Grow!

 

 

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.  Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

 

—Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Merciful and Gracious God,

 

Help my roots to grow down deeply into Christ Jesus—so that my life is built on Him.

 

Thank You for the awesome blessing of everlasting life that You gave to me when I accepted Christ as my Savior—and for the compounded blessings that I experience in every moment that I chose to make Him the Lord of my life and follow Him in willing obedience.

 

Help my relationship with Him continue to grow deeper every day, so that I can be built up in Him—the One who holds all things together, who is the source of my life and my strength, and who is my only hope. 

 

Help my faith to grow strong in the truth—the truth that I am taught in Him—and let me ever overflow with thankfulness, so that I am not carried away by sin, but continue in that truth that has set me free.

 

Help my roots to grow down deeply into Christ Jesus—so that my life is built on Him.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

An Example to Follow

 

 

I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

 

—John 13:15 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, to us all! May I always follow His example of obedience, humility, and sacrifice, as I serve those whom You have entrusted to me, with the love of Christ.

 

Help me to follow His perfect example. May I reflect His heart more perfectly, offer His grace more compassionately, speak His Truth only out of love, and emulate His servant leadership more completely.

 

Help me to walk in His humility. May I set aside all my pride—not considering anything You ask me to do to be beneath me—and joyfully embrace any invitation that You give me to be a part of what You are doing.

 

Help me to love as Jesus loves. Make me humbly and willingly obedient to every command and instruction of Your Word and every prompting of Your Holy Spirit within me, as evidence of my love for You and my love for my neighbor, for Your glory, honor, and praise. 

 

Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, to us all! May I always follow His example of obedience, humility, and sacrifice, as I serve those whom You have entrusted to me, with the love of Christ.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Strayed Away

 

 

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the LORD laid on him
    the sins of us all.

 

—Isaiah 53:6 (NLT)

 

 

 

Loving LORD,

Like a shepherd lead me, along Your paths today,

and teach me by Your Spirit’s voice, to never stray away. 

 

I need You to lead me today.  Because just like a sheep, if left on my own, I will wander from the path of Your will for me—and follow a path marked by my own self-centered desires. 

 

Sometimes, I do it somehow blindly unaware of my wandering—as if I were sleepwalking—failing to wake up to the error of my way, until I am lost and a long way from home.

 

Sometimes, I fall back into my old ways of stubborn and willful rebellion—fully aware, but foolishly wanting what I want, more than wanting what You want for me.

 

And yet, always, even in my sin, You call me to return to You—having laid all my sin upon Jesus, so that I might stand in the peace and protection of Your Presence once again.

 

Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You, and to value Your Presence as I should, so I will hear Your instruction and choose to follow You in obedience—as You lead me to every good thing that You have prepared for me.  

Like a shepherd lead me, along Your paths today,

and teach me by Your Spirit’s voice, to never stray away.  

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Don't Get Sidetracked!

 

Mark out a straight path for your feet;
    stay on the safe path.

Don’t get sidetracked;
    keep your feet from following evil.

 

—Proverbs 4:26-27 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

With each new day, help me to mark out the straight path for my feet—the path which leads to a more abundant life!

 

Keep me on that straight path of willing obedience to Your will and Your decrees—as You prove Your loving faithfulness to me by keeping me in every way, when I choose the safe path you have offered me.

 

And don’t allow me to get sidetracked by the distractions of this world—to wander off that path—but help me stay focused on honoring Your ever-abiding Presence with me, as You show me the next best step for me.

 

For then my feet will not follow after evil and I won’t find myself lost along the way—as I journey through this life, on my way home to You.

 

With each new day, help me to mark out the straight path for my feet—the path which leads to a more abundant life!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Only The Creator is Worthy!

 

 

They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

 

—Romans 1:25 (NLT)

 

 

Creator God,

 

May I always worship and serve only You, the Creator of all that there is and all that there will ever be!

 

Help me to fill my mind, my heart, and my mouth with the Truth of Your Word, that I may live in that Truth forever, in Christ.

 

Convict me and may I quickly repent, if I should ever allow myself to make an idol—an object of worship—out of something that You have created and intended for my good, but not for my worship.

 

Give me the knowledge, understanding, discernment, insight, and wisdom I need to never allow anything, or anyone, to take Your rightful place of worship in my heart. May my praise be offered to You alone, throughout eternity.

 

May I always worship and serve only You, the Creator of all that there is and all that there will ever be!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Just as Christ!

 

 

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. —1 Peter 2:21-23 (NLT)

 

 

Dear Father God,

 

Help me to do good—even if it means suffering because of it.

 

Thank You for the perfect example set by Your Son, Jesus Christ.  Help me to follow in His steps.

 

Help me to turn my back on sin—and to be obedient to Christ in all my ways 

 

Help me to be honest, open, and transparent in all my affairs—to live in truth and never act deceitfully.

 

When I am reviled or insulted, help me to control my flesh and my thoughts—and choose not to retaliate, or threaten to get even—even when I suffer unjustly as I follow Christ.

 

Help me rest in the peace that comes as I continue to entrust my case, indeed my very life, into Your loving hands—with full confidence that You will always judge fairly.

 

Help me to do good—even if it means suffering because of it.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

In Humility Value Others

 

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

 

—Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Save me from my own self-centeredness and any impure, attention-seeking motive in me—so that I might walk in true humility, thinking of others before myself.

 

Help me not to be selfish—always looking at everything to see what’s in it for me, rather than how it might be an opportunity for me to be a part of what You are doing to benefit others.

 

Help me not to try vainly to impress others, but simply just do all I can to please You—as by faith I follow Your will, plan and purpose for me in each and every moment You give me.

 

Keep me humble before You and before others—and help me to value them above myself, so that I am never found to be arrogant, irritable or unapproachable.

 

Help me not to look out for my own interests alone—but make my first effort to look out for the interests of others, with the love of Christ.

 

Save me from my own self-centeredness and any impure, attention-seeking motive in me—so that I might walk in true humility, thinking of others before myself. 

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Secret Things, Things Revealed

 

 

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

 

—Deuteronomy 29:29 (NIV)

 

 

Infinite and All-knowing God,

 

Help me to use my time wisely, to become submitted and obedient to do those things that You have asked me to do—as revealed to me through Your Word and by Your Holy Spirit—trusting that You will show me everything I need to know, in order to accomplish Your Will for me.

 

In Your infinite wisdom You have chosen to make me finite in my ability to comprehend and understand the secret wonders of all that You are—and of all that You have done, are doing, and have yet to bring to pass—so that my dependence would be on You alone.

 

Teach me that, even though You have not revealed to me everything there is to know, I am responsible for everything that You have shown me—and that any disobedience in me is an act of my own rebellious will, and not because I lack the knowledge I need to obey.

 

Help me to rest in the assurance that I serve an infinite and all-knowing God who loves and wants me—a God who is in control over everything and has revealed all the Truth that I will ever need to believe Him, to obey Him, and to see His salvation in my life. 

 

Help me to use my time wisely, to become submitted and obedient to do those things that You have asked me to do—as revealed to me through Your Word and by Your Holy Spirit—trusting that You will show me everything I need to know, in order to accomplish Your Will for me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Right Path!

 

Show me the right path, O LORD;
    point out the road for me to follow.

Lead me by your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God who saves me.
    All day long I put my hope in you.

 

—Psalm 25:4-5 (NLT)

 

O LORD, My GOD,

 

Show me the right path—the road that I should follow, the way that I should go.  Lead me by Your Truth, teach me by Your Spirit, and save me in every way—as I put all my hope in You, through every moment of each new day.

 

Help me to find the path that is right and good—the road where I find myself walking in intimate, personal relationship with You—where I choose to humbly serve You and obediently submit to Your will for me in all things.

 

By the power of Your Holy Spirit at work within me, open my heart to receive the Truth You have waiting for me in Your Word—as You teach me to apply that Truth to every situation and circumstance, so I might always journey forward, moving ever closer to You.

 

Help me never forget that You are the God who saves me in every way—emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually—so that I put all my hope in You, no matter what I face.

 

Show me the right path—the road that I should follow, the way that I should go.  Lead me by Your Truth, teach me by Your Spirit, and save me in every way—as I put all my hope in You, through every moment of each new day.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Let Your Roots Grow Down

 

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.  Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

 

—Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT)

 

Merciful and Gracious God,

 

Help my roots to grow down deeply into Christ Jesus—so that my life is built on Him.

 

Thank You for the awesome blessing of everlasting life that You gave to me when I accepted Christ as my Savior—and for the compounded blessings that I experience in every moment that I chose to make Him the Lord of my life and follow Him in willing obedience.

 

Help my relationship with Him continue to grow deeper every day, so that I can be built up in Him—the One who holds all things together, who is the source of my life and my strength, and who is my only hope. 

 

Help my faith to grow strong in the truth—the truth that I am taught in Him—and let me ever overflow with thankfulness, so that I am not carried away by sin, but continue in that truth that has set me free.

 

Help my roots to grow down deeply into Christ Jesus—so that my life is built on Him.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Example of Christ

 

I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

 

—John 13:15 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, to us all! May I always follow His example of obedience, humility, and sacrifice, as I serve the ones You place before me, with the love of Christ.

 

Help me to follow His perfect example. May I reflect His heart more perfectly, offer His grace more compassionately, speak His Truth only out of love, and emulate His servant leadership more completely.

 

Help me to walk in His humility. May I set aside all my pride—not considering anything You ask me to do to be beneath me—and joyfully embrace any invitation that You give me to be a part of what You are doing.

 

Help me to love as He did. May I see with Your eyes of love, so that I respond with willing obedience, and sacrificially serve others for Your glory. 

 

Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, to us all!  May I always follow His example of obedience, humility, and sacrifice, as I serve the ones You place before me, with the love of Christ.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

All of Us, Like Sheep

 

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the LORD laid on him
    the sins of us all.

 

—Isaiah 53:6 (NLT)

 

Loving LORD,

Like a shepherd lead me, along Your paths today,

and teach me by Your Spirit’s voice, to never stray away. 

 

 

I need You to lead me today.  Because just like a sheep, if left on my own, I will wander from the path of Your will for me—and follow a path marked by my own self-centered desires. 

 

Sometimes, I do it somehow blindly unaware of my wandering—as if I were sleepwalking—failing to wake up to the error of my way, until I am lost and a long way from home.

 

Sometimes, I fall back into my old ways of stubborn and willful rebellion—fully aware, but foolishly wanting what I want, more than wanting what You want for me.

 

And yet, always, even in my sin, You call me to return to You—having laid all of my sin upon Jesus, so that I might stand in the peace and protection of Your Presence once again.

 

Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You, and to value Your Presence as I should, so I will hear Your instruction and choose to follow You in obedience—as You lead me to every good thing that You have prepared for me.  

Like a shepherd lead me, along Your paths today,

and teach me by Your Spirit’s voice, to never stray away.  

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

A Straight Path, A Safe Path

 

Mark out a straight path for your feet;
    stay on the safe path.

Don’t get sidetracked;
    keep your feet from following evil.

 

—Proverbs 4:26-27 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

With each new day, help me to mark out the straight path for my feet—the path which leads to a more abundant life!

 

Keep me on that straight path of willing obedience to Your will and Your decrees—as You prove Your loving faithfulness to me by keeping me in every way, when I choose the safe path you have offered me.

 

And don’t allow me to get sidetracked by the distractions of this world—to wander off that path—but help me stay focused on honoring Your ever-abiding Presence with me, as You show me the next best step for me.

 

For then my feet will not follow after evil and I won’t find myself lost along the way—as I journey through this life, on my way home to You.

 

With each new day, help me to mark out the straight path for my feet—the path which leads to a more abundant life!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Do Not Trade the Truth for Lies!

 

They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

 

—Romans 1:25 (NLT)

 

Creator God,

 

Keep me from ever trading the truth about You for a lie. May I always worship and serve only You, the Creator of all that there is and all that there will ever be!

 

Help me to hold onto the Truth that I find in Your Word—as revealed by Your Spirit—so I can stand against the assault of lies that this world would have me believe.

 

Help me to fill my mind, my heart, and my mouth with the truth of Your Word, and live in that truth, forever in Christ.

 

Help me quickly repent any time that I allow myself to make an idol—an object of worship—out of something that You have created and intended for my good, but not for my worship.

 

Give me great wisdom and discernment, so that I allow nothing to take Your rightful place of worship in my heart. 

 

May my praise be offered to You alone, throughout eternity.

 

Keep me from ever trading the truth about You for a lie. May I always worship and serve only You, the Creator of all that there is and all that there will ever be!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Following in Christ's Steps

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. —1 Peter 2:21-23 (NLT)

 

Dear Father God,

 

Help me to do good—even if it means suffering because of it.

 

Thank You for the perfect example set by Your Son, Jesus Christ.  Help me to follow in His steps.

 

Help me to turn my back on sin—and to be obedient to Christ in all my ways 

 

Help me to be honest, open, and transparent in all my affairs—to live in truth and never act deceitfully.

 

When I am reviled or insulted, help me to control my flesh and my thoughts—and choose not to retaliate, or threaten to get even—even when I suffer unjustly as I follow Christ.

 

Help me rest in the peace that comes as I continue to entrust my case, indeed my very life, into Your loving hands—with full confidence that You will always judge fairly.

 

Help me to do good—even if it means suffering because of it.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.