Humble and Gentle, Patient and Merciful

 

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

 

—Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Show me how to love others, just as Jesus has loved me.

 

Grant me a humble heart—that I would not think more highly of myself than I ought—knowing that any good thing that may be found in me is only there by Your hand.

 

Grant me a gentle spirit—that I would act with loving gentleness in all my dealings with others—offering them both truth and grace, which are born out of Christ’s great love for us all.

 

Grant me a patient disposition—that I would not blindly rush past any invitation of the Holy Spirit to be a part of what You are doing to change the hearts and lives of those You put before me.

 

Grant me a merciful attitude—that I would make allowances for the faults of others, as shown by the way that I love them—remembering that all of us are broken in some way and need Your healing touch.

 

Show me how to love others, just as Jesus has loved me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Everything I Need, And More

 

Our hearts ache, but we always have joy.  We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others.  We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

 

—2 Corinthians 6:10 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Thank You for making it possible for me to experience a deep and abiding joy in You—a joy that is not dependent on my circumstances and is mine to keep—as I fix my eyes on Christ and look to Him to be everything I need, and more.

 

There will always be times when my heart will ache—because of the loss, disappointments and injustices that I experience personally, or that I may observe in the world around me.  

 

But You came to give me hope, that my heart would rejoice in You—as I trust in Your sovereignty, mercy, grace and love, as I watch for You to work all things together for my good, and as I trust You to guide me to my forever home with You.

 

Help me to remember that You have given me this hope-filled joy, so that I will always have something to give to others—no matter how poor I might be—that their joy might also be full.

 

What joy is mine to know that—even though I own nothing in this world, because everything I have belongs to You—I have everything I need and more, in Christ!

 

Thank You for making it possible for me to experience a deep and abiding joy in You—a joy that is not dependent on my circumstances and is mine to keep—as I fix my eyes on Christ and look to Him to be everything I need, and more.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Hidden, Protected, Delivered

 

You are my hiding place;
    you will protect me from trouble
    and surround me with songs of deliverance.

 

—Psalm 32:7 (NIV)

 

O LORD, My God,

 

Where else, O LORD, can I go to hide?  To whom can I turn for protection from my troubles, besides You?  Who else will surround me with songs of deliverance?  My only hope for salvation is found in You, through Christ!

 

You alone are my hiding place—my place of safety and comfort, my sanctuary of peace—where I am held in Your arms, high above the storms of this life.  So may my life always remain hidden in Christ.

 

In You alone will I find protection from all my troubles—as I humble myself before you, repent of my sins, and experience the grace of Your loving-kindness.

 

Only You, will surround me with songs of deliverance.  Just as You have delivered me from the power of sin and death over my life, You will save me from all the powers that would seek to destroy me—when I hide myself in You.

 

Where else, O LORD, can I go to hide?  To whom can I turn for protection from my troubles, besides You?  Who else will surround me with songs of deliverance?  My only hope for salvation is found in You, through Christ!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Wonder of Forgiveness, Grace, and Unfailing Love

 

I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.

 

—Psalm 32:5 (NASB)

 

Gracious and Forgiving LORD,

 

Help me to own up to my sin—to freely, openly, and completely confess it all to You in repentance—so that I may fully experience the wonders of Your forgiveness, Your grace, and Your unfailing love for me.  For only in understanding fully the grace that You have given me, can I begin to offer that same grace to those around me.

 

Help me to understand that when I try (in vain) to hide my sins from You—refusing to honestly and completely confess them before You—I am only inviting You to extend Your hand of discipline on my life, robbing myself of the blessing of grace that Christ died to bring me.

 

Help me always hurry to lay myself bare before You in true repentance of my rebellious, sinful nature—knowing that You forgive my disobedience, You put my sin out of Your sight, and You clear my record of all guilt, making me as righteous in Your eyes, as Christ Himself.

 

Show me my heart that I would see clearly those things I have yet to surrender to You—as I submit to the changes that You want to make in me by Your Word and by Your Spirit.  And help me to acknowledge that any goodness in me comes from You alone—and is intended only for Your Glory.

 

Help me to own up to my sin—to freely, openly, and completely confess it all to You in repentance—so that I may fully experience the wonders of Your forgiveness, Your grace, and Your unfailing love for me.  For only in understanding fully the grace that You have given me, can I begin to offer that same grace to those around me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Chosen and Called Out of Darkness

 

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

 

—1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

 

Heavenly Father,

Help me to walk fully in the truth of who I am in Christ—so that I will never cease to declare the praises of the One who called me out of darkness into His wonderful light!

 

Thank You that You chose me—that You wanted me even before You created me—and that by Your grace, You gave me Your invitation to choose You back.

 

Thank You that You called me to be a part of a chosen people—the family of believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ—set apart to be distinctly different from this world in which we live.

 

Thank You that You invited me to be a part of a royal priesthood—a royalty that flows from my adoption into Your family—and that my justification, by the blood of Christ, and my sanctification, by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in me, make my service to You holy and acceptable in Your sight.

 

Thank You that I am privileged to be a part of a holy nation—joined with other believers, committed to following Your commandments, and consecrated to You under the Lordship of Christ Jesus.

 

Thank You that I am included as part of Your special possession—and that as such, I am given the honor of declaring Your story of salvation, as told through my life, by both my words and my actions, to a dark, lost, and dying world.

 

Help me to walk fully in the truth of who I am in Christ—so that I will never cease to declare the praises of the One who called me out of darkness into His wonderful light!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Deeply Rooted in Christ Jesus, My Life is Built on Him

 

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.  Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

 

—Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT)

 

Merciful and Gracious God,

 

Help my roots to grow down deeply into Christ Jesus—so that my life is built on Him.

 

Thank You for the awesome blessing of everlasting life that You gave to me when I accepted Christ as my Savior—and for the compounded blessings that I experience in every moment that I chose to make Him the Lord of my life and follow Him in willing obedience.

 

Help my relationship with Him continue to grow deeper every day, so that I can be built up in Him—the One who holds all things together, who is the source of my life and my strength, and who is my only hope. 

 

Help my faith to grow strong in the truth—the truth that I am taught in Him—and let me ever overflow with thankfulness, so that I am not carried away by sin, but continue in that truth that has set me free.

 

Help my roots to grow down deeply into Christ Jesus—so that my life is built on Him.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

An Example to Follow

 

I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

 

—John 13:15 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, to us all!  May I always follow His example of obedience, humility, and sacrifice, as I serve the ones You place before me, with the love of Christ.

 

Help me to follow His perfect example.  May I reflect His heart more perfectly, offer His grace more compassionately, speak His Truth only out of love, and emulate His servant leadership more completely.

 

Help me to walk in His humility.  May I set aside all my pride—not considering anything You ask me to do to be beneath me—and joyfully embrace any invitation that You give me to be a part of what You are doing.

 

Help me to love as He did.  May His compassion stir my heart, so that I respond with willing obedience, to sacrificially serve others for Your glory. 

 

Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, to us all!  May I always follow His example of obedience, humility, and sacrifice, as I serve the ones You place before me, with the love of Christ.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

You Cannot Be Stopped!

 

 

“I know that you can do anything,
    and no one can stop you.”

 

—Job 42:2 (NLT)

 

Almighty God,

 

Expand the limits of my heart, my mind, and my faith, so that I might more fully embrace the Truth of Your unlimited strength and power, unlimited knowledge and wisdom, unlimited authority and dominion, and unlimited love for me as Your child.

 

Help me to repent of all the times when, by my thoughts, words or actions, I have shown a lack of faith in the Truth of Your greatness, glory, and perfection—times when I have put limits on what I believed that You were able, or were willing, to do.

 

Help me to see, believe, and take comfort in the Truth that Your Plan cannot be stopped—cannot be restrained or prevented—even by the mistakes and misjudgments I make in my life.  You work all things—good and bad—together for my good and interweave them all into the perfection of Your plan!

 

So, help me to move boldly forward with my life, trusting that You will guide my every step and position me in the place that You want me to be, so that You can receive the greatest glory—because of Your unfailing love for us all.

Expand the limits of my heart, my mind, and my faith, so that I might more fully embrace the Truth of Your unlimited strength and power, unlimited knowledge and wisdom, unlimited authority and dominion, and unlimited love for me as Your child.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Above All Else!

 

 

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

 

—Luke 12:31 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

 

Teach me to keep that which is most important, the most important thing in my life—that is, to seek Christ above all else and to rest in Him.

 

Grant me the faith to submit every area of my life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ—with the unwavering confidence that He gives me everything I need.

 

Let the plans that I make be in harmony with the path that You unfold before me—which is Your very best for me.

 

Let the work that I set my hands to be the good work that You are doing in the lives of others around me—work that You graciously allow me to join with You in doing.

 

Let the close relationships that I form be the relationships that You have appointed for me—relationships in which everyone is wonderfully blessed. 

 

Let the hope that I have in my heart be the hope that is found in You alone—that I would not place my hope in anyone or anything less.

 

Let the love that I share be a perfect reflection of the unfailing love You have showered on me—that others might see Christ in me and give You glory.

 

Let the time that I celebrate be a joyous time of praise and thanksgiving to You for Your gift of life to me—and the promise that there is better yet to come in my forever home with You.

 

Let the rest that I take from my labors, be the rest that only You can give—flowing from the knowledge that You care for my every need.

Teach me to keep that which is most important, the most important thing in my life—that is, to seek Christ above all else and to rest in Him.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Above All Else!

 

 

Guard your heart above all else,
    for it determines the course of your life.

 

—Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to guard my heart above all else!

 

Help me to see that the battle for my heart is a battle that is waged against the enemy—in my mind—for the rights to occupy that sacred space which is my heart.   It is a battle over what thoughts (good or bad) and beliefs (right or wrong) that I will allow to fill my heart, and thus determine my life’s course.

 

Help me remember that You are always with me in this battle and that I am armed with the Truth of Your Word—the Bible—so that I have the strength I need to stand against the enemy, and the weapons I need to defeat him and defend the holy ground of my heart.

 

Help me to make my heart a space that only You can fill—with Your Presence and Power—as I wage every battle of my mind, by holding every thought captive until it lines up with the Truth of the Word, as revealed to my heart, by the Holy Spirit.

 

Help me to guard my heart above all else!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Because You are My Helper

 

Because you are my helper,
    I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.

I cling to you;
    your strong right hand holds me securely.

 

—Psalm 63:7-8 (NLT)

 

Almighty God, My Helper,

May I always sing for joy, and may I forever cling to You!

 

While there are those who seek to find their help from the things of this world, You have shown us the Truth in Your Word—that our help is found in You alone.

 

You are the One who spoke the heavens and the earth into existence—so where else would I go to find help for my life, if not to the Creator of life, Himself?

 

Because You are my helper, I can always sing for joy—no matter what outward circumstances I face—for You shelter me under the protection of Your covering wings from the troubles of this life. 

 

As I cling to You, You hold me securely—You take on Yourself the force of each storm that comes against me—so I can fulfill Your plan and purpose for me.

 

So, let my unending song in this life be a joyful song of praise, worship and thanksgiving offered to You—my only help and my sure salvation!

May I always sing for joy, and may I forever cling to You!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Search for the LORD!

 

Search for the LORD and for his strength;
    continually seek him.
Remember the wonders he has performed,
    his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
you children of his servant Abraham,
    you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

 

—Psalm 105:4-6 (NLT)

 

Loving LORD,

When I lose my way, when I no longer feel Your strength in me, stir my heart to search for You—to continually seek You.

 

Help me to remember that, just as You chose the descendants of Abraham and Jacob as Your own, You chose me and received me as Your own.

 

And help me not to forget all the wonders that You have performed, Your miracles, and the rulings and instructions that You have given—both as recorded in the Bible, and as I have experienced personally in my own walk with You.

 

Then move me to respond to Your immeasurable love for me, with a grateful heart, and in faithful obedience to everything You have taught me and to everything that You ask me to do.

 

And help me to walk through each moment of all the rest of my days in that strength, so I will come to understand more and more how You are at work in me, through me and all around me—both now and always.

 

When I lose my way, when I no longer feel Your strength in me, stir my heart to search for You—to continually seek You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.