For My Good and For Your Glory

I am the LORD, and there is no other.

    I create the light and make the darkness.
I send good times and bad times.
    I, the LORD, am the one who does these things.

—Isaiah 45:6b-7 (NLT)

Sovereign and Loving LORD,

You are the LORD, and there is no other! You are the Sovereign Ruler over light and darkness—good times and bad.  You use all things for my good and for Your glory!

Let me never question the wisdom of Your plans and purposes for everything that You allow to happen—or cause to happen—in my life.  Let me trust You, as I acknowledge that I don’t always have all the information that You do.

For out of the darkest nights of my life, You have brought forth the greatest blessings and from my hardest struggles, You have forged within me ever greater strength, faith, and victory—as You continue to write the story of Your love for me on the pages of my life.

Help me graciously receive everything You allow to come my way as a gift from You—a gift to be used to help me grow spiritually and deepen my understanding of Your ways and Your love—knowing You always have my best interest at heart.

And let me always remember to thank You in the good times—and in the hard times, help me to remain thankful—always rejoicing over the Truth that You are at work for my good. Let my faith please You and my life testify to Your glory.

You are the LORD, and there is no other! You are the Sovereign Ruler over light and darkness—good times and bad.  You use all things for my good and for Your glory!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Fearing People Is Not Trusting the LORD

Fearing people is a dangerous trap,
    but trusting the LORD means safety.

—Proverbs 29:25 (NLT)

Loving and Caring LORD,

Keep me far from the dangerous trap of fearing people—whether it is a fear of what they may think of me, or a fear of what they might try to do to me, or even a fear of what they might choose to do to themselves—and help me find my safety and rest in trusting You.

Don’t allow me to let my fear of people keep me from doing that which You have called me to do, or from being who You have called me to be—but help me keep my eyes focused on You, so that I won’t be enslaved by the power that the fear of others can hold over me.

Let me fear You only—to respect, reverence, and honor You with wholehearted trust—knowing that You are well able to turn what others intend for evil, into great good, and so protect me and provide for my every need, through Christ Jesus.

And let me fully experience the liberating freedom of rejoicing in all things, by placing them and leaving them all—both the overwhelmingly big and the seemingly small—in Your hands for safe keeping, with the absolute assuredness that You are always in control and want the very best for us all.

Keep me far from the dangerous trap of fearing people—whether it is a fear of what they may think of me, or a fear of what they might try to do to me, or even a fear of what they might choose to do to themselves—and help me find my safety and rest in trusting You.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Where Wisdom and Soundness of Mind are Found

When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame,

But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind.

—Proverbs 11:2 (AMP)

Heavenly Father,

Help me to keep a genuinely humble heart—so that in my humility I would find wisdom and live my life with soundness of mind, in Christ.

Save me from any hint of pride that would boil up from within me, out of an arrogant attitude of self-importance—so that I would not bring dishonor to You while heaping shame upon myself.

Keep me mindful that any good that is in me is not by my own design or effort, but rather by Your grace and gifting—and is intended to empower me to do good works that would bring You glory, honor and praise.

Remind me that You didn’t grant me gifts and talents to make me look good—but rather that others might see Christ in me and be drawn into an intimate, personal relationship with You.

Continue to teach me to put all my trust in You, as You carry me through the trials that You allow me to face—that in all things I would make very little of myself and very much of You, and find all of my value revealed in Christ alone.

Help me to keep a genuinely humble heart—so that in my humility I would find wisdom and live my life with soundness of mind, in Christ.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.