Properly Clothed

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

--Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)

Gracious God,

In response to Your immeasurable love for me, I want to go forth into this new day clothed in Your holiness.

Help me to wear the tender mercies of Your compassion for each person you place in my path today.

Help me to clothe myself in kindness to all, considering others before I consider myself.

Help me to put on the garment of quiet and gently disciplined strength.

Let the clothing of patience which is tireless be mine to wear as I bear with those around me, forgiving them freely, quickly, and completely…just as You through Your Son, Jesus, have forgiven me.

And over all these, help me to wear Your love which holds every virtue in perfect unity, so that Christ may be seen in me.

In response to Your immeasurable love for me, I want to go forth into this new day clothed in Your holiness.

 In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Revelation From You

Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.

Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.

--Psalm 25:4-5 (NKJV)

Lord of my life,

I want to be learning something new about You...each moment of every new day!

Be my teacher and enlighten my understanding of Your plan for me, as I look to You to instruct me in Your ways, Your paths, and Your truth.

Help me to remember that Your paths are the ways of truth.

Reveal to me the Way and the Truth—that is, Your Son, Jesus.

Because You are the God of my salvation, I will expectantly and confidently wait for Your direction all day long knowing, that as I listen, You will show me Your ways.

I want to be learning something new about You...each moment of every new day!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

As You Know Me

Search me, God, and know my heart;
   test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
   and lead me in the way everlasting.

--Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

Holy God,

I know that in order for me to grow into the person You want me to be, I must address any darkness that I hold in my heart.

I know that there are dark places in my heart that are so well hidden, that even I do not see them.

I know that You know everything there is to know about me, because You created me and live in me by Your Holy Spirit.

I know that for me to ask You to search out my heart, and to know my thoughts, is an invitation for You, through Your Holy Spirit, to reveal to me those offensive things in my heart that must be removed, so that I can move forward in a closer walk with You, and become more like Your Son, Jesus.

I know that if I am open to change those things You reveal, that You will lead me into the way of everlasting life in You.

So, I ask You to search that which You already know completely—the hidden places of my heart.

Reveal to me my sins by shining the light of Truth on my darkness. 

Root out anything offensive that would put distance between You and me.

And let me walk with You, forevermore.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

To Do Good

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. 

--Galatians 6:9-10 (NLT)

                                 

Generous God,

I confess that sometimes, when I get tired, I am tempted to buy into the lie that my continuing to try to do good towards others at all times doesn’t really make that much difference.

I confess that sometimes I forget that You use and multiply that smile, encouraging word, or act of kindness which I deliver, in ways that I don’t always see.

Thank you that there will come a time, if I don’t give up and fall away from doing good, when I will be blessed to see how You have used me.

Help me to take every opportunity to do something good for everyone I meet today—but keep me especially mindful to do so for my brothers and sisters in the faith, so that they might be encouraged to continue in the good work that You have called them to.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The Road That Leads To Life

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

--Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

Loving Lord,

Help me to seek out the narrow road and small gate which usher me into life the way that You intended for me to experience it.

Keep me from allowing myself to be enticed, by my own evil desires, through the wide gate along the broad road that leads to only pain, misery and destruction.

Keep me from getting swept along with the crowd of people who look for the easy way, only to find that it is, in reality, the hardest way of all.

Keep my heart from settling for anything less than Your best life for me and help me to tell others of the rich treasures that lie beyond the narrow gate, so they might seek to find it as well.

Help me to seek out the narrow road and small gate which usher me into life the way that You intended for me to experience it.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

By Your Hand

So God created mankind in his own image,
   in the image of God he created them;
   male and female he created them.

 --Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

 --Psalm 139:14 (NKJV)

 

Creator God,

Save me from the lies of the enemy—who would have me believe that I am somehow less than who I am in and through Your Son.

Help me remember not only that I am Your greatly  loved creation, but also that You created me in Your own image.

Help me to understand that for me to disrespect myself is to disrespect Your creation.

Help me to realize that You know me perfectly--because You are the one Who fashioned me in my mother’s womb for Your plans and purposes--and I cannot even begin to understand the marvelous intricacies of that creation.

Help me always to live a life of praise to You, my Creator God, for the all of the fearfully wonderful works of Your hands.

Save me from the lies of the enemy—who would have me believe that I am somehow less than who I am in and through Your Son.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Surefootedly Confident

The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
   he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
   he enables me to tread on the heights.

--Habakkuk 3:19a (NIV)

Dear Lord God,

You are my Strength!

Because of You, I can fearlessly and courageously move forward through those high and hard places that come up before me.

I know that whether they are places of trouble, or suffering, or responsibility, I can be confident that You will hold me up and will keep me from falling, as I remain in faith and fellowship with You.

You are my Strength!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.