Remain in My Love!

 

 “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.

The LORD of 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.

 

 

He is the One!

 

 

“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 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.

Along the Path of Your Commands

 

 

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, to protect me, to 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.

To Gain Christ

 

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 let go of anything that keeps me from knowing You. Teach me to value nothing above the joy of 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.

 

May all the things that I choose to pursue, help me grow in my knowledge and understanding of the attributes and character of Christ, so that I would learn to become more like Him.

 

Use every opportunity, every challenge, every disappointment, and every blessing You place before me, to produce a good work in me and through me, so that You would be glorified and I would be sanctified—and ultimately, perfectly fashioned into the image of Christ. 

Help me let go of anything that keeps me from knowing You. Teach me to value nothing above the joy of gaining Christ and becoming one with Him.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

You Forgave!

 

 

I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.

 

—Psalm 32:5 (NASB)

 

 

 

 

Gracious and Forgiving LORD,

 

Help me to own up to my sin—to freely, openly, and completely confess it all to You in repentance—so that I may fully experience the wonders of Your forgiveness, Your grace, and Your unfailing love for me.  For only in understanding fully the grace that You have given me, can I begin to offer that same grace to those around me.

 

Help me to understand that when I try (in vain) to hide my sins from You—refusing to honestly and completely confess them before You—I am only inviting You to extend Your hand of discipline on my life, robbing myself of the blessing of grace that Christ died to bring me.

 

Help me always hurry to lay myself bare before You in true repentance of my rebellious, sinful nature—knowing that You forgive my disobedience, You put my sin out of Your sight, and You clear my record of all guilt, making me as righteous in Your eyes, as Christ Himself.

 

Show me my heart that I would see clearly those things I have yet to surrender to You—as I submit to the changes that You want to make in me by Your Word and by Your Spirit.  And help me to acknowledge that any goodness in me comes from You alone—and is intended only for Your Glory.

 

Help me to own up to my sin—to freely, openly, and completely confess it all to You in repentance—so that I may fully experience the wonders of Your forgiveness, Your grace, and Your unfailing love for me.  For only in understanding fully the grace that You have given me, can I begin to offer that same grace to those around me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Blessing of the LORD

 

 

The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 

the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

 

—Numbers 6:24-26 (NKJV)

 

 

 

Loving and Gracious LORD,

 

Let me fully receive Your blessing of pardon, protection, provision, peace, and joy with each new day!

 

Thank You for making Your blessing available to any person who opens his or her heart to receive it by faith, that they may be kept safe in every way, within that blessing.

 

Thank You for the way You make Your face to shine upon us, to smile on us, to enlighten us and give us comfort and life—just as the sun that You hung in space shines upon the earth and warms it to bring it life.

 

Thank You for lifting up Your countenance upon us in loving adoration—like a gentle and caring father who gazes upon his children with such amazing love that they are always at peace, assured of the special favor and unreserved acceptance that is theirs in Him.

 

Thank You that within Your blessing I am protected and provided for—by the power of the Creator of all things; I am pardoned for all my sin—by the gracious sacrifice of my Lord Jesus; and I have peace—because my Comforter, the Spirit of peace, lives within me.

 

Let me fully receive Your blessing of pardon, protection, provision, peace, and joy with each new day!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Life in This World

 

 

Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

 

—John 12:25 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Thank You for showing me that the very best life that this world has to offer me is nothing when compared to the unending and unfailing life that You have promised me—a life that is safely kept in Christ, both now and for eternity.

 

Help me to hold every blessing of my life with open hands, lifted up to You—acknowledging that everything I have belongs to You—so that trying to hold onto the things of this life won’t rob me of one moment of the incomparable joy of living my life in Your presence.

 

Save me from my own selfish ways that tempt me to buy into the lies that positions will give me power, material things will bring me security, and pleasures will make me satisfied—so I can clearly see that only in You can I ever hope to experience true power, real security, and lasting satisfaction for my soul.

 

Help me to totally surrender my life into Your care and control—to live for Christ and allow Christ to live in me—so my life would in some way serve Your purposes and bring glory to Your name.

 

Thank You for showing me that the very best life that this world has to offer me is nothing when compared to the unending and unfailing life that You have promised me—a life that is safely kept in Christ, both now and for eternity.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Live a Holy Life

 

 

For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

 

—1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 (NIV)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

You have called me to live a holy life, but You have also equipped me to live that life by sending me the Holy Spirit, who empowers me for my journey toward holiness.

 

Help me never forget that the instruction to live a holy life does not come from a man, but from You—and is given to me out of Your unsurpassed wisdom and for my own benefit, because of Your great and unfailing love for me.

 

May I always remember that when I reject this instruction, I reject You, my Creator and Protector—instead of allowing Your instruction to work within me the protections and blessings it brings.

 

Keep me from grieving Your Holy Spirit in that way—causing separation from the One who makes it possible for me to turn from impurity and choose to live a holy life.

 

Help me to understand fully that when I choose impurity over Your call to holiness, I don’t have my own best interests at heart—because I have rejected You, and Your very best for me.

 

You have called me to live a holy life, but You have also equipped me to live that life by sending me the Holy Spirit, who empowers me for my journey toward holiness.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Unless God Gives It

 

 

John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.” 

—John 3:27 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Never allow me to forget that there is no talent that I have, no position I hold, no power I wield, and no possession I own, that You haven’t given to me—and help me to walk humbly before You in that understanding.

 

Keep me from the pride that comes when I am deceived into believing that the talents that I have are a result of my own striving—rather than the blessing of Your hand alone, which You intend to be used for Your glory and honor and praise.

 

Help me to represent Christ well in any position in which You have placed me—knowing that You have put me there to make me known, so that I would make You known to others.

 

Help me to use any power that You have entrusted to me with gentleness and kindness, to bring about good—as I reflect Your goodness in every thought I think, every decision I make, every word I speak, and every action I take.

 

And help me to hold any possession that You have given to me, with open hands lifted to You—that You might use it, or take it from me, according to Your perfect plans and purposes, that Your will would be accomplished in me.

 

Never allow me to forget that there is no talent that I have, no position I hold, no power I wield, and no possession I own, that You haven’t given to me—and help me to walk humbly before You in that understanding.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Truth That Sets Me Free

 

 

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.  A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”

 

—John 8:34-36 (NLT)

 

Loving Heavenly Father,

 

Help me fully live every moment of this day in the freedom that was purchased by Christ, when He gave His life on the cross for mine.

 

Through Christ, and by Your Holy Spirit, You have called me out of my slavery to sin and have invited me to take my place of freedom as Your very own child—a chosen member of Your own family.

 

You have made true freedom possible for me—so that sin no longer has the power to make me its slave, by controlling me, manipulating me, clouding my mind, will and emotions, and dictating my every action.

 

The freedom You purchased for me is not freedom to do whatever I please, but freedom to choose to obey You, as an act of my love for You.

 

And You have poured out on me the blessings that flow from my obedience—joy, peace, provision, protection, power and purpose—as I fulfill Your plan for me, by serving You wholeheartedly.

 

May I live continually in that freedom, as I choose to seek You first—by searching out the Truth of Your Word, listening for Your Spirit to speak to my heart, and willingly submitting my life to You—so that You can change me more and more into the likeness of Christ, Himself.

 

Help me fully live every moment of this day in the freedom that was purchased by Christ, when He gave His life on the cross for mine.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

 

The Great King!

 

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
For the LORD is the great God,
And the great King above all gods. 

—Psalm 95:1-3 (NKJV)

 

My LORD and my KING,

 

Establish within me new, stronger, and truer pathways of thought, word, and action—pathways that spring forth out of a heart overflowing with gratitude for who You are and for all the wondrous things You have done for me! 

 

Let songs and shouts of joy erupt from my grateful heart and be lifted to You in spontaneous praise and worship—for You are the Rock, the immovable and firm foundation that every aspect of my life is built upon! You are the God of my salvation—the author of my freedom over the sin of this evil world!

 

Let me come before You as Your beloved child—entering confidently into Your Holy Presence, and remaining and abiding with You, so I might know You as You are and continue to give my life back to You in thanksgiving!

 

Let me always praise You with shouts and songs of joy—for You are the Great and Sovereign God!  You are far above all other so-called gods, and the Great and Almighty King of all, forever!  

 

Thank You for choosing me to be Your very own child, for blessing my life with every good thing, and for allowing me to experience the joy and peace that comes as I choose You back—as my only God and King, forevermore!

 

Establish within me new, stronger, and truer pathways of thought, word, and action—pathways that spring forth out of a heart overflowing with gratitude for who You are and for all the wondrous things You have done for me! 

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

If You Want to Boast . . .

 

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.  Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

 

—1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NLT)

 

Merciful and Gracious God,

 

Let me never boast about anything, except Jesus, my Lord!

 

Thank You for uniting me with Christ Jesus, Your Son, so that I can walk in the blessing of being joined with wisdom itself.

 

Thank You that because You have called me, and I have believed and confessed that Christ died and rose again for me—because I have received Him into my heart and life as my Lord—I am made right with You.  

 

Thank You that by Christ’s transforming power, I am made pure and holy—and by His death and resurrection, the power that sin once had over me has been broken, and I am free to choose good over evil.

 

Help me always remember that anything good in me has come through Christ who is Worthy of all the Honor, and Glory, and Power, forevermore!

 

Let me never boast about anything, except Jesus, my Lord!

 

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.