A Life Kept In Your Presence For Eternity

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 helping me to understand that the very best life that this world has to offer me is nothing when compared to the joy of a life kept in Your presence for eternity.

I don’t ever want the things that make up my life here on earth to hold me back from the incomparable joy of that eternal life which You have planned for me.

Save me from my own selfish ways that tempt me to strive for positions that promise power, material things that promise security, and pleasures that promise satisfaction—so I can clearly see that only in You can I ever hope to find the power, security and satisfaction that my heart is longing for.

Help me to totally entrust my life here into Your care and control—and even be willing to give up my life, if by doing so it might somehow serve Your purposes and bring glory to Your name.

Thank You for helping me to understand that the very best life that this world has to offer me is nothing when compared to the joy of a life kept in Your presence for eternity.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The God Who Rescues Me

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 You never let me slip from Your rescuing grip.

Help me to trust that whether my trouble seems insurmountably huge in my eyes, or is just a series of small frustrations that have piled up on me to wear me down and rob me of my strength to go on, You are always there to rescue me.

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

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

And while I may face many troubles—because I have chosen to walk in the righteousness of Christ—help me not to 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 You never let me slip from Your rescuing grip.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Come And Talk With Me

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 in my heart I hear You calling, “Come and talk with me,” let my heart’s response always be, “LORD, I am coming.”

Help me to approach Your throne of mercy and grace with reverence and awe—and with overflowing gratitude for the depth of love which You have shown toward me—that You would even want me to come and talk with You.

Help me to fully believe that You hear me when I cry out to You and that You answer me—in Your perfect timing and according to Your sovereign purpose and plan for my life—and with my best interest at heart.

When I listen, I can hear You continuously calling me to come to You, to seek Your face and to spend time in conversation with You—that I might know You better and come to better understand who I am in Christ.

When I hear You calling me, my heart sincerely responds to Your call saying, “LORD, I am coming”—but my flesh is weak and the enemy is working hard against me, to keep me from Your presence.

Grant me the strength to push aside distractions and accept Your gracious invitation into Your presence—knowing that there I will find everything that I need for whatever I face as I travel through this life here on earth in joy and at peace.

When in my heart I hear You calling, “Come and talk with me,” let my heart’s response always be, “LORD, I am coming.”

In the name of Jesus, Amen.