If You Abide!

 

 

 

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

 

—John 15:7 (NASB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lord Jesus,

 

May I continually abide in You, keeping every word that You have spoken alive in my heart and proven out by the way I live my life. May my deepest desire always be that Your Will would be accomplished in me.

 

May I always live my life in You—being vitally and necessarily joined with You and making You the center of everything I think, say and do—always mindful that apart from You, I am nothing.

 

Cause Your words to remain in my heart—so I can remember to rely on them, continually contemplate them, use them as my strict standard for that which I do, graciously grow by them, carefully cling to them for my hope, and evermore establish them as the Truth in my life.

 

For I know that, in as much as I am truly able to do this, not only will my thoughts, words and actions be in harmony with Your plans and purposes for my life, but every desire of my heart will be conformed to Your will.

 

May I continually abide in You, keeping every word that You have spoken alive in my heart and proven out by the way I live my life. May my deepest desire always be that Your Will would be accomplished in me.

 

This I pray in Your Holy Name, Lord Jesus, Amen.

Power, Love, and a Sound Mind

 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

 

—2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Thank You for showing me that I don’t have to be afraid—for reminding me that You didn’t create me to be timid, or to act cowardly, or fearfully—but that the spirit You have given me is a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind.

 

You have given me a spirit of power to resolutely face any trouble, opposition or obstacle with courage—since You have delivered me from any cowardice or timidity, by the strength of the Greater One who lives in me.

 

You have given me a spirit of love, both for You—which gives me the faith and the freedom to rise above any fear of man or circumstance—and for the souls of others—which gives me the desire and the power to compassionately reach out to my neighbor with truth and grace.

 

You have given me a spirit of a calm, and well-balanced, and sound mind, so that with that quietness of mind, I can remain peacefully disciplined—as I surrender control to Your Spirit and entertain only thoughts that are true and life-giving.

 

Thank You for showing me that I don’t have to be afraid—for reminding me that You didn’t create me to be timid, or to act cowardly, or fearfully—but that the spirit You have given me is a spirit of power, and love, and of a sound mind.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Heart of a Man

 

 

As in water face reflects face,
    so the heart of man reflects the man.

 

— Proverbs 27:19 (ESV)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Show me my heart, that I may know the man that I am. Then make me more like Jesus. 

 

Just as I might look carefully into still, clear water to see the reflection of my face on its surface, so may I carefully examine what my thoughts, words, and actions say about the condition of my heart—and how that reveals the man that I truly am. 

 

Help me to see the places in my heart that I have not yet surrendered to the sanctifying power of Your Holy Spirit within me—and give me the strength and desire to give those places over to You, today.

 

Change me, so that the reflection of the man that I am in my heart will no longer resemble a man of this world but be a better reflection of a man who has a heart after Your own heart.

 

Show me my heart, that I may know the man that I am. Then make me more like Jesus.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Love the LORD!

 

 

“Love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”

 

—Joshua 22:5b (NLT)

 

 

 

 

O LORD, My God,

 

May everything that I think, say, and do, be evidence of my unwavering love for You—so that there would never be any doubt about who owns my heart and keeps my soul!

 

Grant me the wisdom to walk in all Your ways—to be faithful to follow, even when the path is hard, and steep, and narrow—for all Your ways are perfect.

 

Grant me the willingness to obey all Your commands—for in obedience to You, I find the path to life and well-being, to healing, and to wholeness for my soul.

 

Grant me the strength to hold firmly to You—and to believe that You will uphold me in every way and provide for my every need along this journey to my forever home in You.

 

Grant me the humility to submit to You in all things—as You work in me the desire and the power to offer all my heart and soul in service for You.

 

May everything that I think, say and do, be evidence of my unwavering love for You—so that there would never be any doubt about who owns my heart and keeps my soul!

 

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.

  

Wait Quietly

 

 

The LORD is good to those who depend on him,

    to those who search for him.

So it is good to wait quietly

    for salvation from the LORD.

 

—Lamentations 3:25-26 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

Good and Faithful LORD,

 

May I always depend on You, and see that You are good. May I always search for You, and discover that You can be found. And may I always wait quietly for You, and find my salvation always and only comes from You.

 

Help me to acknowledge that I am totally dependent on You—that apart from You I have no hope. Display Your goodness in every corner of my life, as it is Your desire to do.

 

Help me to search for You with all my heart, so that You can usher me into Your presence and show me who You are and who I am to You.

 

Help me to wait quietly for You, trusting in Your faithfulness. Let me fully experience the salvation that comes to everyone who puts all their hope in You.

 

May I always depend on You, and see that You are good. May I always search for You, and discover that You can be found. And may I always wait quietly for You, and find my salvation always and only comes from You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

A Living Sacrifice

 

 

 

 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

 

—Romans 12:1 (NIV)

 

Merciful and Gracious God,

 

Help me truly worship You today—in grateful response to Your enduring mercy and abundant grace—by dying to myself and living for You alone.

 

Because of everything You have done for me, stir within my heart that desire to submit all that I am and all that I have to You—to humbly give my life completely over to Your plans and purposes for me.

 

In light of the final atoning sacrifice of Your Son for my sin, help me to make the only sacrifice that is left to make—a living sacrifice of my life—by consciously and continually setting myself apart for Your use.

 

Help me to offer my true and proper worship to You in every moment of each new day, as You keep me mindful of Your mercy extended toward me—without which I would not have this privilege of life with You, forevermore.

 

Help me truly worship You today—in grateful response to Your enduring mercy and abundant grace—by dying to myself and living for You alone.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

All Who Call Upon Him

 

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He will also hear their cry and will save them.

 

—Psalm 145:18-19 (NASB)

 

Faithful and Loving LORD,

 

What an amazing comfort to know that You are near, that You hear us when we call on You in truth, that You fulfill our desire when we fear You, and save us in every way!

 

May my response to Your promised nearness be to call upon You in truth—that is to call upon You from a clean, sincere, and devoted heart, a heart that beats after Your own heart.

 

May my response to Your promise to fulfill my desire be to fear You—that is to praise, worship, and serve only You, in holy awe of all You are and all You have done, so that my greatest desire is to know You and to make You known.

 

May my response to Your promise to hear me and save me be to cry out to You with confidence—that is to recognize my total dependence on You and find my hope in Your faithfulness to all Your promises.

 

What an amazing comfort to know that You are near, that You hear us when we call on You in truth, that You fulfill our desire when we fear You, and save us in every way!

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

God is Working in You!

 

 

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

 

—Philippians 2:13 (NLT)

 

 

Gracious God,

 

I know that it is not by my own power that Your will is accomplished in my life, but it is You who works within me—not only creating in me the longing desire to do what pleases You, but also giving me the strength, energy and ability to carry out that plan and purpose!

 

So, I invite You to work within me, by Your Holy Spirit, to change the self-centered, self-serving desires of my heart, so that I will become more Christ-like—that the power and peace of His presence in me, would be revealed in my thoughts, words, my actions.

 

Help me to listen for You to speak to me through Your Spirit—as I read and study Your Word, find fellowship with other faithful Christians, and offer myself sacrificially in service to those you place before me.

 

And as I listen, help me be willing and eagerly obedient to act on what You ask of me—so that, as I continue in that obedience, You will cause my desires to become what You desire and will give me the power to do all things that please You.

 

I know that it is not by my own power that Your will is accomplished in my life, but it is You who works within me—not only creating in me the longing desire to do what pleases You, but also giving me the strength, energy and ability to carry out that plan and purpose!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Abide

 

 

 

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

 

—John 15:7 (NASB)

 

Lord Jesus,

 

May I continually abide in You, keeping every word that You have spoken alive in my heart and proven out by the way I live my life. May my deepest desire always be that Your Will would be accomplished in me.

 

May I always live my life in You—being vitally and necessarily joined with You and making You the center of everything I think, say and do—always mindful that apart from You, I am nothing.

 

Cause Your words to remain in my heart—so I can remember to rely on them, continually contemplate them, use them as my strict standard for that which I do, graciously grow by them, carefully cling to them for my hope, and evermore establish them as the Truth in my life.

 

For I know that, in as much as I am truly able to do this, not only will my thoughts, words and actions be in harmony with Your plans and purposes for my life, but every desire of my heart will be conformed to Your will.

 

May I continually abide in You, keeping every word that You have spoken alive in my heart and proven out by the way I live my life. May my deepest desire always be that Your Will would be accomplished in me.

 

This I pray in Your Holy Name, Lord Jesus, Amen.

A Spirit of Fear is Not From God

 

 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

 

—2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Thank You for showing me that I don’t have to be afraid—for reminding me that You didn’t create me to be timid, or to act cowardly, or fearfully—but that the spirit You have given me is a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind.

 

You have given me a spirit of power to resolutely face any trouble, opposition or obstacle with courage—since You have delivered me from any cowardice or timidity, by the strength of the Greater One who lives in me.

 

You have given me a spirit of love, both for You—which gives me the faith and the freedom to rise above any fear of man or circumstance—and for the souls of others—which gives me the desire and the power to compassionately reach out to my neighbor with truth and grace.

 

You have given me a spirit of a calm, and well-balanced, and sound mind, so that with that quietness of mind, I can remain peacefully disciplined—as I surrender control to Your Spirit and entertain only thoughts that are true and life-giving.

 

Thank You for showing me that I don’t have to be afraid—for reminding me that You didn’t create me to be timid, or to act cowardly, or fearfully—but that the spirit You have given me is a spirit of power, and love, and of a sound mind.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Heart of Man Reflects the Man

 

 

As in water face reflects face,
    so the heart of man reflects the man.

 

— Proverbs 27:19 (ESV)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Show me my heart, that I may know the man that I am. Then make me more like Jesus. 

 

Just as I might look carefully into still, clear water to see the reflection of my face on its surface, so may I carefully examine what my thoughts, words, and actions say about the condition of my heart—and how that reveals the man that I truly am. 

 

Help me to see the places in my heart that I have not yet surrendered to the sanctifying power of Your Holy Spirit within me—and give me the strength and desire to give those places over to You, today.

 

Change me, so that the reflection of the man that I am in my heart will no longer resemble a man of this world but be a better reflection of a man who has a heart after Your own heart.

 

Show me my heart, that I may know the man that I am. Then make me more like Jesus.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Love the LORD Your God!

 

“Love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”

 

—Joshua 22:5b (NLT)

 

O LORD, My God,

 

May everything that I think, say, and do, be evidence of my unwavering love for You—so that there would never be any doubt about who owns my heart and keeps my soul!

 

Grant me the wisdom to walk in all Your ways—to be faithful to follow, even when the path is hard, and steep, and narrow—for all Your ways are perfect.

 

Grant me the willingness to obey all Your commands—for in obedience to You, I find the path to life and well-being, to healing and wholeness for my soul.

 

Grant me the strength to hold firmly to You—and to believe that You will uphold me in every way and provide for my every need along this journey to my forever home in You.

 

Grant me the humility to submit to You in all things—as You work in me the desire and the power to offer all my heart and soul in service for You.

 

May everything that I think, say and do, be evidence of my unwavering love for You—so that there would never be any doubt about who owns my heart and keeps my soul!

 

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.