You Lift Me Up From the Depths of the Earth

You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
    but you will restore me to life again
    and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
You will restore me to even greater honor
    and comfort me once again.

—Psalm 71:20-21 (NLT)

Loving and Gracious LORD,

In Your sovereign and infinite wisdom You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, over the course of my life—but the story You are writing with my life is not finished yet!

In every trouble I have faced, I have always seen Your hand at work to take each hardship that I am going through and turn it to something good—something that brings me closer to the abundant life that I find only in You.

So I pray that You would help me to continue look for You in every difficulty that You allow me to suffer and that I would see Your faithfulness again, as You lift me up from the depths of this earth—as You pull me from the heartache, pain and evil of this fallen world and restore me to life again in You.

Let me find my only comfort in this world in You, as You graciously honor me by taking me to those higher and deeper places I have yet to discover in Christ—as by Your grace you help me surrender of all of my life to His Lordship.

Keep me and sustain me in every way, and may my life here bring You glory, honor and praise, until such time as You choose to rescue me completely out of this world—and take me to my forever home with You.

In Your sovereign and infinite wisdom You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, over the course of my life—but the story You are writing with my life is not finished yet!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

—Psalm 91:1 (NKJV)

Almighty and Most High God,

Let me live in Your secret, sheltering place—that place where I find serenity, security, and safety.  Let me abide forever in that place where You have called me to remain—within Your Holy Presence!

Help me remember that I am drawn into that secret place when I live in constant, prayerful communion with You; as I allow the Truth of Your Word, as revealed by Your Spirit, to fill me; and as I make that choice to believe Your promises to me.

Help me to find my place of rest in Your shadow—in closest proximity to You, under Your covering, firmly held in Your everlasting arms of love.

Help me not to wander in and out of that secret place, but rather, make it my place of permanent residence—so I can remain under Your protection, provision, and peace—where You are my rescue, refuge and rest, and my only hope, forevermore.

Let me live in Your secret, sheltering place—that place where I find serenity, security, and safety.  Let me abide forever in that place where You have called me to remain—within Your Holy Presence!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Planting the Seeds that Lead to Life

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.  Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

—Galatians 6:7-8 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Help me live to please Your Spirit—planting only good seeds and harvesting the best that You have for me here, in this world—as I look forward, with confidence, to that time when You call me home to be forever there with You.

Don’t allow me to forget that there are either good consequences or bad consequences associated with everything that I think, say and do—for You are a Holy and Just God.

Remind me that when I live for myself—living only to satisfy my own sinful nature—only death and decay can come as a result.  But when I live in faithful obedience to Your Spirit I get to enjoy a harvest of abundant and everlasting life.

Keep me mindful that while You will show me mercy, completely forgive me, and even extend to me Your grace when I repent of my bad choices, there will always be consequences of my sin which still remain—consequences that hurt both myself and others.

Show me how the choices I make—that is, the seeds that I plant by my thoughts, words, and actions—will determine the kind of harvest that I will reap.  And help me to choose wisely to plant the seeds that lead to life.

Help me live to please Your Spirit—planting only good seeds and harvesting the best that You have for me here, in this world—as I look forward, with confidence, to that time when You call me home to be forever there with You.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.