The Glory of God!

 

 

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

    The skies display his craftsmanship.

Day after day they continue to speak;

    night after night they make him known.

 

—Psalm 19:1-2 (NLT)

 

 

God of All Creation,

 

May I always listen and watch carefully—so that my ears will hear and my eyes will see—as the heavens declare Your glory and the skies display Your craftsmanship.

 

Teach me to consider the evidence of Your existence—that proclamation of Your power and presence—which surrounds me day and night and continuously speaks to make You known.

 

Help me to understand the extent of Your greatness—as demonstrated by the limitlessness of the heavens that You created by Your Word alone—that my faith in Your Word might soar.

 

Show me the wonder of the innumerable multitude of stars You placed in the skies—galaxies that You effortlessly breathed into existence—and help me know that there is nothing too difficult for You.

 

Help me to take comfort within the harmony and order with which You choreographed everything You created—those purposeful and perfect balances and intricacies by which the parts of Your creation interdependently exist.

 

Teach me to see Your love and care reflected in all that You have made and to realize that all this was made for us—so we might see You and believe.

 

And most of all, never let me fail to see Your divine signature written on the deepest parts of who I am—because You have made me in Your very own image.

 

May I always listen and watch carefully—so that my ears will hear and my eyes will see—as the heavens declare Your glory and the skies display Your craftsmanship.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Life in This World

 

 

Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

 

—John 12:25 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Thank You for showing me that the very best life that this world has to offer me is nothing when compared to the unending and unfailing life that You have promised me—a life that is safely kept in Christ, both now and for eternity.

 

Help me to hold every blessing of my life with open hands, lifted up to You—acknowledging that everything I have belongs to You—so that trying to hold onto the things of this life won’t rob me of one moment of the incomparable joy of living my life in Your presence.

 

Save me from my own selfish ways that tempt me to buy into the lies that positions will give me power, material things will bring me security, and pleasures will make me satisfied—so I can clearly see that only in You can I ever hope to experience true power, real security, and lasting satisfaction for my soul.

 

Help me to totally surrender my life into Your care and control—to live for Christ and allow Christ to live in me—so my life would in some way serve Your purposes and bring glory to Your name.

 

Thank You for showing me that the very best life that this world has to offer me is nothing when compared to the unending and unfailing life that You have promised me—a life that is safely kept in Christ, both now and for eternity.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

The LORD is Close!

 

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;

    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

The righteous person faces many troubles,

    but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.

 —Psalm 34:18-19 (NLT)

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Thank You that when my heart is broken, when my spirit is crushed, and when I face many troubles, You remain close to me and never let me slip from Your rescuing grip.

 

Teach me to trust You—whether my troubles appear to be insurmountably huge in my own eyes or are just a series of small frustrations that have piled up on me to wear me down and rob me of my strength.  Remind me that You are always here to rescue me.

 

Thank You for all the times You have sovereignly chosen to rescue me by either shielding me from the trouble I was facing or by entirely removing the trouble from me.

 

Thank You for all the times You have chosen to rescue me by equipping me with the strength, courage, and discerning wisdom that enabled me to remain in Your peace and push through the trouble that came against me.

 

And even though I may face many troubles—because I have chosen to walk in the righteousness of Christ—let me not be afraid but only believe that I will see Your goodness through it all, as I look to You to rescue me.

 

Thank You that when my heart is broken, when my spirit is crushed, and when I face many troubles, You remain close to me and never let me slip from Your rescuing grip.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Come and Talk!

 

 

Hear me as I pray, O LORD.

    Be merciful and answer me!

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”

    And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”

 

—Psalm 27:7-8 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

Gracious and Loving LORD,

 

When within my heart I hear You calling, “Come and talk with me,” let my response always be an eager, “LORD, I am coming!”

 

Grant me the kind of faith that fully believes that You hear me when I pray—and that You answer me in Your perfect timing, according to Your sovereign purpose and plan for my life, and always with my best interest at heart.

 

Let me experience the wonderous depths of Your merciful love and goodness—as You faithfully answer me and draw me into the unfathomable peace of Your abiding presence once again.

 

Give me the strength to push aside every distraction and accept this gracious invitation into Your glorious presence, knowing that it is in Your presence—within that place of intimate fellowship with You—that everything I need to accomplish Your will for my life is supplied.

 

When within my heart I hear You calling, “Come and talk with me,” let my response always be an eager, “LORD, I am coming!”

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Nothing Hidden, All Naked and Exposed!

 

 

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

 

—Hebrews 4:13 (NLT)

 

 

 

Omniscient God,

 

Thank You for loving me, wanting me, and for continually calling me into a deeper relationship with You—even though You see and know all my imperfections.

 

You have created everything there is and there is not one thing that is hidden from You. You have perfect and absolute knowledge of the smallest detail about every person, everywhere, at all times.

 

You know all of my thoughts, even before they are formed; sense every one of my emotions, before they ever manifest; discern and understand my every motive, better than I ever will myself; hear my every word, even before it is formed in my mouth and crosses my lips; and You see everything I do, before I even begin to do it.

 

And You are the One to whom I am held accountable, so help me to see myself as I truly am—then help me repent of my sin, submit myself to You, and allow You to change me into the person I should be.

 

Help me each day to purpose in my heart to please You in everything that I think, say, and do—just as You are faithful to shower me daily with new mercy, grace, forgiveness, and love.

 

Thank You for loving me, wanting me, and for continually calling me into a deeper relationship with You—even though You see and know all my imperfections.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Foolish, Ignorant Arguments

 

 

Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

 

—2 Timothy 2:23-24 (NLT)

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Keep me far from foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. Help me not to quarrel with others, but to be kind to everyone—even the difficult—so that You might one day use me to teach them about the things that really matter.

 

Instead of allowing myself to be drawn into meaningless arguments over things which don’t matter at all, help me to be patient and kind. Help me to make more room in my conversations for listening and seeking to understand the opinions of others.

 

Help me to build my reputation as one who is approachable and eager to hear other points of view so that when the time is right, I might have a platform from which to be heard concerning those matters that are of eternal consequence.

 

Help me be especially patient with difficult people. Help me to be ready to accept Your invitation to speak into their lives—as the Holy Spirit prepares their heart to receive the Truth of Your Word and be set free.

 

Keep me far from foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. Help me not to quarrel with others, but to be kind to everyone—even the difficult—so that You might one day use me to teach them about the things that really matter.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Only The Creator is Worthy!

 

 

They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

 

—Romans 1:25 (NLT)

 

 

Creator God,

 

May I always worship and serve only You, the Creator of all that there is and all that there will ever be!

 

Help me to fill my mind, my heart, and my mouth with the Truth of Your Word, that I may live in that Truth forever, in Christ.

 

Convict me and may I quickly repent, if I should ever allow myself to make an idol—an object of worship—out of something that You have created and intended for my good, but not for my worship.

 

Give me the knowledge, understanding, discernment, insight, and wisdom I need to never allow anything, or anyone, to take Your rightful place of worship in my heart. May my praise be offered to You alone, throughout eternity.

 

May I always worship and serve only You, the Creator of all that there is and all that there will ever be!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.