Never Weak or Weary

 

Have you never heard?
    Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
    No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

—Isaiah 40:28 (NLT)

 

 

 

Everlasting God,

 

Grant me ears that will hear and a heart that can understand the immeasurable greatness of all that You are!

 

Let the truth—that You are the everlasting God—fill my life with the comforting peace of knowing that You are, and forever will be, in control of everything.

 

Let me hear the music of Your creation as it praises You and makes You known as the Creator of all the earth—and let me join my voice with theirs in declaring there is none like You.

 

Let it be Your unfailing strength which lovingly carries me when I am weak or weary—that I might not falter or fail.

Let me trust in the immeasurable depth of Your understanding and confidently rest in the truth that You know what is best for me—and are always working in me to guide me to that end.

 

Grant me ears that will hear and a heart that can understand the immeasurable greatness of all that You are!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Keep Me Hungry!

 

When I discovered your words, I devoured them.
    They are my joy and my heart’s delight,
for I bear your name,
    O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies.

 —Jeremiah 15:16 (NLT)

 

Dear LORD,

 

Keep me hungry—eager to receive and ready to apply every word that You would speak into my life.  Let Your words be my joy and my heart’s delight!

 

Continue to speak to my heart through Your Holy Spirit, and by that same Spirit reveal and illuminate the words of the Bible to my spirit—that I might devour the fresh Truth that You have waiting there for me to discover.

 

Use that Truth to help me grow in obedience and faithfulness to You, so that I can live my life submitted to Truth and can become all that You have planned for me to be in Christ—for Your own glory and honor and praise.

 

For it is in Your words that I find my strength and hope!  And in them I discover the responsibilities of obedience that I carry, because I have been chosen—and I have chosen—to bear Your name, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies!

 

Keep me hungry—eager to receive and ready to apply every word that You would speak into my life.  Let Your words be my joy and my heart’s delight!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Worthy to Receive the Worship of My Heart

 

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.

 

—1 Chronicles 29:11 (NLT)

 

 

O LORD My God,

 

Grant that I would always adore You as the One who is over all things—the only One worthy to receive the worship of my heart!

 

Capture my every thought this day with Your unsurpassed greatness—that I would ponder the limitlessness of the great God I serve and find comfort in Your unfailing love for me.

 

Help me to tap into Your power—that same power that raised Christ from the dead which lives in me—so that I can do all things that You ask of me, through Christ.

 

Show me Your glory all around me, that I would find comfort for my weary soul in Your presence with me—knowing that You will never leave me, nor forsake me.

 

Strengthen me to walk in victory over all my sin—victory which You bought for me, through the redeeming sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus.

 

And let me worship You in all Your majesty—making much of You, so that my troubles here on earth fade from sight, in the light of who You are and of all that You have done.

 

Give me Your peace today, as I offer You all my adoration—knowing all things are Yours and under Your control, as You hold it all in the palm of Your hand.

 

Grant that I would always adore You as the One who is over all things—the only One worthy to receive the worship of my heart!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The LORD is Here to Help You

 

"For I hold you by your right hand—
    I, the LORD your God.
And I say to you,
    ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.’"

 

—Isaiah 41:13 (NLT)

 

Sovereign LORD my God,

 

What a comfort and a joy to know that I am never alone!  For it is You who holds me by the right hand and tells me not to be afraid—You who reminds me that You are always here to help me!

 

So, help me to embrace whatever lies before me today, with the certain confidence that You are by my side—and with the understanding that my access to all that You are is only restricted by how willing I am to seek You out by faith.

 

Thank You for the compassionate love You show to me—that You comfort and keep me, holding fast to my right hand—so that in the times I stumble, You uphold me in Your strength and steady me, so that I don’t fall down completely.

 

Thank You for Your assurance to me that I have nothing to fear, because You are here to help me, to guide and direct me—no matter the situation or circumstance in which I may find myself—as You lead me forward down paths of righteousness, for love’s sake and for Your glory, in the fullness of Truth and Grace.

What a comfort and a joy to know that I am never alone!  For it is You who holds me by the right hand and tells me not to be afraid—You who reminds me that You are always here to help me!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Far Beyond Anything I Can Imagine!

 

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD.
    “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine."

 

—Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)

 

Sovereign LORD,

 

How limited I am in my understanding—and yet, how gracious You are to show me things I could never come to understand on my own!

 

You are the Sovereign LORD—my infinitely powerful, infinitely present, infinitely wise, infinitely loving, Heavenly Father.  How foolish it would be for me to depend on my own understanding—when Your thoughts reach infinitely further than mine!

 

Help me understand that I cannot ever fully understand Your thoughts and Your ways, because of the finite limits of my mind. Remind me that my thinking can be distorted by an assault of the enemy’s lies, so that I might not forget how I am totally dependent on You to lead me into all Truth.

 

Draw me close and teach me to pursue a more personal and intimate relationship with You always—so I might learn to trust more completely in Your love for me and Your absolute knowledge of, and provision for, everything that I need to accomplish Your will and purpose for me.

How limited I am in my understanding—and yet, how gracious You are to show me things I could never come to understand on my own!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Hearts of Those Around Me

 

Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can fully share its joy.

 

—Proverbs 14:10 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to remember that only You can fully know the depths of the hearts of the those around me—and help me to carefully consider that truth, and love them with all the love of Christ.

 

Teach me to look through eyes of compassion at each person I encounter, realizing that I do not fully know the particular experiences that have helped to shape them into the persons that they now are—whether for the good, or for the bad.

 

Don’t let me forget that each person’s heart carries its own bitterness and pain—each heart its own hurts, wounds and brokenness—which cry out, searching for healing wherever it might be found.  

 

Use me to help point the broken-hearted to Your Son, and our Savior, Jesus—the only One that can bring true healing to the broken—as I speak truth and grace, motivated by love, into their lives.

 

And help me also to rejoice with those whose hearts are rejoicing—though I can never fully share the joy that is uniquely theirs—in order that my own joy would be awakened within me, and my mouth would be filled with praise to You.

 

Help me to remember that only You can fully know the depths of the hearts of the those around me—and help me to carefully consider that truth, and love them with all the love of Christ.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Don't Let Your Hearts Be Troubled

  

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.”

 

—John 14:1 (NLT)

 

 

Lord Jesus,

 

As we live our lives in this very troubled world, help us to remember Your instruction to us—help us never allow our hearts to be troubled.

 

Thank You for not only giving us this instruction, but also for empowering us to obey this instruction by showing us the pathway to an untroubled heart—that an untroubled heart trusts in God, and trusts in You.

 

Show us how our capacity to trust in You is dependent on the depth of our relationship with You—and that the depth of that relationship is determined by our understanding of who You are and of Your great love for us, which is revealed to us in Your Word.

 

Help us to realize that the more that we act on the Truth we find in Your Word, and put our trust in You, the more we give You the opportunity to show Yourself faithful to us, which in turn causes our trust to grow because of our experience of that faithfulness—so that we can travel this pathway to an untroubled heart.

 

As we live our lives in this very troubled world, help us to remember Your instruction to us—help us never allow our hearts to be troubled.

 

In Your beautiful and powerful name, I pray, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Search for Good, Find Favor

 

If you search for good, you will find favor;
    but if you search for evil, it will find you!

 

—Proverbs 11:27 (NLT)

 

Good and Gracious Father,

 

Help me only search for that which is good—as You unfold this day before me—so that evil will not find me, but I will experience favor wherever You lead.

 

Remind me that there is good to be found all around me—when I search for it!  And help me to look for that good in every person I encounter and in each circumstance that I face.

 

Save me from every temptation to search for evil—and don’t let me walk away from Your sheltering protection. For I know that I will never find evil before it finds me—because it watches for every opportunity of catching me unprotected, that it might destroy me.

 

In everything, help me keep my eyes fixed on You—the Author of all things good—so that all my thoughts, words and actions will be filled with Your goodness and love, and I would bring honor to You.

 

Help me only search for that which is good—as You unfold this day before me—so that evil will not find me, but I will experience favor wherever You lead.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Take a New Grip!

 

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.  Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

 

—Hebrews 12:12-13 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

With each new challenge that comes, grant me the wisdom to renew my grip on Your plans for me, and the strength and courage to recommit myself to follow the straight path of obedience—so that those around me who have been spiritually weakened would not fall, but rather they find healing and strength to continue their journey with You.

 

When I find myself facing difficulties—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—help me take a new grip on the call You have placed on me. Help me to draw on the strength of Christ in me—and be obedient to the straight path that Your call requires.

 

Help me to push forward through those fears that would weaken my knees and undermine my effectiveness—as I courageously face the unknown in the confidence that I am not alone, because Your Spirit upholds me according to the power of Christ at work in me.

 

Help me to follow that straight path of willing obedience to You in all things, so that those who are weak and have been injured in this good fight of faith will see You at work—both in me and through me—and be encouraged, strengthened, healed and made whole again in You, for Your glory!

With each new challenge that comes, grant me the wisdom to renew my grip on Your plans for me, and the strength and courage to recommit myself to follow the straight path of obedience—so that those around me who have been spiritually weakened would not fall, but rather they find healing and strength to continue their journey with You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Be Still...Wait Patiently...Don't Worry

 

Be still in the presence of the LORD,
    and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
    or fret about their wicked schemes.

 

—Psalm 37:7 (NLT)

 

Loving LORD,

 

Bring me into the stillness and peace of Your presence and help me wait patiently for You to act—as You work in me, through me, and all around me.  Don’t allow me to worry or fret over evil people, or their wicked schemes—but keep my eyes fixed on You.

 

Help me rest confidently in Your loving presence—far from the restless anxiousness that this life brings—content to be where You have me now, and assured that You never stop working, never stop unfolding Your perfect plan.

 

Help me not to get caught up in fretting over those who seem to be getting away with their evil schemes—who make a game of life and appear to be winning, as they play that game by their own set of rules and leave the truth behind to chase after lies.

 

Help me be still in Your presence and live out my life within the protection that Your instructions promise, without compromising the truth, knowing that as I trust You, You will set all things right—every hurt, every offense, every injustice—according to Your perfect timing, plan and purpose, and for Your greatest glory.

 

Bring me into the stillness and peace of Your presence and help me wait patiently for You to act—as You work in me, through me, and all around me.  Don’t allow me to worry or fret over evil people, or their wicked schemes—but keep my eyes fixed on You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

So Much More Than Just Words on a Page

 

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

 

—Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that Your Word is so much more than just words on a page.  Thank You that it is alive and powerful in me!

 

Never let me forget that Your Word is filled with Your life and power as the Almighty God.  For it tells me who You are—as my Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Sanctifier—and tells me who I am as Your child, in Christ—so that when I go to Your Word and allow Your Word to wash over me, it heals me and makes me whole.

 

Help me to hear and understand Your Word—so that I can receive all the Truth that it contains into my heart.  And then help me willingly and obediently apply that Truth to my life—as my loving and grateful response for all You have done for me.

 

Use Your Word to plunge deeply within me, to separate and expose the innermost thoughts and desires and motives of my soul and spirit—and to bring to light anything within me that is not in line with the Truth, so that I can repent and walk in the fullness of life to which You have called me.

 

Thank You that Your Word is so much more than just words on a page.  Thank You that it is alive and powerful in me!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Way That is Not Steep and Rough

 

 

 

But for those who are righteous,
the way is not steep and rough.
You are a God who does what is right,
and you smooth out the path ahead of them.

LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name. —Isaiah 26:7-8 (NLT)

 

 

Gracious and Loving LORD,

 

Help me to walk in right-standing with You—exemplifying both moral and spiritual integrity in all I do, by the power of Christ in me—so that my path will not be steep and rough but be smoothed out before me by Your hand.

 

You have called me to obedience for my own good—so my way will not be rough and steep.  Help me to obey both Your Word and Your Spirit, as I follow You!

 

You are the upright God—the One who always does what is right.  You smooth out the path of those who are righteous—for those who are in right-standing with You—because they have put their trust in You.

 

We show our trust in You when we obey Your laws—when the deepest desire of our hearts is to glorify Your name!

 

Help me to walk in right-standing with You—exemplifying both moral and spiritual integrity in all I do, by the power of Christ in me—so that my path will not be steep and rough but be smoothed out before me by Your hand.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The LORD Hears My Voice

 

I love the LORD because he hears my voice
    and my prayer for mercy.

Because he bends down to listen,
    I will pray as long as I have breath!

 

—Psalm 116:1-2 (NLT)

 

Merciful and Loving LORD,

 

I love You, LORD! Thank You for bending down—for listening for me to cry out to You—and for hearing my prayer for mercy! 

 

Never let me forget that You have heard, and will continue to hear, every word that I pray—for You are always faithfully and carefully listening to my cries for help.

 

In a world where so many are speaking, but so few are listening, let my comfort and hope be found in the truth that You are always interested in what is on my heart. 

 

For You are like that good Father who sits on the edge of his chair and bends low to listen to his dearly loved child—not willing to miss a single word he has to say.

 

So, help me to make every next breath I breathe a prayer lifted up to You—from a heart that is filled with love for You—knowing You will hear me and answer me according to what is best for me and for Your glory!

 

I love You, LORD! Thank You for bending down—for listening for me to cry out to You—and for hearing my prayer for mercy! 

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.