A Dangerous Trap!

 

 

 

Fearing people is a dangerous trap,
    but trusting the LORD means safety.

 

—Proverbs 29:25 (NLT)

 

 

Loving and Caring LORD,

 

Keep me far from the dangerous trap of fearing people—whether it is a fear of what they may think of me, or a fear of what they might try to do to me, or even a fear of what they might choose to do to themselves—and help me find my safety and rest in trusting You.

 

Don’t allow me to let my fear of people keep me from doing that which You have called me to do, or from being who You have called me to be—but help me keep my eyes focused on You, so that I won’t be enslaved by the power that the fear of others can hold over me.

Let me fear You only—to respect, reverence, and honor You with wholehearted trust—knowing that You are well able to turn what others intend for evil into great good, and to protect me and provide for my every need, through Christ Jesus.

And let me fully experience the liberating freedom of rejoicing in all things, by placing them and leaving them all—both the overwhelmingly big and the seemingly small—in Your hands for safe keeping, with the absolute assurance that You are always in control and want the very best for us all.

Keep me far from the dangerous trap of fearing people—whether it is a fear of what they may think of me, or a fear of what they might try to do to me, or even a fear of what they might choose to do to themselves—and help me find my safety and rest in trusting 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.

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.

The Word of God

 

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

 

—Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that Your Word is so much more than just words on a page. Thank You that it is alive and powerful in me!

 

Never let me forget that Your Word is filled with Your life and power as the Almighty God. For it tells me who You are—as my Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Sanctifier—and tells me who I am as Your child, in Christ—so that when I go to Your Word and allow Your Word to wash over me, it heals me and makes me whole.

 

Help me to hear and understand Your Word—so that I can receive all the Truth that it contains into my heart. And then help me willingly and obediently apply that Truth to my life—as my loving and grateful response for all You have done for me.

 

Use Your Word to plunge deeply within me, to separate and expose the innermost thoughts and desires and motives of my soul and spirit—and to bring to light anything within me that is not in line with the Truth, so that I can repent and walk in the fullness of life to which You have called me.

 

Thank You that Your Word is so much more than just words on a page. Thank You that it is alive and powerful in me!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

No Complaining and Whining!

 

Now the people became like those who complain and whine about their hardships, and the LORD heard it; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and devoured those in the outlying parts of the camp.  —Numbers 11:1 (AMP)

 

Sovereign LORD,

 

Help me not to become like those who complain and whine about their hardships!  Help me instead be grateful in all things—recognizing that the mercy and grace that You have poured out on me infinitely exceeds any momentary hardships I might encounter here in this life!

 

It is easy to fall into the trap that the enemy has set for me—to join in with the culture around me and focus my attention on everything that seems wrong in my life and find myself stirring up Your anger against my ingratitude.

 

Like the Israelites, You have called us, as believers, to be set apart from the world we live in—declaring the praises of our God—that others might see that we are different and be drawn to the Light of Christ in us.

 

Help me remember that this doesn’t happen when what comes out of my mouth sounds no different than the rest of the world—that I can’t sing Your praises and complain about the circumstances that You have sovereignly allowed to me to experience at the same time!

 

Show me that, in all things and at all times, You are working everything together for my good, because You love me and have called me according to Your purpose for me.

 

Help me not to become like those who complain and whine about their hardships!  Help me instead be grateful in all things—recognizing that the mercy and grace that You have poured out on me infinitely exceeds any momentary hardships I might encounter here in this life!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Rejoice and Be Glad!

 

 

This is the day the LORD has made.

    We will rejoice and be glad in it.

 

—Psalm 118:24 (NLT)

 

 

One and Only Creator God,

 

You, O LORD, have made this day!  So, I choose to rejoice and be glad in it!

 

Before You created everything there is—before You placed it all in order and set it all in motion—You knew this day would come, You knew the good plans You had for me today!

 

Today, I get to choose whether to embrace Your plans with joy and gladness, or to resist Your plans—as if to think that I would know better than You what is best for me—and only reap a harvest of trouble and hardship for my efforts.

 

So, help me open my eyes to all that You have done for me, to rejoice, and gladly and obediently submit my will to Your sovereign plans for me.  Help me to see that You have called me and saved me for such a time as this. 

 

Grant me the faith to believe that You have already arranged to supply me with everything that I need to accomplish Your will for me today and that, in doing so, You have made it possible for me to live this day with deep peace and enduring joy!

 

You, O LORD, have made this day!  So, I choose to rejoice and be glad in it!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Fearing People, A Dangerous Trap

 

Fearing people is a dangerous trap,
    but trusting the LORD means safety.

—Proverbs 29:25 (NLT)

Loving and Caring LORD,

Keep me far from the dangerous trap of fearing people—whether it is a fear of what they may think of me, or a fear of what they might try to do to me, or even a fear of what they might choose to do to themselves—and help me find my safety and rest in trusting You.

Don’t allow me to let my fear of people keep me from doing that which You have called me to do, or from being who You have called me to be—but help me keep my eyes focused on You, so that I won’t be enslaved by the power that the fear of others can hold over me.

Let me fear You only—to respect, reverence, and honor You with wholehearted trust—knowing that You are well able to turn what others intend for evil into great good, and to protect me and provide for my every need, through Christ Jesus.

And let me fully experience the liberating freedom of rejoicing in all things, by placing them and leaving them all—both the overwhelmingly big and the seemingly small—in Your hands for safe keeping, with the absolute assurance that You are always in control and want the very best for us all.

Keep me far from the dangerous trap of fearing people—whether it is a fear of what they may think of me, or a fear of what they might try to do to me, or even a fear of what they might choose to do to themselves—and help me find my safety and rest in trusting 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.

Sustained 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.

Alive and Powerful

 

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

 

—Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that Your Word is so much more than just words on a page. Thank You that it is alive and powerful in me!

 

Never let me forget that Your Word is filled with Your life and power as the Almighty God. For it tells me who You are—as my Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Sanctifier—and tells me who I am as Your child, in Christ—so that when I go to Your Word and allow Your Word to wash over me, it heals me and makes me whole.

 

Help me to hear and understand Your Word—so that I can receive all the Truth that it contains into my heart. And then help me willingly and obediently apply that Truth to my life—as my loving and grateful response for all You have done for me.

 

Use Your Word to plunge deeply within me, to separate and expose the innermost thoughts and desires and motives of my soul and spirit—and to bring to light anything within me that is not in line with the Truth, so that I can repent and walk in the fullness of life to which You have called me.

 

Thank You that Your Word is so much more than just words on a page. Thank You that it is alive and powerful in me!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Complaining and Whining

 

Now the people became like those who complain and whine about their hardships, and the LORD heard it; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and devoured those in the outlying parts of the camp.  —Numbers 11:1 (AMP)

 

 

Sovereign LORD,

 

Help me not to become like those who complain and whine about their hardships!  Help me instead be grateful in all things—recognizing that the mercy and grace that You have poured out on me infinitely exceeds any momentary hardships I might encounter here in this life!

 

It is easy to fall into the trap that the enemy has set for me—to join in with the culture around me and focus my attention on everything that seems wrong in my life and find myself stirring up Your anger against my ingratitude.

 

Like the Israelites, You have called us, as believers, to be set apart from the world we live in—declaring the praises of our God—that others might see that we are different and be drawn to the Light of Christ in us.

 

Help me remember that this doesn’t happen when what comes out of my mouth sounds no different than the rest of the world—that I can’t sing Your praises and complain about the circumstances that You have sovereignly allowed to me to experience at the same time!

 

Show me that, in all things and at all times, You are working everything together for my good, because You love me and have called me according to Your purpose for me.

 

Help me not to become like those who complain and whine about their hardships!  Help me instead be grateful in all things—recognizing that the mercy and grace that You have poured out on me infinitely exceeds any momentary hardships I might encounter here in this life!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

This is the Day!

 

This is the day the LORD has made.

    We will rejoice and be glad in it.

 

—Psalm 118:24 (NLT)

 

 

One and Only Creator God,

 

You, O LORD, have made this day!  So, I choose to rejoice and be glad in it!

 

Before You created everything there is—before You placed it all in order and set it all in motion—You knew this day would come, You knew the good plans You had for me today!

 

Today, I get to choose whether to embrace Your plans with joy and gladness, or to resist Your plans—as if to think that I would know better than You what is best for me—and only reap a harvest of trouble and hardship for my efforts.

 

So, help me open my eyes to all that You have done for me, to rejoice, and gladly and obediently submit my will to Your sovereign plans for me.  Help me to see that You have called me and saved me for such a time as this. 

 

Grant me the faith to believe that You have already arranged to supply me with everything that I need to accomplish Your will for me today and that, in doing so, You have made it possible for me to live this day with deep peace and enduring joy!

 

You, O LORD, have made this day!  So, I choose to rejoice and be glad in it!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

A Dangerous Trap

 

Fearing people is a dangerous trap,
    but trusting the LORD means safety.

 

—Proverbs 29:25 (NLT)

 

Loving and Caring LORD,

 

Keep me far from the dangerous trap of fearing people—whether it is a fear of what they may think of me, or a fear of what they might try to do to me, or even a fear of what they might choose to do to themselves—and help me find my safety and rest in trusting You.

 

Don’t allow me to let my fear of people keep me from doing that which You have called me to do, or from being who You have called me to be—but help me keep my eyes focused on You, so that I won’t be enslaved by the power that the fear of others can hold over me.

 

Let me fear You only—to respect, reverence, and honor You with wholehearted trust—knowing that You are well able to turn what others intend for evil into great good, and to protect me and provide for my every need, through Christ Jesus.

 

And let me fully experience the liberating freedom of rejoicing in all things, by placing them and leaving them all—both the overwhelmingly big and the seemingly small—in Your hands for safe keeping, with the absolute assurance that You are always in control and want the very best for us all.

Keep me far from the dangerous trap of fearing people—whether it is a fear of what they may think of me, or a fear of what they might try to do to me, or even a fear of what they might choose to do to themselves—and help me find my safety and rest in trusting You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Delivered From All My Fears!

 

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.

You Sustain Me 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.