fall short of Your glorious standard. 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.