Always Be . . .

 

 

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

 

—Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Show me how to love others, just as Jesus has loved me.

 

Grant me a humble heart—that I would not think more highly of myself than I ought—knowing that any good thing that may be found in me is only there by Your hand.

 

Grant me a gentle spirit—that I would act with loving gentleness in all my dealings with others—offering them both truth and grace, which are born out of Christ’s great love for us all.

 

Grant me a patient disposition—that I would not blindly rush past any invitation of the Holy Spirit for me to be a part of what You are doing to change the hearts and lives of those You put before me.

 

Grant me a merciful attitude—that I would make allowances for the faults of others, out of my love for them—remembering that all of us are broken in some way and need Your healing touch.

 

Show me how to love others, just as Jesus has loved me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Grow!

 

 

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.  Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

 

—Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Merciful and Gracious God,

 

Help my roots to grow down deeply into Christ Jesus—so that my life is built on Him.

 

Thank You for the awesome blessing of everlasting life that You gave to me when I accepted Christ as my Savior—and for the compounded blessings that I experience in every moment that I chose to make Him the Lord of my life and follow Him in willing obedience.

 

Help my relationship with Him continue to grow deeper every day, so that I can be built up in Him—the One who holds all things together, who is the source of my life and my strength, and who is my only hope. 

 

Help my faith to grow strong in the truth—the truth that I am taught in Him—and let me ever overflow with thankfulness, so that I am not carried away by sin, but continue in that truth that has set me free.

 

Help my roots to grow down deeply into Christ Jesus—so that my life is built on Him.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

An Example to Follow

 

 

I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

 

—John 13:15 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, to us all! May I always follow His example of obedience, humility, and sacrifice, as I serve those whom You have entrusted to me, with the love of Christ.

 

Help me to follow His perfect example. May I reflect His heart more perfectly, offer His grace more compassionately, speak His Truth only out of love, and emulate His servant leadership more completely.

 

Help me to walk in His humility. May I set aside all my pride—not considering anything You ask me to do to be beneath me—and joyfully embrace any invitation that You give me to be a part of what You are doing.

 

Help me to love as Jesus loves. Make me humbly and willingly obedient to every command and instruction of Your Word and every prompting of Your Holy Spirit within me, as evidence of my love for You and my love for my neighbor, for Your glory, honor, and praise. 

 

Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, to us all! May I always follow His example of obedience, humility, and sacrifice, as I serve those whom You have entrusted to me, with the love of Christ.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

No One Can Stop You!

 

 

“I know that you can do anything,
    and no one can stop you.”

 

—Job 42:2 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

Almighty God,

 

Expand the limits of my heart, my mind, and my faith, so that I might more fully embrace the Truth of Your unlimited strength and power, unlimited knowledge and wisdom, unlimited authority and dominion, and unlimited love for me as Your child.

 

Help me to repent of all the times when, by my thoughts, words or actions, I have shown a lack of faith in the Truth of Your greatness, glory, and perfection—times when I have put limits on what I believed that You were able, or were willing, to do.

 

Help me to see, believe, and take comfort in the Truth that Your Plan cannot be stopped—cannot be restrained or prevented—even by the mistakes and misjudgments I make in my life.  You work all things—good and bad—together for my good and interweave them all into the perfection of Your plan!

 

So, help me to move boldly forward with my life, trusting that You will guide my every step and position me in the place that You want me to be, so that You can receive the greatest glory—because of Your unfailing love for us all.

Expand the limits of my heart, my mind, and my faith, so that I might more fully embrace the Truth of Your unlimited strength and power, unlimited knowledge and wisdom, unlimited authority and dominion, and unlimited love for me as Your child.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Don't Get Sidetracked!

 

Mark out a straight path for your feet;
    stay on the safe path.

Don’t get sidetracked;
    keep your feet from following evil.

 

—Proverbs 4:26-27 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

With each new day, help me to mark out the straight path for my feet—the path which leads to a more abundant life!

 

Keep me on that straight path of willing obedience to Your will and Your decrees—as You prove Your loving faithfulness to me by keeping me in every way, when I choose the safe path you have offered me.

 

And don’t allow me to get sidetracked by the distractions of this world—to wander off that path—but help me stay focused on honoring Your ever-abiding Presence with me, as You show me the next best step for me.

 

For then my feet will not follow after evil and I won’t find myself lost along the way—as I journey through this life, on my way home to You.

 

With each new day, help me to mark out the straight path for my feet—the path which leads to a more abundant life!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Mark Out a Straight Path

 

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

 

—Hebrews 12:12-13 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

With each new challenge that comes, grant me the wisdom to renew my grip on the plans You have for me, and the strength and courage to recommit myself to follow the straight path of obedience, for the benefit of all those around me.

 

When I find myself facing difficulties—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—and when I am weary from the fight, help me take a new grip on the call You have placed on my life to follow You.

 

Help me to push forward through those fears that would weaken my knees and undermine my effectiveness—as I courageously face the unknown in the confidence that I am not alone, because Your Spirit upholds me according to the power of Christ at work in me.

 

Help me to follow that straight path of willing obedience to You in all things, so that those who are weak and have been injured in this good fight of faith will see You at work—both in me and through me—and be encouraged, strengthened, healed, and made whole again in You, for Your glory!

With each new challenge that comes, grant me the wisdom to renew my grip on the plans You have for me, and the strength and courage to recommit myself to follow the straight path of obedience, for the benefit of all those around me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

For the Good of Others

 

 

Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.

 

—1 Corinthians 10:24 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

Loving and Compassionate God,

 

Save me from any self-centered tendency in me that would cause me to consider only that which is good for me!

 

Too often I make decisions according to what I think is best for me—with little thought to making those decisions based on what is good for others.

 

Help me to think about myself less, so I can think more about the people that You divinely place in my path—and what I might do that would be best for them.

 

Today, grant me opportunities to be more self-sacrificial—and help me to be willingly obedient to Your Spirit’s promptings, so that Christ may be glorified in me.

 

Save me from any self-centered tendency in me that would cause me to consider only that which is good for me!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Teach Me!

 

 

Teach me to do your will,

    for you are my God;

may your good Spirit

    lead me on level ground.

 

—Psalm 143:10 (NIV)

 

 

 

Gracious LORD,

 

Teach me to do Your will, and by Your good Spirit lead me!  For You are my God—the One who leads me on level ground, ever unfolding before me Your very best plans and purposes for my life.

 

Help me to overcome my great tendency to be self-centered and self-willed—to do only what I want to do—expecting You to bless my plans and cause my self-serving purposes to succeed.

 

Show me how to set aside my own will and trust You to direct my steps according to Your will—according to Your very best for me—knowing that only by submitting myself to Your will can I ever hope to bring You honor and glory with my life.

 

Lead me, by Your good and gracious Holy Spirit, so I might walk uprightly along the level ground of Your unfailing love—on that path of willing obedience that You have called me to travel.

 

Teach me to do Your will, and by Your good Spirit lead me!  For You are my God—the One who leads me on level ground, ever unfolding before me Your very best plans and purposes for my life.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Fully Committed!

 

 

The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

 

—2 Chronicles 16:9a (NLT)

 

 

 

O LORD my God,

 

Let it be that You would find in me a heart that is fully committed to You—so that You would strengthen me in every way, for the work to which You have called me.

 

Don’t allow me to settle for having a heart that is only mostly surrendered to You—a heart that is willing to stop at, “At least I’m better than I used to be!” or “Nobody’s perfect, everybody sins.”

 

Purify my heart!  Show me my heart and any darkness I have hidden there!  Help me to root out those things that I am withholding from You—according to the sanctifying power of Your Holy Spirit within me.

 

Grant me a heart that is willing and obedient—willing to seek out the truth of Your Word, and faithful to obediently apply that Truth to my life, so that I would be found faithful in Your eyes.

 

Give me a listening heart—a heart that listens to hear and respond to every prompting of Your Spirit, a heart that is eager to do all that You ask of me.

 

Give me a loving heart—a heart that loves You first, and best, and always, and loves others in the same way that You have so graciously and wondrously loved me—as a proof of my love for You.

 

Let it be that You would find in me a heart that is fully committed to You—so that You would strengthen me in every way, for the work to which You have called me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

God is With You!

 

“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)

 

O LORD, My God,

 

Thank You for giving us Your Word—this amazing Book of Instruction—which tells us everything we need to know to navigate the challenges of life here on earth and fulfill our calling with strength and courage!

 

Help me to study Your Word continually and meditate on its truth day and night—so that I will not only be careful to fully understand Your instruction but also be able to apply its Truth to my life, in willing obedience.

 

For if I obey Your instruction, You have promised I will prosper and succeed in all that I do—and because of Your blessing upon my life, others will come to understand their own need for a relationship with You.

 

Keep me far from fear and discouragement—comforted by knowing that, though Your way for me may not always seem easy, it will always be right. And help me to remain strong and courageous, confident in the Truth that You are always with me wherever I go.

 

Thank You for giving us Your Word—this amazing Book of Instruction—which tells us everything we need to know to navigate the challenges of life here on earth and fulfill our calling, with strength and courage!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Do What It Says!

 

 

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

 

—James 1:22 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Don’t allow me to fool myself!  Help me not only to listen to Your Word, but also willingly choose to do what it says!

 

Save me from the self-deception that I am accomplishing something good when I merely listen to Your Word, but then walk away—failing to embrace and apply its instructions to my life.

 

Help me always to approach Your Word carefully and with proper reverence for the power of the Truth that it contains—that power to change me, from within, into all that You have called me to be.

 

Help me to invest the time to look carefully into the perfect law that sets me free, so that I can understand it, do what it says, remember what I have heard, and enjoy the freedom that living by Your Word can bring me.

 

Don’t allow me to fool myself!  Help me not only to listen to Your Word, but also willingly choose to do what it says!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

God is Faithful!

 

 

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

 

—1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father, 

 

Thank You for being faithful to provide the way of escape—from the temptations of this world—to all who have received the salvation you offer through Jesus Christ.

 

Don’t allow me to think that the temptation that overcomes me is any different than those that the rest of humanity experiences. Help me to see that every temptation is common to mankind in this broken world—and allowed by You that I may grow through them.

 

Help me to remember that because of the Holy Spirit who lives within me, I have the power available to resist and withstand every temptation, to choose a different way—the way of escape. I have been set free from my slavery to sin—set free to choose what is right and good and to reject that which is not.

 

Help me see that the way of escape is found within my relationship with Your written and living Word. Keep me willingly obedient to every instruction of Your Word, trusting every prompting of Your Spirit—as You lead me in the path of life and peace.

 

Thank You for being faithful to provide the way of escape—from the temptations of this world—to all who have received the salvation you offer through Jesus Christ.

 

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Arise! Shine!

 

 

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

 

—Isaiah 60:1 (ESV)

 

Dear Lord Jesus,

 

Thank You that the light of a new day has come, but even more so, that Your Glorious Light has come to dispel all the darkness!

 

Help us to receive Your Light—to receive everything that You have for us, in this new day, with open, willing, and eagerly obedient hearts.

 

Teach us what You want us to learn. Help us walk in the depths of all that You want us to experience as Your lead us by Your Light. And instruct us in the way that we should go, how we should think about things, and what we should say, and do!

 

May the Light of Your Glory be upon us and within us, that we might shine with it brightly and dispel the darkness surrounding us!

 

Thank You that the light of a new day has come, but even more so, that Your Glorious Light has come to dispel all the darkness!

 

In Your Name, Lord Jesus, Amen!

Watch and Pray!

 

 

"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

 

—Matthew 26:41 (NKJV)

 

 

Heavenly Father,  

 

Help me to watch and pray.

 

Help me keep watch against all the schemes of the enemy by living each moment of my life in prayerful fellowship with You—so that my spirit will remain sensitive to every prompting of Your Holy Spirit within me, and my life can be lived in the peace You offer to those who will trust and obey.

 

By Your Holy Spirit, grant me wisdom and discernment to identify and confront any deceit that may lead to temptation. Enable me to counter these falsehoods with the truth of Your Word, so I may experience the liberty inherent in truth.

 

I acknowledge that, although my spirit is willing, my flesh is weak. May I rely on Your Spirit to strengthen me and enable me to resist every temptation I encounter, ensuring that my life is filled with only the best that You have for me.

 

Help me to watch and pray.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.