Unless God Gives It

 

 

John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.” 

—John 3:27 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Never allow me to forget that there is no talent that I have, no position I hold, no power I wield, and no possession I own, that You haven’t given to me—and help me to walk humbly before You in that understanding.

 

Keep me from the pride that comes when I am deceived into believing that the talents that I have are a result of my own striving—rather than the blessing of Your hand alone, which You intend to be used for Your glory and honor and praise.

 

Help me to represent Christ well in any position in which You have placed me—knowing that You have put me there to make me known, so that I would make You known to others.

 

Help me to use any power that You have entrusted to me with gentleness and kindness, to bring about good—as I reflect Your goodness in every thought I think, every decision I make, every word I speak, and every action I take.

 

And help me to hold any possession that You have given to me, with open hands lifted to You—that You might use it, or take it from me, according to Your perfect plans and purposes, that Your will would be accomplished in me.

 

Never allow me to forget that there is no talent that I have, no position I hold, no power I wield, and no possession I own, that You haven’t given to me—and help me to walk humbly before You in that understanding.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Fear and Serve the LORD!

 

“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!  And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” —Joshua 24:14-15 (NKJV)

 

LORD GOD Almighty,

 

Show me how to fear You, LORD—in awe and reverence of everything that You are and all that You have done!  As I seek to serve You in sincerity and in truth, let me put no other gods before You.

 

Multiple times within each new day, I am faced with making the same decision that Joshua told the children of Israel they must make. Because I have free-will, I get to choose whom I will serve, but I still must make that choice. Help me to choose only You.

 

Help me to understand and remember that it is impossible for me not to worship—whether it is some thing or someone—and that whatever I give my time, talents, and money to, has the potential to be my god.

 

So, help me to reject any of the false gods that others, who came before me, may have served—gods of success, money, power, possessions, or even other people.

 

Help me also reject the false gods of this present world in which I must dwell—paying close attention not to allow any of the so-called “good things of this life” to become gods that I place before You.

 

Help me to repeatedly make the right choice for me and my house, as to whom we will serve. Help us always to choose You, LORD.

 

Show me how to fear You, LORD—in awe and reverence of everything that You are and all that You have done!  As I seek to serve You in sincerity and in truth, let me put no other gods before You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Living in This Evil World

 

And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

—Titus 2:12-13 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to live in this evil world in a way that brings glory to You—as I look forward with hope to that wonderful day when all of Christ’s glory will be revealed.

 

You have told me to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures, and yet I must still live in this world—which is full of godlessness and sin.

 

So, help me to stand against the temptations of the world—by granting me the wisdom I need to correctly discern good from evil, the strength I need to make right and pure choices, and the assurance of Your love and goodness that I need to live a life that is devoted to You.

 

Help me to live purposefully while I am here—as I use the gifts and talents that You have given me to be a part of building Your Kingdom here on earth.  And let me look forward with great hope and anticipation to the day when my battles with temptation will end—when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, comes again.

 

Help me to live in this evil world in a way that brings glory to You—as I look forward with hope to that wonderful day when all of Christ’s glory will be revealed.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Servant of Everyone Else

 

After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?”  But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.  He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”—Mark 9:33-35 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

May everything that I say and do, the deepest thoughts of my mind, and every hidden motive of my heart, always be pleasing to You—so that I never have to be ashamed when I am asked to account for them.

 

Help me to guard against being caught up in chasing after any man-made ideas of what success or achievement might be—only to find that my own self-promotion has kept me from Your higher plans and better purposes for my life. 

 

Help me to watch that I don’t allow my own deep-rooted insecurities or foolish pride cause me to put too much stock in the power of a position, or the amount of prestige it might happen to carry—but humbly remember that I am nothing without You.

 

Help me to fully understand that all my energy, time and talents should be directed to knowing Christ for myself and making Him known to others—by following His example of leadership and reflecting His love—as I become a servant of all.

 

May everything that I say and do, the deepest thoughts of my mind, and every hidden motive of my heart, always be pleasing to You—so that I never have to be ashamed when I am asked to account for them.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Unless God Gives It

 

 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.” 

—John 3:27 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Never allow me to forget that there is no talent that I have, no position I hold, no power I wield, and no possession I own, that You haven’t given to me—and help me to walk humbly before You in that understanding.

 

Keep me from the pride that comes when I am deceived into believing that the talents that I have are a result of my own striving—rather than the blessing of Your hand alone, which You intend to be used for Your glory and honor and praise.

 

Help me to represent Christ well in any position in which You have placed me—knowing that You have put me there in order to make me known, so that I would make You known to others.

 

Help me to use any power that You have entrusted to me with gentleness and kindness, to bring about good—as I reflect Your goodness in every thought I think, every decision I make, every word I speak, and every action I take.

 

And help me to hold any possession that You have given to me, with open hands lifted to You—that You might use it, or take it from me, according to Your perfect plans and purposes, that Your will would be accomplished in me.

 

Never allow me to forget that there is no talent that I have, no position I hold, no power I wield, and no possession I own, that You haven’t given to me—and help me to walk humbly before You in that understanding.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Choose for Yourselves

 

“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!  And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” —Joshua 24:14-15 (NKJV)

 

LORD GOD Almighty,

 

Show me how to fear You, LORD—in awe and reverence of everything that You are and all that You have done!  As I seek to serve You in sincerity and in truth, let me put no other gods before You.

 

Multiple times within each new day, I am faced with making the same decision that Joshua told the children of Israel they must make.  Because I have free-will, I get to choose whom I will serve, but I still must make that choice.  Help me to choose only You.

 

Help me to understand and remember that it is impossible for me not to worship—whether it is some thing or someone—and that whatever I give my time, talents, and money to, has the potential to be my god.

 

So help me to reject any of the false gods that others, who came before me, may have served—gods of success, money, power, possessions, or even other people.

 

Help me also reject the false gods of this present world in which I must dwell—paying close attention not to allow any of the so-called “good things of this life” to become gods that I place before You.

 

Help me to repeatedly make the right choice for me and my house, as to whom we will serve.  Help us always to choose You, LORD.

 

Show me how to fear You, LORD—in awe and reverence of everything that You are and all that You have done!  As I seek to serve You in sincerity and in truth, let me put no other gods before You.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Living as Instructed

 

And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

—Titus 2:12-13 (NLT)

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to live in this evil world in a way that brings glory to You—as I look forward with hope to that wonderful day when all of Christ’s glory will be revealed.

 

You have told me to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures, and yet I must still live in this world—which is full of godlessness and sin.

 

So, help me to stand against the temptations of the world—by granting me the wisdom I need to correctly discern good from evil, the strength I need to make right and pure choices, and the assurance of Your love and goodness that I need to live a life that is devoted to You.

 

Help me to live purposefully while I am here—as I use the gifts and talents that You have given me to be a part of building Your Kingdom here on earth.  And let me look forward with great hope and anticipation to the day when my battles with temptation will end—when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, comes again.

 

Help me to live in this evil world in a way that brings glory to You—as I look forward with hope to that wonderful day when all of Christ’s glory will be revealed.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Be the Servant

 

After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?”  But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.  He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”—Mark 9:33-35 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Let everything that I say and do, the deepest thoughts of my mind, and every hidden motive of my heart, always be pleasing to You—so that I never have to be ashamed when I am asked to account for them.

 

Help me to guard against being caught up in chasing after any man-made ideas of what success or achievement might be—only to find that my own self-promotion has kept me from Your higher plans and better purposes for my life. 

 

Help me to watch that I don’t allow my own deep-rooted insecurities or foolish pride to cause me to put too much stock in the power of a position, or the amount of prestige it might happen to carry—but humbly remember that I am nothing without You.

 

Help me to fully understand that all my energy, time and talents should be directed to knowing Christ for myself and making Him known to others—by following His example of leadership and reflecting His love—as I become a servant of all.

 

Let everything that I say and do, the deepest thoughts of my mind, and every hidden motive of my heart, always be pleasing to You—so that I never have to be ashamed when I am asked to account for them.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Unless God Gives it From Heaven

 

 

John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.”

—John 3:27 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Never allow me to forget that there is no talent that I have, no position I hold, no power I wield, and no possession I own, that You haven’t given to me—and help me to walk humbly before You in that understanding.

Keep me from the pride that comes when I am deceived into believing that the talents that I have are a result of my own striving—rather than the blessing of Your hand alone, which You intend to be used for Your glory and honor and praise.

Help me to represent Christ well in any position in which You have placed me—knowing that You have put me there in order to make me known, so that I would make You known to others.

Help me to use any power that You have entrusted to me with gentleness and kindness, to bring about good—as I reflect Your goodness in every thought I think, every decision I make, every word I speak, and every action I take.

And help me to hold any possession that You have given to me, with open hands lifted up to You—that You might use it, or take it from me, according to Your perfect plans and purposes, that Your will would be accomplished in me.

Never allow me to forget that there is no talent that I have, no position I hold, no power I wield, and no possession I own, that You haven’t given to me—and help me to walk humbly before You in that understanding.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

We Will Serve the LORD!

 

“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!  And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

—Joshua 24:14-15 (NKJV)

 

LORD GOD Almighty,

Show me how to fear You, LORD—in awe and reverence of everything that You are and all that You have done!  As I seek to serve You in sincerity and in truth, let me put no other gods before You.

Multiple times within each new day, I am faced with making the same decision that Joshua told the children of Israel they must make.  Because I have free-will, I get to choose whom I will serve, but I still must make that choice.  Help me to choose only You.

Help me to understand and remember that it is impossible for me not to worship—whether it is some thing or someone—and that whatever I give my time, talents, and money to, has the potential to be my god.

So help me to reject any of the false gods that others, who came before me, may have served—gods of success, money, power, possessions, or even other people.

Help me also reject the false gods of this present world in which I must dwell—paying close attention not to allow any of the so-called “good things of this life” to become gods that I place before You.

Help me to repeatedly make the right choice for me and my house, as to whom we will serve.  Help us always to choose You, LORD.

Show me how to fear You, LORD—in awe and reverence of everything that You are and all that You have done!  As I seek to serve You in sincerity and in truth, let me put no other gods before You.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.