My Future Hope

Do not let your heart envy sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.

There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.

—Proverbs 23:17-18 (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

No matter what trials and tests I may face here on earth, may my heart always be filled with zeal for You, knowing that there is a future hope that is mine, which will never be cut off from me.

Don’t ever let me be envious of those in this world who seem to prosper, though they do not follow after You and have little regard for how they live.

Make me zealous for You—as out of reverence for who You are, and the mighty things You have done, I purpose to give You everything I am in obedience to Your commands.

May I truly celebrate, every moment of every day, that joy which is mine because of the eternal hope that I have in Christ—a hope that cannot be cut off.

No matter what trials and tests I may face here on earth, may my heart always be filled with zeal for You, knowing that there is a future hope that is mine, which will never be cut off from me.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Taking God Seriously

How joyful are those who fear the Lord—
    all who follow his ways!

You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
    How joyful and prosperous you will be!

Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine,
    flourishing within your home.

Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees
    as they sit around your table.

That is the Lord’s blessing
    for those who fear him.

—Psalm 128:1-4 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

May I always ensure that my joy will be complete by taking You seriously and walking in obedience to Your ways.

You have promised me that if I follow Your ways I will enjoy the benefit of my obedience—that I will be blessed and experience the true prosperity of contentment with what I have been given.

You have promised that as I follow Your ways I will see the fruit of my obedience reflected in my family—that my family will flourish and be drawn together and nourished by my obedience to You.

Your blessing to me for my obedience is that You will bring change to those around me as You draw them by Your love to obedience to You—and that through them this love will be multiplied.

May I always ensure that my joy will be complete by taking You seriously and walking in obedience to Your ways.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Secret Of Success

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

--Joshua 1:8-9 (NLT)

Dear Heavenly Father,

I don’t want to measure my prosperity in terms of what the world thinks prosperity is, nor do I want to follow its recipe for achieving success by its standards. I want to follow the plan Your Word has given me for making my way prosperous and having good success.

The world would have me believe that to have success I must gain power and influence over people by whatever means possible, all the while amassing fortunes in money and material goods.  But Your Word shows me the true secrets of success.

So, help me to study Your Word continually—that I might know the instruction of Your Word. 

Help me to meditate on it at all times—so that Your Spirit might open the Truth of Your Word to me.

Help me to carefully do everything that You have instructed me to do within Your Word, knowing that You have given me these instructions for my benefit—so that I might make my way prosperous and have good success.

Grant me the strength and courage to do the things You have commanded me to do—because the way will not always be easy, but it will always be right.

And help me to know that fear and discouragement can have no place in me—as long as I remember that You, my God, are with me, no matter where I go.

I don’t want to measure my prosperity in terms of what the world thinks prosperity is, nor do I want to follow its recipe for achieving success by its standards.  I want to follow the plan Your Word has given me for making my way prosperous and having good success.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.