Rejoice!

 

 

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 Peace That Comes From Christ

 

 

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

 

—Colossians 3:15 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to live in the peace that comes when I allow Christ to rule my heart.  And let me be forever thankful.

 

Though the storms of life in this fallen world rage all around me and the cold winds of change blow against me, You have given me the amazing privilege of allowing Your peace—the peace that comes from Christ—to rule and reign in me.

 

It is not a peace that anyone or anything in this world could ever give, but it is a peace that transcends all circumstances or situations I may face, and is a measure of my faith—a direct reflection of whether I truly believe You, and the promises I find in Your Word.

 

Only as I allow Your peace to live in my heart, can I live at peace with others in the body of Christ and do my part to bring unity within the church, so that, together, we can be a beacon of hope to a lost and dying world.

 

So, let my heart become so saturated with the peace of Christ that it flows from me, bringing peace to all those around me—so that You might be glorified in my life.

Help me to live in the peace that comes when I allow Christ to rule my heart.  And let me be forever thankful.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

He Will Keep in Perfect Peace

 

 

You will keep in perfect peace
    all who trust in you,
    all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the LORD always,
    for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.

 

—Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT)

 

 

 

LORD GOD of Peace,

 

Grant that I would abide—would remain—in that perfect and constant peace that comes when I trust You completely and keep You within my every thought.

 

Help me to place all my trust in You—no matter what hardship or pain, no matter what circumstances or situations I may face—knowing that You will deliver me out of, or carry me safely through, every attack of the enemy.

 

Help me to fix my thoughts on You, rather than trying to find my own way out of my troubles—confidently believing that every answer I am looking for is found in You.

 

Help me live in the kind of peace that not only remains in me, but radiates outwardly, from deep within me, to a world that needs Your peace so desperately. 

 

Establish within my heart this unchanging truth:  that You are, and forever will be, my strength and the firm, unchanging, and never-failing Rock upon which all my faith and hope stands.

 

Grant that I would abide—would remain—in that perfect and constant peace that comes when I trust You completely and keep You within my every thought. 

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

This is God's Will for You!

 

 

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

 

—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)

 

 

 

Good and Gracious Father,

 

Help me always be joyful, never stop praying, and remain thankful in all circumstances—knowing that this is Your will for all of us who belong to Christ Jesus.

 

Beyond any emotions that I may be feeling, may my joy—that deep and abiding happiness that I find only in my close, personal relationship with You—remain constant and unchanged.

 

Regardless of how busy and disordered my day might become, may I continue unceasingly in prayerful conversation with You—the only One who brings order to my chaos and peace to my heart.

 

No matter what circumstances I may find myself in, remind me to remain thankful—to continually express my gratefulness to You, both by my thoughts and with my words—with the assurance that You are working all things for my good.

 

Help me always be joyful, never stop praying, and remain thankful in all circumstances—knowing that this is Your will for all of us who belong to Christ Jesus.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

You Are the Salt!

 

You are the salt of the earth.  But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?  Can you make it salty again?  It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. —Matthew 5:13 (NLT)

 

Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!                                      —Psalm 34:8 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Do not let me ever forget the calling that Christ placed on my life to be the salt of the earth—so that others may also taste and see that You are good and find the joy that comes when they take their refuge in You!

 

Help me to guard against losing my saltiness—that flavor my life in Christ brings to the world.  For without Christ, my life would be good for nothing and left to be trampled under the feet of a carelessly bustling world.

 

Help me to remember that in order to remain salty, I desperately need to invest my time in being in Your Presence, learning from Your Word and being taught by Your Spirit—as I pray, search the Bible, and sit quietly before You to hear what the Spirit would have to say to my life and circumstances—so that when You add me into the mix of this day, I will be in a position to improve its flavor.

 

So, fill me with the deep and unfailing love of Christ, until it overflows from within me by the power of the Holy Spirit—so that the flavor of every thought that I have, of every word that I speak, and of every action I take, will be made alive—having been seasoned with genuine compassion, patient kindness, fresh and daily-renewed mercy, freely-offered forgiveness, and abundant grace.

 

Do not let me ever forget the calling that Christ placed on my life to be the salt of the earth—so that others may also taste and see that You are good and find the joy that comes when they take their refuge in You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Everything!

 

 

Our hearts ache, but we always have joy.  We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others.  We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

 

—2 Corinthians 6:10 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Thank You for making it possible for me to experience a deep and abiding joy in You—a joy that is not dependent on my circumstances and is mine to keep—as I fix my eyes on Christ and look to Him to be everything I need, and more.

 

There will always be times when my heart will ache—because of the loss, disappointments, and injustices that I experience personally, or that I may observe in the world around me.  

 

But You came to give me hope, that my heart would rejoice in You—as I trust in Your sovereignty, mercy, grace and love, as I watch for You to work all things together for my good, and as I trust You to guide me to my forever home with You.

 

Help me to remember that You have given me this hope-filled joy, so that I will always have something to give to others—no matter how poor I might be—that their joy might also be full.

 

What joy is mine to know that—even though I own nothing in this world, because everything I have belongs to You—I have everything I need and more, in Christ!

 

Thank You for making it possible for me to experience a deep and abiding joy in You—a joy that is not dependent on my circumstances and is mine to keep—as I fix my eyes on Christ and look to Him to be everything I need, and more.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Personally

 

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”  

 

—Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)

 

 

 

Omnipresent and Sovereign LORD,

 

May my confident hope—for the facing of this day before me—be found in Your promise that You will personally go ahead of me, that You will be with me, and that You will neither fail me nor abandon me!

 

Help me to remember that You are always with me, and that where I am going, You are already there—that You have gone before me to make a way for me, so that with each step I take, I can be where You are, as You call me to Yourself.

 

Don’t allow any situations or circumstances before me draw me into fear or discouragement. Help me to reject any thoughts or doubts that come up against the Truth of Your promises to me—help me trust in Your love for me!

 

Help me to walk boldly forward into the plan that You have for me today—knowing that You will never fail me nor abandon me, but will walk with me to empower me, provide for me, and protect me along the path You have chosen for me, today.

May my confident hope—for the facing of this day before me—be found in Your promise that You will personally go ahead of me, that You will be with me, and that You will neither fail me nor abandon me!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Safe!

 

 

I lay down and slept,

    yet I woke up in safety,

    for the LORD was watching over me.

 

—Psalm 3:5 (NLT)

 

 

 

Ever-watchful LORD,

 

How blessed I am to be able to lie down and sleep—knowing that I am under Your ever-watchful care!

 

Thank You for the comforting truth that You never take Your eyes off me—that You are always there to keep me safe in every way.

 

Thank You that when the troubles and worries of this world try to steal my peace away from me, I need only cry out to You and You are there to hear me and to restore my peace—with the full assurance that You are in control of whatever circumstances that I may have to face.

 

Help me not to forget that—because I am Your very own—You will always use every circumstance I may have to endure for my good and will not withhold any good thing from me, if I walk uprightly before You.

 

How blessed I am to be able to lie down and sleep—knowing that I am under Your ever-watchful care!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

All Your Worries and Cares!

 

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

 

—1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Loving and Compassionate Heavenly Father,

 

Help me remember that when I give all my worries and cares to You, I am giving You a welcomed gift of my faith in Your abounding love for me.

 

May I never forget what Jesus endured on the cross so I can better understand the depth of Your love and care for me and trust You more fully with my life.

 

Show me that when I anxiously try to carry my own worries and concerns—rather than giving them over to You—I am rejecting Your love, walking away from Your care, and discounting what Christ did for me.

 

Let me never allow my circumstances to have control over me. Help me never believe the lie that what I am facing cannot be overcome by You. 

 

Help me always look to You in faith, patiently waiting for the good plans that You have made for me to unfold before me—as You work all things together for my good.

 

Help me remember that when I give all my worries and cares to You, I am giving You a welcomed gift of my faith in Your abounding love for 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.

Completely Trust in Him

 

 

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

—Romans 15:13 (NLT)

 

Gracious and Loving God,

 

Be my source of hope—and fill me completely with the joy and peace that comes when I put all my trust in You.  By the power of Your Holy Spirit, cause that confident hope to overflow from deep within me—for Your glory, honor, and praise.

 

Let me forever place my hope in You.  May my continuing experience of Your patient goodness, loving kindness, and enduring faithfulness to me, give me cause to trust in You more and more—with every moment that passes.

 

And as I learn to trust You more completely, and give my every hurt and worry to You, fill me completely with Your joy and peace—so I am no longer disheartened or dismayed, no matter what circumstances I may face.

 

By the power of Your Holy Spirit at work within me, cause that confident hope that is mine, to overflow out of me to bless all those around me—as a testimony to Your great mercy, grace and love for us all.

 

Be my source of hope—and fill me completely with the joy and peace that comes when I put all my trust in You.  By the power of Your Holy Spirit, cause that confident hope to overflow from deep within me—for Your glory, honor, and praise.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

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.

Called to Live in Peace

 

 

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

 

—Colossians 3:15 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to live in the peace that comes when I allow Christ to rule my heart.  And let me be forever thankful.

 

Though the storms of life in this fallen world rage all around me and the cold winds of change blow against me, You have given me the amazing privilege of allowing Your peace—the peace that comes from Christ—to rule and reign in me.

 

It is not a peace that anyone or anything in this world could ever give, but it is a peace that transcends all circumstances or situations I may face, and is a measure of my faith—a direct reflection of whether I truly believe You, and the promises I find in Your Word.

 

Only as I allow Your peace to live in my heart, can I live at peace with others in the body of Christ and do my part to bring unity within the church, so that, together, we can be a beacon of hope to a lost and dying world.

 

So, let my heart become so saturated with the peace of Christ that it flows from me, bringing peace to all those around me—so that You might be glorified in my life.

Help me to live in the peace that comes when I allow Christ to rule my heart.  And let me be forever thankful.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.