Hope in God

 

Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!

—Psalm 43:5 (NLT)

 

O LORD, My God,

You are my Hope!  Yes, You are my never-failing Hope!  Help me fix my eyes on You and l will praise You again—my Savior and my God!

In those dark times of deep distress, when my soul is downcast and disturbed within me, grant me the wisdom to question myself, to question the truth of the thoughts that have me disquieted, and to focus my heart on things eternal—on all that You are to me, and on all that You say that I am in You.

Help me to exhort myself again, to stir up my faith anew, to put my hope in the One who never disappoints—to put my hope in You, alone—trusting that You are well able and ever-willing to do all that You have promised to do, according to Your Word.

And help me to begin to lift my praise to You—even in my distress—and wait expectantly as You lift me up into Your Presence where the Truth is found, where my strength and courage are renewed, and where my joy and peace are restored, because of my never-failing Hope!

You are my Hope!  Yes, You are my never-failing Hope!  Help me fix my eyes on You, and I will praise You again—my Savior and my God!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Overwhelmed

 

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, I cannot even begin to comprehend the vastness of all that You have made.  And when I think that Your creation is no more than a mere glimpse of Your power and glory, I am overwhelmed to think that You would choose to set Your unfailing love and affection on one like me!

I am amazed at the intricate details with which You designed, created, set in place, and put in perfectly synchronized motion, the moon and each of the stars in the multitude of galaxies that You spread across the vastness of an endless space.

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 who You are and to draw us into relationship with You.

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

As I gaze upon the night sky, as I try to take it all in, I cannot even begin to comprehend the vastness of all that You have made.  And when I think that Your creation is no more than a mere glimpse of Your power and glory, I am overwhelmed to think that You would choose to set Your unfailing love and affection on one like me!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Persistent, Devoted, Alert, Focused, and Thankful

 

 

Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving.

—Colossians 4:2 (AMP)

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Thank You for the privilege of praying to You—the One who hears and answers my prayers, according to Your perfect will, and Your very best for me.

Help me to be persistent in my prayers—devoting myself to pray about all things—knowing You long for me to lay the desires of my heart before You, and to place all of my trust in You, believing that You will do what only You can do.

Help me to be alert and focused as I come before You with my prayers—mindful that I am speaking directly to You, knowing that only You hold all power and authority in Your hands, that only You are willing and able to answer my prayers, and that only You can do this according to Your perfect love for me.

Help me to come before You with an attitude of thanksgiving—grateful for all that You have done, are doing, and have yet to bring to pass, but also grateful for all that You are that makes You worthy of my unending worship and adoration, forever!

Thank You for the privilege of praying to You—the One who hears and answers my prayers, according to Your perfect will, and Your very best for me.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.