The LORD Looks at the Heart

“The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

—1 Samuel 16:7b (NLT)

O LORD, who sees each heart,

Help me not to judge others based on their outward appearance, but rather help me to take the time to see them as You see them—at the level of their hearts—and then empower me to love them as You do.

Keep me from being that person who makes snap judgments about others based on what he sees on the surface—discounting another person's value with the glance of his eye.

Rather, teach me to take the time to try to understand the heart of each person that I encounter—to search out the treasures that You have hidden there, just waiting to be discovered.

Then help me to see what You see, LORD—a soul worth saving, a life worth sacrificing Your only begotten Son to redeem—and give me that kind of love for them.

Help me not to judge others based on their outward appearance, but rather help me to take the time to see them as You see them—at the level of their hearts—and then empower me to love them as You do.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Called to Live a Holy Life

For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

—1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for not only calling me to live a holy life, but also for equipping me to live that life by giving me the Holy Spirit, who empowers me for this journey toward holiness.

Help me never forget that the instruction to live a holy life does not come from a man, but from You—and is given to me out of Your unsurpassed wisdom, for my own benefit, because of Your great and unfailing love for me.

Let me always remember that when I reject this instruction—instead of allowing it the opportunity to work in me the protections and blessings it brings—I am not rejecting a man, but I am rejecting You, the LORD GOD, my Creator and Protector.

Help me see that in doing so, I have grieved Your Holy Spirit within me—and have separated myself from the very One who You have given to me to make it possible for me to turn from impurity and choose to live a holy life.

Help me to understand fully that when I choose impurity over Your call to holiness, I don’t have my own best interests at heart—because I have rejected You, and Your very best for me.

Thank You for not only calling me to live a holy life, but also for equipping me to live that life by giving me the Holy Spirit, who empowers me for this journey toward holiness.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Blessing of Grace and Peace

May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.  Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.   All glory to God forever and ever!  Amen.

    —Galatians 1:3-5 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

No matter what might be happening in the world around me, help me to remain in the grace and peace that You have provided through the Lord Jesus Christ—in that assurance that Jesus gave His life to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.

I am so grateful that You always had a plan—even from before time began—for Jesus to give his life for my sins, so that I might be rescued from this evil world and no longer be crippled by the fear it brings.

Help me to remember that though I have not yet been rescued out of this present evil world, I have been rescued from its evil power over me—no longer bound by Satan’s lies, which enslaved me to sin, but free to choose to live my life in Christ and for His glory, honor and praise.

So let my life be a continual and ever-perfecting reflection of the One who saved me, a demonstration of my gratitude for all that He has done for me—as I live my life in the grace and peace of Christ and give You all the glory forever and ever!

No matter what might be happening in the world around me, help me to remain in the grace and peace that You have provided through the Lord Jesus Christ—in that assurance that Jesus gave His life to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.