Truly Free

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.  A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”

—John 8:34-36 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Help me to fully live out this day in the freedom that was purchased for me at the cross of Christ.

You have called me out of my slavery to sin and have invited me to take my place of freedom as Your very own child—a chosen member of Your own family.

You have made possible my total freedom—so that sin no longer has the power to make me its slave, by controlling me, manipulating me, clouding my mind, will and emotions, and dictating my every action.

Thank You that through Christ Jesus, Your Son, You have set me free to obey You, as an act of my love for You, and have poured out on me the blessings that flow from that obedience—joy, peace, provision, protection, power and purpose—as I fulfill Your plan for me, by serving You wholeheartedly.

Help me to continue to choose to be free—as I seek You out by searching Your Word and placing my confidence in its Truth, and as I listen for Your Voice and respond with loving, obedient submission to You—so that You can continue the work of sanctification in me.

Help me to fully live out this day in the freedom that was purchased for me at the cross of Christ.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Faith Expressed Through Love

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

—Galatians 5:6b (NIV)

 And it is impossible to please God without faith.

—Hebrews 11:6a (NLT)

Love never fails.

—1 Corinthians 13:8a (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

In response to Your love for me, help me to put my attention on that which truly matters and not allow myself to be distracted from that which pleases you—faith expressed through love.

Fill me with Your compassionate love for others, so I might learn how to love everyone with the same sacrificial love with which You first loved me—not with some less-than-adequate human love which self-centeredly picks and chooses when to love and who to love.

Help me to love in obedience, when I don’t really want to love—when I’m just not feeling it—and when I can’t see any apparent return for my efforts.

Help me to love sacrificially those who I may think don’t deserve my love—who may be oblivious to my actions of love—and to whom my love seems to make no difference.

Help me love in faith, having faith that my expression of the God-kind of love always accomplishes the purpose for which You have ordained it—whether by changing the other person, or by bringing about a change in myself—and that it never falls uselessly to the ground.

In response to Your love for me, help me to put my attention on that which truly matters and not allow myself to be distracted from that which pleases you—faith expressed through love.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Your Glorious Riches

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

—Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

I come before You this day declaring that You are Jehovah-jireh—the God who provides!

I give You praise from a thankful heart, because You have always been faithful to supply all of my needs—so that each day of my life I have always had everything that I needed to be able to carry out Your plans and purposes for me.

I thank You in advance, placing all of my trust in You, that You will provide everything that I need today, to accomplish Your will for me—as I remain in Christ Jesus and seek after You with all my heart.

Thank You that this same abundant and glorious supply is available to all who have received the gift of Christ Jesus—who have been adopted into Your family and been freely given access to all that You have to offer them.

Help me to remember that the supplying of my needs is not according to whatever meager riches that I have stored up in the natural, but rather, according to the inexhaustible supply of Your glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus—so that every physical and spiritual need I have is supplied out of Your love for me and according to Your will for my life.

Help me to carry this message of hope to others, so they might live in the freedom that it brings.

I come before You this day declaring that You are Jehovah-jireh—the God who provides!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.