Imitate God in Love!

 

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

 

—Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT)

 

Father God,

 

Help me learn to imitate You in love.

 

Just like a child—a child who is truly loved—experiences love demonstrated for him by his father and then follows his father’s example and teachings of how to love, so let me walk in all the ways of Your love.

 

Help me to love without caution or hesitation, but rather generously and extravagantly—unselfishly seeking the best for others.  Help me to love those You put in my path that way—not looking to receive something from them, but only to bring glory to You.

 

Teach me how to give of myself to others, even to the point of giving all of myself—if that is part of Your plan for me—just as Your Son did when He came and died for us to give us life eternal in Him.

 

Help me learn to imitate You in love.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

As a Living Sacrifice

 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

 

—Romans 12:1 (NIV)

 

 

Merciful and Gracious God,

 

Help me truly worship You today—in grateful response to Your enduring mercy and abundant grace—by dying to myself and living for You alone.

 

Because of everything You have done for me, stir within my heart that desire to submit all that I am to You—to humbly give my life completely over to Your plans and purposes for me.

 

In light of the final atoning sacrifice of Your Son for my sin, help me to make the only sacrifice that is left to make—a living sacrifice of my life—by consciously and continually setting myself apart for Your use.

 

Help me to offer my true and proper worship to You in every moment of each new day, as You keep me mindful of Your mercy extended toward me—without which I would not have this privilege of life with You, forevermore.

 

Help me truly worship You today—in grateful response to Your enduring mercy and abundant grace—by dying to myself and living for You alone.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

No Ear Has Heard, No Eye Has Seen

 

For since the world began,

   no ear has heard

and no eye has seen a God like you,

   who works for those who wait for him!

—Isaiah 64:4 (NLT)

 

Father God,

 

Teach me how to wait for You—and remind me that it is the most important thing that I must do today!

 

There is no God like You.  Since the world began, You have always been ready to work on behalf of anyone who would patiently wait for You—anyone who would take time to be quiet in Your presence, listen for Your voice to speak to them, and follow You as You guide and direct their ways.

 

Help me to see that taking time to be quiet before You is the most important thing I can do today—so that You can show me the way that I should go and the things that You want me to do.

 

Help me to realize that if I fail to do this, that I will exhaust myself in busyness and in doing things in my own strength—by my own will—and in the end, I will neither accomplish that which You want me to do, nor will I be any closer to being who You want me to become.

 

Help me to understand that the difference my life makes in this world is determined much less by how much I do, and so much more by how closely my life reflects the light of Christ’s love in me, to those around me.

 

Let me live in the truth that the more I wait on You—trusting You to work in me, and through me, and all around me, according to Your perfect plan—the less difficult my life becomes, and the more peace and joy I will experience.

 

Teach me how to wait for You—and remind me that it is the most important thing that I must do today!

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Kept and Protected

 

I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You keep them and protect them from the evil one.

 

—John 17:15 (AMP)

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to walk that fine line between understanding that this world is not my home, and still accepting that I have an important part to play in Your divine plan, while I remain here.

 

Help me to remember that when Jesus prayed to You, He did not ask You to take us out of the world, because the world desperately needs the light of Christ that believers reflect when we remain submitted to Him.

 

So, help me to remain submitted to Christ and live my life for Your glory—as a good representative of the One who gave His life, so that I might truly live for Him in this world.

 

And help me to trust You and never be afraid—knowing that You not only heard His prayer when He asked You to keep us and protect us from the evil one, but You also are faithful to answer that prayer, both right now and forevermore.

 

Help me to walk that fine line between understanding that this world is not my home, and still accepting that I have an important part to play in Your divine plan, while I remain here.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 

This Kind of Fruit

 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

 

—Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Let my life continually abound with the good fruit that is produced by Your Spirit—as I submit to Your will for me and embrace Your power at work within me to change me.

 

Teach me to be a person who loves You and loves others—with the deep, God-kind of love that can only come from You.

 

Teach me to be a person who overflows with unrelenting joy—because of the strength you give me for today, and the hope for tomorrow that is mine in Christ.

Teach me to walk in that peace that only You can give, which passes understanding—and, in as much as is my part, to live at peace with everyone.

Teach me to patiently bear with others, with kindness and gentleness—just as You have always been patient, kind and gentle with me.

Teach me to remain faithful to You—at all times and in every situation—just as You have always proven Yourself faithful to me.

Teach me to have a gentleness of spirit and exercise self-control at all times—as I humble myself and surrender my control to Your Spirit, for Your glory and honor.

Teach me to reflect the character of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, always.

 

Let my life continually abound with the good fruit that is produced by Your Spirit—as I submit to Your will for me and embrace Your power at work within me to change me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

As Light into the World

 

I have come as Light into the world, so that no one who believes in Me will remain in darkness.

 

—John 12:46 (NASB)

 

Dear Lord Jesus,

 

Thank You for coming from heaven into our world as Light—so that we who believe would no longer have to remain in darkness but could live an abundant life in the Light of Truth.

 

Before I knew You, my life was darkened by my sinful nature. I didn’t have any real comfort, contentment, peace, joy, or hope. I didn’t know what love was. I lived in fear—because my life was full of lies. I did not live in the Truth.

 

Since I have believed in You, and received You as Light into my darkened heart, the Truth of Your Word has set free from those things that held me captive and kept me from living the abundant life that You have called me to live. Now, I am forever held in the Light of Your love.

 

So, no matter what evil may come, may I always choose to walk in the Truth—allowing the Light of Christ in me to radiate from me into this darkened world—so others might see and want the blessing of living that abundant life of peace, protection, provision, and purpose that only You can offer.

 

Thank You for coming from heaven into our world as Light—so that we who believe would no longer have to remain in darkness but could live an abundant life in the Light of Truth.

 

This I pray in Your Glorious Name, Lord Jesus, Amen.

The LORD's Purpose Prevails

 

 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,

    but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

 

—Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

 

Sovereign LORD,

 

Help me always to lift up my plans before You—with my palms wide open—as I submit my will to Your will, my plan to Your plan, and give my life over to Your perfect purpose.

 

You know every plan of my heart—before it is ever formed in my thoughts. 

 

You know when I make my plans in perfect concert with Your will for me.  And You know when I make my plans without first considering or consulting You at all. 

 

You know when I make my plans after much prayer and meditation on Your Word.  And You know when I make my plans despite what I have heard from You, in great foolishness and selfishness.

 

Yet regardless of all my plans, it is always Your purpose that prevails.

 

So, mold my plans to accomplish Your purposes and help me to have faith to believe that Your plans are always best—and that Your plans cannot be stopped.

 

And help me to remember that Your plans are always crafted with my best interest at heart—and for my ultimate good—a reflection of Your perfect and unfailing love for me.

 

Help me always to lift up my plans before You—with my palms wide open—as I submit my will to Your will, my plan to Your plan, and give my life over to Your perfect purpose.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.