Just a Moment, But a Breath

 

 

“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
    Remind me that my days are numbered—
    how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
    My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
    at best, each of us is but a breath.”

 —Psalm 39:4-5 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Infinite LORD,

 

Help me to be willing to accept every invitation that You extend to me to be a part of what You are doing in the lives of those around me, so that my brief life here—while little more than a single breath—will shout to Your glory, honor and praise!

 

Help me to use the time that has been given to me in a way that honors You. Don’t let me allow apathy, complacency, or fear to hold me back from moving boldly forward with the things that You have given me to do.

 

But at the same time, help me to remember to wait for You, to never run ahead of You. Since any good thing I do requires me to be completely dependent on You, help me to take every step of my life’s journey in concert with You.

 

Help me to live each moment in trust and obedience, by faith—so I can enjoy Your presence and rest in Your peace, unencumbered by my past failures or any of the uncertainties of my future. 

 

Help me to be willing to accept every invitation that You extend to me to be a part of what You are doing in the lives of those around me, so that my brief life here—while little more than a single breath—will shout to Your glory, honor and praise!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Show Mercy, Receive Mercy

 

 

So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free.  There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.

 

—James 2:12-13 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Just and Merciful God,

 

May all my thoughts, words and actions be the evidence that I truly understand the depths of the mercy You have offered me—for I know I will receive mercy according to my willing obedience to extend that same mercy to others.

 

Help me remember that the same law that sets me free—that moral law that sets all obedient followers of Christ free from the bondage of sin—is the law by which I will be judged.

 

For while I have been saved by grace through faith, the evidence of my having received that salvation is my obedience to Christ—which is the path upon which perfect freedom is found—and my ability to extend mercy to others, is a proof that I am walking out that salvation which the Gospel of Christ has provided.

 

Let the mercy that You have poured over me be reflected in me, to all those around me, through my obedience to Christ’s command to love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. For therein lies the power to love my neighbor as myself.

 

May all my thoughts, words and actions be the evidence that I truly understand the depths of the mercy You have offered me—for I know I will receive mercy according to my willing obedience to extend that same mercy to others.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Show True Humility

 

 

 

Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.  They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone. 
—Titus 3:1-2 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help me to take seriously my responsibility to submit to the government and its officers—as long as doing so does not violate Your commands.

 

Your Word commands me to be obedient—especially to Your Word and Your Spirit—and to be ready to do that which is good.

 

Your Word commands me to never slander anyone and to avoid quarreling—to speak only truth, with grace, in love.

 

Your Word commands me to be gentle with others, and to show true humility to everyone—not thinking more highly of myself than I ought to but living within the truth of who I am in Christ—with the knowledge that any good in me comes from You.

 

Help me to take seriously my responsibility to submit to the government and its officers—as long as doing so does not violate Your commands.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

As God's Obedient Children

 

 

So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

 

 —1 Peter 1:14-16 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Since You have adopted me into Your family, claiming me as one of Your own, help me to live as Your obedient child—rejecting my old life and embracing completely the wonderful new life that You have freely offered me in Christ.

 

Save me from slipping back into the attitudes and patterns of behavior from which You rescued me—those old selfish ways that I once thought served me well, but in fact, only led me closer to my own destruction and death.

 

Since I now know better, let me always be led by Your Spirit, according to the Truth of Your Word. May I be found grateful in every circumstance and willing submitted to You in all things.

 

Continue to sanctify me, making me holy, because You are holy. Help me daily put on the clothing of Christ’s righteousness and be set apart for Your service.

 

Since You have adopted me into Your family, claiming me as one of Your own, help me to live as Your obedient child—rejecting my old life and embracing completely the wonderful new life that You have freely offered me in Christ.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Be Transformed!

 

 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

 

—Romans 12:2 (ESV)

 

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Transform me into a new person by changing the way I think—so I can learn to know Your good and pleasing and perfect will for me.

 

Grant me the wisdom not to copy any of those behaviors, customs and values of this world, which are birthed out of selfish pride and nurtured with corruption—those things that this world so quickly and casually accepts.

 

Do the work of transformation in me—by the power of Your Holy Spirit—so that my thoughts will be like Your thoughts and Your ways will become the only ways that I choose to follow.

 

Help me to learn to know Your will for me—and to trust that Your will is good, pleasing and perfect—so that I can walk down every path You place before me in willing obedience, confident that it will lead to Your very best for me.

 

Transform me into a new person by changing the way I think—so I can learn to know Your good and pleasing and perfect will for me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Walk by the Spirit

 

 

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 

 

—Galatians 5:16 (ESV)

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

Make me make aware of Your Holy Spirit within me and help me submit to His guidance—so I won’t find myself doing what my sinful nature desires to do.

 

May my actions reflect my character, and my character be an overflow of the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that I find in Christ. 

 

Help me to be able to discern the difference between my own subjective feelings and the leading of Your Holy Spirit—as I commit to listen for, to hear, and to willingly obey all the instructions You give me through Your Word and by Your Spirit.

 

Strengthen me to live every moment of my life under the guidance and control of Your Spirit. Fill my heart with the words of Christ and cause my actions to reflect Your truth. Show me how to rely on Your power within me to control of my selfish and sinful desires. 

 

Make me more aware of Your Holy Spirit within me and help me submit to His guidance—so I won’t find myself doing what my sinful nature desires to do.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Don't Speak Evil!

 

Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters.  If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law.  But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.

 

—James 4:11 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me never speak evil against my brothers and sisters—never say anything about someone which would hurt them or defame their character in the eyes of someone else—as I choose instead to live by Your law of love.

 

Replace any critical spirit within me with a spirit of grace and truth.  Grant me the wisdom to discern truth in every situation—and as I seek after what is just and right, help me remain submitted to Your laws of forgiveness, kindness and grace.

 

Help me to capture and bring my every thought into obedience to Christ and His character, as revealed in Your Word—so that any word I speak would be true and useful to bring encouragement and unity between myself and others.

 

And if I ever feel offended by someone, keep me from sharing that offense with others.  Rather, help me always to go directly to the offender to express my complaint against them—in humility, with kindness and love—so that understanding can come, our relationship can be restored and strengthened, and the enemy’s plans to bring division between us can be stopped.

 

Help me never speak evil against my brothers and sisters—never say anything about someone which would hurt them or defame their character in the eyes of someone else—as I choose instead to live by Your law of love.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

I Am Your God!

 

 

You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!

 

—Ezekiel 34:31 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Sovereign LORD,

 

What a joy it is to live in this covenant relationship with You—knowing that You hold every part of my life in Your hands; knowing that I am Yours, and You are mine!

 

I am one of Your people, a sheep in Your pasture, and You expect me to listen for Your Voice and follow You obediently wherever You lead me—to place all my life in Your hands—for my own well-being.

 

You are the Good Shepherd, the One who continuously watches over me to protect me in every way—the One who loves me with an unfailing love and compassionately cares for my every need.

 

You are the Sovereign LORD, the One who created all things and the One who holds all things in Your hands—the One who bends all things according to Your will and the only One in whom I can confidently place all my faith, hope and love!

 

What a joy it is to live in this covenant relationship with You—knowing that You hold every part of my life in Your hands; knowing that I am Yours, and You are mine!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Remain in My Love!

 

 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” 

—John 15:9-11 (NLT)

 

 

 

Loving Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to remain in the love of Christ, my Savior and Lord, by obeying His commandments—so that I will be continually filled to overflowing with the joy of Christ!

 

Thank You for the perfect love with which You loved Your Son, Jesus, who then loved me with that same perfect love—and gave up His life, so that I would find my life in Him.

 

Help me to remain in His love—in that ongoing and ever-growing love relationship with Him—proving my love for Him by my willing obedience to His every command.

 

For only there, in my complete submission to His instruction, will I find His joy, bubbling up from within me like an overflowing fountain—not only for my own benefit, but for the blessing of all those around me!

 

Help me to remain in the love of Christ, my Savior and Lord, by obeying His commandments—so that I will be continually filled to overflowing with the joy of Christ!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The LORD of Strength and Peace

 

 

The LORD gives his people strength.
    The LORD blesses them with peace. 

—Psalm 29:11 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

LORD of Strength and Peace,

 

From Your glorious riches You pour out strength and peace upon me—that sustaining strength and abiding peace which can only be found in You!

 

You are the One who strengthens me so I can shine forth Your glory! You cause me to stand in Your strength, fortified against the forces of evil, fully equipped and perfectly suited to accomplish the good works that You have called me to do.

 

Thank You that though I am very weak, I am made very strong in You—as your strength is made perfect in my weakness and I come to understand and acknowledge my total dependence upon You.

 

You are the One who blesses me with peace—not as the world might measure peace, but according to the unfathomable depths of Your peace, which cannot be measured with human understanding.

 

Thank You that this strength and peace can be mine today and always—even while I remain in this evil world—and will remain unbroken, as I demonstrate my faith in Your Word, through my obedience to Your instructions and commands.

From Your glorious riches You pour out strength and peace upon me—that sustaining strength and abiding peace which can only be found in You!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

 

Along the Path of Your Commands

 

 

Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
    I will put them into practice with all my heart.
Make me walk along the path of your commands,
    for that is where my happiness is found.

 —Psalm 119:34-35 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

May I always seek to understand Your Word—so that I will be able to obey all Your instructions. Help me to put them into practice and experience the happiness that belongs to those who walk along the paths of Your commands.

 

With Your Spirit as my teacher, open the richness of Your Word to my spirit and help me to understand everything that You want me to know—that I might fully accomplish those things that You have planned for me to do.

 

Lead me to that place of absolute obedience to You—as You bend my will along the path of Your commands—for my own good, to protect me, to provide for me, and to keep me in Your perfect peace.

 

And help me find those places of great blessing, joy, and happiness—by following all Your instructions and trusting in Your great love for me—so I can discover that the very best You have for me is found within my life in Christ.

May I always seek to understand Your Word—so that I will be able to obey all Your instructions. Help me to put them into practice and experience the happiness that belongs to those who walk along the paths of Your commands.

 

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.

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.

Childlike

 

“I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

 

—Mark 10:15 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Loving Father God,

 

Teach me how to come to You like a child, that I might enter into all that You have for me—both in the here-and-now, and for all eternity to come.

 

Teach me how to come to You with childlike humility—knowing that I have only my heart to offer You and that I can do no good thing apart from You.

 

Teach me how to come to You with childlike dependence—knowing I am helpless and hopeless without You, but that even still, I can find my help and hope in You.

 

Teach me how to come to You with childlike inquisitiveness—that I might gain knowledge, grow in wisdom, and leave behind my foolish ways.

 

Teach me how to come to You with childlike faith—asking confidently for Your best for me and believing You will give me every good thing You have for me.

 

Teach me how to come to You with childlike obedience—willingly going and doing that which You require of me, knowing You always have my best interests at heart.

 

Teach me how to come to You with childlike gratefulness—giving thanks and rejoicing in all situations for all Your goodness, knowing You work all things together for my good.

 

Teach me how to come to You with childlike love—a love that is purely motivated and freely offered, just because of who You are.

 

Teach me how to come to You like a child—that I might enter into all that You have for me, both in the here-and-now, and for all eternity to come.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.