Hidden in My Heart

 

 

Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.

 

—Psalm 119:11 (NKJV)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to hide Your Word in my heart, so I might not sin against You. May it cleanse me as it continuously washes over my soul.

 

Thank You that Your Word answers everything that I encounter on my earthly journey and takes me down the path of abundant and everlasting life in Christ, both in the here and now, and forevermore.

 

Help me truly know Your Word. May it be so much more than simply lines that I recall having read. Help me to grasp the depth of meaning contained in every verse, so that, with Your Spirit as my teacher, I can receive all the life-giving Truth that each word offers me.

 

Don’t let my hunger for Your Word ever wain but may I always hide it—as I would any great treasure—within the deepest parts of my heart.  And strengthen me as I commit to meditate daily on Your Word and apply each truth that I find there to my life.

 

Help me to hide Your Word in my heart, so I might not sin against You. May it cleanse me as it continuously washes over my soul.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Choose to Obey God!

 

 

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.

I Sought the LORD!

 

 

I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
    And delivered me from all my fears.

 

—Psalm 34:4 (NASB)

 

 

 

 

 

O LORD, My Deliverer,

 

Thank You for delivering me from all my fears!

 

For far too much of my life, I lived full of fear—not knowing intimately, nor trusting completely, the One who could deliver me from that fear and usher me into the abundant life that He wanted me to experience.

 

But then I sought You. I searched Your Word for Truth, studied to understand who You are and all that You have done, and I prayed to You. I found that You are the God who can be found—the Father who wants to have a deep and personal relationship with each of His children.

 

I found that You are the God who hears and answers my prayers, according to the perfect plans that You have for me, always with my best interests at heart—out of Your great love for me. 

 

I discovered, through my personal experience of relationship with You, that You are faithful—that You are who You say You are, and that You do what You say You will do—and that my trust is never misplaced when I put my trust in You.

 

And then, I looked back at where I started and followed my path to where You have brought me thus far, and I realized I was no longer afraid. You had delivered me from all my fears. Now, fear no longer has a hold on me, and I am free to continue becoming all that You have called me to be in Christ.

 

Thank You for delivering me from all my fears!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Hope in God!

 

 

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 42:11 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

In those times when I am tempted to become discouraged, help me to reason with my heart—and remember that all my hope is found in You, my Savior and my God!

 

Help me to see that when I become discouraged, I have “mis-placed” my hope—that I have placed my hope in something or someone other than the only One who is worthy of my praise.

 

Help me to see that when my heart is saddened, I need only raise my voice to You, the One to whom all praise is due—and You will lift me up once again into your Presence, where I find the joy of my salvation and the abundant life that You offer me.

 

Because You are my Savior and my God—the One who drives away all doubt, fear, and sadness by Your love, the One who renews my courage, hope and joy—I will sing my praises to You, yet again!

 

In those times when I am tempted to become discouraged, help me to reason with my heart—and remember that all my hope is found in You, my Savior and my God!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

With JOY!

 

 

If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy,

    I would have died in my misery.

I will never forget your commandments,

    for by them you give me life.

 

—Psalm 119:92-93 (NLT)

 

 

 

Father God,

 

Thank You for the sustaining joy and the abundant life that You give to all who will listen to Your instructions—to those who are careful to remember, and to obey, Your commandments!

 

Too much of my life I wandered from Your instructions—reaping the consequences of my disobedience—until finally I learned that each of Your instructions are meant to benefit me, not to harm me or hold me back from life in any way.

 

When I learned to follow Your instructions and ordered my steps by Your commandments, trouble still came my way—but misery could no longer take away my life, for You sustained me with a deep and abiding joy!

 

Let me never forget Your commands, for by them You give me abundant life—life that is rich, and deep, and full, and overflowing—so that I can do everything You have called me to do, and be all that You have called me to be, for Your glory, honor, and praise.

 

Thank You for the sustaining joy and the abundant life that You give to all who will listen to Your instructions—to those who are careful to remember, and to obey, Your commandments!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Don't Get Sidetracked!

 

Mark out a straight path for your feet;
    stay on the safe path.

Don’t get sidetracked;
    keep your feet from following evil.

 

—Proverbs 4:26-27 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

With each new day, help me to mark out the straight path for my feet—the path which leads to a more abundant life!

 

Keep me on that straight path of willing obedience to Your will and Your decrees—as You prove Your loving faithfulness to me by keeping me in every way, when I choose the safe path you have offered me.

 

And don’t allow me to get sidetracked by the distractions of this world—to wander off that path—but help me stay focused on honoring Your ever-abiding Presence with me, as You show me the next best step for me.

 

For then my feet will not follow after evil and I won’t find myself lost along the way—as I journey through this life, on my way home to You.

 

With each new day, help me to mark out the straight path for my feet—the path which leads to a more abundant life!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Turn, and Live!

 

 

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.

 

— Ezekiel 18:32 ESV

 

 

Dear Lord GOD, 

 

Thank you that even in my unfaithful wanderings away from You, You never wanted me to die. You wanted me to turn back to You and live!

 

Thank You for loving me with an unfailing love and for the unrelenting way that You call me to Yourself—because You want me to be in right relationship with You.

 

Thank You for showing me that You want me to walk in the abundant life that is available to all who will accept Jesus as their Savior, and who choose to make Him Lord of their lives.

 

So, help me to trust and obey each command and instruction of Your Word and every prompting of Your Spirit within me. Help me turn my back on the sin that leads me to death, and walk, with Christ, down the path that leads me to the life you want me to have in Him.

 

Thank you that even in my unfaithful wanderings away from You, You never wanted me to die. You wanted me to turn back to You and live!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Our Strength!

 

They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

 

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our LORD. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

 

And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.”  So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.

 

—Nehemiah 8:8-12 (NLT)

 

Loving LORD God,

 

Let my joy never waver, my strength never wane, as You help me to understand the truth of the good plans You have laid out clearly before me, in the pages of Your Word.

 

As I come to understand Your Word more and more—and in that understanding, my sins are brought to light before me—help me not only to mourn my sin and repent, but help me even more to rejoice in the power of Your love to remove my sin from me, so my joy in You might not waver and cause me to lose strength.

 

Help me to live in the understanding that my joy in You will strengthen me to be obedient to the things that You have placed before me to do and cause me to be able to resist any temptations from the enemy to do the wrong thing.

 

Help me to spread the joy that acceptance of Your salvation and obedience to Your Word brings, by sharing with others the abundant blessings You have placed on my life—materially, physically and spiritually.

 

Let my joy never waver, my strength never wane, as You help me to understand the truth of the good plans You have laid out clearly before me, in the pages of Your Word.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

True and Right Paths!

 

Let those who are wise understand these things.

    Let those with discernment listen carefully.

The paths of the LORD are true and right,

    and righteous people live by walking in them.

    But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.  

 —Hosea 14:9 (NLT)

 

LORD of Heaven and Earth,

 

Give me the wisdom to search Your Holy Scriptures, that I might gain understanding.  And grant me the discernment to listen carefully to Your Spirit and walk uprightly in Your paths—to faithfully apply the Truth of Your Word to my life.

 

I know that all Your paths are true and right—and that because You chose to make me righteous through the sacrifice of Christ, I will find the abundant life that You promised me, by faithfully walking in those paths.

 

I know that without Christ, I could not walk those paths without stumbling and falling. So help my heart to swell with compassion for those who don’t yet have Your light within them to illuminate the path before them.

 

And make me bold to share that precious hope that is mine in Christ—that they, too, can walk in those true and right paths that lead to abundant life and a forever home with You.

 

Give me the wisdom to search Your Holy Scriptures, that I might gain understanding.  And grant me the discernment to listen carefully to Your Spirit and walk uprightly in Your paths—to faithfully apply the Truth of Your Word to my life.

 

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.

Restore Me!

 

You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
    but you will restore me to life again
    and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
You will restore me to even greater honor
    and comfort me once again. 

—Psalm 71:20-21 (NLT)

 

Loving and Gracious LORD,

 

In Your sovereign and infinite wisdom, You have allowed me to suffer much hardship in my life. And still, the story You are writing with my life is—and always will be—a testimony to the faithfulness of my God!

 

For I have seen You use every hardship that You have entrusted to me, as part of my story, to bring about something good—always drawing me closer to the abundant life that I find only when I totally surrender to Your plan for my life.

 

So, help me to continue to look for Your hand in every difficulty that may come, that I would see Your faithfulness once again—as You lift me up from the depths of this earth, from heartache, pain and evil of this fallen world, and restore me to life in You again.

 

Be my source of comfort in this world, as by Your grace You honor me, taking me to those higher and deeper places I have yet to discover in Christ. Keep me and sustain me in every way through everything that I may face—until that day You rescue me completely out of this world and its hardships and take me home with You.

 

In Your sovereign and infinite wisdom, You have allowed me to suffer much hardship in my life. And still, the story You are writing with my life is—and always will be—a testimony to the faithfulness of my God!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

That I Might Not Sin

 

 

Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.

 

—Psalm 119:11 (NKJV)

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to hide Your Word in my heart, so I might not sin against You. May it cleanse me as it continuously washes over my soul.

 

Thank You that Your Word answers everything that I encounter on my earthly journey and takes me down the path of abundant and everlasting life in Christ, both in the here and now, and forevermore.

 

Help me truly know Your Word. May it be so much more than simply lines that I recall having read. Help me to grasp the depth of meaning contained in every verse, so that, with Your Spirit as my teacher, I can receive all the life-giving Truth that each word offers me.

 

Don’t let my hunger for Your Word ever wain but may I always hide it—as I would any great treasure—within the deepest parts of my heart.  And strengthen me as I commit to meditate daily on Your Word and apply each truth that I find there to my life.

 

Help me to hide Your Word in my heart, so I might not sin against You. May it cleanse me as it continuously washes over 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.

I Sought, He Answered, and Delivered Me!

 

I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
    And delivered me from all my fears.

 

—Psalm 34:4 (NASB)

 

O LORD, My Deliverer,

 

Thank You for delivering me from all my fears!

 

For far too much of my life, I lived full of fear—not knowing intimately, nor trusting completely, the One who could deliver me from that fear and usher me into the abundant life that He wanted me to experience.

 

But then I sought You. I searched Your Word for Truth, studied to understand who You are and all that You have done, and I prayed to You. I found that You are the God who can be found—the Father who wants to have a deep and personal relationship with each of His children.

 

I found that You are the God who hears and answers my prayers, according to the perfect plans that You have for me, always with my best interests at heart—out of Your great love for me. 

 

I discovered, through my personal experience of relationship with You, that You are faithful—that You are who You say You are, and that You do what You say You will do—and that my trust is never misplaced when I put my trust in You.

 

And then, I looked back at where I started and followed my path to where You have brought me thus far, and I realized I was no longer afraid. You had delivered me from all my fears. Now, fear no longer has a hold on me, and I am free to continue becoming all that You have called me to be in Christ.

 

Thank You for delivering me from all my fears!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.