Lord, let my mouth be filled with Your praises, proclaiming Your righteousness and faithfulness from a heart that knows your trustworthiness. Let loving kindness and truth, preserve me in a way that causes these attributes to pour forth from me. I pray that You be magnified in my life, words, and deeds. Show Yourself strong as my deliverer. May all that I do and all that I say glorify You. In Jesus, amen.
Father, thank You for the truth that Your wisdom calls to us, desiring relationship with us. Understanding that comes from wisdom lifts her voice. You desire wisdom for us and call us to seek her diligently, promising those who seek her to practice that wise counsel, will find her. May my ears be found truly listening for the noble things wisdom speaks.
The opening of wisdom’s lips reveals right things. Wisdom is better than jewels; and all desirable things cannot compare with her. She dwells with prudence, and leads us to find knowledge and discretion.
Wisdom instructs our hearts to understand that the fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, wisdom hates. Counsel belongs to sound wisdom. Oh how I need it and long to see it in those I love and those who lead. Wisdom is understanding, and power is possessed by it. Wisdom loves those who love it. Those who diligently seek wisdom, will find it.
The fruit of wisdom is better than gold, even pure gold; its yield better than choicest silver. I pray for myself and for mine to walk in wisdom, whose way is righteousness, and whose paths are justice. Wisdom leads to true wealth for those who love her wise counsel and walk in it, that she may fill their treasuries.
Grant us ears to listen for wisdom and not move without her, for there is blessing in keeping her ways. Fill us with desire to heed her instruction and be wise, and let us not neglect it, for blessed is the person who listens to her, watching daily at her gates, waiting patiently for her at her doorposts. For those who find wisdom find life. They obtain the favor of the Lord. But he who sins against wisdom, ignoring her counsel, injures themselves with many pangs. For those who hate wisdom, love death.
Your Word is wisdom. It’s living and active and sharper than a double edged sword, cutting deep into our souls to make us holy as You are holy. May we love Your Word and walk in it, finding true wisdom and righteous paths for life abundant and full. In Jesus, amen.
Proverbs 8 (:1, 6, 11-14, 17, 19-21, 32-36)
“…The Father gave us life and the incredible treasure of what He made us to be. He gave us His Son in order to retrieve that treasure, and the instant we yield our lives to Him, He gives us the kind of life that not only transforms us now but provides assurance of eternity with Him forever.” (Jack Hayford)
You know the plans You have for me, Lord. You gave me life through my parents, placing me in the environment and time You planned me to live in. And You gave me new life in Christ, revitalizing Your image in me for Your purposes, working constantly to restore me to Your perfect intent and purpose. What a treasure trove of discovery You give me.
Lord, I am aged, but not dead. I am in a time and place that can feel quite had, harsh, and pressing. Help me to remember that You are with me. Grant me to remember the yoke I share with Jesus. May I know You, enter Your rest, and discover the treasure You have for me to possess in this season. As long as I draw breath, there is a work to do in bringing Your plan to fruition and Your Kingdom purpose to its fulfillment. Make me faithful to be found doing the good work You planned for me even now. In Jesus, amen.
Father, I receive Your words and treasure Your commandments within me. Make my ears attentive to wisdom. Incline my heart to understanding. I cry out to You for godly, righteous, and true discernment, lifting my voice for understanding. Your truth and wise counsel are as silver to me, hidden treasures I long to possess. Thank You that, in finding these, I will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.
You, O Lord, give wisdom; From Your mouth comes knowledge and understanding. You store up sound wisdom for the upright. You are a shield to me as I walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice before me, and preserving my way in godliness. Grant me to discern righteousness and justice and equity and every good course. Cause Your wisdom to enter my heart as I earnestly seek You. Make knowledge of You, Your Word, will, and way, pleasant to my soul. Let discretion guard me in The Way, and understanding watch over me, delivering me from the way of evil, and from those who speak perverse things. Deliver me surely from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; those who ho delight in doing evil and rejoice in the perversity of evil; whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.
I pray this not only for myself, Father but for my children and grandchildren to the thousandth generation, for loved ones and friends, for neighbors and the stranger on the streets with me, and most assuredly for the leaders of nations, especially for the current and the future President of these United States. In Jesus, according to Your Word, I pray, amen.
I do cry out to You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who still preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love You and keep Your commandments. In the righteousness of Christ covering me, I bow before You through the veil. By Your gracious mercy, sufficient for me in that blessed union, I pray that Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night.
I grieve the sin in my own life and seek to fully surrender to Your chastening hand, for You love me as Your daughter in Christ and desire my good, that I honor You and walk in Your ways at all times and in all things. This, too, is my heart cry; so I humble myself today and seek Your face with all that I am and ever hope to be.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence nor take Your Holy Spirit from me, but draw near to me as I draw near to You. Fill me to the full with all that You are and created me to be in union with You. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. Sustain me with a willing spirit of obedience to You, Your will and Your way. Then use me to teach transgressors Your ways, so that sinners will be converted to You.
Also, Father, daily my heart breaks over the sin and struggle I see in many I so greatly love, and for those in this great nation You have caused me to habitat for Your glory and purpose. More still, my heart breaks for those who are blind to You and Your ways, absolutely incapable of seeing and acknowledging their need of You and Your mercy in Christ.
On behalf of those who seek to know You, living as Your servants, confessing the sins we, too, fall into, in which we have sinned against You, I beg Your pardon and ask Your cleansing. Make us to walk as lights in this night, useful to You in drawing the many who do not know and serve You into the saving grace that frees from sin’s grip and the death that comes to those who refuse Your provision in Christ. And open blinded eyes, stirring cold, dead hearts and dulled minds, causing many to see, hear, and know You. This I pray for me, for mine, for this nation, and, indeed, for the world at large. In Jesus Holy and pure Name, amen.
This is my desire: to walk step by step and breath by breath in Your equipping, adequately prepared to introduce Your life, Your love, and Your power into each situation You bring me to. Thank You that we have not been left on the defensive or called to preserve the status quo, but equipped to let Jesus happen through us.
In Jesus, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” This is my hope and life-song as I walk daily in the assurance that You are continually working to bring me to perfection until the day of Christ. In You I trust. And by Your mercies, I present myself, a living and holy sacrifice to You.
May Your will be accomplished in and through me to the glory of Your name. In Jesus name, Amen.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” – 1 John 4:7-11 NASB1995
Father, fill me with Your abiding love first for You, and then for those around me, for love is from God. Everyone who truly loves is born of God and knows God. Being unloving proves one does not know You, for You, O God, are love, and You bear the fruit of Your image through us who abide in Christ. I pray for Your love to pour to me and through me for the glory of Your name, and for the fulfillment of Your Kingdom purpose.
You manifest Your love in us in that You sent Your only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved You, but that You loved us and sent Your Son to be the propitiation for our – my – sins. Father, since You so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Empower us to die to self and self-will so that others may know You. This heart is my desire and request.
Thank You, Father, that through Christ I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life which I now live in the flesh, I pray You grant me the faith to live in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Let this truth be seen in me through the giving and receiving of encouragement in Christ, the consolation of love, the fellowship of the Spirit, and the giving of affection and compassion.
Make my joy complete by making me to be of the same mind with You and Your true people, maintaining the same love; and being united in spirit. Fill us with Your love so that we may be one with You, intent on one purpose. May we do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind grant us to regard one another as more important than self. May we not merely look out for our own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Fill us with this attitude in ourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. He existed in the form of God, but did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped – He did not count Himself too good to get in the mud and lift us out of it. Emptying Himself, and taking the form of a bond-servant, being made in the likeness of men – found in appearance as a man, Jesus humbled Himself by becoming obedient to Your will and desire, even to the point of death, the death on a cross that paid my due penalty.
My desire, Lord, is to love so as to lay down my life for others, not only in dying for them, if need be, but in the opportunities to give myself to the simple acts of intentional selflessness that come to us almost daily. Increase my faithfulness in putting my desires aside to meet the need of another. This is my heart cry. True love is revealed in us as in Christ when we willingly give ourselves to the practice of intentional selflessness for the cause of Christ. May I be found faithful at Your coming. In Jesus name, amen.
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”” – Matthew 28:18-20 NASB1995
Father, we are first called to “make disciples,” specifically teaching them to observe all that You command us. And when they believe You, we are told to baptize them in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Baptism is important and not to be degraded. We make disciples and baptize them in Your name. That is our clear, undeniable call and instruction. Make us who are disciples of Your teachings and baptized into Your Name faithful to Your call. In Jesus, amen.
In the midst of Your warnings against unrighteous Israel, You throw them a lifeline of hope. When they turn back to You, they can know they will find You there, in their midst, working for their good and Your glory. Father, thank You that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. You still champion and celebrate over Your people who turn to You as their God, their true hope, their Lord. As I pray that, I realize anew that You again reveal to me that You first do for us what You require us to do for You.
You want us in Your midst, to remain and abide in You. As You fight for us, Your desire is for us to fight the good fight of faith for You. We are Your army, instructed to stand firm and at the ready, fully clothed in Christ and suited in Your armor. One of our greatest weapons is to exult over You with joy, for the enemy of our soul cannot stand in the presence of the praises of Your people who love and serve You. In love, we serve You as we love with Your love, representing You and Your interests in the world. And as we see Your work accomplished and Your name magnified, our joy over You is magnified anew.
Thank You, Father. May we be found faithful at Your coming. In Jesus, amen.
Father, I seek You in truth, desiring to know, speak, and live Your truth. May I be found faithful, proving to be zealous for what is good. Sanctifying Christ as Lord in my heart, Father, remove from me every fear and dread of intimidation.
May Your truth so reside in me that I may be able to make a defense when called for, yet with gentleness and reverence. Grant me life in You, making me able to keep a good conscience, even in suffering. If I must suffer, let it be for righteousness sake, that I may be found suffering for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. And use that suffering for the glory of Your name, growing my character to perfection in Christ, shining Your Light so that others may see and be drawn by You to walk in the Light, as You are in the Light.
Father, by Your mercy and grace, grant to me the power and perseverance needed to put to death my flesh, while being made alive in the spirit. Transform me, Father, by the renewing of my mind, so I become living proof of what Your will is: that good, acceptable, and perfect will of my God. In Jesus’ Holy and beloved Name and for Your glory, let it be so. Amen.
Father God, in the opportunities these devastating fires have presented me and each of us, Your children in Christ, empower us to accomplish Your will done Your way for the glory of Your name and the building of Your Kingdom and people. All I have and all I am belongs to You for Your Name’s sake. Make me a faithful steward of all Your good supply.
I want to use my home and resources well as I help these in need, Lord. Help me trust You with my home and the things going on here that make for wear and tear, and stress my patience and peace. Help me to trust Your supply for household things when this unusual strain is relieved. The important thing is to trust You, be Your light that reveals Your trustworthiness and care, and practice the hospitality that accomplishes Your righteousness and makes You known to the hearts of those I seek to help.
I want to love as You love, with patience, kindness, endurance, and graciousness. Help me give my all fearlessly, as You have given. This need will not pass us by in a day, Lord, as the devastation is extensive and area resources are stressed. It will take time to get people back into homes. Grant us endurance with peace of heart and mind, taking every thought that hinders peace and righteousness captive, so love prevails and encouragement flows to help the stressed and distressed find the hope to be had in You alone.
Grant us Your heart, Lord, as we weep with those who weep, and as we seek to help them recognize Your goodness in the midst of these storms all around us and inside us. These opportunities present eternal purpose, Father. Fill our hearts with Your truth as we encourage the grieving and fainthearted. In Jesus and for His glory, amen.
“How can we sing the Lord’s song In a foreign land?” – Psalms 137:4 NASB1995
Life in these days is so foreign to Kingdom living. Things in life that are so greatly against You and Your ways set our hearts in a tailspin and stop the flow of prayer as we feel we know not how to even begin to pray. So, set our hearts on the things above where You are. Keep our hearts set on You. Only then do we have hope and find help in time of need. You not only hold the answer to every trying situation. You are the answer. We pray You for life. Deliver us and those we love from everything that’s not You. In Jesus, amen.
Grief can darken our understanding of the ways of God and the truth of His care for us. This darkness is dangerous for our relationship with God and can pull us out of His will as the dullness of the light in us makes us feel our inability to be light for others. Recognizing the darkness, refusing its rule over life, and trusting God’s light to reveal to us our path to healing is vital in times of grief that brings the veil of shadow to our hearts. I pray God’s light for our need so we can truly be His light in the land of our living.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart please and bless You, my God. Whether in eating or drinking or in whatever I do, I pray it glorifies You, for You are God most High, worthy of all glory and honor.
In all I do, whether in spoken or written word, or through the giving of thanks through Lord Jesus to You, my Father, let it be done in obedience and truth to the glory of your name and the edification of those in my midst. Make all the works of my hands accomplish Your purpose. With Your word as a lamp to my feet and a light to my path, make my feet the lovely bearers of the good news concerning Jesus, to the glory of Your name and the good of all who hear. This I pray, in Jesus, amen.
Father, thank You for this new journey You have me on that is definitely stretching and putting my faith to the test. And thank You for the original language study You have me in that warns me today about fainting – losing faith, falling to despondency in fear.
Our nemesis to faith is fear. The sensation of that evil pounding on the walls of my faith in this journey has been frequent, with increasing fervor. Thank You for reminding me today that You are sovereign. You know best and are good. Your plan, will, way, and purpose is perfect. I can and must trust You. It is the only safe path through this life in these evil days.
Forgive my leaning toward the temptation to give self to the fear that is wanting residency in my life, with desire meant to cause me to back away from all You are doing. I choose to stand by faith that fully trusts You and press forward in the strength You supply. In Jesus, amen.
“For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” – II Corinthians 4:15-16 NKJV
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him. You have done foolishly in this; therefore, from now on you shall have wars.” – 2 Chronicles 16:9 AMPC
“God is not democratic. His Kingdom is not a democracy. He is never subject to our whim or rule. The only real authority we ultimately have with God is the right to completely rule Him out of our lives. You can do that. But who in their right minds wants to? That’s the decision of those who refuse Christ, who reject God’s redemption and rule through His appointed King.
“But once I receive Jesus Christ as Savior, He enters to become Lord. Once my choice is to “rule Him in,” He comes in to rule! He takes over at Master-control and exercises God’s Kingdom rule to achieve our best blessing and highest destiny.” (From Praise in The Presence of God, by Jack Hayford)
Father God, I am so grateful for Your saving grace found in Jesus Christ, my Savior and King. Thank You for leading my heart to bow before You and choose Jesus as Lord and Redeemer King. Thank You for paying the price I could not pay so I can have the Life I do not deserve.
And thank You for giving Your Word and Teacher Spirit to train me in righteousness and empower me to walk out the salvation You call me to, living out the righteous life You call me to display. You are awesome God and Faithful Creator, worthy of all glory, praise, and honor. May my life and every breath prove these truths to the glory of Your name. In Jesus and for Your glory and crown, amen.
“… These are inveterate {chronic} murmurers (grumblers) who complain [of their lot in life], going after their own desires [controlled by their passions]; their talk is boastful and arrogant, [and they claim to] admire men’s persons and pay people flattering compliments to gain advantage. But you must remember, beloved, the predictions which were made by the apostles (the special messengers) of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). They told you beforehand, In the last days (in the end time) there will be scoffers [who seek to gratify their own unholy desires], following after their own ungodly passions. It is these who are [agitators] setting up distinctions and causing divisions–merely sensual [creatures, carnal, worldly-minded people], devoid of the [Holy] Spirit and destitute of any higher spiritual life. ….” – Jude 1:14-25 AMPC
Inveterate (murmurers) – Firmly and long established; deep-rooted. Persisting in an ingrained habit; habitual: synonym: chronic.
Father, I don’t think I’m a grumbler – especially not habitually so. But if I, in any way or depth, am given over to grumbling and complaining, reveal this evil in me and deliver me from its grasp.
I do see that I tend to fall to the sin of giving compliments, not falsely – what I speak, I say out of true evaluation, but with the wrong motives of trying to get into another’s good graces, or trying to prove something they believe about me to be incorrect. This, too, is not out of a lie. The things the ones I think of in this do believe of me is a lie. But working to please them in proving them wrong is prideful. So forgive me this sin, O God, and prove righteousness and truth in me in ways they can rightly see. I rest my defense into Your capable Hands, for You see and know the truth of every heart.
Father, let me not be found an instigator of division, but use me to bring peace that unites from a position of righteous understanding. In Jesus I pray, amen.
A devotional done with friends reminds me of the need of long hours at Your feet in some life issues, Lord. My heart stays so overwhelmed by so much in these days that part of me feels prayerless – or at least inadequate in prayer for such unbelievable turmoil, while the other part feels the groaning of Your Spirit that has me constant at Your feet – watchfully waiting. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.
Thank You for Your Word that is the dictator and heart of my prayers in these days. And thank You for the answer received today in one of those major devastations. I love You dearly and long for Your will, to see Your hand in the land of our living, as You have so faithfully done so many times throughout my years of running hard after You. In Jesus, make it so. Amen!
“In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.””
Luke 12:1-3 NKJV
Father, forgive me any gossip, slander, unkind, down trodding, etc., speech spoken at any time. Make me alert to such and quick to repent and apologize. Reveal to me anything that I need to make amends for and grant me wisdom in how to do so.
I love You. Help me rightly and truly love in Your name by word, deed, and thought. Let that which is in me be that which can flow forth to the glory of Your name as a loving testament revealing You in me. In Jesus, amen.
Lord God, I do love You. I am so grateful for You. You are real and alive. I am so grateful to know You. I am so grateful to be Yours, and to be known by You. You are my hope and song. Life is real with You.
Thank You for saving me. Thank You for loving me, Thank You for being my God. Thank You for directing my path. I thank You for using my mouth. I pray to be surrendered to You so my mouth speaks purely from a heart that knows You. I pray to be surrendered to You, so my feet take the paths You desire me to.
I need You. Life is incomplete without You. With You, all things are made new. I rejoice in who You are, and in who You make me to be. You are my guiding light, my hope for right, and my joy in the night. For these things and more than I can fathom, I give you glory. For it is in Jesus name that I pray, amen.
Wow! Father, I love when You refuse to allow me to give myself to fleshly fears and self-centered cares. You truly are giving me purpose in making this trip with my daughter. You’re speaking to my heart about not allowing fear to rob me of the blessing of fulfilling Your purpose as I choose to live life to the full. It’s been made clear that she wants time with me and this is opportunity to gift that to her – and to myself. I long to see my granddaughter and family, and to meet my new great grand and his dad, my new grandson in love. This is my chance to do that.
You have opened doors for me. I must not let my flesh, the ills and difficulties of this world, and satanic fear rob me. I must cling to faith’s trust in You as You are clearly calling me to do through Your Word to my heart today. Grant me to remember Your words to me and put fear thoughts and self-centered comforts behind me. In Jesus, amen.
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.””
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 NASB1995
You are so faithful, Lord, to lead us and direct our paths as we seek Your opinion. Thank You for sparking my heart today with Deuteronomy 31:6-8, increasing faith in me to make this upcoming trip with my daughter to see my granddaughter and family three days journey away: a daunting distance to me. I am trusting You have a purpose to fulfill in my going, and giving me a word from You to hold to confirms Your will and provision for it. I am so very grateful.
This is exactly what I needed to hear from You. Thank You that You never fail to inspire my faith in You for the things You call me to, and You are faithful to encourage my perseverance on the path You lead to. I do trust You. Now, Lord, entrusting this journey to You, I pray to be Your instrument in loving these, and in shining You into their lives and the lives of others at every opportunity as we go. In Jesus, amen!
“And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.”” – Exodus 15:26 NASB1995
You are! You are my first, most vital need and necessity. I can do nothing apart from You of any eternal worth or value. With You working in and through me, nothing shall be impossible, for I can do all things through the strength of Your supply.
You are my hope, my help, my provision, my treasure. Every good and perfect is from You, the Father of Lights, in Whom there is no variation or shifting of shadow. I trust You, looking to You for my every good. Make Yourself known as You show Yourself strong in me.
You are my life. You cleanse and sanctify me in holiness. You heal me by Your Word from a sin nature in my flesh and bring me surely into righteousness and truth through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I bow!
Thank You for saving me and making me whole as You make me wholly Yours. In Jesus name, amen.
In reading this passage today, Father, I see something different. I always read it as our love for one another. Now I see it as our love for You.
This is speaking of coming into perfected love, in which there is no fear. As we grow in love for You in our knowledge and discernment of You, we then are able to approve the things that are excellent. It is in loving You that we are enabled to desire the things You deem excellent. That focus equips us to walk love out into life in ways that are sincere and without offense. That love for You makes fertile soil in hearts made ready, able to produce in us the fruit of righteousness in Christ to the glory and praise of our God.
It’s in growing understanding of You and Your desire for us to walk with You that works in us an increasing love for You, that enables us to love others well as part of bearing Your fruit into life. Here am I, O God. May my love abound still more and more to the glory and praise of Your great name. In Jesus, amen.
“Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”” – John 8:28-29
Your Word is pure joy to my heart, Father. Even when it’s words convict me of sin, I rejoice, for that conviction reveals Your love that wants a pure relationship with me and desires I be holy as You are holy. I desire to know and walk in Your truths, so that I may know and walk with You. Grant me to love Your Word, abiding in that which makes me to know You and Your ways.
I pray to only speak Your true words, Father. Teach me, that I may have truth to speak. Show Yourself strong with and through me. Grant wise discernment of clear paths that I may consistently walk as pleases You at all times and in all things. As Jesus – our example for life – is, so I desire to be. In Jesus, amen.
“Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous;” – Genesis 26:12-13 NKJV
Prosper us, Father, in our relationships – beginning and majoring in our relationship with You as First and Foremost, our most vital need and necessity. Increase us in fruit bearing that glorifies and honors You, bringing increase to Your Kingdom. As stewards of the manifold gifts of Your grace to us, prosper us in fulfilling Your purpose and plan. You give sufficient and beyond so that we have sufficient for every good deed. Grant us wisdom to know the good that rightly uses Your good gifts to us. May we walk as pleases You in all our ways, being found faithful and ready at Your coming, when we meet You face to face. In Jesus, amen.
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” – III John 1:2 NKJV
“Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.” – Colossians 1:25-29 NASB1995
Thank You, Father, for making a way for us to be clothed again in Your glory, through Christ Jesus our Lord. In Christ, we were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that we might be joined to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. Therefore, if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord. Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. This we profess and this we trust as we walk out our salvation in the land of our living; this place of habitation You set us in.
Whether, then, we eat or drink or whatever we do, empower us to do all to the glory of God, that Your glory may rest on and shine through us as Your light to a lost and dead world. Whatever we do in word or deed, may we be faithful to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to You, our Father God. For it is in Jesus we pray, amen.
Romans 7:4; Romans 14:8; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17
“Walking in the spirit of trust means simply doing what the Holy Spirit directs you to do. And keeping quiet.” Jack Hayford
The focal thought You gave me for today comes from Paul’s words in Acts 26:19, “Be Obedient to the Heavenly Vision.”
The place You called me to in this season is often a hard place to be, most certainly beyond my ability alone. But You keep confirming the path and assuring my heart that You are accomplishing Your purpose in and through me.
Here am I, O God. Help my mouth speak the assurances You give and my heart recognize Your sure presence in this place. Grant me wisdom and perseverance, especially in the hard times. And let my love for You and those around me be visible and palpable, going above and beyond mere words. In Jesus, amen.
Am I in fear? I don’t want to refuse to hear truth because of a fear that keeps me from accepting it. I don’t want to doubt the truth of my relationship to You, making Your authority and work in me weak and useless. I don’t want to run from and refuse Your discipline, for You discipline those You love and You scourge every son whom You receive. I cannot bear the fruit of righteousness, the fruit of Your Spirit, when fear rules and reigns, keeping me from repentance and from walking in Your truths.
Here am I, O God. Make Yourself and Your truth known to, in, and through me. Reveal truth, Father. Confirm and establish for me the works of my hands. In Jesus, amen.
“Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”” – Mark 14:37-38 NKJV
Father, thank You for pausing me here this morning, leading me to consider these words. As I do, it dawns on me that Jesus just told these with Him that they would fall away and deny Him. If ever they needed to be praying, it was then. He was warning them of what was coming to Him and that one of their number would betray Him. If ever they needed to be praying, it was then.
Father God, You call us to Yourself, giving us assignment in living and serving You. Living for You is bigger than our flesh can accomplish without Your work in us and cannot be done apart from You. The wisdom of this world, our very flesh, and demonic influences stand against us, set to draw us into falsehood and sin. If ever we need to be praying and seeking Your Face, it is now.
Here am I, O God. Teach me to pray fervently, just as Jesus did. In Jesus, amen.
Darlene's Ponderings 