Control

 

 

Indeed, we all make many mistakes.  For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

 

—James 3:2 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

Save me from the many sinful mistakes I make when I carelessly open my mouth. Help me control my tongue, so that I might be made perfect in You.

Keep me from gossiping. Help me never to say anything about a person behind their backs, that I would not say—with love—to their face. Don’t let me taint the reputation of another with the negative things I might say. Help me build others up, not tear them down. 

 

Keep me from using my tongue to exaggerate, flatter, or exchange the truth for a lie—knowing that the motive behind each of these is manipulation. And help me to speak the truth in love—from a pure motive of reflecting Christ’s love for us all.

 

Keep me from complaining—since complaining drives gratefulness and joy out of my heart and robs me of my very life. And help me to be thankful—in all situations—for the blessings You so richly pour out on my life.

 

Keep me from boasting—except when I testify to what You have done in my life. Help me to be humble—since I know any good thing found in me is all because of You and is only given to me that I might bring You glory.

 

Remind me that in order to bring You glory, I must know when to speak, where to speak, how to speak, and understand why I should speak—just as much as I need to know what to speak.

Save me from the many sinful mistakes I make when I carelessly open my mouth. Help me control my tongue, so that I might be made perfect in You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Don't Drift Away!

 

 

So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

 

—Hebrews 2:1 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Don’t allow me to drift away from the Truth! Help me instead to listen very carefully to the Truth that You speak into my life—through Your Word and through the witness of Your Spirit within me.

 

Help me to hold onto the precious gift of Truth that I have been given—Truth which continues to be revealed to me in proportion to my willingness and obedience to continue to read, study, believe, and apply Your Word to my life.

 

Help me to be careful to remember the Truth I have heard—by regularly meditating upon it—so that I will be ready to apply Your Truth to every situation or circumstance in which I find myself, as I mix my faith with Your Truth.

 

Help me to recognize and guard against the weakness of my mind. For Your Truth is so quick to drain from my heart when I allow the enemy to speak lies into my thoughts—or when I entertain the condemnation that he spews—as he tries to move me from the Truth I find in You.

 

Don’t allow me to drift away from the Truth! Help me instead to listen very carefully to the Truth that You speak into my life—through Your Word and through the witness of Your Spirit within me.

 

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.

 

Honesty

 

 

An honest answer

    is like a kiss of friendship.

 

—Proverbs 24:26 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

God of Truth and Love,

 

Help me to give each person that You put in my path the high honor of always and only speaking the truth to them.

 

I don’t want to be deceived into believing that there is ever a reason for me not to be straightforward and honest with everyone.

 

For only in speaking truthfully—from a heart filled with kindness, love, and compassion—can I claim to be a true friend.

 

Help me to remember that deep down we all are searching for someone who will just tell us the complete and absolute truth—out of their genuine love for us—exactly like Jesus does.

 

Help me to be that person who always answers honestly—and in doing so, offers the true kiss of friendship.

 

Help me to give each person that You put in my path the high honor of always and only speaking the truth to them.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

The Most of Every Opportunity

 

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

 

—Colossians 4:5-6 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to live wisely among those that are not believers, so that I might make the most of every opportunity to offer them truth and grace, spoken in love.

 

Help me not to act foolishly—speaking thoughtlessly or reacting rashly toward others—but rather to walk in the wisdom that comes from knowing Your Word and applying it to my life with willing obedience.

 

Help me to watch for how You are working in the hearts of those around me and to make the most of every opportunity to show Your love to them—especially to those who do not know You as their Savior.

 

When I speak, fill my mouth with Your words, so my conversation would not be my own—so they would be drawn to You, not driven away. 

 

Help me always give the right response in every interaction that I have with them—that response, which is crafted with grace and truth, and wrapped in the beauty of Your unfailing love for them.

 

Help me to live wisely among those that are not believers, so that I might make the most of every opportunity to offer them truth and grace, spoken in love.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Wait Expectantly!

 

 

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;

    in the morning I lay my requests before you

    and wait expectantly.

 

—Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

 

 

Loving LORD,                        

 

Every morning, let me call out to You with confidence, humbly placing my requests before You. Then let me wait expectantly, in Your Presence, believing You hear me and will answer the cry of my heart.

 

Help me come eagerly and boldly before You each morning—with a deep and abiding reverence for You—knowing my reward will be that I will always find You lovingly waiting to meet with me.

 

Help me to approach Your throne with a heart full of gratitude for this great privilege I have been granted of being welcomed into Your Presence—and for the interest that You have in every detail of what I have to say to You about everything I have on my heart.

 

And when I have shared my heart, help me to remember to be still and wait, quietly and expectantly in Your presence, for You to speak to me about Your best plans for me—knowing that You will withhold no good thing from me and trusting that You always want what is best for me.

 

Every morning, let me call out to You with confidence, humbly placing my requests before You. Then let me wait expectantly, in Your Presence, believing You hear me and will answer the cry of my heart.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

If We Could

 

Indeed, we all make many mistakes.  For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

—James 3:2 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

Save me from the many sinful mistakes I make when I carelessly open my mouth. Help me control my tongue, so that I might be made perfect in You.

Keep me from gossiping. Help me never to say anything about a person behind their backs, that I would not say—with love—to their face. Don’t let me taint the reputation of another with the negative things I might say. Help me build others up, not tear them down. 

 

Keep me from using my tongue to exaggerate, flatter, or exchange the truth for a lie—knowing that the motive behind each of these is manipulation. And help me to speak the truth in love—from a pure motive of reflecting Christ’s love for us all.

 

Keep me from complaining—since complaining drives gratefulness and joy out of my heart and robs me of my very life. And help me to be thankful—in all situations—for the blessings You so richly pour out on my life.

 

Keep me from boasting—except when I testify to what You have done in my life. Help me to be humble—since I know any good thing found in me is all because of You and is only given to me that I might bring You glory.

 

Remind me that in order to bring You glory, I must know when to speak, where to speak, how to speak, and understand why I should speak—just as much as I need to know what to speak.

Save me from the many sinful mistakes I make when I carelessly open my mouth. Help me control my tongue, so that I might be made perfect in You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Listen Very Carefully!

 

So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

 

—Hebrews 2:1 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Don’t allow me to drift away from the Truth! Help me instead to listen very carefully to the Truth that You speak into my life—through Your Word and through the witness of Your Spirit within me.

 

Help me to hold onto the precious gift of Truth that I have been given—Truth which continues to be revealed to me in proportion to my willingness and obedience to continue to read, study, believe, and apply Your Word to my life.

 

Help me to be careful to remember the Truth I have heard—by regularly meditating upon it—so that I will be ready to apply Your Truth to every situation or circumstance in which I find myself, as I mix my faith with Your Truth.

 

Help me to recognize and guard against the weakness of my mind. For Your Truth is so quick to drain from my heart when I allow the enemy to speak lies into my thoughts—or when I entertain the condemnation that he spews—as he tries to move me from the Truth I find in You.

 

Don’t allow me to drift away from the Truth! Help me instead to listen very carefully to the Truth that You speak into my life—through Your Word and through the witness of Your Spirit within me.

 

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.

An Honest Answer

 

An honest answer

    is like a kiss of friendship.

 

—Proverbs 24:26 (NLT)

 

 

God of Truth and Love,

 

Help me to give each person that You put in my path the high honor of always and only speaking the truth to them.

 

I don’t want to be deceived into believing that there is ever a reason for me not to be straightforward and honest with everyone.

 

For only in speaking truthfully—from a heart filled with kindness, love, and compassion—can I claim to be a true friend.

 

Help me to remember that deep down we all are searching for someone who will just tell us the complete and absolute truth—out of their genuine love for us—exactly like Jesus does.

 

Help me to be that person who always answers honestly—and in doing so, offers the true kiss of friendship.

 

Help me to give each person that You put in my path the high honor of always and only speaking the truth to them.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Live Wisely

 

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

 

—Colossians 4:5-6 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to live wisely among those that are not believers, so that I might make the most of every opportunity to offer them truth and grace, spoken in love.

 

Help me not to act foolishly—speaking thoughtlessly or reacting rashly toward others—but rather to walk in the wisdom that comes from knowing Your Word and applying it to my life with willing obedience.

 

Help me to watch for how You are working in the hearts of those around me and to make the most of every opportunity to show Your love to them—especially to those who do not know You as their Savior.

 

When I speak, fill my mouth with Your words, so my conversation would not be my own—so they would be drawn to You, not driven away. 

 

Help me always give the right response in every interaction that I have with them—that response, which is crafted with grace and truth, and wrapped in the beauty of Your unfailing love for them.

 

Help me to live wisely among those that are not believers, so that I might make the most of every opportunity to offer them truth and grace, spoken in love.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

You Hear My Voice

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;

    in the morning I lay my requests before you

    and wait expectantly.

 

—Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

 

Loving LORD,                        

 

Every morning, let me call out to You with confidence, humbly placing my requests before You.  Then let me wait expectantly, in Your Presence, believing You hear me and will answer the cry of my heart.

 

Help me come eagerly and boldly before You each morning—with a deep and abiding reverence for You—knowing my reward will be that I will always find You lovingly waiting to meet with me.

 

Help me to approach Your throne with a heart full of gratitude for this great privilege I have been granted of being welcomed into Your Presence—and for the interest that You have in every detail of what I have to say to You about everything I have on my heart.

 

And when I have shared my heart, help me to remember to be still and wait, quietly and expectantly in Your presence, for You to speak to me about Your best plans for me—knowing that You will withhold no good thing from me and trusting that You always want what is best for me.

 

Every morning, let me call out to You with confidence, humbly placing my requests before You.  Then let me wait expectantly, in Your Presence, believing You hear me and will answer the cry of my heart.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.