Value Others

 

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

—Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Save me from my own self-centeredness and any impure, attention-seeking motive in me—so that I might walk in true humility, thinking of others before myself.

 

Help me not to be selfish—always looking at everything to see what’s in it for me, rather than how it might be an opportunity for me to be a part of what You are doing to benefit others.

 

Help me not to try vainly to impress others, but simply just do all I can to please You—as by faith I follow Your will, plan and purpose for me in each and every moment You give me.

 

Keep me humble before You and before others—and help me to value them above myself, so that I am never found to be arrogant, irritable or unapproachable.

 

Help me not to look out for my own interests alone—but make my first effort to look out for the interests of others, with the love of Christ.

 

Save me from my own self-centeredness and any impure, attention-seeking motive in me—so that I might walk in true humility, thinking of others before myself. 

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Every Word I Say

 

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

 

—Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)

 

Father God,

 

May every word I say be lovingly truthful and purely motivated by Your Spirit within me—so that the only words I speak will be those which edify, encourage, and give grace to anyone who might hear them.

 

Help me never speak words that are slanderous, foul, corrupt, polluting, hurtful, or abusive—words that poison the minds and infect the hearts of those that hear them, with the evil that they carry.

 

Instead, help me only speak words that are wholesome, helpful, truthful, and that encourage the spiritual growth of others—always spoken in love and at the right time—which are appropriate for the occasion and for the need of the moment.

 

Help me also remember that there may be those to whom I am not directly speaking, who may overhear my words—so let me always be intentional about representing my Lord and Savior well, with every word I say.

 

May every word I say be lovingly truthful and purely motivated by Your Spirit within me—so that the only words I speak will be those which edify, encourage, and give grace to anyone who might hear them.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Jesus Christ, the Lord of My Life

 

 

“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?”

 

—Luke 6:46 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to fully realize that making Jesus Christ the Lord of my life involves so much  more than merely calling out to Him, “Lord, Lord!”

 

Help me to understand and accept the truth that, in order for Jesus to be my Lord, I must freely surrender the “liberty of my free will” to “His will for me”—and then, and only then, find true freedom from the things that hold me captive.

 

Help me remember that my obedience to His commands and instructions is the best measurement of His Lordship over my life—and that the example of how He lived His life is the only standard of comparison by which I should examine my own life.

 

Keep me from the hypocrisy of claiming Christ as my Lord, while choosing to go my own way—allowing my own fleshly desires to control me, rather than living surrendered to the Spirit of Christ that lives in me.

 

Help me to fully realize that making Jesus Christ the Lord of my life involves so much more than merely calling out to Him, “Lord, Lord!”

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Living as Instructed

 

And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

—Titus 2:12-13 (NLT)

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to live in this evil world in a way that brings glory to You—as I look forward with hope to that wonderful day when all of Christ’s glory will be revealed.

 

You have told me to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures, and yet I must still live in this world—which is full of godlessness and sin.

 

So, help me to stand against the temptations of the world—by granting me the wisdom I need to correctly discern good from evil, the strength I need to make right and pure choices, and the assurance of Your love and goodness that I need to live a life that is devoted to You.

 

Help me to live purposefully while I am here—as I use the gifts and talents that You have given me to be a part of building Your Kingdom here on earth.  And let me look forward with great hope and anticipation to the day when my battles with temptation will end—when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, comes again.

 

Help me to live in this evil world in a way that brings glory to You—as I look forward with hope to that wonderful day when all of Christ’s glory will be revealed.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

When Gossip Stops

 

 

Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

 

—Proverbs 26:20 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me never allow myself—in any way—to be the wood that fuels fires of contention and strife by joining in with others in gossip.

 

May the thoughts, motives and intents of my heart be right and pure and holy, so that those things which fill my heart—and flow from my mouth—will produce the good fruit of one who loves by only speaking words of truth and grace.

 

Help me remember that it is not enough to refuse to start or repeat gossip—I must also refuse to listen to gossip—refuse to allow my ears to receive and my heart to be polluted by that which is garbage to my soul.

 

So, help me to be bold and loving enough to challenge anyone who chooses to gossip, to stop—in the hope that they might repent and that we all would benefit from the peace and unity that comes when gossip stops.

 

Help me never allow myself—in any way—to be the wood that fuels fires of contention and strife by joining in with others in gossip.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Miraculous Things

 

O LORD, You are my God;

I will exalt You, I will praise and give thanks to Your name;

For You have done miraculous things, 

Plans formed long, long ago, [fulfilled] with perfect faithfulness.

—Isaiah 25:1 (AMP)

 

 

Sovereign and Faithful LORD,

 

You are—and forever will be—my God!

 

May I always honor and praise You—exalting You with every area of my life and giving thanks to Your Name with every word of my testimony.

 

Help me to remember and to boldly declare all the wonderful things that You have done—those miraculous things that I have read about in Your Word as well as the wonderful, amazing and supernatural things that I have witnessed first-hand in my own life.

 

Thank You for showing forth Your sovereignty with perfect faithfulness—as You fulfill every plan that You formed long, long ago, according to Your specific timing and purpose, for Your upmost glory.

 

You are—and forever will be—my God!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

My Greatest Joy

 

I take joy in doing your will, my God,

    for your instructions are written on my heart.   

—Psalm 40:8 (NLT)

 

Father God,

 

May my greatest joy be found in doing Your will!

 

Help me to remain passionate about discovering Your will for me—as I take the time to quiet my mind, to search the scriptures, and to allow Your Spirit to reveal the Truth that is waiting there for me in Your Word—so that Your instructions would be established within my heart, and I might faithfully apply them to my life.

 

Let my earnest seeking after Your will result in Your instructions being written so deeply within my heart that that which is my duty to do—as a follower of Christ—will truly become my joy and delight and privilege to do!

 

Then help me to live out the rest of my life in Your Truth—and experience the joy and the peace that come when I put all my trust in You and follow Your instructions, in willing and heartfelt obedience to Your will for me.

 

May my greatest joy be found in doing Your will!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.