The Plans Of My Heart

Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

—Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

Sovereign LORD,

Help me to lift up my plans before You—with my palms wide open—as I submit my will to Your will and my life to Your purpose.

You know every plan of my heart, before it is ever formed in my thoughts.

You know when I make my plans in perfect concert with Your will for me.

You know when I make my plans without first consulting You at all.

You know when I make my plans despite what I have heard from You.

You know when I make my plans in foolishness and selfishness.

Yet despite all my plans, it is Your purpose that prevails.

So mold my plans to accomplish Your purposes, as I believe You to do great things in my life.

And help me to remember that Your plans are always for my best—a reflection of Your perfect and unfailing love for me.

Help me to lift up my plans before You—with my palms wide open—as I submit my will to Your will and my life to Your purpose.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

No Fear Of Bad News

Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
    they will be remembered forever.

They will have no fear of bad news;
    their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
    in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.

—Psalm 112:6-8 (NIV)

Great and Gracious God,

May I live out my life uprightly and in right standing with You, so that my faith is not shaken by the attacks of the enemy, and so my heart remains unafraid and at peace in the face of bad news, because it has found its security in You.

Because of Your unfailing love for me, and by the blood of Jesus Christ, You have made me to be righteous—upright and in right-standing—before You. 

Let my life be lived out in that righteousness—as a willing and obedient response to Your love for me—so that the positive impact my life has upon this world might go on forever.

When the world brings me bad news, help me to remain at peace and not be afraid—as I steadfastly trust in You—knowing that my faith is placed in the One Good, Gracious and Sovereign LORD God who works in all circumstances for my ultimate good.

May my heart remain secure in the knowledge that I can walk in the victory that You have provided for me here, until that day when You take me home to be with You forever, in ultimate and complete victory over every enemy, there.

May I live out my life uprightly and in right standing with You, so that my faith is not shaken by the attacks of the enemy, and so my heart remains unafraid and at peace in the face of bad news, because it has found its security in You.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

When I Seek You

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
A refuge in times of trouble.

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.

—Psalm 9:9-10 (NKJV)

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that You never turn away from anyone who seeks to know You, but rather, You allow Yourself to be found and known—that all might trust You and find their refuge in You.

Thank You that I can know Your name, know the power and perfection of that Holy name, and become personally acquainted with the One to whom that name belongs.

Thank You that the more I seek You, the more You will reveal to me about Yourself—and the more I will come to put my trust in You.

Thank You that when I put my trust in You, You become my place of refuge—a high and strong place of safety and peace for my soul—in the midst of the storm of trouble that surrounds me on every side.

And though in this world I cannot escape the trouble and suffering that comes to all of us, by Your grace and mercy You are always here with me to carry me through it all in peace, whenever I put my trust in You.

Thank You that You never turn away from anyone who seeks to know You, but rather, You allow Yourself to be found and known—that all might trust You and find their refuge in You.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.