Let My Roots Grow Down

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.  Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

—Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT)

Merciful and Gracious God,

Let my roots grow down deeply into my Lord Jesus Christ, that my life might be built solely on Him.

Thank You for the awesome blessing that was given to me when I accepted Christ as my Savior—and for the compounded blessings that I experience every moment that I allow Him to be the Lord of my life, through my obedience to Him.

Help my relationship with Him to continue to grow deeper every day, so much so that I look only to Him as the source of my life and strength—the One upon which everything I am is built.

Then as I believe Him—as I trust in the truth that I am taught in Him—may I ever overflow with thankfulness so that I am not carried away by sin, but will continue in that truth that has set me free.

Let my roots grow down deeply into my Lord Jesus Christ, that my life might be built solely on Him.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Out Of Darkness, Into Light

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

—1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for choosing me—that I might respond to that love by which You chose me, by choosing You back!

Thank You that You chose me—that You wanted me before You ever created me.

Thank You that You called me to be a part of Your chosen people—the family of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ—and to be distinctly different from this world in which I live, so that I might declare the praises of the One who called me out of darkness and into the truth of Your marvelous and wonderful light.

Thank You that You invited me to be a part of Your royal priesthood—that my royalty flows from my adoption into Your family, and that my justification by the blood of Christ, and my sanctification by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in me, make my service to You holy and acceptable in Your sight.

Thank You that I am privileged to be a part of a holy nation—joined with other believers, committed to following Your commandments, and consecrated to You under the Lordship of Christ Jesus.

Thank You that I am included as part of Your special possession—and that as such, I am given the privilege of declaring Your story of salvation, as told through my life, by both my words and my actions, to a lost and dying world.

Thank You for choosing me—that I might respond to that love by which You chose me, by choosing You back!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Exceedingly Abundantly Above

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.

—Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV)

Merciful and Gracious God,

May You be glorified in me and in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!

Help me live my life to bring You glory—as I purpose to please You in everything that I do, according to Your power that works in me.

I give You glory for being the God who is able to accomplish infinitely more—in me, through me and all around me—than I could ever dare to ask, or even think to ask!

I give You glory for being the God that performed the redemptive miracle of salvation in me—and for being the God who continues to work within me, by that same power, Your process of sanctification.

I give You glory for the inexhaustible superabundance of mercy, grace and love that I find in You—and which is mine for the asking.

Help me not to allow the finiteness of my thinking, to put any kind of limits on Your infinite power to do anything You choose to do—anything that I ask You to do according to Your will.

May You be glorified in me and in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.