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.

He is the One!

 

 

“Do not forget the covenant I made with you, and do not worship other gods. You must worship only the LORD your God. He is the one who will rescue you from all your enemies.”

—2 Kings 17:38-39 (NLT)

 

 

 

O LORD, My God,

 

You alone, O LORD, are the One who rescues me from all my enemies! May I never forget this truth.

 

I am tempted, on all sides, to put my faith in—and thus make objects of my worship—the things this world has to offer, counting on them to rescue me, keep me safe, and to sustain me during these difficult and trying times.

 

Don’t allow me to make gods of the things with which You have given to bless me. Help me instead to use every blessing, as You direct me, only to bring You glory, honor, and praise.

 

Help me cling to the truth of Your Word, being ever mindful of the power that lives in me by the Holy Spirit, who leads me into that truth—as I put all my trust and faith in the only One who can truly rescue me from all my enemies.

 

You alone, O LORD, are the One who rescues me from all my enemies! May I never forget this truth.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Glory, Honor, and Power!

 

 

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

 

—Revelation 4:11 (NASB)

 

 

 

My Lord and my God,

 

You are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power—for You created all things. By Your will alone, I was created and now exist.

 

You are worthy to receive glory. Help me glorify You by accurately reflecting Your character in everything that I think, say, and do—imitating the example of Jesus.

 

You are worthy to receive honor. May the value that I personally attribute to You be evident by the honor that I give to You—from within the deepest parts of my heart—as demonstrated by the way I live my life.

 

You are worthy to receive power. Help me never foolishly try to hold on to control of my life—as if I had the power to determine its course.  May I surrender it completely to the You—the One who holds my life in His powerful right hand.

 

You are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power—for You created all things. By Your will alone, I was created and now exist.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Choose to Obey God!

 

 

Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.

 

—Romans 6:16 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to remember that I become the slave of whatever I choose to obey—and may I always choose
to obey You, so that I might live a righteous life, in Christ, before You.

 

Help me to be careful, in every choice I make today, to choose that which honors You—so that in my choosing I don’t enslave myself once again to sin.

 

Help me look to the Truth of Your Word to be my standard, and to listen to Your Holy Spirit as You teach me, along that path of becoming more and more like Christ. 

 

Let my obedience, be proof of my love for you—as You take me to that place of intimate and personal relationship with You, where I find the abundant life You have hidden there for me in Christ.

 

Help me to remember that I become the slave of whatever I choose to obey—and may I always choose to obey You, so that I might live a righteous life, in Christ, before You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Turn Away From Evil!

 

 

Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
    Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

 

—Proverbs 3:7 (NLT)

 

 

 

All-Wise Father,

 

Don't allow me to be impressed with my own wisdom—when You are the only wise God.

 

Keep me from thinking that my own intellect or reasoning will produce any wisdom outside of You—but let me pray, asking You to make me wise, as You reveal Your Truth to me through Your Word and by Your Spirit.

 

Help me humbly and reverently fear and worship You alone and turn my back on all that is evil—repenting of all my sin and determining to find Your best for me—by submitting myself to Your will, plans, and purposes for my life.

 

Grant me the wisdom always to seek You first, in all things, so that my life would be lived out in Truth—both in private moments and in public moments—as a testimony to others, all for Your glory, honor, and praise.

Don't allow me to be impressed with my own wisdom—when You are the only wise God. 

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Rid Yourselves Completely

 

 

But now rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene (abusive, filthy, vulgar) language from your mouth.

 

—Colossians 3:8 (AMP)

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to purge my life completely of anything that is not pleasing to You—so that I can truly honor You, and bring You glory, by the way that I live.

 

The world around me is filled with people who live in anger and rage, people who are malicious and slanderous, and who use obscene language—and it can become tempting to my flesh to join in those things, if I spend too much time listening to the world, instead of feeding my spirit with the Truth of Your Word.

 

So, help me to turn away from those things—and as much as I am able, to remove them completely from my life—so that the things that I choose to watch, read, dwell on, and participate in, won’t become a hindrance to my becoming all that You have created me to be.

 

Help me to live according to the instruction of Your Word, so that I would show patience instead of anger, demonstrate calmness instead of rage, offer kindness instead of malice, speak truth in love instead of slander—and let words of life fill my mouth, rather than the sinful, vulgar, and blasphemous language of this world. 

 

Help me to purge my life completely of anything that is not pleasing to You—so that I can truly honor You, and bring You glory, by the way that I live.

 

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.

I Devoured Them!

 

 

When I discovered your words, I devoured them.
    They are my joy and my heart’s delight,
for I bear your name,
    O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies.

 

 —Jeremiah 15:16 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Dear LORD,

 

Keep me hungry—eager to receive and ready to apply every word that You would speak into my life. Let Your words be my joy and my heart’s delight!

 

Continue to speak to my heart through Your Holy Spirit, and by that same Spirit reveal and illuminate the words of the Bible to my spirit—that I might devour the fresh Truth that You have waiting there for me to discover.

 

Use that Truth to help me grow in obedience and faithfulness to You, so that I can live my life submitted to Truth and can become all that You have planned for me to be in Christ—for Your own glory and honor and praise.

 

For it is in Your words that I find my strength and hope! And in them I discover the responsibilities of obedience that I carry, because I have been chosen—and I have chosen—to bear Your name, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies!

 

Keep me hungry—eager to receive and ready to apply every word that You would speak into my life. Let Your words be my joy and my heart’s delight!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Search for Good!

 

 

If you search for good, you will find favor;
    but if you search for evil, it will find you!

 

—Proverbs 11:27 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Good and Gracious Father,

 

Help me search for that which is good—as You unfold this day before me—so that evil will not find me, but I will experience favor wherever You lead.

 

Remind me that there is good to be found all around me—when I search for it! Help me to look for that good in every person I encounter and in each circumstance that I face.

 

Save me from every temptation to search for evil—and don’t let me walk away from Your sheltering protection. For I know that I will never find evil before it finds me—because it watches for every opportunity of catching me unprotected, that it might destroy me.

 

In everything, help me keep my eyes fixed on You—the Author of all things good—so that all my thoughts, words and actions will be filled with Your goodness and love, and I would bring honor to You.

 

Help me search for that which is good—as You unfold this day before me—so that evil will not find me, but I will experience favor wherever You lead.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Remain!

 

 “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”

—John 15:4 (NLT)

 

 

 

Gracious Father God,

Let me continually and forever remain in Jesus Christ—for He is my Savior, my Lord, and the very source of my life.

 

Help me always to abide with Him—to inseparably link every aspect of my life to Him—and live in according to the Truth which He came to declare to us all, comforted by the knowledge that He will remain in me.

 

For it is only in Christ—through my openness to receive the full measure of grace and truth that He pours out over me—that I find everything that I need to accomplish every plan and purpose for which He has uniquely crafted and equipped me.

 

And without Him I cannot produce any good thing—I cannot fulfill Your will for me—and I cannot enjoy the privilege of being used to be a part of the great things that You are doing in the lives of those all around me.

 

So, help me to be fruitful—producing good works which are a reflection of Your amazing love, truth, and grace—so that others might see Christ in me and give You the glory, honor, and praise that You are due.

Let me continually and forever remain in Jesus Christ—for He is my Savior, my Lord, and the very source of my life.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Teach Me!

 

 

Teach me to do your will,

    for you are my God;

may your good Spirit

    lead me on level ground.

 

—Psalm 143:10 (NIV)

 

 

 

Gracious LORD,

 

Teach me to do Your will, and by Your good Spirit lead me!  For You are my God—the One who leads me on level ground, ever unfolding before me Your very best plans and purposes for my life.

 

Help me to overcome my great tendency to be self-centered and self-willed—to do only what I want to do—expecting You to bless my plans and cause my self-serving purposes to succeed.

 

Show me how to set aside my own will and trust You to direct my steps according to Your will—according to Your very best for me—knowing that only by submitting myself to Your will can I ever hope to bring You honor and glory with my life.

 

Lead me, by Your good and gracious Holy Spirit, so I might walk uprightly along the level ground of Your unfailing love—on that path of willing obedience that You have called me to travel.

 

Teach me to do Your will, and by Your good Spirit lead me!  For You are my God—the One who leads me on level ground, ever unfolding before me Your very best plans and purposes for my life.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Confess, Turn, and Receive Mercy!

 

 

People who conceal their sins will not prosper,

    but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

 

—Proverbs 28:13 (NLT)

 

 

 

Merciful and Compassionate LORD,

 

Keep me from the foolishness of trying to conceal my sins. Help me to confess and turn from them, so that I will receive mercy.

 

By Your Holy Spirit, convict me of my sins—and expose the evil that they contain and the power that they have to destroy me—so that I might learn from my sins and not repeat them. 

 

Help me willingly and openly confess my sins to You, for You already know them; tremble before Your justice, knowing that I deserve punishment; and fall upon Your mercy and grace, that I may be delivered from them through Your promise of forgiveness.

 

Help me to truly repent of my sins—to turn away from them and run the other direction, straight into Your merciful and compassionate arms of love. Then let me glorify You for the unmerited favor that You pour over me.

 

Keep me from the foolishness of trying to conceal my sins. Help me to confess and turn from them, so that I will receive mercy.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Honesty

 

 

An honest answer

    is like a kiss of friendship.

 

—Proverbs 24:26 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

God of Truth and Love,

 

Help me to give each person that You put in my path the high honor of always and only speaking the truth to them.

 

I don’t want to be deceived into believing that there is ever a reason for me not to be straightforward and honest with everyone.

 

For only in speaking truthfully—from a heart filled with kindness, love, and compassion—can I claim to be a true friend.

 

Help me to remember that deep down we all are searching for someone who will just tell us the complete and absolute truth—out of their genuine love for us—exactly like Jesus does.

 

Help me to be that person who always answers honestly—and in doing so, offers the true kiss of friendship.

 

Help me to give each person that You put in my path the high honor of always and only speaking the truth to them.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Grace and Peace

 

 May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.  Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.  All glory to God forever and ever!  Amen.

 

—Galatians 1:3-5 (NLT)

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

No matter what might be happening in the world around me, help me to remain in the grace and peace that You have provided through the Lord Jesus Christ—in that assurance that Jesus gave His life to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.

 

I am so grateful that You always had a plan—even from before time began—for Jesus to give His life for my sins, so that I might be rescued from this evil world and no longer be crippled by the fear it brings.

 

Help me to remember that though I have not yet been rescued out of this present evil world, I have been rescued from its evil power over me—no longer bound by Satan’s lies, which enslaved me to sin, but free to choose to live my life in Christ and for His glory, honor and praise.

 

So let my life be a continual and ever-perfecting reflection of the One who saved me, a demonstration of my gratitude for all that He has done for me—as I live my life in the grace and peace of Christ and give You all the glory forever and ever!

 

No matter what might be happening in the world around me, help me to remain in the grace and peace that You have provided through the Lord Jesus Christ—in that assurance that Jesus gave His life to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.