Consider Carefully Your Way!

 

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.  They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.   

—Philippians 3:18-19 (NLT)

 

 

'Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to consider carefully the way I conduct myself in life here on earth—that I might not ever be found to be an enemy of the cross of Christ.

 

You have given me the opportunity to embrace everything that the cross of Christ has purchased for me. So keep me from foolishly or thoughtlessly turning down a path that brings sure destruction to my joy, my peace, my purpose, and ultimately my life.

 

Never allow me to develop an appetite for any of the deceitful pleasures of this world—to allow my fleshly desires to become idols that I choose to worship. 

 

Keep me from being so deceived, that I would speak about my sin as if it were something to brag about, as if it were not sin at all—or to admit there is sin in my life, but make light of that sin, as if it were not a stench in the nostrils of a Holy God.

 

Help me control my thoughts, so that they are not consumed with the pursuit of the ultimately empty and unsatisfying things of this life—but keep me spiritually minded, so I don’t miss the fullness of life that is mine in Christ.

 

Help me to be continually conscious of how I am living, so I might submit my will to Your will, resist temptation, flee from sin, and seek—with my whole heart—that life which is hidden in Christ.

 

Help me to consider carefully the way I conduct myself in life here on earth—that I might not ever be found to be an enemy of the cross of Christ.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Way, The Truth, and The Life!

 

 

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

—John 14:6 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Thank You that I can come to You and call You my Father because of the redeeming sacrifice, of Your Son and my Savior, Jesus Christ, for me.

 

When I lose my way and I find myself separated from You, remind me that Jesus is the Way—the only way—to You. Help me not to seek some lesser path back to You, but only seek the person of Jesus Christ.

 

When I am confused and unsure of what is true, help me not to merely seek what is true. Help me seek the One who is not only faithful and true, but is the very embodiment of Truth.

 

When I am feeling like my life is draining from me, help me not to seek to save my life. But rather, help me to find my life in the One who is everlasting life Himself.

 

Thank You that I can come to You and call You my Father because of the redeeming sacrifice, of Your Son and my Savior, Jesus Christ, for me.

 

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.

In Your Presence

 

 

You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

 

—Psalm 16:11 (NASB)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

I have placed all my trust in You—for I know that You will always lead me down the path of life, to that place of joy and peace that can only be found in Your Presence.

 

Thank You that as I seek to hear what You would say to me, in Your Word and by the promptings of Your Spirit, You are always faithful to lead me down paths that bring me life—life that is full, rich, and free; life that fulfills Your will for me.

 

Thank You that as I remain in Your Presence, the power of Christ in me carries me through every hardship I face, the cares of this world are lifted from my shoulders, and my joy is made complete in trusting and serving You.

 

Thank You that Your desire for all believers is that we would remain at Your right hand and enjoy the pleasure of living in the protection, provision, and peace of Your Presence, forever.

 

I have placed all my trust in You—for I know that You will always lead me down the path of life, to that place of joy and peace that can only be found in Your Presence.

 

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.

God of My Salvation

 

 

But as for me, I will look to the LORD;

I will wait for the God of my salvation;

my God will hear me.

 

—Micah 7:7 (ESV)

 

 

 

 

God of My Salvation, 

 

Help me to remember that You are my source of help—that all my help surely comes from You!

 

Help me look to You and wait—in quietness of spirit and in confidence of heart—for You to save me from whatever circumstance or situation in which I find myself.

 

And help me to see Your hand working to accomplish Your plans and purposes for me along every path that You lead me down—as You teach me more about Your ways and show me Your salvation.

 

May I always cry out to You in faith—trusting that You will hear me. For You know my thoughts, even before I put them into words and are ever eager to answer the cries of my heart.

 

Help me to remember that You are my source of help—that all my help surely comes from You!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Saved by Love!

 

 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. —John 3:16-17 (NKJV)

  

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Thank You for loving us!

 

Thank You for Your amazing love for us all—a love which is ever reaching out to us to draw us into relationship with You.

 

Thank You for the perfect love that You freely gave in the form of Your only begotten Son—who You willingly sacrificed, so we could know just how far true love will go.

 

Thank You for the complete freedom from our sin that You bought for us, and the path to joy and peace that You laid out before us—when Christ laid down His life for us all.

 

Thank You for not sending Your Son to condemn us to die as we deserved—but to offer everlasting life with You to all who would believe in Jesus.

 

Thank You for loving us!

 

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.

Something New

 

“Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.”

 —Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

 

 

 

Almighty God,

 

Help me not to dwell so much on the past—even on those great and wondrous miracles that have marked my life thus far—that I end up missing out on the new things, those even far greater things, which will define my future with You.

 

Teach me to see—to stop, and look, and perceive Your will for me—as You work in me, through me, and all around me, in new and fresh ways to bring glory to Yourself.

 

Make me open to receive all that this ever-changing gift of life You have given me has to offer—as You unfold before me the newness of the perfect path that You have for me to walk.

 

Grant me the faith to believe that You are able—and You certainly will—make a road for me in the wilderness and cause life-giving rivers to flow in any desert that lies before me, both now and forevermore.

Help me not to dwell so much on the past—even on those great and wondrous miracles that have marked my life thus far—that I end up missing out on the new things, those even far greater things, which will define my future with You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Mark Out a Straight Path

 

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

 

—Hebrews 12:12-13 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

With each new challenge that comes, grant me the wisdom to renew my grip on the plans You have for me, and the strength and courage to recommit myself to follow the straight path of obedience, for the benefit of all those around me.

 

When I find myself facing difficulties—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—and when I am weary from the fight, help me take a new grip on the call You have placed on my life to follow You.

 

Help me to push forward through those fears that would weaken my knees and undermine my effectiveness—as I courageously face the unknown in the confidence that I am not alone, because Your Spirit upholds me according to the power of Christ at work in me.

 

Help me to follow that straight path of willing obedience to You in all things, so that those who are weak and have been injured in this good fight of faith will see You at work—both in me and through me—and be encouraged, strengthened, healed, and made whole again in You, for Your glory!

With each new challenge that comes, grant me the wisdom to renew my grip on the plans You have for me, and the strength and courage to recommit myself to follow the straight path of obedience, for the benefit of all those around me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Answer Me

 

 

Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,
    for I am poor and needy.

 

—Psalm 86:1 (ESV)

 

 

 

 

 

Loving and Compassionate Father God,

 

Don’t allow me to ever take for granted the truth that, like a good father, You bend down to listen to my every word and understand every matter on my heart—then lovingly and compassionately answer me according to what is best for me.

 

Thank You that because You are a loving and compassionate God, I can be confidently assured that You will never disregard or dismiss the cries of my heart.

 

With that confidence that You hear me, help me to always come to You in humility, recognizing that I am poor and needy—that without You I am nothing and apart from You I can do no good thing.

 

Thank You for answering me out of the infinite vastness of Your love, understanding, and wisdom, so that I can always trust that You answer will set me on the very best path that You have for me—and that in walking that path with You, I will find my every need met.

 

Don’t allow me to ever take for granted the truth that, like a good father, You bend down to listen to my every word and understand every matter on my heart—then lovingly and compassionately answer me according to what is best for me.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

 

For Those Who are Righteous

 

But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough.

You are a God who does what is right,

and you smooth out the path ahead of them.

LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name. —Isaiah 26:7-8 (NLT)

 

 

 

Gracious and Loving LORD,

 

Help me to walk in right-standing with You—exemplifying both moral and spiritual integrity in all I do—by the power of Christ in me—so that my path will not be steep and rough but be smoothed out before me by Your hand.

 

You have called me to obedience for my own good—so my way will not be rough and steep. Help me to obey both Your Word and Your Spirit, as I follow You!

 

You are the upright God—the One who always does what is right. You smooth out the path of those who are righteous—for those who are in right-standing with You—because they have put their trust in You.

 

We show our trust in You when we obey Your laws—when the deepest desire of our hearts is to glorify Your name!

 

Help me to walk in right-standing with You—exemplifying both moral and spiritual integrity in all I do—by the power of Christ in me—so that my path will not be steep and rough but be smoothed out before me by Your hand.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Share Each Other's Burdens

 

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.  If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

 

—Galatians 6:2-3 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Keep me from getting so caught up in my own self-perceived importance that I fail to be obedient to Your call to share the burdens of those You place in my path.

 

Give me the heart to do the hard work of sharing the burdens of others—of lightening their load of care and helping them back to the peace and joy that You have called them to in Christ.

 

In willingly obedience, let me submit to the law of Christ—to be faithful to love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, and allow the love of Christ to reach through me, to love others as I have been so greatly loved.

 

Save me from the pride and arrogance that tempts me to think more of myself than I ought to think—when I know that any good in me comes from You alone, and can only be made known when I submit myself completely to Your plans and purposes for me.

Keep me from getting so caught up in my own self-perceived importance that I fail to be obedient to Your call to share the burdens of those You place in my path.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Search Me!

 

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
    and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

—Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)

 

 

 

Holy God,

Search me and know my heart—and by the continuing work of the power of Christ in me, point out and remove anything that is offensive to You, so I can walk more perfectly with You the path that leads to everlasting life.

 

As You test the integrity of the motives my heart and as You reveal my secret fears, grant me the strength to endure Your testing and the faith to overcome my fears—so I might learn to put all my trust and hope in You.

 

Grant me the courage to ask You to shine the light of Your love on the hidden places of my heart to dispel the darkness—indeed the evil—of anything in me that offends You, as I repent and run to You. 

 

Grant me the peace and the joy that comes when I invite You to lead me along the path of everlasting life—to that place where nothing remains that would keep me from that close, personal, intimate relationship that You desire to have with me, and which I so desperately need to have with You.

 

Search me and know my heart—and by the continuing work of the power of Christ in me, point out and remove anything that is offensive to You, so I can walk more perfectly with You the path that leads to everlasting life.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.