Our Potter

 

 

But now, O LORD, You are our Father,
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all of us are the work of Your hand.

 

—Isaiah 64:8 (NASB)

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Like a skilled potter patiently fashions his lump of clay according to his plans, continue to make me into that uniquely original vessel which is perfectly suited for Your purposes and divinely marked for all to see—a product of Your gentle, loving hand, who bears within himself the image of his Maker.

 

It is You, O LORD, who has created me and given me life—and it is to You that I owe my life and my existence—so mold me as You will and make me Your very own!

 

With gentleness and patience, remove from me that which does not reflect Your long-planned purposes for my life—and smooth away any rough edges, so that I would become all that You intend for me to become, according to Your perfect design.

 

To those areas where I am vulnerable to failure, those places where I am weak, add the strength of Your grace—as You help me to seek out, and more fully depend on, the power of Your presence in my life to lead me through.

 

According to that same marvelous grace which You pour out over me, let others see Your hand at work in me and through me—that they may also want to know intimately the One who uniquely and masterfully crafted them to carry His image for His good purposes.

Like a skilled potter patiently fashions his lump of clay according to his plans, continue to make me into that uniquely original vessel which is perfectly suited for Your purposes and divinely marked for all to see—a product of Your gentle, loving hand, who bears within himself the image of his Maker.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

His Peace

 

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

 

—2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Lord of Peace,

Help me to receive Your peace—that peace that You offer, at all times and in every situation, to everyone who chooses to believe that You are with them always.

 

I know that it is not Your will for me to lose my peace—trying to figure my way out of a situation that I am facing by relying on my own understanding—as if I could ever do anything without You!

 

In fact, it is the “relying on my own understanding” that is the very thing that keeps me from entering into Your peace—that peace which is far beyond my intellect, and way beyond my understanding!

 

So, help me to quiet the wandering thoughts of my mind, so I can fix my eyes on You and be still in Your Presence, as I create room for You in my heart and invite You in to fill me with Your Spirit.

 

Then take over all my thoughts and saturate my mind and spirit with the Light of the Truth of Your Word—so I can know the path forward that You have prepared for me to take.

 

Help me to understand that it is your great desire that I walk with You in peace—at all times and in every situation, so that I can live find my best life in You.

Help me to receive Your peace—that peace that You offer, at all times and in every situation, to everyone who chooses to believe that You are with them always.

 

In Your Precious and Glorious Name, Lord Jesus—my Prince of Peace! Amen.

  

Strayed Away

 

 

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the LORD laid on him
    the sins of us all.

 

—Isaiah 53:6 (NLT)

 

 

 

Loving LORD,

Like a shepherd lead me, along Your paths today,

and teach me by Your Spirit’s voice, to never stray away. 

 

I need You to lead me today.  Because just like a sheep, if left on my own, I will wander from the path of Your will for me—and follow a path marked by my own self-centered desires. 

 

Sometimes, I do it somehow blindly unaware of my wandering—as if I were sleepwalking—failing to wake up to the error of my way, until I am lost and a long way from home.

 

Sometimes, I fall back into my old ways of stubborn and willful rebellion—fully aware, but foolishly wanting what I want, more than wanting what You want for me.

 

And yet, always, even in my sin, You call me to return to You—having laid all my sin upon Jesus, so that I might stand in the peace and protection of Your Presence once again.

 

Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You, and to value Your Presence as I should, so I will hear Your instruction and choose to follow You in obedience—as You lead me to every good thing that You have prepared for me.  

Like a shepherd lead me, along Your paths today,

and teach me by Your Spirit’s voice, to never stray away.  

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Your Refuge, Your Shelter

 

 

If you make the LORD your refuge,

    if you make the Most High your shelter,

no evil will conquer you;

    no plague will come near your home.

For he will order his angels

    to protect you wherever you go.

 

—Psalm 91:9-11 (NLT)

 

 

O LORD my Refuge, my Shelter,

 

Be my only refuge, my shelter from every evil thing. Help me not to wander from the sheltering safety of Your Presence, and order Your angels to protect me, wherever You direct me to go.

 

Help me fix my eyes on You. Don’t let me look to anyone or anything else to be my refuge, my place of protection, from the forces of darkness that seek to destroy me.

 

Be my shelter against all the storms of life—that quiet place of peace and rest, amidst the chaos and turmoil of this world.

 

Help me make Your heart my home, and let my heart beat after Yours alone—so that no plague can ever come near me.

 

Be my only refuge, my shelter from every evil thing. Help me not to wander from the sheltering safety of Your Presence, and order Your angels to protect me, wherever You direct me to go.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Wait Expectantly!

 

 

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;

    in the morning I lay my requests before you

    and wait expectantly.

 

—Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

 

 

Loving LORD,                        

 

Every morning, let me call out to You with confidence, humbly placing my requests before You. Then let me wait expectantly, in Your Presence, believing You hear me and will answer the cry of my heart.

 

Help me come eagerly and boldly before You each morning—with a deep and abiding reverence for You—knowing my reward will be that I will always find You lovingly waiting to meet with me.

 

Help me to approach Your throne with a heart full of gratitude for this great privilege I have been granted of being welcomed into Your Presence—and for the interest that You have in every detail of what I have to say to You about everything I have on my heart.

 

And when I have shared my heart, help me to remember to be still and wait, quietly and expectantly in Your presence, for You to speak to me about Your best plans for me—knowing that You will withhold no good thing from me and trusting that You always want what is best for me.

 

Every morning, let me call out to You with confidence, humbly placing my requests before You. Then let me wait expectantly, in Your Presence, believing You hear me and will answer the cry of my heart.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Work of Your Hand

 

But now, O LORD, You are our Father,
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all of us are the work of Your hand.

 

—Isaiah 64:8 (NASB)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Like a skilled potter patiently fashions his lump of clay according to his plans, continue to make me into that uniquely original vessel which is perfectly suited for Your purposes and divinely marked for all to see—a product of Your gentle, loving hand, who bears within himself the image of his Maker.

 

It is You, O LORD, who has created me and given me life—and it is to You that I owe my life and my existence—so mold me as You will and make me Your very own!

 

With gentleness and patience, remove from me that which does not reflect Your long-planned purposes for my life—and smooth away any rough edges, so that I would become all that You intend for me to become, according to Your perfect design.

 

To those areas where I am vulnerable to failure, those places where I am weak, add the strength of Your grace—as You help me to seek out, and more fully depend on, the power of Your presence in my life to lead me through.

 

According to that same marvelous grace which You pour out over me, let others see Your hand at work in me and through me—that they may also want to know intimately the One who uniquely and masterfully crafted them to carry His image for His good purposes.

Like a skilled potter patiently fashions his lump of clay according to his plans, continue to make me into that uniquely original vessel which is perfectly suited for Your purposes and divinely marked for all to see—a product of Your gentle, loving hand, who bears within himself the image of his Maker.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Lord of Peace Himself

 

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

 

—2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NLT)

 

Lord of Peace,

Help me to receive Your peace—that peace that You offer, at all times and in every situation, to everyone who chooses to believe that You are with them always.

 

I know that it is not Your will for me to lose my peace—trying to figure my way out of a situation that I am facing by relying on my own understanding—as if I could ever do anything without You!

 

In fact, it is the “relying on my own understanding” that is the very thing that keeps me from entering into Your peace—that peace which is far beyond my intellect, and way beyond my understanding!

 

So, help me to quiet the wandering thoughts of my mind, so I can fix my eyes on You and be still in Your Presence, as I create room for You in my heart and invite You in to fill me with Your Spirit.

 

Then take over all my thoughts and saturate my mind and spirit with the Light of the Truth of Your Word—so I can know the path forward that You have prepared for me to take.

 

Help me to understand that it is your great desire that I walk with You in peace—at all times and in every situation, so that I can live find my best life in You.

Help me to receive Your peace—that peace that You offer, at all times and in every situation, to everyone who chooses to believe that You are with them always.

 

In Your Precious and Glorious Name, Lord Jesus—my Prince of Peace! Amen.

All of Us, Like Sheep

 

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the LORD laid on him
    the sins of us all.

 

—Isaiah 53:6 (NLT)

 

Loving LORD,

Like a shepherd lead me, along Your paths today,

and teach me by Your Spirit’s voice, to never stray away. 

 

 

I need You to lead me today.  Because just like a sheep, if left on my own, I will wander from the path of Your will for me—and follow a path marked by my own self-centered desires. 

 

Sometimes, I do it somehow blindly unaware of my wandering—as if I were sleepwalking—failing to wake up to the error of my way, until I am lost and a long way from home.

 

Sometimes, I fall back into my old ways of stubborn and willful rebellion—fully aware, but foolishly wanting what I want, more than wanting what You want for me.

 

And yet, always, even in my sin, You call me to return to You—having laid all of my sin upon Jesus, so that I might stand in the peace and protection of Your Presence once again.

 

Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You, and to value Your Presence as I should, so I will hear Your instruction and choose to follow You in obedience—as You lead me to every good thing that You have prepared for me.  

Like a shepherd lead me, along Your paths today,

and teach me by Your Spirit’s voice, to never stray away.  

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

My Refuge, My Shelter

 

If you make the LORD your refuge,

    if you make the Most High your shelter,

no evil will conquer you;

    no plague will come near your home.

For he will order his angels

    to protect you wherever you go.

 

—Psalm 91: 9-11 (NLT)

 

O LORD my Refuge, my Shelter,

 

Be my only refuge, my shelter from every evil thing. Help me not to wander from the sheltering safety of Your Presence, and order Your angels to protect me, wherever You direct me to go.

 

Help me fix my eyes on You. Don’t let me look to anyone or anything else to be my refuge, my place of protection, from the forces of darkness that seek to destroy me.

 

Be my shelter against all the storms of life—that quiet place of peace and rest, amidst the chaos and turmoil of this world.

 

Help me make Your heart my home, and let my heart beat after Yours alone—so that no plague can ever come near me.

 

Be my only refuge, my shelter from every evil thing. Help me not to wander from the sheltering safety of Your Presence, and order Your angels to protect me, wherever You direct me to go.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

You Hear My Voice

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;

    in the morning I lay my requests before you

    and wait expectantly.

 

—Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

 

Loving LORD,                        

 

Every morning, let me call out to You with confidence, humbly placing my requests before You.  Then let me wait expectantly, in Your Presence, believing You hear me and will answer the cry of my heart.

 

Help me come eagerly and boldly before You each morning—with a deep and abiding reverence for You—knowing my reward will be that I will always find You lovingly waiting to meet with me.

 

Help me to approach Your throne with a heart full of gratitude for this great privilege I have been granted of being welcomed into Your Presence—and for the interest that You have in every detail of what I have to say to You about everything I have on my heart.

 

And when I have shared my heart, help me to remember to be still and wait, quietly and expectantly in Your presence, for You to speak to me about Your best plans for me—knowing that You will withhold no good thing from me and trusting that You always want what is best for me.

 

Every morning, let me call out to You with confidence, humbly placing my requests before You.  Then let me wait expectantly, in Your Presence, believing You hear me and will answer the cry of my heart.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

HOPE!

 

Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!

 

—Psalm 43:5 (NLT)

 

 

O LORD, My God,

 

You are my Hope! Yes, You are my never-failing Hope! Help me fix my eyes on You and l will praise You again—my Savior and my God!

 

In those dark times of deep distress, when my soul is downcast and disturbed within me, grant me the wisdom to question myself, to question the truth of the thoughts that have me disquieted, and to focus my heart on things eternal—on all that You are to me, and on all that You say that I am in You.

 

Help me to exhort myself again, to stir up my faith anew, to put my hope in the One who never disappoints—to put my hope in You, alone—trusting that You are well able and ever-willing to do all that You have promised to do, according to Your Word.

 

And help me to begin to lift my praise to You—even in my distress—and wait expectantly as You lift me up into Your Presence where the Truth is found, where my strength and courage are renewed, and where my joy and peace are restored, because of my never-failing Hope!

 

You are my Hope! Yes, You are my never-failing Hope! Help me fix my eyes on You, and I will praise You again—my Savior and my God!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Bearing Within Myself the Image of My Maker

 

But now, O LORD, You are our Father,
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all of us are the work of Your hand.

 

—Isaiah 64:8 (NASB)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Like a skilled potter patiently fashions his lump of clay according to his plans, continue to make me into that uniquely original vessel which is perfectly suited for Your purposes and divinely marked for all to see—a product of Your gentle, loving hand, who bears within himself the image of his Maker.

 

It is You, O LORD, who has created me and given me life—and it is to You that I owe my life and my existence—so mold me as You will and make me Your very own!

 

With gentleness and patience, remove from me that which does not reflect Your long-planned purposes for my life—and smooth away any rough edges, so that I would become all that You intend for me to become, according to Your perfect design.

 

To those areas where I am vulnerable to failure, those places where I am weak, add the strength of Your grace—as You help me to seek out, and more fully depend on, the power of Your presence in my life to lead me through.

 

According to that same marvelous grace which You pour out over me, let others see Your hand at work in me and through me—that they may also want to know intimately the One who uniquely and masterfully crafted them to carry His image for His good purposes.

Like a skilled potter patiently fashions his lump of clay according to his plans, continue to make me into that uniquely original vessel which is perfectly suited for Your purposes and divinely marked for all to see—a product of Your gentle, loving hand, who bears within himself the image of his Maker.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Peace at All Times, In Every Situation

 

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

 

—2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NLT)

 

Lord of Peace,

Help me to receive Your peace—that peace that You offer, at all times and in every situation, to everyone who chooses to believe that You are with them always.

 

I know that it is not Your will for me to lose my peace—trying to figure my way out of a situation that I am facing by relying on my own understanding—as if I could ever do anything without You!

 

In fact, it is the “relying on my own understanding” that is the very thing that keeps me from entering into Your peace—that peace which is far beyond my intellect, and way beyond my understanding!

 

So, help me to quiet the wandering thoughts of my mind, so I can fix my eyes on You and be still in Your Presence, as I create room for You in my heart and invite You in to fill me with Your Spirit.

 

Then help me to allow You to take over all my thoughts and saturate my mind and spirit with the Light of the Truth of Your Word—so I can know the path forward that You have prepared for me to take.

 

Help me to understand that it is your great desire that I walk with You in peace—at all times and in every situation, so that I can live find my best life in You.

Help me to receive Your peace—that peace that You offer, at all times and in every situation, to everyone who chooses to believe that You are with them always.

 

In Your Precious and Glorious Name, Lord Jesus—my Prince of Peace!

Wanting What You Want for Me

 

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the LORD laid on him
    the sins of us all.

 

—Isaiah 53:6 (NLT)

 

Loving LORD,

Like a shepherd lead me, along Your paths today,

and teach me by Your Spirit’s voice, to never stray away.  

 

I need You to lead me today.  Because just like a sheep, if left on my own, I will wander from the path of Your will for me—and follow a path marked by my own self-centered desires. 

 

Sometimes, I do it somehow blindly unaware of my wandering—as if I were sleepwalking—failing to wake up to the error of my way, until I am lost and a long way from home.

 

Sometimes, I fall back into my old ways of stubborn and willful rebellion—fully aware, but foolishly wanting what I want, more than wanting what You want for me.

 

And yet, always, even in my sin, You call me to return to You—having laid all of my sin upon Jesus, so that I might stand in the peace and protection of Your Presence once again.

 

Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You, and to value Your Presence as I should, so I will hear Your instruction and choose to follow You in obedience—as You lead me to every good thing that You have prepared for me.  

Like a shepherd lead me, along Your paths today,

and teach me by Your Spirit’s voice, to never stray away.  

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.