Month: April 2015

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NLT).

I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you (Psalm 42:6; NLT).

“He will not fail you, or forsake you” (1 Chronicles 28:20; NLT).

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

Father,
Even as I ask you
To help me rejoice
Throughout the day,
I know I’ll fail.

Even as I ask you
To help me pray
Unceasingly,
I know I’ll fail.

And even as I ask you
To help me be thankful
In all circumstances,
I know I’ll fail.

Yet, despite all this,
I also know
That you will never fail me,
Nor forsake me –

For you are love.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

“…he is not far from any one of us” (Acts 17:27; NLT).

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love (1 John 4:16; NLT).

Lord,
Whether you seem far or near,
You love me,
And I love you.

Whether I am well or ill,
You love me,
And I love you.

Whether I am up or down,
You love me,
And I love you.

Thank you for being with me,
And loving me,
No matter how I am.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:5; NLT).

In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and turns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! (Luke 15:7; NLT).

The LORD looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one. Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying to the LORD (Psalm 14:2-4; NLT).

The end of the world is coming soon (1 Peter 4:7; NLT).

Lord,
You are beyond stillness,
Silence,
And darkness –

Shining,
Sparkling,
Dancing with joy
When we repent
And turn to you;

Weeping over our selfishness,
Prejudice,
Hatred,
Cruelty,
And violence;

And watching us indulge
Our darkest impulses unchecked,
As we bring our fragile planet
Ever closer to its end.

“Keep on seeking, and you will find” (Matthew 7:7; NLT).

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine” (Isaiah 55:8; NLT).

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT).

Beyond prayers for self
And others,

Beyond sickness
And healing,

Beyond praise
And worship,

Beyond stillness
And silence,

Beyond words, thoughts,
And understanding,

Beyond land, sea
And sky,

Beyond darkness
And light,

Beyond life
And death,

Beyond everything –

There, we find you,
Our Lord and our God.

“Keep on seeking, and you will find” (Matthew 7:7; NLT).

“This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7; NLT).

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him (Colossians 3:10; NLT).

But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we live for him (1 Corinthians 8:6; NLT).

Lord,
May I look for you,
Listen to you,
Learn from you,
And live for you
Each day.

Through Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

Therefore, brothers and sisters, […] let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings (Hebrews 10:19-22; NIV).

Father,
Thank you
For this new day.

Thank you for loving me,
Understanding me,
And forgiving my sins.

Thank you for supporting me,
Strengthening me,
And guiding me.

Thank you tor teaching me,
Helping me to grow,
And allowing me to draw near you.

Lord,
Please help me to love,
Worship,
And serve you today,
As you deserve.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? (Job 2:10; NIV).

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation (James 1:12; NLT).

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

Lord,
When I accept my illnesses,
Both physical and mental,
Making the most I can of life
Within my limitations,
I have no sense of being ill
At all.

Thank you
That life isn’t only worthwhile
When we are well.

However I am,
Please help me
To be patient and joyful,
Praying continually,
And thanking you
In all circumstances.

Through Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Submit to God and be at peace with him (Job 22:21; NIV).

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21; NIV).

Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? (Job 2:10; NIV).

For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble spring from the ground; yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward (Job 5:6-7; NKJV).

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation (James 1:12; NLT).

We cannot be at peace
With ourselves,
Or with God,
Until we embrace
Our physical and mental suffering
As part of life,
And part of who we are.

“And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” (Mark 12:30; NLT).

Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him’ ” (Luke 4:8; NLT).

…love the LORD your God and serve him with all your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 11:13; NLT).

For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honour the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honour the Lord (Romans 14:7; NLT).

Father,
I love you,
And worship you alone.

Please help me
To live for you,

Serve you,
And die for you.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

“I am nothing” (Job 40:4; NLT).

The LORD knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless (Psalm 94:10; NLT).

“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17; NLT).

“I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death” (Genesis 27:2; NIV).

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:13; NIV).

Lord,
We are nothing before you.
You know all about us,
And, in the end,
Will justly punish us
For our judgemental thoughts,
Abusive words,
And unkind deeds.

Please look on us with mercy!
Help us to repent,
Turn from our sins,
Ask your forgiveness,
And change our selfish lives,
Before the day
Of reckoning arrives –

For we do not know
The day, or hour,
Of our death.