Amazing Love

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 

–John 3:16-17 (NKJV)

Heavenly Father,

I stand amazed.

I stand amazed that You could love us this much.

I stand amazed that out of Your great love for the world and each of us in it, You gave us Jesus, Your one and only Son, to come live among us.

I stand amazed that all I need to do is to believe in Him with my whole heart...trusting and relying on Him completely in everything...and I will not have to suffer what I deserve, but will be given that which I don’t deserve...eternal life.

I am so thankful that You did not send Jesus to condemn us.

I am so thankful that You sent us Your Son to save us through His great sacrifice.

I am so thankful.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

I Want To Listen With My Heart

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

--James 1:22-25 (NKJV)

Father God,

I want to listen with my heart.

I don’t want to be that person who only listens to Your Word with his ears and fools only himself into believing that he is doing what you require.

I want to be that person who listens to Your Word with his whole heart, holding onto what he hears and allowing the Word to change him within, so he then willingly acts on the things the Word says to do.

I don’t want to be that person who only takes a glance and then quickly forgets.

I want to be that person who:

continues to study Your Word intently,

remembering and taking to heart what it says, 

so that I can walk in the freedom that it gives,

and the blessings that will come, as I do what it says. 

I want to listen with my heart.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

In A Big Rush

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

--James 1:19-20 (NIV)

Patient and Merciful God,

You know that all too often, I am in a big rush to speak…spouting out my own ideas, advice and opinions…rather than being in a big rush to listen, so that I might learn…and thereby not only gain knowledge, but also wisdom.

You know that it is only by that gained knowledge and wisdom, that I am able to allow You, by Your Holy Spirit, to speak through me the life-giving words that You would say.

You know that all too often, I am not only willing, but even eager, to take up any offered offense and then nuture it into anger…rather than to refuse to be offended, knowing that offense does not come from You.

You know that I must refuse offense and remain at peace…within myself and in union with others…if I am ever to produce the righteousness that You not only desire from me, but require of me.

So help me, Lord, to:

Listen first and listen well,

To speak life-giving words inspired by Your Spirit,

To reject any perceived offense,

And to hold onto my peace, that I might please You in all that I do.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

I Choose Life...I Choose You.

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days...

--Deuteronomy 30:19-20a (NKJV)

Heavenly Father,

Through your Word, You have placed the choice before me:

            Life or Death,

            Blessing or Cursing.

But you didn’t leave it there. You even told me which to choose!

You told me to choose life, so that I, along with all my descendants might live in the fullness of life that flows from You, when I choose to:

Love You…as my LORD, in a covenant relationship with You,

Obey You…as evidence of that love for You,

Cling to You…consistent at all times, in my love for You. 

In choosing life...I choose You…because only You, through Your immeasurable love, mercy and grace, can:

            Give me life,

            Preserve my life,

            Revive my life, and

            Lengthen my life.

I choose life…I choose You. 

Help me to never turn from this choice.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

I Don't Need A Thing

The LORD is my shepherd;
         I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
         He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
         He leads me in the paths of righteousness
         For His name’s sake. 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
         I will fear no evil;
         For You are with me;
         Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
         You anoint my head with oil;
         My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
         All the days of my life;
         And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
         Forever.

--Psalm 23 (NKJV)

Lord, my Shepherd,

There is not one thing that I lack.

You take care of me like any good shepherd would, by seeing to my every need, as I rely totally on You for everything.

You take me to a place of comfort, peace and rest.

You refresh and renew my mind and emotions, with life-giving water.

You lead me in the right direction, as I follow You, so I glorify You in what I do.

You stay right with me, even in the most dangerous of places, so I don’t become afraid of anything I face.

I find my comfort in Your rod that protects me and Your staff that directs me.

You show Your goodness to me and Your love for me in front of my enemies, giving me more than enough, so even they can see Your blessing on me.

Your goodness…and mercy…and never failing love…will pursue me all the rest of my days.

And so, I will make my dwelling place in Your presence…now and forever!

There is not one thing that I lack.

 
In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Keep Me Always Connected

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

--John 15:5 (NKJV)

God, my Father,

Help me to never choose a path that separates me from You!

You are the life-giving source of my being.  As long as I continue to walk with Your Holy Spirit…immersed in Your power and strength…and guided by Your Spirit alone, I will produce those things which a godly life should produce.

But if I choose to take a path that leads me away from an intimate, living union with You, then I can no longer produce anything good, because You, the giver of all things good, will no longer be able to flow through me.

Help me to never choose a path that separates me from You!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Help Me To Watch And Pray

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

--Matthew 26:41 (NKJ)

 Dear Heavenly Father,

Help me to watch and pray.

I want to always be on guard against the schemes of the enemy, constantly praying so that my spirit will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit alive in me, able to discern every evil plan set against me to cause me to fall to temptation, so that I will be able to stand against it.

Help me to watch and pray.

I know that my spirit is willing and I can rely on it, but my flesh is weak and I struggle to do what is right when I am unprepared to resist those temptations that catch me unaware. Help me to take this responsibility most seriously.

Help me to watch and pray.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.