Imitate God in Love!

 

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

 

—Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT)

 

Father God,

 

Help me learn to imitate You in love.

 

Just like a child—a child who is truly loved—experiences love demonstrated for him by his father and then follows his father’s example and teachings of how to love, so let me walk in all the ways of Your love.

 

Help me to love without caution or hesitation, but rather generously and extravagantly—unselfishly seeking the best for others.  Help me to love those You put in my path that way—not looking to receive something from them, but only to bring glory to You.

 

Teach me how to give of myself to others, even to the point of giving all of myself—if that is part of Your plan for me—just as Your Son did when He came and died for us to give us life eternal in Him.

 

Help me learn to imitate You in love.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

As a Living Sacrifice

 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

 

—Romans 12:1 (NIV)

 

 

Merciful and Gracious God,

 

Help me truly worship You today—in grateful response to Your enduring mercy and abundant grace—by dying to myself and living for You alone.

 

Because of everything You have done for me, stir within my heart that desire to submit all that I am to You—to humbly give my life completely over to Your plans and purposes for me.

 

In light of the final atoning sacrifice of Your Son for my sin, help me to make the only sacrifice that is left to make—a living sacrifice of my life—by consciously and continually setting myself apart for Your use.

 

Help me to offer my true and proper worship to You in every moment of each new day, as You keep me mindful of Your mercy extended toward me—without which I would not have this privilege of life with You, forevermore.

 

Help me truly worship You today—in grateful response to Your enduring mercy and abundant grace—by dying to myself and living for You alone.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

No Ear Has Heard, No Eye Has Seen

 

For since the world began,

   no ear has heard

and no eye has seen a God like you,

   who works for those who wait for him!

—Isaiah 64:4 (NLT)

 

Father God,

 

Teach me how to wait for You—and remind me that it is the most important thing that I must do today!

 

There is no God like You.  Since the world began, You have always been ready to work on behalf of anyone who would patiently wait for You—anyone who would take time to be quiet in Your presence, listen for Your voice to speak to them, and follow You as You guide and direct their ways.

 

Help me to see that taking time to be quiet before You is the most important thing I can do today—so that You can show me the way that I should go and the things that You want me to do.

 

Help me to realize that if I fail to do this, that I will exhaust myself in busyness and in doing things in my own strength—by my own will—and in the end, I will neither accomplish that which You want me to do, nor will I be any closer to being who You want me to become.

 

Help me to understand that the difference my life makes in this world is determined much less by how much I do, and so much more by how closely my life reflects the light of Christ’s love in me, to those around me.

 

Let me live in the truth that the more I wait on You—trusting You to work in me, and through me, and all around me, according to Your perfect plan—the less difficult my life becomes, and the more peace and joy I will experience.

 

Teach me how to wait for You—and remind me that it is the most important thing that I must do today!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Kept and Protected

 

I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You keep them and protect them from the evil one.

 

—John 17:15 (AMP)

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to walk that fine line between understanding that this world is not my home, and still accepting that I have an important part to play in Your divine plan, while I remain here.

 

Help me to remember that when Jesus prayed to You, He did not ask You to take us out of the world, because the world desperately needs the light of Christ that believers reflect when we remain submitted to Him.

 

So, help me to remain submitted to Christ and live my life for Your glory—as a good representative of the One who gave His life, so that I might truly live for Him in this world.

 

And help me to trust You and never be afraid—knowing that You not only heard His prayer when He asked You to keep us and protect us from the evil one, but You also are faithful to answer that prayer, both right now and forevermore.

 

Help me to walk that fine line between understanding that this world is not my home, and still accepting that I have an important part to play in Your divine plan, while I remain here.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

This Kind of Fruit

 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

 

—Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Let my life continually abound with the good fruit that is produced by Your Spirit—as I submit to Your will for me and embrace Your power at work within me to change me.

 

Teach me to be a person who loves You and loves others—with the deep, God-kind of love that can only come from You.

 

Teach me to be a person who overflows with unrelenting joy—because of the strength you give me for today, and the hope for tomorrow that is mine in Christ.

Teach me to walk in that peace that only You can give, which passes understanding—and, in as much as is my part, to live at peace with everyone.

Teach me to patiently bear with others, with kindness and gentleness—just as You have always been patient, kind and gentle with me.

Teach me to remain faithful to You—at all times and in every situation—just as You have always proven Yourself faithful to me.

Teach me to have a gentleness of spirit and exercise self-control at all times—as I humble myself and surrender my control to Your Spirit, for Your glory and honor.

Teach me to reflect the character of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, always.

 

Let my life continually abound with the good fruit that is produced by Your Spirit—as I submit to Your will for me and embrace Your power at work within me to change me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

As Light into the World

 

I have come as Light into the world, so that no one who believes in Me will remain in darkness.

 

—John 12:46 (NASB)

 

Dear Lord Jesus,

 

Thank You for coming from heaven into our world as Light—so that we who believe would no longer have to remain in darkness but could live an abundant life in the Light of Truth.

 

Before I knew You, my life was darkened by my sinful nature. I didn’t have any real comfort, contentment, peace, joy, or hope. I didn’t know what love was. I lived in fear—because my life was full of lies. I did not live in the Truth.

 

Since I have believed in You, and received You as Light into my darkened heart, the Truth of Your Word has set free from those things that held me captive and kept me from living the abundant life that You have called me to live. Now, I am forever held in the Light of Your love.

 

So, no matter what evil may come, may I always choose to walk in the Truth—allowing the Light of Christ in me to radiate from me into this darkened world—so others might see and want the blessing of living that abundant life of peace, protection, provision, and purpose that only You can offer.

 

Thank You for coming from heaven into our world as Light—so that we who believe would no longer have to remain in darkness but could live an abundant life in the Light of Truth.

 

This I pray in Your Glorious Name, Lord Jesus, Amen.

The LORD's Purpose Prevails

 

 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,

    but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

 

—Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

 

Sovereign LORD,

 

Help me always to lift up my plans before You—with my palms wide open—as I submit my will to Your will, my plan to Your plan, and give my life over to Your perfect purpose.

 

You know every plan of my heart—before it is ever formed in my thoughts. 

 

You know when I make my plans in perfect concert with Your will for me.  And You know when I make my plans without first considering or consulting You at all. 

 

You know when I make my plans after much prayer and meditation on Your Word.  And You know when I make my plans despite what I have heard from You, in great foolishness and selfishness.

 

Yet regardless of all my plans, it is always Your purpose that prevails.

 

So, mold my plans to accomplish Your purposes and help me to have faith to believe that Your plans are always best—and that Your plans cannot be stopped.

 

And help me to remember that Your plans are always crafted with my best interest at heart—and for my ultimate good—a reflection of Your perfect and unfailing love for me.

 

Help me always to lift up my plans before You—with my palms wide open—as I submit my will to Your will, my plan to Your plan, and give my life over to Your perfect purpose.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

A Long and Prosperous Life

 

Does anyone want to live a life
    that is long and prosperous?
Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies!
Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 

—Psalm 34:12-14 (NLT)

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Let every word I speak be virtuous and true, let every action I take be kind and good, and let me have a heart that searches for peace and works to maintain it, down every path You have me walk.

 

Help me not to speak evil things—words that hurt, rather than heal; words that tear down, rather than build up; words that bring despair, rather than hope.

 

And keep me from telling lies—words that deceive, rather than reveal; words that slander, rather than commend; words that omit, rather than declare the whole truth.

 

Help me to remember that while it is good for me to turn away from evil, You desire so much more of me—that to be truly obedient to You, I must also do those things that are good.

 

Help me to understand that in order for me to live in the peace You want me to enjoy, I must never stop searching for that peace and working to maintain it, through all of my thoughts, words and actions.

 

Help me to do all these things, as a testimony to Your power at work in me, so that I may live long enough in this world to accomplish Your plan and purpose for me here, before I join You there for eternity.

 

Let every word I speak be virtuous and true, let every action I take be kind and good, and let me have a heart that searches for peace and works to maintain it, down every path You have me walk.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

For the Glory and the Sake of Your Name

 

Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name;
And save us and forgive our sins for the sake of Your name.

 

—Psalm 79:9 (NASB2020)

 

 

God of our Salvation,

 

Only You can help us—for only You can save us and forgive us of our sins!

 

Help us!  Move as only You can move!  According to Your absolute power and Your never-failing love for Your children, unfold before us what is best for us—for the glory of Your name.

 

Save us!  Deliver us from evil!  Because You are Holy and Just, do not let the evil of this fallen world overtake us—for the sake of Your name.

 

Forgive our sins!  Bring us to repentance!  Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us and call us into Your Presence once again—that Your name would be made great in all the world.

 

Only You can help us—for only You can save us and forgive us of our sins!

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Call Upon the LORD in Truth

 

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He will also hear their cry and will save them.

 

—Psalm 145:18-19 (NASB)

 

 

Faithful and Loving LORD,

 

What an amazing comfort to know that You are near, that You hear us when we call on You in truth, that You fulfill our desire when we fear You, and save us in every way!

 

May my response to Your promised nearness be to call upon You in truth—that is to call upon You from a clean, sincere, and devoted heart, a heart that beats after Your own heart.

 

May my response to Your promise to fulfill my desire be to fear You—that is to praise, worship, and serve only You, in holy awe of all You are and all You have done, so that my greatest desire is to know You and to make You known.

 

May my response to Your promise to hear me and save me be to cry out to You with confidence—that is to recognize my total dependence on You and find my hope in Your faithfulness to all Your promises.

 

What an amazing comfort to know that You are near, that You hear us when we call on You in truth, that You fulfill our desire when we fear You, and save us in every way!

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Love the LORD!

 

Love the LORD, all you godly ones!
    For the LORD protects those who are loyal to him,
    but he harshly punishes the arrogant.

So be strong and courageous,
    all you who put your hope in the LORD!

 

—Psalm 31:23-24 (NLT)

 

Forever Faithful LORD,

 

May the evidence that I love You be demonstrated by my undivided loyalty to You—as You comfort me with the knowledge that I remain under Your protection and that I can trust You to be forever just.  Make me strong and courageous, as I choose to make You my only hope!

 

Help me to prove my love for You, by walking uprightly before You—choosing never to divide my loyalty, but rather, making Christ alone the Lord of my heart and my life.

 

Let me always walk humbly with You, rejecting all pride that may try to raise its ugly head within me—so I might escape the punishment that is reserved for the arrogant, and so I can represent Christ well to the lost of this world.

 

Let me receive the strength and courage I need to face all the evil that surrounds me without fear—strength and courage that You give freely to those who put all their hope in You.

 

May the evidence that I love You be demonstrated by my undivided loyalty to You—as You comfort me with the knowledge that I remain under Your protection and that I can trust You to be forever just.  Make me strong and courageous, as I choose to make You my only hope!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Come and Listen!

 

Come and listen to my counsel.
I’ll share my heart with you
    and make you wise. 

 

—Proverbs 1:23 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father, 

 

Let me never forget that the highest and best counsel that I can receive comes from You!  For when I come and listen to You, You share Your heart with me and make me wise.

 

So, give me a hunger to come boldly into Your presence with a heart to listen for, to hear, to understand, and to follow Your counsel—as You speak to me through Your Word, and teach me by Your Spirit, revealing everything I need to know in order to accomplish Your plans and purposes for me.

 

Continue to show me more of Your heart with every day that passes—so that my heart might beat more and more fully after the things I find in You, and less and less after my own desires and distractions.

 

Teach me to draw from the deep wells of wisdom that I only find in You—as I allow Your great power, Your complete understanding, and Your perfect wisdom to flow through me and guide my every choice in truth.

 

Let me never forget that the highest and best counsel that I can receive comes from You!  For when I come and listen to You, You share Your heart with me and make me wise.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

God Loves Us

 

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

 —Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)

 

 

Loving Father,

 

Help me to choose to rejoice always, even in the face of any problems and trials I may face.  Let me look beyond them to see the working of Your plan—a plan to help me to endure all things, as I grow in strength of character, in hope of Your salvation, and in knowledge of Your love for me.

 

Help me to endure every hardship I face with complete faith and trust in You—knowing that You use life’s difficulties, and even the enemy’s attacks against me, to strengthen my character.

 

Then use my strengthened character to build my confident hope that You will always be faithful to save me in, or through, or out of every situation or circumstance that I may face—even death itself.

 

Remind me that as long as my hope is in You alone, I will never be disappointed, and help me to truly embrace how much You dearly love me—as Your Holy Spirit fills my heart with Your love.

 

Help me to choose to rejoice always, even in the face of any problems and trials I may face.  Let me look beyond them to see the working of Your plan—a plan to help me to endure all things, as I grow in strength of character, in hope of Your salvation, and in knowledge of Your love for me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.