Accept My Praise

"Accept, O Lord, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws." Psalm 119:108

Do You look at the way I live out my faith and consider my praise worthy of Your attention, Lord? Are my prayers of praise acceptable offerings? I do no always know what to say to honor all the You are. I sometimes become overwhelmed knowing that I am trying to praise the Creator of all heaven and earth. Search my heart to discover the depth of my love and gratitude. May what you find be pleasing.

Though it can take me a while to get through my prayers to my praises, Lord, they are willing offerings and reflect the spirit I aspire to have every waking moment.

Holding On

"In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name." 1 Chronicles 29:12-13

Lord, help me see through the present struggles and into the future peace You have for me. Give me the calm of this peace now, as I try to regain perspective - Your perspective - to see this through. I pray that You will keep hold onto me as I try to hold onto my sense of thanksgiving and praise. Turn my thoughts from selfish regrets to generous ideas and hopes.

Your strength is my strength. When will I truly believe this and rest in Your power? The ground I stand on is shaky, but the hand I hold onto is not. For that I thank You, Lord.

Awe

"Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy."

Habakkuk 3:2

Before I knew You personally, I had friends who loved You. Even when I would challenge such belief, I was always watching for the signs of Your existence. Lord, through the lens of my friends' faith, I began to see how You cared for those who put their faith in Your way. I saw the gift of renewal and the impact of Your influence in all that they did and said, even when they were struggling to understand You.

Lord, now I am so thankful to know You. And while I strive to define my faith and live it out for other people to see, I pray for Your awesome touch to find me and my life. Let other people be in awe of the God I know.

Timidity

"May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise. May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees." Psalm 119: 170-171

I can be shy about approaching You. Sometimes I am a young child who is not certain what to say or how to find my way through a prayer to get to the heart of the matter. But when I release my inhibitions and come to You with a humble and open spirit, my mouth overflows with all that is in me. My gratitude, my concern, my questions...they all pour forth. I am surprised by how quickly I become like a pair of open hands, waiting to receive what You give to fill me.

May my timidity turn to humility so I do not stand on the sidelines, too nervous to approach You. I long to run to Yours side, bursting with courage, love, and gratitude as I tell You about my day, with no holding back.

After the Healing

"When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him."

Matthew 8:14-15

You hear my prayers for healing and wholeness, Lord. I call out to You during a night of pain and heartache. I believe in Your healing touch. When Your peace replaces my brokenness, I pray that I will be grateful. When my fatigue eases into energy and strength, I pray that I will in turn wait on You and obey Your commands with renewed commitment.

Lord, You touched me and healed me. I praise You, and may I never forget who is the Light when I come out of the darkness.

My Backbone

"My integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you."

Psalm 25:21

In my faith, I have discovered the secret to standing tall in the world. When I threw away my desire to put myself first, I came upon Your will and Your purpose for my life. This fit has given me the security to be at peace with the way life unfolds. My hope is not in guaranteed profit, certain success, or the perfect relationship. My hope is in You, and when I face choices and changes, I measure my response according to the integrity Your love gives to me.

To be secure in a loving and knowing God, I knew I would have to let go of my unreal expectations so that I could make room for Your unbelievable promises. It was the best decision I ever made. Thank You for giving me what I needed to stand tall and to walk with hope.

I Cannot Fathom

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"

Romans 11:33-34

I'm a fool for trying to figure out everything about You. I want to know why things happen and how they happen. I spend hours rethinking, reconfiguring, and reassessing life. More than once You have had to bread this cycle for me because it is unnecessary and damaging to my faith.

When will I let go of the belief that I am to control everything in my life? When will I stop trying to figure out Your mind? The miracle of faith requires only that I know Your heart. And, Lord, I know it well.

Into the Hope

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

1 Peter 1:3

I'm stepping forward. Slowly and with deliberate steps, but still forward. It has been a long time since I have felt any sense of progress. Thank You, Lord, for this gift of life. I can breathe more easily this morning. My thoughts are clear and fresh. I look around me, and everything is vibrant, colorful, alive. It is as if You are pointing out all that I have missed in the past days and weeks.

Yes, today I am stepping into a living hope and a hope for living!

Have God, Will Travel

"The Lord replied, " My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Exodus 33:14

I built so many wall around myself that my home seemed a palace, refuge that should not be left behind. I made excuses for my behavior and told myself and others that being alone was the healthiest solution. Lord, You call me out of my solitary confinement. You promise to give me rest and refreshment even when I leave this refuge.

Today I will step forward with new assurance and confidence. Today I will stop hiding and begin living in Your care. Today I will acknowledge Your presence and celebrate the comfort You bring. There will be no more walls. I will step beyond them and begin living because You are my Savior.

Surely, I Will Sing

"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."

Isiah 12:2

The Lord is my strength and my song. How often I rely on Your strength, Lord, but I forget the song part. I neglect to praise You with the melodies of my heart and voice. I fail to point to You as the source of my trust, joy , and confidence.

I need to sing Your praises in all places so that others will take up Your name, live without fear, and experience the amazing gift of salvation.

The Peace of Your Countenance

"Restore us, O God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved."

Psalm 80:7

When I first looked at You, Lord, Your face radiated Your mercy, and my life was illuminated with peace. I was coming from a time of working against myself, You and life. I seemed to view everything as a "me against them" situation. Your peace changed that. You restored my balance and my understanding of people.

Now when I turn to face other people, I offer them peace. I speak words of kindness. I extend forgiveness readily. I do not hold back my affection or joy in who they are. I accept them as You accept me. And I am saved.

Remembering to Ask

"Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see, " he replied. Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, the also praised God."

Luke 18:40-43

I believe I have carried around this hurt for a long time. I might find temporary solutions that ease the discomfort or ways to distract my mind from the pain, but I have not done the most basic thing. I have not told You, my God and Savior, what I need. I have not prayed for healing.

God, my own uncertainties have dept me from falling at Your feet and asking You for help. Give me the strength to hold onto this kind of faith at all times. I pray that my circumstances will become an opportunity for other people to see Your power and to praise Your might name.

Never Stop Singing

Have you ever observed the behavior of birds in the face of adversity? For days and days they make their nests, sometimes gathering material from far away. And when they have completed the nest and are ready to lay eggs, the weather or the work of humans, or some animal destroys it and it falls to the ground. All that they have done with so much effort is ruined. Do they stop? Bewildered and leave work? No way! They start over building the nest again and again until they have eggs in the nest. It hurts to go back to begin again...even so, the birds don't ever stop, they continue to sing and build and keep singing and building. Do you sometimes get the feeling that your life, your work, your family is not what you had dreamed. Do you sometimes want to say "enough...the effort is not worthwhile. It is too much for me!" Are you tired of it all? Do you feel that the daily struggle is a waste of time, your trust has been betrayed, your goals not reached just as you were about to reach them? Life strikes you down sometimes, but do you go on, say a prayer, put your faith in hope, not darkness? Do not worry if you get injured in battle, that is to be expected. Father yourself together and rebuild your life so it runs well again. No matter what happens - don't shrink back, but move forward. Life is a constant challenge, but it is worthwhile...never stop singing!

Leaning on Your Wisdom

"God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore."

1 Kings 4:29

My hope for wisdom is grounded in my faith in Your promises. If I am left to my own devices and motivation, I will never understand the world around me. And it is not only these external mysteries I long to explore. I hope to discover more about my own heart and min and my Creator.

I depend upon Your wisdom, Lord. Free my mind of the half-truths, untruths, and misconceptions so my growth is not hindered by lies and foolishness. I pray that they way I use my fit of wisdom will reflect my thankful heart.

My Provider

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

Psalm 51:12

All that I need, You will provide. I believe this, Lord. Sometimes I try to exert my will rather than pursue Your will for me. When my energy is running low, I get desperate and reach for anything to fill the void before I have to feet it. I eat, I watch television, I follow any distraction that pops up, and I doubt joy.

Lord, strip me of my prideful desire to do it on my own. Cause me to feel the emptiness and depletion so that I can feel the complete joy when Your sustenance starts pouring in. And when the void is overflowing with godly abundance, may I remember my Provider.

May It Be So

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Romans 12:12

We have faced this difficulty together. Even when I had to wait for answers, I never felt I was standing alone against the rage of hurt. God, You are my Lord and my partner in this lifetime. The chance to know You better and to see Your character demonstrated in miraculous ways has been a gift.

It is not from the end of a journey that I can say all this, but from somewhere in the middle. Thankfully I have learned that You are my great hope. I pray that how I travel the rest of this journey brings You glory and joy.

Replenish My Spirit

"You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor."

Psalm 68:9-10

May Your love rain down on me and refresh my spirit. I open my heart as an empty vessel waiting to be filled by Your abundant grace. For a time I hid from such expressions of Your love. I ran for shelter that did not protect me, but prevented me from encountering Your grace. Even then I knew how powerful it would be to share in Your bountiful mercy.

Lord, thank You for hearing my prayers over the years, and especially in recent days. I have felt a shift in my heart. I know I am closer to You. It is with deep gratitude that I look ahead and realize that Your spiritual abundance will shower down on me when I call upon Your mighty, merciful name.

Beyond Winter

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them."

Daniel 2:20-21

For many days I stared at the view of trees cloaked in ice. I waited for my heart to thaw. The ever-present chill of loss followed me wherever I went.

God, I though I might live in this season forever. Even when I called out to You, I had moments of doubt that nothing could be done on this side of heaven to restore my life. But, Lord, You reached for my heart and warmed it with Your grace. You carried me through the storm and brought me into the radiant possibility of a new season.

What I Have

"My integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you."

Psalm 25:21

My hurt is becoming apparent to others. Several have mentioned it, and I was surprised. My situation feels so personal that I believed it existed only in my thoughts, in my experience. But others know of my pain. I pray they do not begin to see me as what I lost, rather than as Your child.

God, give me a continued desire to serve You with integrity. Protect my intention to be a witness. Make my life an example of Your glory, Your goodness, and Your faithfulness. And when others mention my situation, may they always use the word "hope."

Entrusting It All

"To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God."

Psalm 25:1-2

Lord, You see how I struggle with sharing parts of myself with other people. I hold onto bits and pieces of my life to preserve it. I am reluctant to learn that in order to create a bond of trust, I need to give to people. But in my spiritual life I desperately want to learn how to give myself over to You. My soul longs to be in Your possession.

Lord, please see beyond my stubborn ways of self-protection to the heart that does beat for You. Today I will give You more of myself than ever before. I will trust You with my decisions, my relationships, my concerns, and my future.

All in All

"There is only one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Ephesians 4: 4-6

Lord, I was brought to faith by hope. It was not a sound or a light, an earthquake, or a sign in the sky! I felt Your leading from within. What a blessing! I sent from being alone to being a part of the one who created all life. My journey of belief, submission, and faith renews me inside and out.

To have you take me by the hand and under Your authority has freed me to place my pain in Your hands. To finally be loved unconditionally has allowed me to embrace the one hope that leads to all that is good in my life.

Most Sacred

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the well-spring of life."

Proverbs 4:23

Lord, You know me. You know how I tend to retreat when I face trials of this sort. I distance myself from others to protect my feelings and my energy. During my times of solitude and separation, You make my heart a place to rest, a sanctuary to gather my senses and to experience calm. Here I can draw from Your strength, hear Your voice, and feel safe.

Let me cherish this sacred place and preserve it so that it remains a pure connection to my Creator.

The Whole Me

"Do not reject me or forsake me, O God, my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors."

Psalm 27:9-11

There are times when people in my life do not understand me. Or maybe they see only a part of me, rather than thw whole. This has occurred so many times that I thought it was the only way to be viewed...in pieces. But Lord, You receive me as a whole being. You see the good, the bad, and the desire to do right.

I expect a lot out of people, those close to me and even those I just happen to meet. Help me to understand that even if they let me know or forsake that part of me that they know, this does not define my life. This does not keep me from the path You have laid out before me. I pray to become the whole person You created me to be so that You will receive me with joy>

Grudges

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Mark 11:25

I like peace. But lately I seem to foster angst. I turn negative comments over and over in my mind. Other people's sins become something for me to figure out, to change, to make right. Lord, I'm pretty sure You have not asked me to take Your place as God, Creator, and Savior! So why do I try to be the one in ultimate control?

I allow hurts to fester and slights to separate me from Your goodness. Release me from the grudges that keep my heart in shackles. Give me the strength to release the desire to control everyone and everything.

You Are The Source

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."

Matthew 6:14

It is from You, the source of all that is good and holy, that I am finally able to draw the strength to forgive those who cause me pain. Some know they have hurt me; some don't. Some are not in the wrong, yet I want to blame them.

I finally realized that my anger turned me away from the well of forgiveness often. But You called me to return with the pail of my heart. You asked me to lean over, extend the vessel, and fill it because the supply from you is endless. Now I am more eager to return to Your heart and draw my reserve of forgiveness. I want to share it with everyone.

Tomorrow I Rest

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Today is about perseverance. Holding my head up. Keeping things in order when I would rather nap or holler at the sky. Today is about smiling when I would rather cry; ignoring indifference when I crave attention.

Today is about moving forward with my eyes focused on the future rather than the past. Today is about working through whatever You place on my plate so that I can rest tomorrow. Your plan will not break me. It will guard my steps so that I can take refuge in the hopeful future You declare for me, Your child.

Temporary Weakness

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Psalm 73:26

It takes little to overwhelm me these days. Yet it takes so much to hold my strength together. Why is it so difficult to remember it is not my human strength that sustains me in this time? So quickly I fault my body for its weakness and my mind for its lack of full participation!

My wholeness comes from You. I need not depend on my body and my mind to carry me. I feel my heart strengthening with hope and power as You take charge. My temporary weakness evaporates when I consider Your eternal strength.

Fearless

"Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."

Proverbs 1:33

I can feel my muscles grip with tension and fear each time I think of the uncertain things in my future. It is useless, this worrying. Yet I invest much time and energy toward it. I cannot know what is around the bend, but I am under the care of the Once who does know what will come and what will happen.

Lord, Your voice envelops me, and I am ready to listen to Your words of peace and security. You do not reveal secrets of what is to come, but You say, "Continue without fear. We take the next steps together." Thank You for that comfort.

Comfort Overflowing

"For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows."

2 Corinthians 1:5

When I encounter troubles, I know I take them to One who understands my pain. Suffering flows over into my life, but through Christ comfort overflows.

The abundance of Your compassion exceeds my trouble. With that abundance I am bound, in love, to comfort others. Thank You for the unending, enfolding circle of Your love.

Waiting Before the Lord

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes."

Psalm 37:7

Waiting is so difficult, Lord. Especially during the dry and difficult times. Being still while waiting? Even harder! I want to pace, point out injustices, even question Your ways. But the psalmist says, "Be still before the Lord."

I am humbled. When I consciously draw into Your presence, I cannot fret and flail about. Your gentle, patient spirit quiets mine. When indignant words and feelings well up, remind me to draw nigh to You and surrender all my troubled thoughts.

Be Still

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Exodus 14:14

Lord, in illness, sadness, and life's battles, You are there for me. I don't need to sound the trumpet or send runners to alert You to my needs. I need only be still. It's within that stillness that I can be watchful - an observer of Your deeds. It is in stillness that I sense Your presence - personal, magnificent, holy.

Keep the distractions from my mind. Let me experience the stillness that leads to Your presence.

Bearing Up, Bearing With

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

Ephesians 4:2

Be completely humble and gentle! Bear with one another in love. How peaceful Your way is! How far it is from the ways of this world. Thank You, Lord, for patiently bearing with me as I struggle to live more like Christ. You are gentle and loving when I fall short. As I face my trial, it is You who speaks with love and kindness to encourage me and to help me stand and bear my part of this load.

May my lesson be found in Your graciousness. Merciful, comforting God, help me uphold others as You do me - always, with no conditions.

Refreshed Understanding

"Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

1 Peter 3:4

So much of my worry and stress stems from outside pressures to be, do, or look a certain way. Lord, refresh my understanding of beauty so that I may see myself and others through Your eyes.

Today the world clamors for my attention, but I choose to give it to You. I listen for Your quiet quiet voice and claim Your definition of unfading beauty - that of a gentle spirit!

The Whole of It

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 5:21

Through Jesus Christ I am restored to wholeness before God. It's like a gift I get to unwrap every morning. I have peace with God today. I have peace with God tomorrow.

Help me remember this, Lord, and see with the eyes of faith in the midst of life's inevitable ups and downs and joys and sorrows. Yours is a peace that cannot be disturbed or taken away. Amen!

Saved from Striving

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Matthew 11:29

You offer Your yoke, Lord, as an invitation to journey with and learn from You. You, Creator God, make of heaven and earth, say let's pull this load together. Some days it feels so heavy - too heavy. But I am not made to carry it alone. I am created to partner with the Creator.

Yoked under Your care, Lord, I am saved from striving. Rest and peace - thank You for these priceless, eternal gifts.

Touching His Cloak

"She said to herself, 'if I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.' Jesus turned and saw her, 'Take heart, daughter,' he said, 'your faith has healed you.' "

Matthew 9:21-22

A woman trusted in God's power to change her life. She'd been ill for years. She was being pushed away from Jesus by a noisy - and perhaps equally needy -crowd. But she didn't yell, "Hey, hear ME! Heal ME! She didn't hang onto Jesus' arm for emphasis. She spoke in her heart and reached only for the hem of His cloak.

Lord, thank You for this amazing story. Help me remember that getting Your attention requires nothing more than knowing I deeply need it.

The Opposite of Envy

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."

Proverbs 14:30

Lord, help me appreciate my life - the people in it and the circumstances that shape it.

Contentment is so underrated in our society, yet when I meet someone whose life exemplifies it, I am amazed at the joy I experience in his or her presence.

In a culture that encourages envy and continual striving, let me be a "heart at peace" - the fruit of a personal relationship with You, the Prince of Peace.

Take Heart

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

"In this world, you will have trouble." Thank You for Your plain-speaking honesty. Trouble will come; trouble has come. I cannot avoid pain and misunderstanding in this world. But You have over come the world and given me, Your child, access to the peace that passes all understanding.

Let me put aside fear and take up that promise, not as words I have to make myself "feel," but as something solid, something to stand on, act on, and live out.

Pursuing Peace

"Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."

Psalm 34:14

How often is the source of my unrest the result of my own inaction? I cling to bad habits and unfruitful thoughts when I could be actively moving toward goodness and peace. I ponder the failings or the possible pitfalls when You ask me to trust You and to keep going in faith.

Turn. Do. Seek. Pursue. Your directives are plain and challenging...and exciting. I accept, Lord! Keep me vigilant in the way of peace.

Receive Me

Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him; "Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips." Hosea 14:2

Receive me, Lord. Take my enthusiasm, my questions, my willingness, and shape them into someone who seeks only what is of You and from Your hand. Receive my efforts and clean away the sin that can taint the good things that can come from my life.

Receive my words, hear them within Your sweet grace so that they are pleasing to You. May my expressed thoughts and prayers be my promise of ongoing dialogue. My desire to reach You and to be held in Your hand has become a longing. My heart is full as You receive Your child's simple words, faltering praises, and pleading inquiries.

Go Right Ahead

"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."

Psalm 16:7-8

Lord, go before me and create a path for me to follow. I give my days ahead to You and Your plan. Instruct me as I eat, sleep, and pray so that I am not filled with questions that can lead me astray in a weak moment. You are the Model of the heart I long for. You are my Counselor and Redeemer who knows the way through my mountains and canyons.

I take each step with my eyes on Your might. Let my commitment of faith be transformed into wisdom and love. And may I never be so sure of my pace that I desire to pass You and take over the lead on this journey.

Getting Ready

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."

1 Peter 1:13

In the days of my childhood, time had little meaning unless it was relevant to a need. When can I eat? When can I sleep? But now I see that time does not exist to fill my needs. It runs beneath our spirits with undetectable speed as we go about our day. It carries us closer to eternity with such a quiet force that when we do finally notice where we are in the continuum of time, we are amazed and shocked. How could it be a year later...a new season...a different stage of life?

God, help me be truly awake these days so that I take in all that Your grace provides. You did not sacrifice for me so that I would waste my days. Prepare me to be self-disciplined, to have hope, and to be ready to receive every ounce of grace from You.

Your Ingredients

"Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands."

Psalm 119:73

I thank You today and every day for shaping me, forming my very spirit and soul, Lord. I have come to know You so personally because my heart has desired to return to its Maker. This longing leads me back to You over and over, even when I wander and follow path of my own creation through dark forests.

I am made with Your ingredients. My strengths and weaknesses all blend together beneath Your hand so that I become this complex self. I know whose hand created me. Now I pray for the knowledge to understand and follow Your commands. This complex being You made as "me" has been created just for this life, for these very personal circumstances and choices. May I follow Your commands so that Your creations is used for the purposes You intended.

The Fear Factor

"Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Matthew 14: 29-30

Give me courage, Lord, Facing risk is not just a matter of trusting You. It also becomes a matter of defying the power of fear. When Peter walked on the water at Your command, he was held up, kept from being hurt by the storm's strength. But as soon as he let the fear and doubt creep back into his spirit, he began to sink.

I do not want to go under the waves of worry that are just waiting to crash down upon me. Lord, carry me to the shore of emotional safety. Protect my mind from anxiousness. I will keep my eyes upon You, and I will believe You can do the impossible.

Replenish My Spirit

"You gave abundant showers, Oh God. You refreshed your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, Oh God, you provided for the poor."

Psalm 68:9-10

May Your love rain down on me and refresh my spirit. I open my heart as an empty vessel waiting to be filled by Your abundant grace. For a time I hid from such expressions of Your love. I ran for shelter that did not protect me, but prevented me from encountering Your grace. Even then I knew how powerful it would be to share in Your bountiful mercy.

Lord, thank You for hearing my prayers over the years, and especially in recent days. I have felt a shift in my heart. I know I am closer to You. It is with deep gratitude that I look ahead and realize that Your spiritual abundance will shower down on me when I call upon Your mighty, merciful name.

Ready to Believe

"Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Matthew 21:21-22

My prayers do not always reflect a faith of true believing, Lord. I find myself asking without faith in the outcome, without fully trusting that You are listening. Fill my heart with faith that leaves no room for doubt. Let my questions be those of a seeker desiring a deeper relationship with You, rather than those of a person who places obstacles between my life and the Once who made it.

As I practice the discipline of prayer, may it make me ready to receive all that is good, holy, and of You. May my lips never release words that are not lifted up in faith.

Stepping Out of the Fog

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Romans 12:2

My mind is foggy. I have stepped behind a shroud of stress, distance, and emotional indifference. I view everything through this haze. My mind makes decisions while surrounded by the cloud of nothingness. I want to walk through my life awake and with great passion, Lord. Pull me away from the self-protective layer.

Renew my mind and my heart, Lord. While I thought I was getting by in life, surviving, Your have wanted me to be living within Your will. You desire for me to feel the emotional highs and lows which create the landscape of life. I am ready to wake up, Lord!

Correct Me

"Yet you know me, O Lord; You see me and test my thoughts about you."

Jeremiah 12:3

Correct me if I am wrong about You, Lord. I believe that I have led a life that has been a bit off-kilter because I do not know You as well as I should. I long to have the kind of connection that puts me at ease in Your presence and replaces my doubts and questions with certainty. Search my ways of thinking, my pattern of emotions, and my view of the world, and repair any false perspectives I have.

god, I pray for knowledge that gives me a greater understanding of You. See me and test my thoughts about You to see if they are strong in truth. I want to know You. I pray to be open to Your correction and testing. I pray to give myself over to You fully.

Sure, But Can You Do This?

"Test everything. Hold on to the good."

1 Thessalonians 5:21

In my need, I have reached for many lifelines. I am embarrassed to confess, Lord, that I sought out help that was not of Your strength. What was I thinking? How weak is my resolve to be solid in my faith and my commitment to You!

I was forgetting how committed You are to me. I don't deserve this grace, this mercy from You. Nevertheless, You give it to me with love and guidance. You don't shame me for trying to be strong on my own. But I sense that You smile like a knowing parent when I return, once again, to take hold of Your wisdom and call it the only true lifeline.

Me?

"Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You, too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near."

James 5:7-8

Haw many friends have I witnessed to about the virtues of waiting upon Your timing? Countless. I'm sure I said it with great authority and conviction. I was good at that then!

Now I stand in a darkened room with my hands held up to the ceiling. I have only questions, not conviction, on my lips and on my mind: "When will You take this from me? When will You fix this, Lord?" I feel the tug on my heart almost immediately. it is not judgment, but mercy. "You too must be patient and stand firm." I let this sink in. It isn't a platitude; it's a true answer.