Fear Not, For Behold

    And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

    And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

    And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

    For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

—Luke 2:8-11 (KJV)

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for sending Your Son into the world to save us—for in this Christmas gift to us all, we find we never need to be afraid.

When I am tempted to become afraid, help me to say to myself, “Fear not: for, behold, you have been given good tidings of great joy.”—for Christ has come to be the answer to all our hopes, and all our fears.

When I am tempted to become afraid, help me to remember that You demonstrated how much You loved us by sending Your Son to die for us.  How then would You not give us everything that we need for every situation or circumstance we face?

Since You have demonstrated Your immeasurable love for me, help me to continuously lift up my life, giving it over to Your control—entrusting it into Your care without fear—in total confidence and in that perfect peace that only comes from the Prince of Peace, my Lord Jesus Christ.

In every moment of every day, help me to behold “those good tidings of great joy” with which You surround me on every side, so that I would remain at peace—safely held in Your everlasting arms of love.

Thank You for sending Your Son into the world to save us—for in this Christmas gift to us all, we find we never need to be afraid.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Never To Drift Away

So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

—Hebrews 2:1 (NLT)

Help me never to drift away from the truth, but always be careful to listen as—by Your Holy Spirit within me—you return me to the perfect way of truth.

Help me to hold the truth that I have found—and that I continue to find revealed in Your Word—as among the most precious gifts I have ever been given.

Help me to be careful to remember the truth—by regularly searching it out and meditating upon it, embracing it wholeheartedly—in order that I might apply Your truth in every situation or circumstance in which I find myself, as I mix my faith with Your truth.

Help me to recognize and guard against the weakness of mind.  For Your truth is so quick to drain from my heart when I allow the enemy access to my thoughts and begin to listen to the subtle lies that he suggests—or to the condemnation that he spews—as he tries to steal the truth away from me.

Create in me an insatiable hunger to find and retain more of Your truth—in every moment that I live—that I would not drift away.

Help me never to drift away from the truth, but always be careful to listen as—by Your Holy Spirit within me—you return me to the perfect way of truth.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Who Is God Except The LORD?

God’s way is perfect.
    All the LORD’s promises prove true.
    He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
For who is God except the LORD?
    Who but our God is a solid rock?

—Psalm 18:30-31 (NLT)

Sovereign LORD,

Help me to walk in the perfection of Your way and boldly live in the truth of Your promises!

Your way is perfect.  It is entirely without mistakes—completely without fault.  It is complete—lacking no essential detail.  And it is completely satisfying—containing everything I need for life and genuine contentment, and even happiness.

All of Your promises are true—and have been proven to be so, in the unfolding of my life. You are faithful to complete everything You promise to do, according to Your perfect timing and for my ultimate and greatest benefit.

You are a shield about me—when I hide myself in You—protecting me on every side and preserving me in every way, so that I have no reason to fear.

There is no God, but You, LORD!  For You are the only true and living God!

And there is no other solid rock—immovable and unshakable—upon which I can firmly and confidently take my stand—fully confident the One in whom I have placed my faith and completely convinced of both Your power to carry me and Your desire to carry me, through every circumstance for my good. 

Help me to walk in the perfection of Your way and boldly live in the truth of Your promises!

In the name of Jesus, Amen.