Created To Do Good

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

--Ephesians 2: 8-10 (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

Help me to remember that while I can’t earn my way into Heaven, my purpose for being here on earth is to do the good works that You have planned for me to do.

Thank you for the free gift of salvation that You have provided for me by Your grace and which I have received by faith.

Always keep me mindful that I didn’t earn my salvation nor do I deserve it because of anything that I did or might do—that I simply and freely received it when I reached out my heart to You.

When I speak of my salvation, help me give all the glory and praise to You, for Your merciful grace which made it possible.

When I do any good works, let me give all the glory and praise to You, for You are the One Who created me to do them.

Don’t let me lose sight of the fact that You already planned for me to do the good works that I do and that, by my re-creation in Christ, You have uniquely designed and equipped me to do them according to Your plan, so that my life might glorify You.

Help me to remember that while I can’t earn my way into Heaven, my purpose for being here on earth is do the good works that You have planned for me to do.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Your Gift Of Tears

Jesus wept.

--John 11:35 (NIV)

Compassionate Lord,

Thank You for the tears You shed.

Thank You for loving me enough to lay aside Your divine nature and take on the flesh and blood and the mind and emotions of a man, so I would know that You know how I feel.

Thank You that there is healing from my hurts and pains in the tears that You designed for me to shed—that it’s okay to cry.

Thank You that understanding Your compassion for all of us reminds me to show compassion for those around me.

Thank You for the tears You shed.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Way I Want To Go

There is a way that appears to be right,
   but in the end it leads to death.

--Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)

Dear Heavenly Father,

Open my eyes so I might be saved from the path of self-deception that causes my own destruction along the way, and ultimately leads me to death!

I want to see Your Truth and walk in it—not walk according to what seems right to my flesh.

Stop me when I lose sight of Your Truth and I begin to move in a direction of hypocrisy by “playing at religion” as if it were some kind of performance I give for the praise of man.

Show me the way that leads to life, so that I everything that I do would be pleasing to You and for Your glory.

Open my eyes so I might be saved from the path of self-deception that causes my own destruction along the way, and ultimately leads me to death!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Standing Firm

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

--1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

Gracious God,

Help me to take the threat of attack by the enemy seriously, but also keep my peace in the fact that if I stand strong in my faith in You, You will deliver me from traps he has set for me.

Keep me alert to his deceptions and aware of his tactics and remind me that he is battling for my very soul—and the battlefield is my heart and my mind.

Remind me that I don’t have to be afraid, because he can only harm me by deceiving me into believing his lies, and while he may make a lot of noise, he cannot have any control over me that I don’t give him.

So, I will trust You, LORD, to save me from the enemy as I stand firm in my faith and resist his verbal attacks, knowing that my battle is no different than that of the whole family of believers in Christ.

Help me to take the threat of attack by the enemy seriously, but also keep my peace in the fact that if I stand strong in my faith in You, You will deliver me from traps he has set for me.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Giving Freely

One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
   another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

 A generous person will prosper;
   whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

--Proverbs 11:24-25 (NIV)

Giver of Life,

I want to be a person who gives freely every day!

Show me how and where You want me to give today—whether it is of my money, of my gifts and talents, of my time, or of anything else that You have so abundantly blessed me with—because I want to get involved where I know You are working.

Help me not to lose sight of the truth that every resource I now have, was a gift that You freely gave to me, and that just as You generously have blessed me, I should follow Your example of blessing.

I know that as I give freely, You will cause me to gain even more—whether it be material gain, emotional gain, or spiritual gain—according to what I have given.  As I manage that increase, help me to use it for Your purposes and Your glory.

Don’t let me fall into the trap of poverty by withholding what I am able to give, out of my fear of losing it, and so in turn, change what was intended for blessing into an idol that leads me into sin, causing me to lose everything.

I am so grateful for the amazing way that You are always at work to bless me.  When I seek to be a blessing, I am blessed all the more.  When I seek to encourage someone, I am encouraged at the same time.  When I share the Truth of Your Word with someone, that Truth is more clearly revealed to me. When I seek to refresh someone, I myself am refreshed beyond measure.

I want to be a person who gives freely every day!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Holding My Peace

The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.

--Exodus 14:14 (NKJV)

Dear Lord,

Help me to hold my peace, today.

So often in the battles of life and of living, I am tempted to open my big mouth and take up the fight to try to help You defend me or help You correct some perceived injustice that was perpetrated against me.

Help me to realize that when I do that I am demonstrating my lack of trust in You—acting out of fear, instead of acting in faith.

So often when I take up the fight, I run ahead of you and I say or do something to make matters much worse than they already were and in doing so, cause great damage to my reputation and my witness as a Christian.

Help me not to forget that You see every injustice, hurt and pain and that out of Your great love for me, You will always settle every injustice, soothe every hurt and heal every pain, in Your perfect timing and according to Your perfect plan for my life—and that You don’t really need my help to get it done.

Help me remember that it is my responsibility to “hold my peace”—that is to remain in the peace that you have given me to walk in by setting a guard on my mouth, controlling my actions, and demonstrating my trust in You alone to make all things right.

Help me to stay out of the way, wait on You, and watch as You fight my battles for me.

Help me to hold my peace, today.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

In His Service

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

--Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

Save me from any tendency I might have for doing things half-heartedly, by reminding me who I work for!

I truly want to please You in all things and at all times, because I love You.

Don’t let me forget that everything I do—both the very big things and the very small things—should be done to bring glory to You, not as if I needed to please man, but out of a heart to please You.

Convict my heart when I am tempted to complain in the mundane tasks of life, and give me a heart to give You the very best I have to offer, no matter what task I find before me, never forgetting the great reward You have waiting for me at the end of my labor here on Earth.

Keep me ever mindful that You see everything that I do, so that I might willingly and obediently work to please You.

Save me from any tendency I might have for doing things half-heartedly, by reminding me who I work for!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.