You Are the Salt!

 

You are the salt of the earth.  But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?  Can you make it salty again?  It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. —Matthew 5:13 (NLT)

 

Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!                                      —Psalm 34:8 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Do not let me ever forget the calling that Christ placed on my life to be the salt of the earth—so that others may also taste and see that You are good and find the joy that comes when they take their refuge in You!

 

Help me to guard against losing my saltiness—that flavor my life in Christ brings to the world.  For without Christ, my life would be good for nothing and left to be trampled under the feet of a carelessly bustling world.

 

Help me to remember that in order to remain salty, I desperately need to invest my time in being in Your Presence, learning from Your Word and being taught by Your Spirit—as I pray, search the Bible, and sit quietly before You to hear what the Spirit would have to say to my life and circumstances—so that when You add me into the mix of this day, I will be in a position to improve its flavor.

 

So, fill me with the deep and unfailing love of Christ, until it overflows from within me by the power of the Holy Spirit—so that the flavor of every thought that I have, of every word that I speak, and of every action I take, will be made alive—having been seasoned with genuine compassion, patient kindness, fresh and daily-renewed mercy, freely-offered forgiveness, and abundant grace.

 

Do not let me ever forget the calling that Christ placed on my life to be the salt of the earth—so that others may also taste and see that You are good and find the joy that comes when they take their refuge in You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Have No Idols!

 

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold,

    shaped by human hands.

They have mouths but cannot speak,

    and eyes but cannot see.

They have ears but cannot hear,

    and noses but cannot smell.

And those who make idols are just like them,

    as are all who trust in them.

 

—Psalm 135:15-18 (NLT)

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Save me from worshiping anything or anyone but You!

 

Keep me from counting on anything made with human hands, as if those things could save me. Let me instead count on You, the One who created all there is by the power of Your Word.

 

Keep me from worshiping anything that cannot speak to me, anything that cannot reveal the Truth. Let me instead worship only You and listen to hear You speaking to me through Your Word and Your Spirit, in every moment of every day.

 

Keep me from looking to anything that cannot see and understand what I am going through. Let me instead look to You, the One who is personally and intimately acquainted with every trial I face.

 

Keep me from crying out to something that cannot hear or help. Let me instead cry out to You, the One who patiently and compassionately waits to hear my cry for help and is ready and able to supply all my needs.

 

Keep me from trusting in anything that cannot sniff out trouble coming my way. Let me instead trust You to smell the stench of evil coming and warn me by Your Spirit, so I can avoid the disaster of succumbing to its temptations.

 

Keep me from becoming like those things I am tempted to put in front of You—powerless and unable to speak, see, and hear the truth, and unable to smell trouble coming and avoid it. Let me instead be empowered by You to become more like Your Son, Jesus.

 

Keep me from merely making You first among the many objects of my worship. Let me instead worship You—and You alone.

 

Save me from worshiping anything or anyone but You!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Glory of God!

 

 

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

    The skies display his craftsmanship.

Day after day they continue to speak;

    night after night they make him known.

 

—Psalm 19:1-2 (NLT)

 

 

God of All Creation,

 

May I always listen and watch carefully—so that my ears will hear and my eyes will see—as the heavens declare Your glory and the skies display Your craftsmanship.

 

Teach me to consider the evidence of Your existence—that proclamation of Your power and presence—which surrounds me day and night and continuously speaks to make You known.

 

Help me to understand the extent of Your greatness—as demonstrated by the limitlessness of the heavens that You created by Your Word alone—that my faith in Your Word might soar.

 

Show me the wonder of the innumerable multitude of stars You placed in the skies—galaxies that You effortlessly breathed into existence—and help me know that there is nothing too difficult for You.

 

Help me to take comfort within the harmony and order with which You choreographed everything You created—those purposeful and perfect balances and intricacies by which the parts of Your creation interdependently exist.

 

Teach me to see Your love and care reflected in all that You have made and to realize that all this was made for us—so we might see You and believe.

 

And most of all, never let me fail to see Your divine signature written on the deepest parts of who I am—because You have made me in Your very own image.

 

May I always listen and watch carefully—so that my ears will hear and my eyes will see—as the heavens declare Your glory and the skies display Your craftsmanship.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Look at the Heart

 

 

 

“The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 

 

—1 Samuel 16:7b (NLT)

 

 

 

O LORD, who sees each heart,

 

Help me not to judge others based on their outward appearance, but rather help me to take the time to see them as You see them—at the level of their hearts—and then empower me to love them as You do.

 

Keep me from being that person who makes snap judgments about others based on what he sees on the surface—discounting another person's value with the glance of his eye.

 

Rather, teach me to take the time to try to understand the heart of each person that I encounter—to search out the treasures that You have hidden there, just waiting to be discovered.

 

Then help me to see what You see, LORD—a soul worth saving, a life worth sacrificing Your only begotten Son to redeem—and give me that kind of love for them.

 

Help me not to judge others based on their outward appearance, but rather help me to take the time to see them as You see them—at the level of their hearts—and then empower me to love them as You do.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Really Listen, Then Act!

 

 

“You see and recognize what is right

    but refuse to act on it.

You hear with your ears,

    but you don’t really listen.”

 

—Isaiah 42:20 (NLT)

 

 

 

Merciful LORD,

 

Help me be the kind of person who not only sees and recognizes what is right but also acts on it—someone who not only hears with his ears, but also really listens, eager to obey every prompting of Your Spirit.

 

When I already know the right thing to do, help me not to hesitate to do it—knowing that my obedience to Your Word is a direct reflection of my love for you, and will be used by You to bring glory to Yourself.

 

From all the things that my ears hear, help me to listen only for Your Voice—knowing that You will tell me everything that I need to know to accomplish Your plan for my life, and will lead me into every good thing that You have for me.

 

Help me to walk with You, by faith, the path that You unfold before me—knowing that Your very best for me can only be found as I trust in Your unfailing love for me, and return that love to You through my heartfelt obedience.

 

Help me be the kind of person who not only sees and recognizes what is right but also acts on it—someone who not only hears with his ears, but also really listens, eager to obey every prompting of Your Spirit.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Salt

 

“You are the salt of the earth.  But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?  Can you make it salty again?  It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”  —Matthew 5:13 (NLT)

 

Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!                                                            —Psalm 34:8 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Do not let me ever forget the calling that Christ placed on my life to be the salt of the earth—so that others may also taste and see that You are good and find the joy that comes when they take their refuge in You!

 

Help me to guard against losing my saltiness—that flavor my life in Christ brings to the world.  For without Christ, my life would be good for nothing and left to be trampled under the feet of a carelessly bustling world.

 

Help me to remember that in order to remain salty, I desperately need to invest my time in being in Your Presence, learning from Your Word and being taught by Your Spirit—as I pray, search the Bible, and sit quietly before You to hear what the Spirit would have to say to my life and circumstances—so that when You add me into the mix of this day, I will be in a position to improve its flavor.

 

So, fill me with the deep and unfailing love of Christ, until it overflows from within me by the power of the Holy Spirit—so that the flavor of every thought that I have, of every word that I speak, and of every action I take, will be made alive—having been seasoned with genuine compassion, patient kindness, fresh and daily-renewed mercy, freely-offered forgiveness, and abundant grace.

 

Do not let me ever forget the calling that Christ placed on my life to be the salt of the earth—so that others may also taste and see that You are good and find the joy that comes when they take their refuge in You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Unworthiness of Idols

 

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold,

    shaped by human hands.

They have mouths but cannot speak,

    and eyes but cannot see.

They have ears but cannot hear,

    and noses but cannot smell.

And those who make idols are just like them,

    as are all who trust in them.

 

—Psalm 135:15-18 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Save me from worshiping anything or anyone but You.

 

Keep me from counting on anything made with human hands, as if those things could save me. Let me instead count on You, the One who created all there is by the power of Your Word.

 

Keep me from worshiping anything that cannot speak to me, anything that cannot reveal the Truth. Let me instead worship only You and listen to hear You speaking to me through Your Word and Your Spirit, in every moment of every day.

 

Keep me from looking to anything that cannot see and understand what I am going through. Let me instead look to You, the One who is personally and intimately acquainted with every trial I face.

 

Keep me from crying out to something that cannot hear or help. Let me instead cry out to You, the One who patiently and compassionately waits to hear my cry for help and is ready and able to supply all my needs.

 

Keep me from trusting in anything that cannot sniff out trouble coming my way. Let me instead trust You to smell the stench of evil coming and warn me by Your Spirit, so I can avoid the disaster of succumbing to its temptations.

 

Keep me from becoming like those things I am tempted to put in front of You—powerless and unable to speak, see, and hear the truth, and unable to smell trouble coming and avoid it. Let me instead be empowered by You to become more like Your Son, Jesus.

 

Keep me from merely making You first among the many objects of my worship. Let me instead worship You—and You alone.

 

Save me from worshiping anything or anyone but You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

They Make Him Known

 

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

    The skies display his craftsmanship.

Day after day they continue to speak;

    night after night they make him known.

 

—Psalm 19:1-2 (NLT)

 

God of All Creation,

 

May I always listen and watch carefully—so that my ears will hear and my eyes will see—as the heavens declare Your glory and the skies display Your craftsmanship.

 

Teach me to consider the evidence of Your existence—that proclamation of Your power and presence—which surrounds me day and night and continuously speaks to make You known.

 

Help me to understand the extent of Your greatness—as demonstrated by the limitlessness of the heavens that You created by Your Word alone—that my faith in Your Word might soar.

 

Show me the wonder of the innumerable multitude of stars You placed in the skies—galaxies that You effortlessly breathed into existence—and help me know that there is nothing too difficult for You.

 

Help me to take comfort within the harmony and order with which You choreographed everything You created—those purposeful and perfect balances and intricacies by which the parts of Your creation interdependently exist.

 

Teach me to see Your love and care reflected in all that You have made and to realize that all this was made for us—so we might see You and believe.

 

And most of all, never let me fail to see Your divine signature written on the deepest parts of who I am—because You have made me in Your very own image.

 

May I always listen and watch carefully—so that my ears will hear and my eyes will see—as the heavens declare Your glory and the skies display Your craftsmanship.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Look at Their Heart!

 

“The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 

 

—1 Samuel 16:7b (NLT)

 

O LORD, who sees each heart,

 

Help me not to judge others based on their outward appearance, but rather help me to take the time to see them as You see them—at the level of their hearts—and then empower me to love them as You do.

 

Keep me from being that person who makes snap judgments about others based on what he sees on the surface—discounting another person's value with the glance of his eye.

 

Rather, teach me to take the time to try to understand the heart of each person that I encounter—to search out the treasures that You have hidden there, just waiting to be discovered.

 

Then help me to see what You see, LORD—a soul worth saving, a life worth sacrificing Your only begotten Son to redeem—and give me that kind of love for them.

 

Help me not to judge others based on their outward appearance, but rather help me to take the time to see them as You see them—at the level of their hearts—and then empower me to love them as You do.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Do What is Right and Really Listen

 

“You see and recognize what is right

    but refuse to act on it.

You hear with your ears,

    but you don’t really listen.”

 

—Isaiah 42:20 (NLT)

 

Merciful LORD,

 

Help me be the kind of person who not only sees and recognizes what is right, but also acts on it—someone who not only hears with his ears, but also really listens, eager to obey every prompting of Your Spirit.

 

When I already know the right thing to do, help me not to hesitate to do it—knowing that my obedience to Your Word is a direct reflection of my love for you, and will be used by You to bring glory to Yourself.

 

From all the things that my ears hear, help me to listen only for Your Voice—knowing that You will tell me everything that I need to know in order to accomplish Your plan for my life, and will lead me into every good thing that You have for me.

 

Help me to walk with You, by faith, the path that You unfold before me—knowing that Your very best for me can only be found as I trust in Your unfailing love for me, and return that love to You through my heartfelt obedience.

 

Help me be the kind of person who not only sees and recognizes what is right, but also acts on it—someone who not only hears with his ears, but also really listens, eager to obey every prompting of Your Spirit.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Flavor of My Life in Christ

 

“You are the salt of the earth.  But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?  Can you make it salty again?  It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”  —Matthew 5:13 (NLT)

 

Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!         —Psalm 34:8 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Do not let me ever forget the calling that Christ placed on my life to be the salt of the earth—so that others may also taste and see that You are good and find the joy that comes when they take their refuge in You!

 

Help me to guard against losing my saltiness—that flavor my life in Christ brings to the world.  For without Christ, my life would be good for nothing and left to be trampled under the feet of a carelessly bustling world.

 

Help me to remember that in order to remain salty, I desperately need to invest my time in being in Your Presence, learning from Your Word and being taught by Your Spirit—as I pray, search the Bible, and sit quietly before You to hear what the Spirit would have to say to my life and circumstances—so that when You add me into the mix of this day, I will be in a position to improve its flavor.

 

So, fill me with the deep and unfailing love of Christ, until it overflows from within me by the power of the Holy Spirit—so that the flavor of every thought that I have, of every word that I speak, and of every action I take, will be made alive—having been seasoned with genuine compassion, patient kindness, fresh and daily-renewed mercy, freely-offered forgiveness, and abundant grace.

 

Do not let me ever forget the calling that Christ placed on my life to be the salt of the earth—so that others may also taste and see that You are good and find the joy that comes when they take their refuge in You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

The Only Object of My Worship

 

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold,
    shaped by human hands.

They have mouths but cannot speak,
    and eyes but cannot see.

They have ears but cannot hear,
    and noses but cannot smell.

And those who make idols are just like them,
    as are all who trust in them.

—Psalm 135:15-18 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

Save me from worshiping anything—or anyone—but You.

Keep me from counting on anything made with human hands—as if those things could save me.

Let me instead count on You—the One who created all there is by the power of Your Word.

Keep me from worshiping anything that cannot speak to me—that cannot reveal the Truth.

Let me instead worship only You—and listen to hear You speaking to me through Your Word and Your Spirit, in every moment of every day.

Keep me from looking to anything that cannot see and understand what I am going through.

Let me instead look to You—the One who is personally and intimately acquainted with every trial I face.

Keep me from crying out to something that cannot hear or help.

Let me instead cry out to You—the One who patiently and compassionately waits to hear my cry for help and is ready and able to supply all my needs.

Keep me from trusting in anything that cannot sniff out trouble coming my way.

Let me instead trust You—to smell the stench of evil coming and warn me by Your Spirit, so I can avoid the disaster of succumbing to its temptations.

Keep me from becoming like those things I am tempted to put in front of You—powerless and unable to speak, see, and hear the truth, and unable to smell trouble coming and avoid it.

Let me instead be empowered by You—to become more like Your Son, Jesus.

Keep me from merely making You first among the many objects of my worship.

Let me instead worship You—and You alone.

Save me from worshiping anything—or anyone—but You.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.