Speaking Truth, Doing Good, Chasing Peace

Does anyone want to live a life
    that is long and prosperous?
Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies!
Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

—Psalm 34:12-14 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Let every word I speak be virtuous and true, let every action I take be kind and good, and let me have a heart that searches for peace and works to maintain it, down every path You have me walk.

Help me not to speak evil things—words that hurt, rather than heal; words that tear down, rather than build up; words that bring despair, rather than hope.

And keep me from telling lies—words that deceive, rather than reveal; words that slander, rather than commend; words that omit, rather than declare the whole truth.

Help me to remember that while it is good for me to turn away from evil, You desire so much more of me—that to be truly obedient to You, I must also do good things for others.

Help me to understand that in order for me to live in the peace that You want me to enjoy, I must never stop searching for that peace and working to maintain it through all of my thoughts, words and actions.

Help me to do all these things, as a testimony to Your power at work in me, so that I may live long enough in this world to accomplish Your plan and purpose for me here, before I join You there for eternity.

Let every word I speak be virtuous and true, let every action I take be kind and good, and let me have a heart that searches for peace and works to maintain it, down every path You have me walk.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

It Is Not For Me To Direct My Steps

LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own;
    it is not for them to direct their steps.
Discipline me, LORD, but only in due measure—
    not in your anger,
    or you will reduce me to nothing.

—Jeremiah 10:23-24 (NIV)

Sovereign LORD,

Let me always trust that You will direct my steps according to Your plans and purposes for me, and will discipline me with mercy, grace and justice—according to Your unfailing love for me—that I might live for You.

Keep me mindful that my life is not my own, but belongs to Jesus Christ—the One who died for me that I might live for Him—and that I was not put here to direct my own steps and carry out my own plans, because my plans are short-sighted and impurely motivated.

For I know from my experience—when I have tried to go my own way—that my feet always seem to travel to those places that hold darkness, death and destruction, rather than the life, joy and peace I find along the path You have for me.

So, correct me when I act as if I am the one who controls my life—when I behave as if I know better than You what is best for me.  But only discipline me as You must—not out of Your anger, but patiently, gently and justly, in order to set me on the right course once again.

Thank You that Your anger with me will never exceed Your unfailing love for me—nor will it surpass the mercy and grace that that You pour over me each and every day—for I know that if it did, I would be reduced to nothing. I would surely die.

Let me always trust that You will direct my steps according to Your plans and purposes for me, and will discipline me with mercy, grace and justice—according to Your unfailing love for me—that I might live for You.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Your Creation Leads Me To Worship You

But the LORD made the earth by his power,
    and he preserves it by his wisdom.
With his own understanding
    he stretched out the heavens.

—Jeremiah 10:12 (NLT)

LORD GOD Almighty,

As I consider, with wondrous awe, the earth and the heavens, let their magnificence always lead me to worship You—for it is only by Your power and understanding that they even exist and only by Your wisdom that they remain.

I do stand amazed at the beauty of Your creation—the intricate, interdependent balance of all created things and the diversity which You have placed before us, and then, happily invited us to discover.

But let me be even more amazed at You, for You are the one who spoke it all into existence from nothing—by Your Word, through faith.  And then, when it was all prepared, created man and put him in the middle of it all.

Help me to grasp that You set all things in place and put them into motion for our benefit—for our provision, use and enjoyment, and so that in Your creation we might see, believe and worship not Your creation, but You alone.

As I consider, with wondrous awe, the earth and the heavens, let their magnificence always lead me to worship You—for it is only by Your power and understanding that they even exist and only by Your wisdom that they remain.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.