Our Strength!

 

They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

 

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our LORD. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

 

And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.”  So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.

 

—Nehemiah 8:8-12 (NLT)

 

Loving LORD God,

 

Let my joy never waver, my strength never wane, as You help me to understand the truth of the good plans You have laid out clearly before me, in the pages of Your Word.

 

As I come to understand Your Word more and more—and in that understanding, my sins are brought to light before me—help me not only to mourn my sin and repent, but help me even more to rejoice in the power of Your love to remove my sin from me, so my joy in You might not waver and cause me to lose strength.

 

Help me to live in the understanding that my joy in You will strengthen me to be obedient to the things that You have placed before me to do and cause me to be able to resist any temptations from the enemy to do the wrong thing.

 

Help me to spread the joy that acceptance of Your salvation and obedience to Your Word brings, by sharing with others the abundant blessings You have placed on my life—materially, physically and spiritually.

 

Let my joy never waver, my strength never wane, as You help me to understand the truth of the good plans You have laid out clearly before me, in the pages of Your Word.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Like the Morning Mist

 

 

I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,

        your sins like the morning mist.

    Return to me,

        for I have redeemed you.

 

  —Isaiah 44:22 (NIV)

 

 

O LORD, My God and My Redeemer, 

 

Let me forever live in the truth of the work of redemption You performed in me, when You removed all my offenses and sins, so that I could return to You!

 

You have swept away my offenses like a cloud that the wind carries away—so that Your light can shine on me, in me, and through me.

 

My sins are gone—like the morning mist that evaporates in the warmth of the rising sun. You have done this for me—out of Your immeasurable love for me—to make a way for me to return to You!

 

So when I sin, make my heart eager to repent and return to You, my feet ready to run to You—for my salvation is found in You alone!

 

Let me forever live in the truth of the work of redemption You performed in me, when You removed all my offenses and sins, so that I could return to You!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Joy of the LORD

 

They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

 

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our LORD. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

 

And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.”  So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.

 

—Nehemiah 8:8-12 (NLT)

 

Loving LORD God,

 

Let my joy never waver, my strength never wane, as You help me to understand the truth of the good plans You have laid out clearly before me, in the pages of Your Word.

 

As I come to understand Your Word more and more—and in that understanding, my sins are brought to light before me—help me not only to mourn my sin and repent, but help me even more to rejoice in the power of Your love to remove my sin from me, so my joy in You might not waver and cause me to lose strength.

 

Help me to live in the understanding that my joy in You will strengthen me to be obedient to the things that You have placed before me to do and cause me to be able to resist any temptations from the enemy to do the wrong thing.

 

Help me to spread the joy that acceptance of Your salvation and obedience to Your Word brings, by sharing with others the abundant blessings You have placed on my life—materially, physically and spiritually.

 

Let my joy never waver, my strength never wane, as You help me to understand the truth of the good plans You have laid out clearly before me, in the pages of Your Word.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Return to God

 

I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,

        your sins like the morning mist.

    Return to me,

        for I have redeemed you.

 

  —Isaiah 44:22 (NIV)

 

 

O LORD, My God and My Redeemer, 

 

Let me forever live in the truth of the work of redemption You performed in me, when You removed all my offenses and sins, so that I could return to You!

 

You have swept away my offenses like a cloud that the wind carries away—so that Your light can shine on me, in me, and through me.

 

My sins are gone—like the morning mist that evaporates in the warmth of the rising sun. You have done this for me—out of Your immeasurable love for me—to make a way for me to return to You!

 

So when I sin, make my heart eager to repent and return to You, my feet ready to run to You—for my salvation is found in You alone!

 

Let me forever live in the truth of the work of redemption You performed in me, when You removed all my offenses and sins, so that I could return to You!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

The Joy of the LORD is My Strength!

 

They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our LORD. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.”  So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.

—Nehemiah 8:8-12 (NLT)

 

Loving LORD God,

Let my joy never waver, my strength never wane, as You help me to understand the truth of the good plans You have laid out clearly before me, in the pages of Your Word.

As I come to understand Your Word more and more—and in that understanding, my sins are brought to light before me—help me not only to mourn my sin and repent, but help me even more to rejoice in the power of Your love to remove my sin from me, so my joy in You might not waver and cause me to lose strength.

Help me to live in the understanding that my joy in You will strengthen me to be obedient to the things that You have placed before me to do and cause me to be able to resist any temptations from the enemy to do the wrong thing.

Help me to spread the joy, that acceptance of Your salvation and obedience to Your Word brings, by sharing with others the abundant blessings You have placed on my life—materially, physically and spiritually.

Let my joy never waver, my strength never wane, as You help me to understand the truth of the good plans You have laid out clearly before me, in the pages of Your Word.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Return to Me

    I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,

        your sins like the morning mist.

    Return to me,

        for I have redeemed you.

    —Isaiah 44:22 (NIV)

 

O LORD, My God and My Redeemer, 

 

Let me forever live in the truth of the work of redemption You performed in me, when You removed all my offenses and sins, so that I could return to You!

You have swept away my offenses like a cloud that the wind carries away—so that Your light can shine on me, in me, and through me.

My sins are gone—like the morning mist that evaporates in the warmth of the rising sun. You have done this for me—out of Your immeasurable love for me—to make a way for me to return to You!

So when I sin, make my heart eager to repent and return to You, my feet ready to run to You—for my salvation is found in You alone!

Let me forever live in the truth of the work of redemption You performed in me, when You removed all my offenses and sins, so that I could return to You!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

To Worship and Serve the Creator, Not the Creation

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.  Let me worship and serve only You, as the Creator of all that there is and all that there will ever be!

Help me to hold onto the Truth of who You are and stand against the assault of lies that this world would have me believe—as I fill my mind, my heart and my mouth with the truth of Your Word, and act out of that truth alone.

Help me quickly to 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.

Strengthen my resolve to follow after Truth by giving me great wisdom and discernment—so that I allow nothing to take Your rightful place of worship in my heart, and so my eternal praise is offered to You alone.

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

In the name of Jesus, Amen.