Overcome Evil With Good

 

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

—Romans 12:21 (NIV)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

May I never be overcome by the evil that surrounds me, nor miss the opportunity to overcome evil with good.

 

When I feel overwhelmed by the evil that is evident all around me, remind me that it is the power of Christ’s love that has delivered me out of the enemy’s hand and has made me an overcomer.   

 

And help me to enforce the enemy's defeat in my life—to stand against evil as You lead me to do what is good and right in Your sight, to choose light over darkness.

 

Remind me that the only way to conquer evil is with good—that good will always win over evil in the end. Let the power of Your goodness flow into me and through me to overcome every evil thing I face.

 

May I never be overcome by the evil that surrounds me, nor miss the opportunity to overcome evil with good.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The LORD Directs Our Steps

 

The LORD directs our steps,
    so why try to understand everything along the way?

 

—Proverbs 20:24 (NLT)

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

When I don’t quite understand all that is going on, grant me the faith I need to trust You and the patience I need to wait and watch, as You unfold before me—according to Your perfect timing—Your plan to use all things to accomplish Your purposes.

 

Keep me in Your peace, by helping me to accept that the full impact of Your plans and purposes—for those things that happen both to me and all around me—is infinitely beyond my ability to fully comprehend, but still a part of Your plan.  

 

Don’t allow my days to be so consumed by my own “need to understand” the reason behind why certain things happen, that I miss doing the next good and right thing, with the opportunity that You have placed immediately before me—a gracious and loving invitation to join in with what You are doing.

 

Keep me from the temptation to “make You in my image”—thinking I know best what You should do and how You should do it.  Rather be the Lord of my life—as the Sovereign God that You are—in my heart of hearts.

 

When I don’t quite understand all that is going on, grant me the faith I need to trust You and the patience I need to wait and watch, as You unfold before me—according to Your perfect timing—Your plan to use all things to accomplish Your purposes.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

He Bends Down to Listen

 

I love the LORD because he hears my voice
    and my prayer for mercy.

Because he bends down to listen,
    I will pray as long as I have breath!

 

—Psalm 116:1-2 (NLT)

 

Merciful and Loving LORD,

 

I love You, LORD! For You are the One who bends down to listen, who hears my prayers for mercy! 

 

In a world where so many are speaking but so few are listening, let my comfort and hope be found in the truth that You are always interested in what is on my heart. 

 

For You are my Heavenly Father and You bend down to listen to me—not willing to miss a single word I pray—because I am Your dearly loved child.

 

So, help me to make every next breath I breathe a prayer lifted up to You—from a heart that is filled with love for You—knowing You will hear me and answer me according to what is best for me and for Your glory!

 

I love You, LORD! For You are the One who bends down to listen, who hears my prayers for mercy! 

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Special Treasure

 

“They will be my people,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.  Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” —Malachi 3:17-18 (NLT)

 

O LORD of Heaven’s Armies,

 

Thank You for adopting me into the family of those who are Your people—those who are Your special treasure!

 

Help me to remain faithful to obey Your Word and the promptings of Your Holy Spirit—so that on the day You act in judgement, You will spare me as a father spares an obedient child.

 

Help me never to walk away from the righteousness that is mine in Christ Jesus—never trample upon that redemption that Christ purchased for me with His own blood.

 

Help me not grow weary in serving You with my whole heart—so that I might never be counted among the wicked, but be counted as a servant of God, and of Him alone!

 

Thank You for adopting me into the family of those who are Your people—those who are Your special treasure!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

You Alone!

 

“You alone are the LORD. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.”

 —Nehemiah 9:6 (NLT)

 

O LORD Most High,

 

Let all creation worship You alone—for You alone are worthy of our worship!

 

You alone are the LORD—the Creator and Keeper of all that has ever been, is now, or ever will be!

 

The skies, the heavens, and all the stars, the earth, the seas, and everything in them exist at Your Word—and are preserved by Your unfailing love which was demonstrated in and through Christ.

 

The multitude of heavenly host—all the angel armies—worship only You. May I, too, never fail to give all my worship only to You.

 

Let all creation worship You alone—for You alone are worthy of our worship!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Judge Fairly

 

“This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another.”

 

—Zechariah 7:9 (NLT)

 

O LORD of Heaven’s Armies,

 

May all my judgments be fair, and may I always show mercy and kindness to others—as I am reminded of the way You judge everything about me fairly, yet still lavish me with love and grace, pouring out Your mercy and kindness upon me.

 

Keep me from standing arrogantly in rash judgment of others—from being too quick to condemn people for how they act.  For only You can truly know the deep wounds of a person’s heart, and only You can judge their motives and intentions.

 

So instead, give me the boldness to speak the Truth in love against that which is sin—as You have revealed it in Your Word—all the while showing the same mercy and kindness that You pour out upon us all, because of Your great love for each one of us.

 

Grant me the wisdom to fairly judge for myself between that which is right and good, and that which is wrong and evil—so that I would live a life full of truth and grace, and bring glory to You in all of my thoughts, words and actions.

 

May all my judgments be fair, and may I always show mercy and kindness to others—as I am reminded of the way You judge everything about me fairly, yet still lavish me with love and grace, pouring out Your mercy and kindness upon me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Search Me, Know Me, Test Me, Lead Me

 

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
    and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

 

—Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)

 

Holy God,

Search me and know my heart—and by the continuing work of the power of Christ in me, point out and remove anything that is offensive to You, so I can walk more perfectly with You the path that leads to everlasting life.

 

As You test the integrity of the motives my heart and as You reveal my secret fears, grant me the strength to endure Your testing and the faith to overcome my fears—so I might learn to put all my trust and hope in You.

 

Grant me the courage to ask You to shine the light of Your love on the hidden places of my heart to dispel the darkness—indeed the evil—of anything in me that offends You, as I repent and run to You. 

 

Grant me the peace and the joy that comes when I invite You to lead me along the path of everlasting life—to that place where nothing remains that would keep me from that close, personal, intimate relationship that You desire to have with me, and which I so desperately need to have with You.

 

Search me and know my heart—and by the continuing work of the power of Christ in me, point out and remove anything that is offensive to You, so I can walk more perfectly with You the path that leads to everlasting life.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.