Always Near

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!  Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

 

—Philippians 4:4-5 (NASB)

 

My Lord Jesus Christ,

 

Make me always mindful that You are near—for heartfelt knowledge of that truth will cause me to rejoice and will inform my every interaction with those around me.

 

Your Word instructs me to rejoice in You always—to make You my delight and to find my pleasure in You, no matter what my circumstances are, or what situations I may face—confident that You are always near to help me.

 

May my mindfulness that You are near also cause me to act with a gentle spirit toward others—unselfishly showing mercy, grace, patience, kindness, and making a loving allowance for the faults of others—while still standing up against all evil and injustice, and boldly speaking the truth in love.

 

Help me to remember that not only are You near to help, but that the time of Your return is also near—so that I will be ready and not be ashamed when I see You face to face.

 

Make me always mindful that You are near—for heartfelt knowledge of that truth will cause me to rejoice and will inform my every interaction with those around me.

 

This I pray in Your Most Holy Name, Lord Jesus, Amen.

The Desires of Your Heart

 

 

Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

 

—Psalm 37:4-5 (NASB)

 

Loving LORD,

 

Let the deepest desires of my heart, my greatest pleasure, and my most complete joy simply be found in experiencing the blessing of Your Presence in my life—as I commit all that I am to You and trust You to help me, no matter what I face.

 

This day, may I truly take delight in You, as I seek to know You in a more intimate and personal way, and as I make this commitment to walk in Your Presence—to walk continually mindful of the truth that You are always right here with me.

 

As I seek to understand more completely the vastness of Your unfailing love for me, the mystery of the perfection of Your ways, and as I reflect on Your steadfast faithfulness to me, help me learn to trust You even more. 

 

Help me to commit all that I do to You, so my heart’s desires will be melded with Your will for my life, and so I can walk fearlessly in the plans and purposes that You have for me—as I make the choice to believe that You will always empower and equip me in every way, for the good plans You have for me.

 

Let the deepest desires of my heart, my greatest pleasure, and my most complete joy simply be found in experiencing the blessing of Your Presence in my life—as I commit all that I am to You and trust You to help me, no matter what I face.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

The Pure Wisdom From Above

 

 

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

 

—James 3:17-18 (NASB)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to allow that pure wisdom—which only You can give—guide me through every new day. And let me enjoy the harvest of right standing with You, as I plant seeds of love and peace wherever I go.

 

Grant that every choice I make today would flow from a pure heart—a heart that is after Your own heart.

 

Show me how to be peace loving—to seek out the paths of peace, rather than follow the ways of contention and division.

 

Let me handle others with gentle care and not insist on my own way, but yield to others, as long as it does not compromise my heart being yielded to You.

 

Help me extend mercy to others—just as I have been shown mercy—and do good things for the benefit of those around me, to bring You glory and to lead others to Christ.

 

May I sincerely treat all people with the same respect and honor that is due every one of Your unique creations—out of the knowledge that You love each one of us, both greatly and equally.

 

Show me how to be a wise peacemaker—not just a peacekeeper—by helping me plant seeds of the truth of Your Word into the hearts of those around me. Help me then water those seeds generously with love and grace.

 

Help me to allow that pure wisdom—which only You can give—guide me through every new day.  And let me enjoy the harvest of right standing with You, as I plant seeds of love and peace wherever I go.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

My Comfort

 

 

 

This is my comfort in my affliction,
That Your word has revived me and given me life.

 

—Psalm 119:50 (AMP)

 

 

LORD of All Comfort,

 

Help me always run to Your Word—for only there have I found comfort when I am afflicted, a reviving for my soul, and the promised gift of new life, forevermore!

 

Grant that I would be able to see beyond any afflictions that I may face to the God who was made flesh for me, so that I can be comforted as I put my trust in the truth of both His unfailing love for me, and His faithful promises to me.

 

May my soul—my mind, will, and emotions—be continually revived and refreshed as Your Word washes over me, and may Your Spirit teach me to know and believe all that You say I am in Christ.

 

Let me forever praise and celebrate Jesus Christ with my life! For He is the One who heals me and makes me whole. He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—the One who gives me the promise of eternal life, fresh and anew, with every day that comes.

 

Help me always run to Your Word—for only there have I found comfort when I am afflicted, a reviving for my soul, and the promised gift of new life, forevermore!

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

The Foxes, Those Little Foxes

 

 

Catch all the foxes,
    those little foxes,
before they ruin the vineyard of love,
    for the grapevines are blossoming!

 

— Song of Songs 2:15 (NLT)

 

Loving Heavenly Father,

 

Help me never get so comfortable in my marriage relationship that I fail to guard against the little things that might grow to cause deep relationship problems for us.

 

Just as little foxes could wreak havoc in a vineyard of blossoming grapevines, help me to see how quickly small things can grow into large problems in my love relationship with my spouse.

 

Help me to remember that there is a tender fragility to the intimacy that I enjoy with my spouse that relies on both trust and truth—an intimacy that the enemy would love to disrupt and destroy.

 

So, help us not to ignore or minimize any of these small things, but rather carefully work together to identify them and eliminate them, as we continue to grow the bonds of our intimacy.

 

Help me never get so comfortable in my marriage relationship that I fail to guard against the little things that might grow to cause deep relationship problems for us.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

A Spirit of Fear is Not From God

 

 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

 

—2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Thank You for showing me that I don’t have to be afraid—for reminding me that You didn’t create me to be timid, or to act cowardly, or fearfully—but that the spirit You have given me is a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind.

 

You have given me a spirit of power to resolutely face any trouble, opposition or obstacle with courage—since You have delivered me from any cowardice or timidity, by the strength of the Greater One who lives in me.

 

You have given me a spirit of love, both for You—which gives me the faith and the freedom to rise above any fear of man or circumstance—and for the souls of others—which gives me the desire and the power to compassionately reach out to my neighbor with truth and grace.

 

You have given me a spirit of a calm, and well-balanced, and sound mind, so that with that quietness of mind, I can remain peacefully disciplined—as I surrender control to Your Spirit and entertain only thoughts that are true and life-giving.

 

Thank You for showing me that I don’t have to be afraid—for reminding me that You didn’t create me to be timid, or to act cowardly, or fearfully—but that the spirit You have given me is a spirit of power, and love, and of a sound mind.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Heart of Man Reflects the Man

 

 

As in water face reflects face,
    so the heart of man reflects the man.

 

— Proverbs 27:19 (ESV)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Show me my heart, that I may know the man that I am. Then make me more like Jesus. 

 

Just as I might look carefully into still, clear water to see the reflection of my face on its surface, so may I carefully examine what my thoughts, words, and actions say about the condition of my heart—and how that reveals the man that I truly am. 

 

Help me to see the places in my heart that I have not yet surrendered to the sanctifying power of Your Holy Spirit within me—and give me the strength and desire to give those places over to You, today.

 

Change me, so that the reflection of the man that I am in my heart will no longer resemble a man of this world but be a better reflection of a man who has a heart after Your own heart.

 

Show me my heart, that I may know the man that I am. Then make me more like Jesus.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

My Strength, My Refuge, My God

 

 

O my Strength, to you I sing praises,
    for you, O God, are my refuge,
    the God who shows me unfailing love. 

 

—Psalm 59:17 (NLT)

 

Loving and Gracious God,

 

May I always sing praise to You, so all might know that You are my Strength and my Refuge—the God who shows me unfailing love.

 

I will sing praise to You for being my Strength. You are the power within me, the Holy Spirit by whom I am equipped and sustained for every good work that You have planned for me to accomplish in Christ.

 

I will sing praise to You for being my Refuge.  You are that safe haven against the evil of this life, where I find peace, protection, and provision for my every need under the shelter of Your Presence with me.

 

I will sing praise to You for Your unfailing love. You pour out Your unfailing loving-kindness, mercy, and grace over me, so that I can love others with the love of Christ.

 

May I always sing praise to You, so all may know that You are my Strength and my Refuge—the God who shows me unfailing love.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Collected and Recorded

 

 

You keep track of all my sorrows. 

    You have collected all my tears in your bottle.

    You have recorded each one in your book.

 

 —Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

 

Compassionate LORD GOD,

 

Down all the paths of sorrow, where my wanderings sometimes lead, remind me that you see each tear, and know my every need.

 

When I find myself in a place of great sorrow—when I start to waver between faith and fear—comfort me with the certainty that You see me, You completely understand what I am feeling, and You are right there with me to carry me through my sadness and bring me back to that place of joy.

 

You know the end of every problem and trouble that I face before it even comes, but still You feel the hurt of every pain that I suffer along the way. Nothing that happens to me goes unnoticed, unrecorded or unremembered by You—for You are lovingly compassionate and just. You are my God and my Defender.

 

Quiet my heart and soothe my restless emotions, so I can live in the peaceful assurance that You intimately know and care about every detail of my life and are actively working for good through everything that happens, as You draw me closer to You.

 

Down all the paths of sorrow, where my wanderings sometimes lead, remind me that you see each tear, and know my every need.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Waiting for the Lord to Answer for Me

 

But I am deaf to all their threats.
    I am silent before them as one who cannot speak.

I choose to hear nothing,
    and I make no reply.

For I am waiting for you, O LORD.
    You must answer for me, O Lord my God.

—Psalm 38:13-15 (NLT)

 

O Lord my God,

 

When I feel threatened by others, when I feel offended, or I am falsely accused, keep me from being provoked into sin. Help me keep control of my mind, will, and emotions, as I wait in faith for You to answer for me.

 

Make me as if I were deaf to all the threats of others, as You remind me who I am in Christ. For I am Your dearly loved child, whom You have carefully and uniquely crafted according to Your perfect plans and purposes for me. You hold my life in Your hands.

 

By Your mercy and grace, let my mouth remain closed and my heart remain at peace—as if I cannot speak at all—until Your words fill my mouth with truth and grace, and love requires that they be spoken.

 

Help me to choose not to hear their unjustified attacks against me. For I know that their accusations are not about me but come from the brokenness of their own hearts—that their words are born out of their own hurts and not out of their hatred for me.

 

Never allow me to reply from my own understanding, but rather help me wait for You. For I trust You to answer and set all things right, according to Your perfect timing and purpose—as I remain surrendered and submitted to Your will for my life.

 

When I feel threatened by others, when I feel offended, or I am falsely accused, keep me from being provoked into sin. Help me keep control of my mind, will, and emotions, as I wait in faith for You to answer for me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen. 

We Can Trust Everything He Does

 

 

For the word of the LORD holds true,
    and we can trust everything he does.

He loves whatever is just and good;
    the unfailing love of the LORD fills the earth.

 

—Psalm 33:4-5 (NLT)

 

Faithful LORD,

 

In a world filled with uncertainty and lies, may we find rest in knowing that every word You have ever spoken to us holds true and we can trust everything that You do. Let us find our comfort and peace in You, for You love what is just and good and Your unfailing love fills the earth.

 

In a world of radical change and chaos, may we always look to You as the ever-true, all-knowing, never-changing, ever-constant, always-trustworthy, Almighty God of all creation—remembering that Your Word always reflects Your character perfectly, as it goes forth in power to accomplish Your purposes.

 

In a world of people who demand everything their way, help us submit to the working of Your Spirit within us so that the character of Christ would be established in our lives, in order that we would bring You glory, honor and praise. 

 

In a world that deals so harshly and cruelly with us, let us remember that You deal with us according to the unfailing loving-kindness that You pour out over us and that You always have our best interests at heart.

 

In a world filled with uncertainty and lies, may we find rest in knowing that every word You have ever spoken to us holds true and we can trust everything that You do. Let us find our comfort and peace in You, for You love what is just and good and Your unfailing love fills the earth.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Tell the Godly

 

Tell the godly that all will be well for them.
    They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned!
But the wicked are doomed,
    for they will get exactly what they deserve.

 

—Isaiah 3:10-11 (NLT)

 

Holy and Just, yet Merciful and Gracious, LORD GOD,

 

Thank You for being the God who sees His children and promises that all will be well for them—who promises that they will enjoy rich rewards for their godly actions.

 

Thank You that Your words—delivered through the prophet, Isaiah, to the people of Israel—remain true for Your children today.  Even though judgment may fall on this land—because we as a people have turned our backs on You—You will not forget the remnant of Your children who have remained faithful.

 

Neither will You allow any wicked person, intent on doing evil, to escape being held to account for that evil—but You will repay them according to their evil deeds, in order that justice would prevail.

 

Therefore, as Your children, help us to stand against the injustice of all things evil.  But let us also pray that the hearts of the wicked would be changed—that they would turn from their evil ways, surrender themselves to the lordship of Christ, and be saved, so they would escape eternal judgment. 

 

Thank You for being the God who sees His children and promises that all will be well for them—who promises that they will enjoy rich rewards for their godly actions.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Compassionate Love of Jesus

 

 

Jesus wept.

 

—John 11:35 (NASB)

 

Compassionate Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your deep, deep love of humanity which You expressed to us in the tears that You shed.

 

Thank You for loving me enough to come to earth and take on the flesh and blood and the mind and emotions of a man, to experience all the tests and trials and grief and pain that I face—and so much more—so I would know that You know how I feel.

 

Thank You that there is healing from my hurts and pains in the tears that You designed for me to shed—that it’s okay to cry—and that in crying I should cry out to You, the only One who can help me live an overcoming life of peace and victory.

 

Thank You for Your example of loving compassion and how it reminds me of my obligation to open my heart that I might be overwhelmed by Your Spirit with compassion for all those around me—for life in this world is not easy, especially for those who do not know You.

Thank You for Your deep, deep love of humanity which You expressed to us in the tears that You shed.

 

In Your Matchless Name, Jesus, Amen.