Fearing People, A Dangerous Trap

 

Fearing people is a dangerous trap,
    but trusting the LORD means safety.

—Proverbs 29:25 (NLT)

Loving and Caring LORD,

Keep me far from the dangerous trap of fearing people—whether it is a fear of what they may think of me, or a fear of what they might try to do to me, or even a fear of what they might choose to do to themselves—and help me find my safety and rest in trusting You.

Don’t allow me to let my fear of people keep me from doing that which You have called me to do, or from being who You have called me to be—but help me keep my eyes focused on You, so that I won’t be enslaved by the power that the fear of others can hold over me.

Let me fear You only—to respect, reverence, and honor You with wholehearted trust—knowing that You are well able to turn what others intend for evil into great good, and to protect me and provide for my every need, through Christ Jesus.

And let me fully experience the liberating freedom of rejoicing in all things, by placing them and leaving them all—both the overwhelmingly big and the seemingly small—in Your hands for safe keeping, with the absolute assurance that You are always in control and want the very best for us all.

Keep me far from the dangerous trap of fearing people—whether it is a fear of what they may think of me, or a fear of what they might try to do to me, or even a fear of what they might choose to do to themselves—and help me find my safety and rest in trusting You.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Where is Your King?

 

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

 

—Judges 21:25 (NLT)

 

My LORD and My King,

 

May You remain forever my only LORD and King, so that the way I conduct my life will be according to Your Truth and not according to my own opinion.

 

Help me to seek Your perfect will, rather than my selfish will; Your eternal plans, rather than my fleeting plans; Your righteous desires, rather than my corrupt desires; and Your pure motives, rather than my sinful motives—so that my heart would be fully Yours and I would reflect the character of Christ.

 

Keep me from the chaos that comes from deciding for myself what is right and what is wrong—based on my own limited and flawed intellect and perspective—and give me the faith to trust You for the best answers, knowing Your intellect is infinitely beyond my own and Your perfect perspective is limitless.

 

As I commit to obediently follow Your instructions—as revealed to my spirit by the Holy Spirit through Your Word—let my actions reflect Your standards for morality, mercy, forgiveness, grace, justice, truth, and above all, love.

May You remain forever my only LORD and King, so that the way I conduct my life will be according to Your Truth and not according to my own opinion.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The One Who Will Rescue You

 

“Do not forget the covenant I made with you, and do not worship other gods. You must worship only the LORD your God. He is the one who will rescue you from all your enemies.”

—2 Kings 17:38-39 (NLT)

 

O LORD, My God,

 

You alone, O LORD, are the One who rescues me from all my enemies! May I never forget this truth.

 

I am tempted, on all sides, to put my faith in—and thus make objects of my worship—the things this world has to offer, counting on them to rescue me, keep me safe, and to sustain me during these difficult and trying times.

 

Don’t allow me to make gods of the things with which You have given to bless me. Help me instead to use every blessing, as You direct me, only to bring You glory, honor, and praise.

 

Help me cling to the truth of Your Word, being ever mindful of the power that lives in me by the Holy Spirit, who leads me into that truth—as I put all my trust and faith in the only One who can truly rescue me from all of my enemies.

 

You alone, O LORD, are the One who rescues me from all my enemies! May I never forget this truth.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

The Same Comfort God Has Given Us

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.  When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

—2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT)

 

Merciful and Comforting Father God,

Teach me to show others the same mercy and extend to them the same loving comfort that You pour out on me when I am weighed down with troubles.  

 

Help me be careful to give You all the praise—as the Father of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and the source of all comfort—for Your continuing faithfulness to bring good out of all my troubles.

 

Don’t let me forget that You allow hardships, so that I can experience Your faithfulness in my hardships—whether You choose to deliver me from them altogether or walk with me through them to ultimate victory in Christ.

 

Remind me that, as I find comfort and help from You in my troubles, You are equipping me then to be able to offer that same comfort to others who are troubled—and to point them to the only true source of help and hope.

Teach me to show others the same mercy and extend to them the same loving comfort that You pour out on me when I am weighed down with troubles.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Worthy!

 

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

 

—Revelation 4:11 (NASB)

 

My Lord and my God,

 

You are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power—for You created all things. By Your will alone, I was created and now exist.

 

You are worthy to receive glory. Help me glorify You by accurately reflecting Your character in everything that I think, say, and do—imitating the example of Jesus.

 

You are worthy to receive honor. May the value that I personally attribute to You be evident by the honor that I give to You—from within the deepest parts of my heart—as demonstrated by the way I live my life.

 

You are worthy to receive power. Help me never foolishly try to hold on to control of my life—as if I had the power to determine its course.  May I surrender it completely to the You—the One who holds my life in His powerful right hand.

 

You are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power—for You created all things. By Your will alone, I was created and now exist.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Where My Happiness is Found

 

Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
    I will put them into practice with all my heart.
Make me walk along the path of your commands,
    for that is where my happiness is found.

 —Psalm 119:34-35 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

May I always seek to understand Your Word—so that I will be able to obey all Your instructions. Help me to put them into practice and experience the happiness that belongs to those who walk along the paths of Your commands.

 

With Your Spirit as my teacher, open the richness of Your Word to my spirit and help me to understand everything that You want me to know—that I might fully accomplish those things that You have planned for me to do.

 

Lead me to that place of absolute obedience to You—as You bend my will along the path of Your commands—for my own good, in order to protect me, provide for me, and to keep me in Your perfect peace.

 

And help me find those places of great blessing, joy, and happiness—by following all Your instructions and trusting in Your great love for me—so I can discover that the very best You have for me is found within my life in Christ.

May I always seek to understand Your Word—so that I will be able to obey all Your instructions. Help me to put them into practice and experience the happiness that belongs to those who walk along the paths of Your commands.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Path of Life

 

You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

 

—Psalm 16:11 (NASB)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

I have placed all my trust in You—for I know that You will always lead me down the path of life, to that place of joy and peace that can only be found in Your Presence.

 

Thank You that as I seek to hear what You would say to me, in Your Word and by the promptings of Your Spirit, You are always faithful to lead me down paths that bring me life—life that is full, rich, and free; life that fulfills Your will for me.

 

Thank You that as I remain in Your Presence, the power of Christ in me carries me through every hardship I face, the cares of this world are lifted from my shoulders, and my joy is made complete in trusting and serving You.

 

Thank You that Your desire for all believers is that we would remain at Your right hand and enjoy the pleasure of living in the protection, provision, and peace of Your Presence, forever.

 

I have placed all my trust in You—for I know that You will always lead me down the path of life, to that place of joy and peace that can only be found in Your Presence.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Remember Your Mercy!

 

I have heard all about you, LORD.
    I am filled with awe by your amazing works.
In this time of our deep need,
    help us again as you did in years gone by.
And in your anger,
    remember your mercy.

                       —Habakkuk 3:2 (NLT)

Merciful LORD,

 

In this time of our deep need, please help us once again!  Though we deserve Your anger, even still have mercy upon us according to Your loving-kindness! 

 

As I search the words of Your Holy Scriptures, fill me with awe and wonder—with reverential fear and respect—because of Your amazing works and the demonstrations of Your unlimited power and unfailing love for Your people.

 

Remind me of all the times that You have tempered Your anger toward the unfaithfulness of Your people with Your mercy—so that they were not destroyed, and the glory of Your Name could continue to be proclaimed throughout the world by the remnants of the faithful.

 

And grant us, again today, Your mercy—that Your glory might yet shine from within us, that we would return to You in repentance, and find You waiting there to help us, just as You did in years gone by.

 

In this time of our deep need, please help us once again!  Though we deserve Your anger, even still have mercy upon us according to Your loving-kindness! 

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Rest and Joy

 

“For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.”

 

—Jeremiah 31:25 (NLT)

 

O God, the One who sees me,

 

In those times when I become weary, in those times when sorrow fills my heart, may I find in You the rest You promise, and may You strengthen me with inexpressible joy!

 

You know me completely! You know how easy it is for me to let the cares of this world weigh me down. So, let me find my rest in You—as I choose to live my life in Christ.

 

You know every sorrow that fills my heart! Yet, You offer to restore me to a place of strength and gladness—as, by Your Holy Spirit, You fill me with the joy of my salvation!

 

So draw me close to You—so I can find rest for my weariness, and joy for my sorrow, in Christ Jesus alone!

 

In those times when I become weary, in those times when sorrow fills my heart, may I find in You the rest You promise, and may You strengthen me with inexpressible joy!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Love the LORD Your God!

 

“Love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”

 

—Joshua 22:5b (NLT)

 

O LORD, My God,

 

May everything that I think, say, and do, be evidence of my unwavering love for You—so that there would never be any doubt about who owns my heart and keeps my soul!

 

Grant me the wisdom to walk in all Your ways—to be faithful to follow, even when the path is hard, and steep, and narrow—for all Your ways are perfect.

 

Grant me the willingness to obey all Your commands—for in obedience to You, I find the path to life and well-being, to healing and wholeness for my soul.

 

Grant me the strength to hold firmly to You—and to believe that You will uphold me in every way and provide for my every need along this journey to my forever home in You.

 

Grant me the humility to submit to You in all things—as You work in me the desire and the power to offer all my heart and soul in service for You.

 

May everything that I think, say and do, be evidence of my unwavering love for You—so that there would never be any doubt about who owns my heart and keeps my soul!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

What You Choose to Obey

 

 

Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.

 

—Romans 6:16 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to remember that I become the slave of whatever I choose to obey—and may I always choose to obey You, so that I might live a righteous life, in Christ, before You.

 

Help me to be careful, in every choice I make today, to choose that which honors You—so that in my choosing I don’t enslave myself once again to sin.

 

Help me look to the Truth of Your Word to be my standard, and to listen to Your Holy Spirit as You teach me, along that path of becoming more and more like Christ. 

 

Let my obedience, be proof of my love for you—as You take me to that place of intimate and personal relationship with You, where I find the abundant life You have hidden there for me in Christ.

 

Help me to remember that I become the slave of whatever I choose to obey—and may I always choose to obey You, so that I might live a righteous life, in Christ, before You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Everything Else is Worthless!

 

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.

—Philippians 3:8-9a (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

Help me to discard anything from my life that would hinder me from gaining Christ—and becoming one with Him.

 

Teach me that I should consider all the things that I might pursue in life here on earth as worthless—when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus, as my Lord.

 

Don’t allow me to pursue anything that would keep me from becoming like Christ—and help me to consider those things as mere garbage.  And may all my pursuits help me grow in my understanding of the character of Christ, so that I would learn to become more like Him.

 

Use everything You put before me (every opportunity, every challenge, every disappointment, and every blessing) to do a good work in me, through me, and all around me—in order to sanctify me, and ultimately, perfectly fashion me into the image of Christ. 

Help me to discard anything from my life that would hinder me from gaining Christ—and becoming one with Him.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Training for Godliness

 

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

 

—1 Timothy 4:8 (NLT)

 

 

Heavenly Father,

Help me to keep my priorities in order, so that I might enjoy the greater benefits You have promised, both in this life and in the life to come, and bring You glory with my life.

 

Don’t allow me to neglect my physical body but give me the wisdom to know how best to take care of it, as You grant me the discipline to do so—so that I will be physically able to accomplish the work that You call me to do.

 

But beyond physical training, let my heart be even more devoted to the training and development of my spiritual life—knowing that it is with spiritual strength and faith that the true battles of this life are waged and won.

 

And help me to remember that, in training for godliness, I must not only set aside that which is evil, but also choose to do that which is good—so that in my obedience to You I will find peace and joy, and by godly living I might bring You glory.

Help me to keep my priorities in order, so that I might enjoy the greater benefits You have promised, both in this life and in the life to come, and bring You glory with my life.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.