Controlling My Tongue

 

If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

—James 1:26 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Save me from the hypocrisy of claiming to be spiritually mature, when my unbridled tongue tells a different story.

Show me how to control my tongue.  Keep me far from any tendency to gossip about, or to put someone down.  And help me to do away with all boastfulness and arrogance—so I might live in humility before You and my fellowman.

Keep me from speaking manipulative words, exaggerations, or lies of any kind.  Let me only speak only words of truth—with compassion and empathy, with patience, kindness and gentleness—in love.

Help me never to allow any words that stir up strife to cross my lips.  Let me instead speak words that only offer peace to the hearts and lives of those that hear them—so that I might represent Christ well, and so You can use my words to draw them into an ever-deepening relationship with You.

Save me from the hypocrisy of claiming to be spiritually mature when my unbridled tongue tells a different story.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The True and Right Paths of the LORD

 

Let those who are wise understand these things.
    Let those with discernment listen carefully.
The paths of the LORD are true and right,
    and righteous people live by walking in them.
    But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.  —Hosea 14:9 (NLT)

LORD of Heaven and Earth,

Give me the wisdom to search Your Holy Scriptures, that I might gain understanding.  And grant me the discernment to listen carefully to Your Spirit and walk uprightly in Your paths—to faithfully apply the Truth of Your Word to my life.

I know that all Your paths are true and right—and that because You chose to make me righteous through the sacrifice of Christ, I will find the abundant life that You promised me, by faithfully walking in those paths.

I know that without Christ, I could not walk those paths without stumbling and falling. So help my heart to swell with compassion for those who don’t yet have Your light within them to illuminate the path before them.

And make me bold to share that precious hope that is mine in Christ—that they, too, can walk in those true and right paths that lead to abundant life and a forever home with You.

Give me the wisdom to search Your Holy Scriptures, that I might gain understanding.  And grant me the discernment to listen carefully to Your Spirit and walk uprightly in Your paths—to faithfully apply the Truth of Your Word to my life.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Perfect Way of God

 

God’s way is perfect.
    All the LORD’s promises prove true.
    He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

—2 Samuel 22:31 (NLT)

O LORD, my God,

Help me always to trust in Your way—and rest in the integrity of Your character.

Help me never doubt that Your way is perfect, because You are perfect—that you are ever-faithful to fulfill Your promises and never-changing in Your love for me.

Help me to learn all Your promises—by searching Your Word for them—and then prove them out in my life through my obedience to all that You ask of me.

As I surrender my life to You—as I look to You to be my everything—be for me a shield of protection that surrounds me.

Help me always to trust in Your way—and rest in the integrity of Your character.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.