Never Abandoned by God

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.  We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.  Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

—2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Whenever I am pressed on every side by troubles, help me hold onto this Truth:  You never leave me, You never let go of my hand, and victory over this world is found in Christ—who is my strength and who has won for me eternal life.

In those times when it seems as if my world is falling in on me, remind me that, as hard as it is to endure, You will not allow me to be crushed—but will strengthen me through the struggle and deliver me safely through to the other side.

When I feel confused, perplexed, or at a loss as to how to find my way, remind me that I find my way in You—that You hold all wisdom and I don’t have to be driven to despair, because You will always show me what to do, when I ask in faith.

If I am ever pursued or persecuted for my beliefs, remind me that it is Your right hand that protects me and Your Spirit who tells me how to answer my accusers.

When I get my feet knocked out from under me, help me trust that You will pick me up and brush me off and set me on solid ground again—that in Christ, I will not be shaken and I cannot not be destroyed.

Remind me that in every situation I face, in every suffering I endure, Christ has already won the victory—that these are all opportunities for Him to demonstrate His power and presence in me and through me, to all those around me.

Whenever I am pressed on every side by troubles, help me hold onto this Truth:  You never leave me, You never let go of my hand, and victory over this world is found in Christ—who is my strength and who has won for me eternal life.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

By Faith, By Love, By Hope

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

—1 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)

My God and Father,

Make me ever mindful that a person’s best work is produced by faith, that a person’s most honest labor is prompted by love, and that a person’s strength to endure all things can only be inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Help me to remember to give thanks for those people that You have placed in my life whose best work is produced out of their absolute faith in You—for their example of steadfast faith, which challenges me to trust You more.

And to give thanks for those who emulate well Christ’s labor of love toward all those He died to save—whose example of Christ’s love in action, prompts me to love more deeply and express that love more completely.

And to give thanks for those whose endurance is made possible only by their hope in our Lord Jesus Christ—for their example of long-suffering, which inspires me to endure my struggles because of the hope that stands forever before me.

Let me always aspire to work by faith, labor in love, and endure through hope—as I make reflecting Your Presence within me my great obsession.

Make me ever mindful that a person’s best work is produced by faith, that a person’s most honest labor is prompted by love, and that a person’s strength to endure all things can only be inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

To Know God and Understand that He is LORD

This is what the LORD says:

“Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom,
    or the powerful boast in their power,
    or the rich boast in their riches. 

But those who wish to boast
    should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD
    who demonstrates unfailing love
    and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,
and that I delight in these things.

    I, the LORD, have spoken!”

—Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Let me never boast in my own wisdom, power, or riches, but rather boast in this alone:  that I truly know You and understand that You are LORD through my own experience of Your unfailing love, and the justice and righteousness that You bring—and that I have seen Your delight in these things.

On my journey through this life, help me not to depend on my own wisdom to get me safely through to the other side—but rather help me depend on the wisdom I find in Your Word as revealed by Your Spirit to guide me in paths of peace and safety.

Help me not to depend on my own strength—but rather help me to find my strength in the power of Your righteous right hand to hold me up so that, though I may stumble, I will not fall.

Help me not to depend on my own riches, which are here today and gone tomorrow, to sustain my needs—but rather help me to depend on Your unending provision for every need that I have by Your immeasurable riches in glory.

Help me to seek to know You more intimately—so that my understanding of the truth of who You are, and of who I am in Christ, will carry me through all things, according to the power of Your unfailing love for me.

Let me never boast in my own wisdom, power, or riches, but rather boast in this alone:  that I truly know You and understand that You are LORD through my own experience of Your unfailing love, and the justice and righteousness that You bring—and that I have seen Your delight in these things.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.