Better is a little

Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.  Proverbs 16:9

Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.  Proverbs 15:16

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.  Proverbs 15:17

He that is faithful in that which  is least is faithful also in much:  and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.  Luke 16:10

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant:  thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:  enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  Matthew 25:21

Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.  Proverbs 17:24

Thank you, Lord, for this peace.

Thank you, Lord, for this peace.  Thank you for your word, which sanctifies, washes, cleans us.

Sanctify them through thy truth:  thy word is truth.  John 17:17

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water  by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  Ephesians 5:25-27

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.  John 15:3

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  Hebrews 11:3

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight:  but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.  Hebrews 4:12-13

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  John 1:1-4

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  John 1:14

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:  the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  John 6:63

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for  doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.  II Timothy 3:15-17

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.  James 1:21-25

Guide me, Jesus.

Guide me, Jesus.  May everything I say and do glorify you.  May everything I say and do express love for God and love for my neighbor.

Thank you for making it so simple for us.  We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind;  and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves.  This is the law and the prophets, simplified.  Thank you, Lord.

Part of loving you is trusting you.

We are to trust in the Lord with all our hearts, and lean not unto our own understanding.  In all our ways, we are to acknowledge him, and he will direct our paths.  This, too, simplifies things.  I trust you, Lord.  I acknowledge you in all my ways.  You will direct my paths.  I trust you.  I trust that you direct my paths.

There need be no worrying.

Thank you, Lord, for making things so simple for us.  Forgive us for making it harder than it needs to be.  Forgive me for overanalyzing and trying to figure things out on my own.  Thank you for forgiving me, Lord.  Thank you for your patience with us.  Thank you for continuing the work you started in us.  Thank you that you will never leave us nor forsake us.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God’s Timing is Perfect

Thank You, Lord, that Your timing is perfect.  You order everything.  A man’s heart may devise his way, but You direct his steps (Proverbs 16:9).  You order his steps.  You ordain.  The order you ordain is perfectly woven in with all that is happening in the universe.  You order the stars in their courses.  You order our days.  You order the phone calls.  You order every step we take.  Thank You, Lord, that we may trust in You with all of our hearts.  Hallelujah!

Praise You, LORD.

Praise You, LORD.  Thank You that You have given me peace and joy in Jesus Christ.  Thank You, Father, for the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Thank You for filling me with Your Holy Spirit, which guides me, teaches me, brings to remembrance, comforts me, counsels me, helps me, and flows out of my belly as living water, healing and encouraging others.  Praise the LORD, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Good morning, Lord.

Good morning, Lord.  Thank You for the rest You gave us last night.  Thank You for this beautiful new day You created.  Thank You for the clean, fresh blanket of snow.  Thank You  for the insulation it gives to the earth and to the snug winter homes of the animals.  Thank You for the moisture it will provide when it melts.  Thank You that it will replenish the ponds and rivers and lakes.

Thank You, Lord, for the cozy warm home You have provided for us.  Thank You for the heat, the shelter, the coziness.  Thank You for the food You have provided and for clothing.  Thank You for hot water and the shower and the toilet.  Thank You for our health, Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Oh, Lord, be with those less fortunate.  Bring them health and warmth and clean water and clothing.  Bless them through Your people, Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ.  Help me to do what You want me to do.  I am Yours, Lord.  Use my hands and my feet and everything I am and everything You have given me, to do Your will, to honor You, to glorify You, to bless the people You have created, Father, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Praise You, Lord!  This is the day that the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it.  Marvelous are Your works, Lord, and that my soul knoweth right well.  Praise the Lord!

Thank You, Lord, for Your mercy

Thank You, Lord, for Your mercy.  You are my hope, Lord, my One Hope.  Jesus.  Without You, I would perish; without You, I am nothing.

Oh, Jesus.  Thank You for being faithful unto death.  Thank You for overcoming the wicked one.  Thank You for defeating death by Your life and death and everlasting life.  Thank You for never sinning.  Thank You for coming to save us.  Thank You for what You say and do for the adulterous woman.  Thank You for Your forgiveness.  Thank You for setting us free from sin.  Thank You for delivering us from the law of sin and death.  Thank You for making intercession for us.  Thank You for Your righteousness.  Thank You for being righteous.

Without You I can do nothing.

But if I abide in You, I bring forth much fruit.  I abide in You, Jesus.

Have Your way in me, and through me, Lord.

Lord, You know how I feel.  You know all my thoughts.  You know all my desires.  I want to do Your will, Lord.  You know my suffering.  You know the pain.  You know my disappointment in myself.  You know what I have been struggling with.  O Lord, only You can fix this in me.  I want to do Your will, Father.  Your word says we are to rejoice in You always.  Your word says we are to give thanks in everything.  You know what I’m having a hard time with.  I thank You that the suffering is motivating me to step out in faith in obedience to You in another area of my life, an area I had been procrastinating about and putting off and doubting.  I praise You, Lord, for that.  Now am I supposed to keep suffering in this other area?  Do I have to suffer in order to move along in this new area of faith and obedience in my life?  Or do I have the momentum now to keep me going at the pace You want me to, without the suffering?

I trust You, Lord.  Have Your way in me, and through me, Lord.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Everything in its season

Thank You, Lord, that Your timing is perfect.  Thank You, LORD, that Your organizational skills are beyond anything we can imagine.  Thank You, Lord, that You know all things, and You know when we are going to say “Yes” to what You have been calling us to do.  Thank You that You knew just when to start calling us to do it, because You knew how long it would take before we would finally take the steps.  You timed it perfectly.  What You called us to do will impact exactly who You wanted it to impact.  You are never too late.  You are ever-merciful and all-wise.

Be glorified, Lord, now and forever.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Thank You, LORD, for the refreshing of Your Spirit

Thank You for the refreshing of Your Spirit in me, heavenly Father.  Thank You, LORD, for giving me fresh perspective.  Thank You, Lord, for a new day.  Thank You, Lord, for quickening me, for livening me, for filling me with your exhilarating Holy Spirit.  Cause me to do Your will today, Father.  I delight to do Your will, O my God.  I delight in You, O LORD.  I praise You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

May this refreshing, this energy, pour forth onto and bless others today, LORD.  Thank You, LORD, for the opportunities to bless other people.  Thank You, LORD, for bringing other people into my life, people who bless me, people You can bless through me.  Hallelujah!

God be glorified by everything I say and do.  Be glorified, Lord, by every breath I take, by every move I make.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.