In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10; NIV).
I am weary and worn out, O God (Proverbs 30:1; NLT).
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).
Lord,
Whether I flourish,
Or suffer,
Or die,
It’s good
To know
I’m always
In your hands.
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? (Romans 2:4; NLT).
Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32; NLT).
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do (Ephesians 5:1; NLT).
Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).
Lord God,
You are so very kind
To me.
Please help me
To love others –
Just like you.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Mark 12:30; NLT).
Lord,
May I let your love
Into my soul today,
Welcoming you
With all my heart,
And mind,
And strength.
Lord,
Emotional abuse
Creates no visible wounds,
And leaves no obvious scars.
Yet the hidden physical
And mental damage it creates
Can last a lifetime,
Even affecting
Our children’s children
In their turn –
If we don’t work
To heal ourselves,
So we don’t pass it on.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts”, says the Lord, “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine” (Isaiah 55:8; NLT).
Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God (Psalm 90:2; NLT).
I AM WHO I AM (Exodus 3:14; NLT).
Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8; NLT).
Beyond this world
And all its fleeting people;
Beyond all life,
And far beyond all death;
Beyond the infinity of time
And boundless space;
Beyond our vision
And our feeble understanding –
You are who you are, Almighty God,
And we belong to you.
You are our God (2 Chronicles 14:11; NLT).
Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8; NLT).
Far beyond myth,
And mystery,
And magic,
You are our God,
And we belong
To you.
How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye (Luke 6 42; NLT).
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned (Luke 6:37; NIV).
Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone! (John 8:7; NLT).
Lord,
I’m very ignorant –
So I’m not fit
To judge the ignorance
Of others.
Plus,
I’ve got a lot of weaknesses –
So I’m not fit
To mock the weaknesses
Of others.
What’s more,
I’ve got a multitude of faults –
So I’m not fit
To scorn the faults
Of others.
And lastly,
I commit unceasing sins –
So I’m not fit
To throw the first
Self-righteous stone.
For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord (James 5:10; NLT).
Lord Jesus,
Whatever we must face today,
Please help us to face it
The very best we can,
Enduring all things patiently –
Like you.
Lord Jesus,
Whatever we must do today,
Please help us to endure it
The very best we can,
Enduring all things patiently –
With you.
The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; NLT).
References
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love (Ephesians 4:2; NLT).
Be patient with difficult people (2 Timothy 2:24; NLT).
Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying (Romans 12:12; NLT).
Better to be patient than powerful (Proverbs 16:32; NLT).
The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12; NIV).
Christ performed a spiritual circumcision – the cutting away of your sinful nature (Colossians 2:11; NLT).
The Lord your God will change your heart […] so that you will love him with all your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 30:6; NLT).
Lord,
I’m definitely
Not perfect.
I could have
Cosmetic surgery,
To reduce or enlarge
Different parts of my body.
But what would be the point
Of such superficial change?
Instead, I’d rather have
Your spiritual surgery,
To reduce my sinfulness,
Expand my mind,
And make my heart
As big as yours.
Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17; NLT).
You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings (John 8:31; NLT).
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples (John 13:35; NLT).
When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples (John 156:8; NLT).
Lord,
By everything
We say and do
Today,
May others know
That we are
Your disciples.