God's Word on That

Tag: christianity

  • Praying for Freedom from Abuse

    Father, You have rescued me from the dominion of darkness and brought me into the kingdom of the Son of Your love (Colossians 1:13).  Once I was darkness, but now I am light in You; I want to walk as a child of light (Ephesians 5:8).  Help me to grow in grace and knowledge and understanding of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18), so I may experience Your love, and trust You to be a Father to me.

    God has made us to see Light – that we may become light.

    Abuse, as all darkness, is exposed and reproved when the Light shines.  It is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear, there is light (Ephesians 5:13).  The history of my earthy family is filled with abusive behavior, much hatred strife, and rage.  The painful memory of past verbal, emotional, physical, and/or sexual abuse has caused me to be hostile and abusive to others.  I desire to be a doer of Your Word and not a hearer only (James 1:22).  No matter which way I turn, I cannot make myself do right.  I want to, but I cannot.  When I want to do good, I don’t; and when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway.  It seems that sin still has me in its evil grasp (Romans 7:18-20).  This pain has caused me to hurt myself and others.  I dearly want to be Your willing servant.

    I confess my sin of abuse, resentment, and hostility toward others, and I ask You to forgive me.  I know You are faithful and just to forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9), so I gratefully receive Your mercy, and I ask for Your grace to help me in my times of need (Hebrews 4:16).  I am tired of reliving the past in my present life, perpetuating the curse of anger and abuse.  Jesus was made a curse for me (Galatians 3:13).  Therefore, Lord God, I put on Your whole armor that I may be able to successfully stand against all the strategies and tricks of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). I know my struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the dark powers and spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12).  I thank You, Lord God, that the evil power of abuse is broken, overthrown, and cast down; that through Your graces I can demolish every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of You and Your Word (2 Corinthians 10:5).  I submit myself to You and resist the devil (James 4:7) so that the need to hurt others will no longer control me.

    Loving Lord Jesus, You are my High Priest, and I ask You to loosen me from this infirmity (Luke 13:12).  I was bound – in an emotional prison – crippled and could in no wise lift myself up.  You have called me to Yourself, and I have gladly come (Matthew 11:28).  The anointing that is upon You is present to bind up and heal the brokenness and emotional wounds of the past.  You are the truth that makes me free (John 8:32). 

    Thank You, Lord God, heavenly Father, for guiding me through the steps to emotional wholeness.  I am confident of this: You have begun a good work in me, and You will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).  Father, I desire to live according to the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:4).  This Spirit of life, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing me from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death (Romans 8:2 Msg).  Since I am now free, it is my desire to forget those things that lie behind and strain forward to what lies ahead.  I press on toward the goal to win the supreme and heavenly prize, to which You in Christ Jesus, are calling me upward (Philippians 3:13-14).  I choose to no longer let the past control my thinking patterns or my behavior. Instead, I will take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). 

    It is my desire to throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage.  In simple humility, I let my Gardener, You Father, landscape me with the Word, making a salvation-garden out of my life (James 1:21).  Father, by your grace, I forgive my abuser(s) (Matthew 5:44) and ask You to bring them to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

    Praises be to You, O God, Heavenly Father.  I am now a new creation in Christ Jesus!  Old things have passed away; and behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).  I declare and decree that henceforth I will walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).  You sent Jesus that I might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10).  Thank You for the blood of Jesus that purifies me and makes me whole. (1 John 1:7)

  • Praying to Overcome Rejection

    Heavenly Father, Your Word says You love the just and will not forsake Your faithful ones (Psalm 37:28). My justification is found in Your Son, my Savior, Christ Jesus (Romans 8:30). He is faithful even when I am not (2 Timothy 2:13). Therefore, I thank You, Father, that I can be absolutely sure You will never reject me nor forsake me because I stand with Jesus (Hebrews 13:5). I thank You for welcoming me into Your family (John 16:27). No matter how I may encounter rejection in the world around me, I am welcomed to abide in the Creator of Heaven and Earth, and in the perfect Son of the Most High God (John 17:21)!

    God sees you as a jewel. Trust in Him. Rely on Him. Thank Him.

    Glorious God, You said, “I have chosen You and have not rejected you” (Isaiah 41:9). O God, though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet Your unfailing love for me will not be shaken nor Your covenant of peace be removed. You are the Lord God who has compassion on me (Isaiah 54:10). According to Your Word, what a man desires or craves deeply is unfailing love (Proverbs 19:22). You are the only one capable of perpetual unfailing love. Help me understand that my deep cravings for someone to love me with that kind of love were meant to be satisfied by You alone.

    Lord, according to Your Word, a hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12). Lord, You are keenly aware of all hopes that have been deferred in my life. Help me to put my hopes in You, for You will fulfill my longings, Lord God. You fill the hungry soul with good things (Luke 1:53)

    Lord God, You say: “Do not fear disgrace by men and do not be shattered by their taunts.” (Isaiah 51:7). I won’t be afraid of people’s scorn or their slanderous talk.  Slanderous talk is temporal and fades away.  Your word will never pass away.   Father, I choose to look at the things which are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). 

    Through faith and an act of my will – in obedience to Your Word – I choose to forgive all painful words and actions that have been done against me (Ephesians 4:32).  Through Jesus Christ You heal the broken-hearted (Luke 4:18) and bind up all wounds (Psalm 147:3).  I will seek Your face, Lord God, because You are my help, and You are my salvation.  When others forsake or reject me, I know You will lift me up (Psalm 27:9-10).  You are my refuge and underneath are Your everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27).  My God, You say to me in Your Word, “I, even I am He who comforts you” (Isaiah 51:12). Thank You, Loving Father! Help me to sense and respond to Your comfort, and share it with others that may need it, too.

    You, Lord Jesus, were despised and rejected, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering (Isaiah 53:3). You were despised — You know exactly how I feel, Lord. You understand and sympathize with weakness and pain of rejection. Therefore, I will put my trust in You. I will remember that I have a great High Priest who has suffered everything just as I suffer and now intercedes for me in the heavenly realm (Hebrews 4:15). So, I cling to You and will never stop trusting You (Hebrews 4:14).

    My Savior Jesus, I did not choose You, but You chose me (John 15:16). Help me to always be aware that You chose me, so I never need to feel left out. O Lord, because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me (Psalm 63:7-8).

    Lord God, according to Your Word, Your Spirit Himself testifies with my spirit that I am Your child. Now if I am Your child, then I am an heir — heir of Yours and co-heir with Christ Jesus, if indeed I share in His sufferings that I may also share in His glory (Romans 8:16-18). Help me to sincerely embrace the truth that any present sufferings I encounter are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in me. Father, continue to bring me along the path You have laid for me, so that I can learn to rejoice in my sufferings because sufferings produce perseverance (Romans 5:3).

    Father, I want You to be able to have great confidence in me and take pride in me and my faith in You. In all my troubles, let my joy know no bounds (2 Corinthians 7:4). You, O God, turn my wailing into dancing. You remove my sackcloth and clothe me with joy that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks and praise forever (Psalm 30:11-12).

  • Praying to Overcome Depression

    Father, You are a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble (Psalm 9:9).  I lean on and confidently put my trust in You, for all those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You (Psalm 9:10).  Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put all hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God (Psalm 42:11).

    Why so depressed, O my soul? Trust in God, for I will yet praise Him.

    My soul is weary with sorrow; please strengthen me according to Your Word (Psalm 119:28). I was bowed down in distress (Psalm 57:6). Lord, You uphold all those who fall and lift up all who are bowed down (Psalm 145:14).  I will be of good courage because Your eyes range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to You (2 Chronicles 16:9). 

    “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). Father, I know from Your Word that You have thoughts and plans for my welfare and peace. I will say to my fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear; God will come, with divine retribution He will come to save me” (Isaiah 35:4).  You will keep me in perfect peace, as long as my mind is stayed on You (Isaiah 26:3), then I can stop allowing myself to be agitated and disturbed and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled (John 14:27 Amplified).

    Satan, I resist you and every oppressive spirit in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus. I resist fear, discouragement, self-pity, and depression (James 4:7). I speak the Word of truth, and I give you no place, devil; I give no opportunity to you (Ephesians 4:27). I am delivered from oppression and depression (Luke 4:18). I will overcome by the blood of the Lamb, my Savior, and the word of my own testimony (Revelation 12:11).

    You tell me: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). And so, I rejoice! I pray You will strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being (Ephesians 3:16).

    Father God, I thank You that I have been given a spirit of power and of love and of a calm and well-balanced mind (2 Timothy 1:7). I have a fresh mental and spiritual attitude, for I am being constantly renewed in the spirit of my mind by Your Word, O my God. Because Jesus is in me, I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) and I hold the thoughts and purposes of His heart (Philippians 2:5). I arise from the prostration and depression in which circumstances have kept me. I have been raised to new life. Thanks to Jesus, I can shine and be radiant with the glory of the Lord (Isaiah 60:1).

    Thank You, Father, in Jesus’ name, that I am set free from every evil work (Galatians 1:4). I praise You that the joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10). God, my Father, has given me all things that pertain to life and godliness; and I am a partaker of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4). The peace that surpasses all understanding keeps my heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). And things which are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, if they be of good report or have good virtue or are praiseworthy, I will think on these things (Philippians 4:8).

  • Praying for Freedom from Oppression

    In Him [Christ the Lord] and through faith in Him [Jesus the Messiah], we may approach God [Creator of the Cosmos, our Father] with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12) to ask for His mercy and grace as we need it.

    Let us come out of our darkness, to display His light to others.

    Father, You Yourself have reconciled us by Christ’s physical body through death to present us holy in Your sight, without blemish and free from any accusation from the evil one (Colossians 1:22). Christ Jesus is the mediator of Your new covenant, that we who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – since Jesus has died as a ransom to set us free from the sins committed under Your laws (Hebrews 9:15). He came to free us who all our lives were held in slavery by our fear of death (Hebrews 2:15). Thanks to the freedom we have in Christ Jesus (Galatians 2:4), I will speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the new law that gives freedom (James 2:12).

    It is for liberty that Christ has set us free. So, I will stand fast in the liberty Christ has given to me. With Your infinite mercies, Lord God, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit who lives in me, I will never again be entangled with any yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1). For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him (2 Peter 2:19) and I choose to not be mastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12) or anyone except You, Lord God, my Father.

    I run in the path of Your commands for You have set my heart free (Psalm 119:32). I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out Your precepts (Psalm 119:45). Your wonderful Word is the law of liberty in my life, O Lord, and I will look intently into Your Word and in the perfect liberty that it gives me.  With the help of Your graces, I will be a doer of Your Word and not a hearer only (James 1:25). 

    “The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish” (Psalm 25:17). In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and He answered by setting me free (Psalm 118:5). O Lord, truly I am Your servant… You have freed me from my chains (Psalm 116:16).

    I had pleaded: “Free me from the trap that is set for me, for You are my refuge, O Lord” (Psalm 31:4). And You said, “I removed the burden from your shoulders… In your distress you called and I rescued you” (Psalm 81:6-7). You are the God who avenges me… who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men You rescued me (2 Sam 22:48-49).

    The Lord is righteous; He has cut me free from the cords of the wicked (Psalm 129:4). The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free (Proverbs 11:21). He has freed us from our enemies – His love endures forever (Psalm 136:24).

    This is what the Lord says: In the time of My favor, I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you (Isaiah 49:8-9). The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeons (Isaiah 51:14). O come all you who sit in darkness, come and see that the Lord sets prisoners free (Psalm 146:7). Lord God, You have set me free from my prison, and I will praise Your name forever (Psalm 142:7).

  • Praying Thanks for Freedom 

    Lord God, thank You for Your truth which sets me free (John 8:32).  Praises to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood (Revelation 1:5).

    Jesus has set us free! Let us soar to new heights.

    The power of Your Gospel and the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus have set me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2) because everyone who has died has been freed from sin (Romans 6:7).  Hallelujah, I am free indeed (John 8:36). I can say with Job: “I am free and without sin, I am clean and free from guilt” (Job 33:9). My home is safe and free from fear (Job 21:9). I have been set free from sin and have now become a slave to righteousness (Romans 6:18). And since I am free from sin and have become a slave to You, my Lord and God, the benefits You promise will lead me to holiness, and the result is eternal life (Romans 6:22).

    Thank You, Gracious God.  You have given me total spiritual freedom whereas once I was bruised and scarred by sin, I am now free, enjoying Your healing and deliverance in every area of my life. 

    I agree that I must be careful that the exercise of my freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak (1 Corinthians 8:9). I must not use my freedom as a cover up for evil, but as a servant of God (1 Peter 2:16). We were called to be free, not to use our freedom to indulge the sinful nature; but rather to freely serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13).

    Where Your Spirit is, Lord, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17), and because this is true, I aim to habitually walk in the Spirit each step of the way. Lord God, please guide me to live by the Spirit and not gratify my sinful nature (Galatians 5:16).  Help me to yield myself more and more to the power of Your Sprit, Father.  Help me to crucify my flesh, O Lord, with all its affections and lusts, its passions and desires so I can live by and keep in step with Your Spirit at all times (Galatians 5:24-25). 

    Your Word states that the kind of fasting You have chosen is to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke (Isaiah 58:6). Your Spirit, O Lord Jesus, has been put upon me; You have anointed me to proclaim Your Gospel, to heal the brokenhearted, to minister Your deliverance for the captives and give sight for the blind.  Through the power of Your Spirit, Lord, I too will be able to lead others into freedom (Luke 4:18).  Thank You for full spiritual freedom, my Lord and my God.

  • Praying Against Worldly Cares and Burdens

    Why are you cast down, O my soul?  Why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Put your hope in God! I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God (Psalm 42:5). 

    Many troubles always surround us, but God offers peace for the soul.

    Jesus, I come to You, because I labor and am heavy laden and over-burdened, and You cause me to rest – I know You will ease and relieve and refresh my soul (Matthew 11:28).  I willingly take Your yoke upon me, and I will learn of You, for You are gentle and humble in heart, and I will find rest – relief, ease, and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet – for my soul.  For Your yoke is wholesome, not harsh; and Your burden is light and easy to be borne (Matthew 11:29-30).  I cast my burden on You, Lord, trusting You to sustain me. I thank You that You will never allow me to be moved – made to slip, fall or fail – as long as I remain consistently righteous (Psalm 55:22).

    Father, You set Yourself against the proud and haughty; but give grace to the humble (James 4:6).  Your grace, O Lord, is truly enough in any situation, for any circumstance.  When I feel weak, I will be glad and glorify Your name, so the power of Christ Jesus, my Savior, will rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:9).

    My Savior is Your Son who is also Your incarnate Word, and He is full of grace and truth (John 1:14).  Thank you for allowing me to receive of His fullness – grace for grace (Romans 3:24).  How thankful I am, Lord God, that I have been justified freely by the grace of Christ Jesus (Romans 5:16). With this gift of overflowing grace, I am able to reign in this life (Romans 5:17), that is, I am able to resist the evil and cling to the good.  I can overcome evil and conquer evil with good (Romans 12:21).

    Because of Your loving mercy and grace, Father, my peace is constantly being multiplied (2 Peter 1:2).  Thank You, O God, for the power of Your grace which always protects me (1 Peter 1:5).  I submit myself therefore to You, O God.  I resist the devil and he must flee from me (James 4:7).  I resist the cares of the world which try to pressure me daily, choking Your Word so I become unfruitful (Mark 4:19). 

    I know that except You, Lord, build the house, we labor in vain who try to build it by ourselves (Psalm 127:1). Therefore, I cease from the weariness and pain of human labor (Hebrews 4:10) and am zealous and exert myself and strive diligently to enter into the rest of God – to know and experience it for myself (Hebrews 4:11). 

    In the mighty name of Jesus, I withstand the devil.  I stand firm in my faith against his onsets – rooted, established, strong, immoveable, and determined (1 Peter 5:9).  I will be silent before You, Lord, and I will wait expectantly for You (Psalm 37:7).  I will not fret since it only causes harm (Palm 37:8), nor shall I let my heart be troubled, neither shall I let it be afraid (John 14:27).  In every circumstance and in every care, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, I will continue to make my requests and needs known to You, O Lord my God, who loves me (Philippians 4:6). And Your peace will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, my Savior (Philippians 4:7).

    Father, I thank You that Your presence goes with me, and that You give me rest (Exodus 33:14). 

  • Praying for Provision

    I confess with the psalmist that I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread (Psalm 37:25).  Father, thank You for food, clothing, and shelter that You faithfully supply.  In the name of Jesus, I have stopped being perpetually uneasy about my life – what I shall eat and what I shall drinking – or about my body – what I shall put on.  My life is greater in quality than food, and my body far above and more excellent than clothing (Matthew 6:25). 

    Let us trust in our Father for our daily sustenance, for He supplies richly.

    I will not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from Your mouth, my God (Matthew 4:4).  Your words were found and I did eat them, and Your Word was to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart, for I bear Your name, O Lord my God (Jeremiah 15:16). 

    It is You, heavenly Father, who will liberally supply all my needs according to Your riches in glory through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).  You are Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider (Matthew 6:33).  You know exactly what I need, when I need it, and how my needs will best be met (Matthew 6:8).   

    Father, You told us: [Your] Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).  Jesus, You are the bread of life (John 6:48) that gives me life, the Living Bread (John 6:51).  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for coming for me and bringing me life. Thank You, loving Father, for Your spiritual Bread – my manna from heaven.

    The bread of idleness, gossip, discontent, and self-pity I will not eat (Proverbs 31:27).  I do not let my heart be troubled. I will trust in God, I will also trust in my Lord Jesus (John 14:1). Whatever I do in word or deed, I will do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Colossians 3:17).

    I sow bountifully and so I reap bountifully. I give cheerfully and my God makes all grace flow to me in abundance, so that in all things at all times, having all sufficiency in all that is needed, I abound to every good work (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). My glorious and gracious Father, I pray this promise knowing You supply all my needs, and You want me to let the abundance overflow to others.

    Your Word tells us that when a man fears the Lord, You will instruct him in the way chosen for him; and he will spend his days in prosperity (Psalm 25:12-13).  I claim the promises of Your Word today by imitating the faith of those who were before me (Hebrews 6:12).  I believe Your Word (Hebrews 11:6), and I look forward to all You are going to do in my life (Philippians 1:6).

    I claim the promises of Your Word for me, my family, and our lives; that I can partake of Your divine nature. I take my stand upon the solid promises of Your Word, dearest Father (2 Peter 1:4).  Thank You for meeting my every need.

    God has put a hedge around me and my family, and my house, and everything I have and all I have inherited through His kindnesses. God blesses the work of my hands because I keep His commandments (Job 1:10). You are abundantly gracious to me, O Lord my God, and I do humbly thank You. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every good and upright thing (Psalm 145:16).

    Great is Your faithfulness, O God my Father.  Morning by morning new mercies I see (Lamentations 3:23).

  • Praying for Daily Needs

    Lord God, You are my faithful Father.  You keep all Your promises and Your covenant of love with me as long as I love You and keep Your commandments (Deuteronomy 7:9).  Thank You for Your daily care and attention to my needs (Matthew 6:32). Lead me to always seek Your kingdom first, so all things will be given to me as I have need of them (Matthew 6:33). I rejoice in the knowledge that You always supply all my needs according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus, my Lord and Savior (Philippians 4:19). 

    Let us bask in His light, and He will supply all our needs.

    It is a great comfort to me to know You know all of my needs even before I express them to You (Matthew 6:8).  I delight in the truth that You delight in the well-being (health and happiness) of Your servants (Psalm 35:27).   Father, thank You for Your Word which declares that if I will trust in You and do good, I will dwell securely in the land.  I will gladly delight myself in You, my Lord, and I am thrilled to realize that You are giving me the desires of my heart. Therefore, I commit my way to You and I trust in You (Psalm 37:3-5), because I know You will perfect that which concerns me, O Lord; You will fulfill Your purpose for me (Psalm 138:8). You have a vested interest in me.

    So, I bless You, loving Father, for You have blessed me with every spiritual blessing possible in Christ Jesus, my Redeemer (Ephesians 1:3).  You have made me a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), born again of Your incorruptible Word (1 Peter 1:23).  Your mercy, O Lord God, is reaches through the heavens; and Your faithfulness reaches through the skies (Psalm 36:5).  I praise You for the sheer joy of knowing that You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I can ask or even imagine, according to Your power which is at work in my life (Ephesians 3:20).  You are my joy and my delight; I will praise You, O God, my God (Psalm 43:4).  Thank You, loving Lord.

    I so want to take Jesus’ good counsel and not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34). So, I pray for today: O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this Your servant, and to the prayer of all Your servants who delight in revering Your name. Give Your servants success today by granting us favor in the presence of men (Nehemiah 1:11).

    Wisdom for daily living:

    God You are the end of all that is good, the height of all life, the depth of all that can be spoken. Heavenly Father, help us to remember:

    • The jerk who cut us off in traffic could be a single mother who worked nine hours straight and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework do laundry, and spend a few precious moments with her children.
    • The pierced, tattooed, disinterested youth who can’t make change correctly could be a worried 19 year old college student balancing apprehension over final exams with fear of not getting a student loan for next semester.
    • The scary looking sum, begging for money in the same spot every day could be a slave of addictions we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
    • The old couple, walking amazingly slow through the aisles and blocking progress could be soaring this moment, knowing that – based on the biopsy report from last week – this may be the last time they shop together.

    Remind us each day of all the gifts You give the greatest of which is Your life-changing love.  It is real enough to share with those we hold dear.  Open our hearts not just to those who are close, but to all those around us this day. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, to share patience, and to supply sympathy.

  • Praying to Love my Enemies

    I love the brotherhood (1 Peter 2:17), the saints who are in the land are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight (Psalm 16:3). It is easy to love those who love me. May the Lord cause us all to increase and abound in love for one another, and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 3:12). But Your Word specifically says: Love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me (Matthew 5:44).

    O Lord God, please send Your Holy Spirit to teach me how to love my enemies – to be kind and to do good in every situation; to lend expecting nothing in return; to consider nothing as lost, and to despair of no one.  Then my reward will be great – rich, strong, intense, and abundant – and I will be a true child of Yours; for You are kind and charitable and good to the ungrateful and selfish and wicked (Luke 6:35).  Merciful Father, teach me to be merciful – sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate.  I aim to be an imitator of You, my loving Father (Luke 6:36).

    Father, for Your sake I bless and pray for those who persecute me – who are cruel in their attitude toward me.  I speak Your blessings on them, and I do not curse them (Romans 12:14).  I know that if I do this, my love will abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment (Philippians 1:9).  With Your Spirit guiding me, Father, I will let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love others; for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled Your law.  All Your commandments are summed up in this one rule: Love your neighbor as yourself.  Love does no harm to its neighbor.  Therefore, love is the fulfillment of Your law (Romans 13:8-10).

    We are called to be free, but not to use that freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather we use it to serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself (Galatians 5:13-14). And the goal of Your command is love, which comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5).

    May Your Spirit help me to set an example for other believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12). By speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is our Head… the growth of the Body for the building up of itself in love (Ephesians 4:15-16). I know that knowledge puffs up, but love builds up (1 Corinthians 8:1). Teach me to love Lord. Teach me to be completely humble and gentle; to be patient, to show forbearance to others in love (Ephesians 4:2). I will make every effort to keep the unity of Your Spirit with all men through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).

  • Praying to Walk in Love

    Gracious and loving Father, Your word tells us plainly what is required of us: (1) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength; (2) love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30-31).

    Therefore, I eagerly pursue and seek to acquire this (agape) love (1 Corinthians 14:1).  I make it my aim, my great quest in life: I will do unto others as I would have them do unto me (Luke 6:31).  Father, I wish to follow Your ways, and esteem and look upon and be concerned for not merely my own interest, but also for the interest of others (Philippians 2:4) as they pursue their goals.  I aim to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of Your might (Ephesians 6:10).  I will, on purpose, to make it a practice to please my fellowman, for his good and for his true welfare, to edify him – that is, to strengthen him and build him up in all ways – spiritually, socially, and materially (Romans 15:2).  With Your power and wisdom, Holy Father, I want to be used to encourage and edify others (1 Thessalonians 5:11). 

    As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; to bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances we may have against one another. And above everything, to put on love, which binds all virtues together in perfect unity (Colossians 3:12-14). Your Word asks us to love even the stranger who resides among us (Leviticus 19:34). As long as we are fulfilling the Royal Law (as Your Word calls it) – you shall love your neighbor as yourself – we do well (James 2:8).

    Father, this is Your next command: that we believe in the name of Your Son – Jesus Christ – and love one another just as Jesus commanded us (1 John 3:23). Jesus’ command – which He gave just before He died for us – was that we love one another; in the same way that He loves us (John 15:12-13). This has been the same message from the beginning: that we should love one another (1 John 3:11). And this is love: that we walk according to His commandment.  This is the commandment: that we should walk in love (2 John 5-6).

    Father, Your Word tells me love must be sincere, to be devoted to one another in love (Romans 12:9-10). Please teach me to maintain love and justice, and to wait for Your counsel always (Hosea 12:6). Direct me to love truth and peace as Your Word instructs (Zechariah 8:19), but to do all things in love (1 Corinthians 16:14). For in Christ Jesus neither good nor bad [black nor white] means anything, but faith working through love is the only thing that counts (Galatians 5:6).

    And help me consider how to stimulate others to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).