You Must Love

 

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD.  And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’  The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  No other commandment is greater than these.  —Mark 12:29-31 (NLT)

 

Dear LORD God,

 

Oh, that I could more perfectly return to You that same love with which You first loved me—and then actively love others in the same way that I love myself!

 

Help me to make room within my heart, so that You can fill it completely with Your love—that love that overwhelms me and consumes my soul—so that I would never miss any opportunity You give me to participate with You in loving those around me.

 

Help me to avoid the trap of believing that there could ever be anything more important than these all-inclusive commands—commands that are not restricted by time or place, commands I should follow no matter where I may find myself.

 

Just as You have loved me, help me to love others well—with that same compassion, patience, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and grace that You have shown me—by willingly and obediently reflecting Your love for them in all my thoughts, words, and actions.

 

Oh, that I could more perfectly return to You that same love with which You first loved me—and then actively love others in the same way that I love myself!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

With You!

 

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

 

—Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me boldly move forward into this day with You—with confidence, with courage and with great strength—upheld, in every way, by Your ever-victorious right hand!

 

Help me to see that there is nothing to fear, because You are always actively present with me to protect and deliver me from all the attacks of the enemy—whether they be attacks against my body, my mind, or my spirit. Thank You that You never leave me!

 

Keep discouragement far from me by helping me to find my courage in You, knowing You—the Creator and Sustainer of all things—are my loving Heavenly Father and the all-powerful LORD God.  Thank You for being my God!

 

Help me to receive Your strength—as by Your Spirit, You show me Your power at work within me to help me. Thank You that You help me according to Your unmatched strength!

 

Hold me up with Your victorious right hand—that I might not fall, but rather accomplish everything that You have called me to do in service to You. Thank You for being my victory in all things!

 

Help me boldly move forward into this day with You—with confidence, with courage and with great strength—upheld, in every way, by Your ever-victorious right hand!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Enemies of the Cross of Christ

 

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.  They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.   

—Philippians 3:18-19 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to consider carefully the way I conduct myself in life here on earth—that I might not ever be found to be an enemy of the cross of Christ.

 

You have given me the opportunity to embrace everything that the cross of Christ has purchased for me. So keep me from foolishly or thoughtlessly turning down a path that brings sure destruction to my joy, my peace, my purpose, and ultimately my life.

 

Never allow me to develop an appetite for any of the deceitful pleasures of this world—to allow my fleshly desires to become idols that I choose to worship. 

 

Keep me from being so deceived, that I would speak about my sin as if it were something to brag about, as if it were not sin at all—or to admit there is sin in my life, but make light of that sin, as if it were not a stench in the nostrils of a Holy God.

 

Help me control my thoughts, so that they are not consumed with the pursuit of the ultimately empty and unsatisfying things of this life—but keep me spiritually minded, so I don’t miss the fullness of life that is mine in Christ.

 

Help me to be continually conscious of how I am living, so I might submit my will to Your will, resist temptation, flee from sin, and seek—with my whole heart—that life which is hidden in Christ.

 

Help me to consider carefully the way I conduct myself in life here on earth—that I might not ever be found to be an enemy of the cross of Christ.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

You are My People

You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!

—Ezekiel 34:31 (NLT)

 

Sovereign LORD,

 

What a joy it is to live in this covenant relationship with You—knowing that You hold every part of my life in Your hands; knowing that I am Yours, and You are mine!

 

I am one of Your people, a sheep in Your pasture, and You expect me to listen for Your Voice and follow You obediently wherever You lead me—to place all my life in Your hands—for my own well-being.

 

You are the Good Shepherd, the One who continuously watches over me to protect me in every way—the One who loves me with an unfailing love and compassionately cares for my every need.

 

You are the Sovereign LORD, the One who created all things and the One who holds all things in Your hands—the One who bends all things according to Your will and the only One in whom I can confidently place all my faith, hope and love!

 

What a joy it is to live in this covenant relationship with You—knowing that You hold every part of my life in Your hands; knowing that I am Yours, and You are mine!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Teach Me Again and Again!

 

They have turned their back to Me and not their face; though I taught them, teaching again and again, they would not listen and receive instruction.

 

—Jeremiah 32:33 (NASB)

 

My Creator and my God,

 

May I never turn my back to You—and may I always listen with a heart that hungers to receive Your instruction!

 

May You always see my face, as I set my course to run to You alone—never turning to the right or the left, and never returning to that place from which you brought me.

 

As you look upon my face and see me as I am, may my faith be pleasing to You—and may You turn Your face toward me, that I may live in the protection, provision, and peace of Your loving presence.

 

May I abide with You, carefully listening to all You would teach me, so that I would receive, embrace, and obey Your instruction—and remain in Your love forever.

 

May I never turn my back to You—and may I always listen with a heart that hungers to receive Your instruction!

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Show Me My Heart

 

The heart is deceitful above all things,
    and desperately sick;
    who can understand it?
“I the LORD search the heart
    and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
    according to the fruit of his deeds.”

—Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV)

 

O LORD, who searches my heart,

 

Show me my heart and reveal the true motives in my mind, so that I won’t be led astray by any deceitfulness within me.

 

Help me to understand that to trust my heart is to trust in man—and that You have warned me against trusting in man. Help me to put all my trust in You alone!

 

Heal my heart and purify my mind, so that Your thoughts and ways will be made known to me and reflected in all my thoughts, words, and actions.

 

May love be my only motive for the choices I make—love for You and love for others—so that Your perfect will for me would be accomplished, and Your goodness and mercy would overtake me.

 

Show me my heart and reveal the true motives in my mind, so that I won’t be led astray by any deceitfulness within me.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Remain in the Love of Christ

 

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” —John 15:9-11 (NLT)

 

Loving Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to remain in the love of Christ, my Savior and Lord, by obeying His commandments—so that I will be continually filled to overflowing with the joy of Christ!

 

Thank You for the perfect love with which You loved Your Son, Jesus, who then loved me with that same perfect love—and gave up His life, so that I would find my life in Him.

 

Help me to remain in His love—in that ongoing and ever-growing love relationship with Him—proving my love for Him by my willing obedience to His every command.

 

For only there, in my complete submission to His instruction, will I find His joy, bubbling up from within me like an overflowing fountain—not only for my own benefit, but for the blessing of all those around me!

 

Help me to remain in the love of Christ, my Savior and Lord, by obeying His commandments—so that I will be continually filled to overflowing with the joy of Christ!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

This is My Commandment

 

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

 

—John 15:12-13 (NLT)

 

My Lord Jesus,

 

Help me to love others as You have loved me—to lay down my life for my friends.

 

Help me more fully understand and more completely receive Your love for me—so that same love will flow through me, in all my thoughts, words and actions, toward others.

 

Your love for me is not dependent on my love for You—for Your love continues constant, unchanging and unfailing, regardless of my faults and failures.

 

Your love for me is demonstrated in Your compassion for me—and poured out over me with mercy and grace, by Your goodness and kindness toward me.

 

Your love for me is evidenced in Your patience and gentleness with me—for Your love for me is perfectly genuine and never superficial.

 

Your love for me changes me and always points me to my Heavenly Father—back to the love relationship I was made to have with Him.

 

Your love for me is sacrificial. You laid down Your life for me, so that I could have life—so I could then follow Your example, by setting aside my will, so that the Father’s will would be done through me.

 

Help me to love others as You have loved me—to lay down my life for my friends.

 

In Your compassionate and loving Name, Lord Jesus, Amen.

Joyful, Praying, and Thankful

 

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

 

—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)

 

Good and Gracious Father,

 

Help me always be joyful, never stop praying, and remain thankful in all circumstances—knowing that this is Your will for all of us who belong to Christ Jesus.

 

Beyond any emotions that I may be feeling, may my joy—that deep and abiding happiness that I find only in my close, personal relationship with You—remain constant and unchanged.

 

Regardless of how busy and disordered my day might become, may I continue unceasingly in prayerful conversation with You—the only One who brings order to my chaos and peace to my heart.

 

No matter what circumstances I may find myself in, remind me to remain thankful—to continually express my gratefulness to You, both by my thoughts and with my words—with the assurance that You are working all things for my good.

 

Help me always be joyful, never stop praying, and remain thankful in all circumstances—knowing that this is Your will for all of us who belong to Christ Jesus.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

No One Can Come, Except Through Me

 

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

—John 14:6 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Thank You that I can come to You and call You my Father because of the redeeming sacrifice, of Your Son and my Savior, Jesus Christ, for me.

 

When I lose my way and I find myself separated from You, remind me that Jesus is the Way—the only way—to You. Help me not to seek some lesser path back to You, but only seek the person of Jesus Christ.

 

When I am confused and unsure of what is true, help me not to merely seek what is true. Help me seek the One who is not only faithful and true, but is the very embodiment of Truth.

 

When I am feeling like my life is draining from me, help me not to seek to save my life. But rather, help me to find my life in the One who is everlasting life Himself.

 

Thank You that I can come to You and call You my Father because of the redeeming sacrifice, of Your Son and my Savior, Jesus Christ, for me.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Wait Quietly, Never Be Shaken

 

I wait quietly before God,
    for my victory comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will never be shaken.

 

—Psalm 62:1-2 (NLT)

 

Almighty God,

 

No matter what dangers or difficulties I may face in this life, let me always wait—with confident and quiet expectation—for that glorious and saving victory that can only come from You.

 

Help me always remain in right relationship with You—willingly submitting to You as my Sovereign God and looking to You for help—as a child looks to a good father either to deliver him out of trouble, or to carry him through that trouble in complete safety.

 

Help me not to complain against what You do—as if I could know better than You.  But help me to embrace Your will as my own, choosing to make You the firm and immovable rock upon which my life is built—to make You my only salvation.

 

Let me live in the truth that You are the only strong fortress where I can find quiet shelter from the storms that rage against me—the only place I can hide myself and not be shaken by their fury.

 

No matter what dangers or difficulties I may face in this life, let me always wait—with confident and quiet expectation—for that glorious and saving victory that can only come from You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

To Give Thanks

 

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
for he satisfies the thirsty
    and fills the hungry with good things.

 

—Psalm 107:8-9 (NIV)

 

 

Loving LORD,

May my mouth be filled with heartfelt thanks to You—for Your unfailing love and for the wonderful things You have done for us all—so that what I think and do would truly be offered as worship to You.

 

For too long I have continued in my sinful tendencies to whine and complain about things that are not within my control to change—things that You either allowed or caused to happen—instead of praising You for Your unfailing love for us, and for all the amazing things You have done, are doing, and still have yet to bring to pass.

 

Help me to understand the seriousness of continuing down the pathway of complaining—a pathway which can lead me to a place of turmoil, even to the point of questioning Your goodness and rejecting the truth of Your Sovereignty.

 

Help me to remember that You long for me to always express my thanks to You—not because You need my thanksgiving, but because within that attitude of gratefulness You cause my faith to grow and are able to satisfy the hunger and thirst of my soul with good things.

 

Work in me to keep me grateful in all situations—so that I might stay at peace and experience the joy of knowing that You are always working for my ultimate good.

May my mouth be filled with heartfelt thanks to You—for Your unfailing love and for the wonderful things You have done for us all—so that what I think and do would truly be offered as worship to You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Strength and Peace

 

 

The LORD gives his people strength.
    The LORD blesses them with peace. 

—Psalm 29:11 (NLT)

 

LORD of Strength and Peace,

 

From Your glorious riches You pour out strength and peace upon me—that sustaining strength and abiding peace which can only be found in You!

 

You are the One who strengthens me so I can shine forth Your glory! You cause me to stand in Your strength, fortified against the forces of evil, fully equipped and perfectly suited to accomplish the good works that You have called me to do.

 

Thank You that though I am very weak, I am made very strong in You—as your strength is made perfect in my weakness and I come to understand and acknowledge my total dependence upon You.

 

You are the One who blesses me with peace—not as the world might measure peace, but according to the unfathomable depths of Your peace, which cannot be measured with human understanding.

 

Thank You that this strength and peace can be mine today and always—even while I remain in this evil world—and will remain unbroken, as I demonstrate my faith in Your Word, through my obedience to Your instructions and commands.

From Your glorious riches You pour out strength and peace upon me—that sustaining strength and abiding peace which can only be found in You!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

There is No Other!

 

“Turn to me and be saved,
    all the ends of the earth!
    For I am God, and there is no other.”

 

—Isaiah 45:22 (ESV)

 

Righteous God and Savior,

 

From all the ends of the earth, may each soul You have created turn to You—the One and Only God—and be saved!

 

You are indeed God, and there is no other. You created all that there is and set in perfect motion every interdependent complexity of Your creation.

 

You created each one of us to bear Your image and placed us within Your creation, so that we could know You through a deep and personal relationship with you, to worship You, and to bring You glory.

 

You have made known to us Your love for us and made Your creation to declare to us the wonders of Your power and goodness—that we would make You known to the ends of the earth.

 

May we continue to turn to You in every moment of this day—to turn to the only One who can save us—and find that You are the God who is faithful to save, always.

 

From all the ends of the earth, may each soul You have created turn to You—the One and Only God—and be saved!

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.