Motivated By Love

But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much.  But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.

—1 Corinthians 8:1b-3 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Help me be one who strengthens the church—by allowing Christ’s love to flow through me to others.

Help me to avoid getting caught up in evaluating my importance by the things that I know—and help me to listen for You to tell me the ways that I can share the love of Christ in service to others.

Help me to keep my motives pure and my heart humble—as by faith I seek only to please You—by only acting on what You have asked me to say and do.

Help me not to seek after the recognition of man—knowing all I need to do is to truly and fully love You and I will have all the recognition I need.

Help me be one who strengthens the church—by allowing Christ’s love to flow through me to others.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Above All Else, Guard Your Heart

Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

—Proverbs 4:23 (AMP)

Lord Jesus,

Because I asked You to, You have made my heart Your home.  Help me to fill every corner of my heart with Your Truth, so that Your spring of life-giving water might freely flow, both in me and from me, in all of its fullness.

Help me to diligently guard against allowing anything that would try to darken my heart to find a place to remain in me—whether it be sin in my life, or an offense that would lead me to be bitter, angry and resentful, or any unforgiveness that I might harbor deep inside me—knowing that everything that I say and do flows out of the depths of my heart and so determines the very course of my life.

Help me to see that the best way for me to guard my heart is to fill it with Your powerful presence—holding firmly onto the Truth of Your Word and hiding it deep in my heart.

By the Holy Spirit within me, fill me with the light of life until there is no darkness left in me—that I might be a pure fountain of living water to all those around me.

Because I asked You to, You have made my heart Your home.  Help me to fill every corner of my heart with Your Truth, so that Your spring of life-giving water might freely flow, both in me and from me, in all of its fullness.

Amen.

Not About Me

Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.

—John 7:18 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

I want always to speak words that bring honor and glory to You—I want to speak truth, not lies.

I don’t want to be that person who arrogantly speaks for his own gain or glory—spouting words out of his head to try to impress others with his own knowledge or wisdom, only to make himself a liar and a thief of the glory that belongs to You alone.

But I want to speak words that honor You, LORD—the One who sends me to speak on His behalf—opening my mouth and allowing the words that You give me, through the Holy Spirit within me, to flow out from my spirit to bring You all the glory You are due.

May I always speak words that bring honor and glory to You—words that declare the truth of who You are.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.