Thank You, Lord, for the refreshing.

Thank You, Lord, for the refreshing weekend You gave me.  I thank  You that I didn’t have any appointments, and thank You that it was quiet here.  Thank You, Lord, that You are completing the work You started in me.  Thank You, Lord, that You are making me better and better, and that You are very patient with me.  Thank You for staying near me.  Thank You for dwelling in me.  Thank You that You will never leave me nor forsake me.

Lord, I ask that You would help me to quit worrying about stuff.  Please help me to quit trying to figure stuff out, and instead, to just trust deeply in You, that You are guiding me and will continue to guide me and don’t need my help or my brainpower, which is so ridiculously puny compared to Yours.  Help me to simply delight in doing Your will.  Guide my every action, Lord, that it glorifies You and is in accordance with Your will.

Father, please forgive me for thinking that I know anything.  Your word says that if anyone thinks he knows any thing, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know (I Corinthians 8:2).  Thank You, Lord, that this is so.

Father, I ask in faith, that You would guide my every move.  Help me to go to bed when You want me to go to bed.  Help me to get up when You want me to get up.  Help me to eat what You want me to eat.  Help me to eat when You want me to eat.  Help me to walk when You want me to walk.  Help me to walk where You want me to walk.  Help me to wear what You want me to wear.  Help me to read what You want me to read.  Help me to write what You want me to write.  Help me to write where You want me to write.  Help me to play what You want me to play.  Help me to say what You want me to say.  Help me to dance how You want me to dance.  Help me to dance when You want me to dance.  Help me to dance where You want me to dance.  I ask all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, and for Your glory, Father, Amen.

My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me.  Help me to do Your will, O Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Thank You, Lord.

Thank You, Lord, for this fresh new day.  Thank You, Lord, for all that You  are doing in me and in my family and in the world.  Thank You, Lord, that You are merciful and kind and loving and all-powerful.  Thank You, Lord, that we may trust You with all our hearts.  You love us.  You take care of us and provide for us and deliver us and heal us and protect us.  Thank You, Lord, for Your merciful kindness.  Thank You, Lord, that we may rest in Your love.  Thank You, Lord, that we don’t have to lean on our own faulty understanding.  Thank You, Lord, that Your ways are perfect.  Thank You that Your ways are higher than our ways, and Your thoughts are higher than our thoughts.  Thank You that You know all Your works from the beginning of the creation.

Thank You, Lord, that You guide us.  Thank You, Lord, that You know how to communicate with us perfectly.  Thank You, Lord, that You know each of us inside and out, and You know just what we need and when.  You know what we need to hear, and how we need to hear it.  Thank You, Lord, that I can trust You that You are guiding me effectively.  I do not have to wonder if maybe I’m not hearing You right:  I trust You to cause me to hear You right.  And I want to do what You tell me to do.  Thank You that you have perfect timing; when You tell me to do something, You equip me to do it, and I can walk forward in faith, wherever You tell me to go, and I can do whatever You tell me to do, because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  You supply for all our needs, Father, according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Thank You, Lord, for the mighty work You are doing in me.  Thank You, Father, that Your timing is perfect, that now is the time, this is the day.  Thank You, Father, that You forgive me for all my sins, cleansing me from all unrighteousness.  Thank You, Father, for making me holy in the name of Jesus Christ.

Thank You that I am not to worry.  Thank You that anxiety has no place in me.  Thank You, Lord, that  I am to rest in You.  Thank You, Lord, that I am to be still and know that You are God.

Thank You that I don’t have to give any thought to tomorrow.  Thank You that I don’t have to worry about later today.  Thank You, Lord, for now.  Thank You, Lord, that I may rest in You now, I may be still and know You are God now.  Thank You that You will take care of later, later.  Thank You that You will be with me tomorrow.  Thank You that You will take care of all things concerning tomorrow; I don’t have to worry about it or feel anxious or be preoccupied or concerned with it.  Thank You that we are to cast all our care on You, for You care for us.  You take care of us.

Thank You, Lord.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Good morning, Lord.

Good morning, Lord.  I love You.  You are my Strength and my Shield and my Ever-Present Help in trouble.  Thank You that You are always here with me, dwelling in me by Your Holy Spirit.  Thank You that You will never leave me nor forsake me.  Thank You, Lord, for Your patience with me.  Thank You for loving me as I am.  Thank You that You are guiding me and You are transforming me by the renewing of my mind, that I may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God; that I may bear witness unto truth by living it.

Lord, thank You that You are guiding me through this day.  Thank You that You know all things and use all things for good to them that love You, to those who are the called according to Your purpose.  Thank You that if we love You, we are called, because we could not love You if we were not called.  No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him:  and I will raise him up at the last day.  (John 6:44)  He that comes to You, You will not turn away.  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.  (John 6:37)

We can show You that we love You by loving those You have created, Your children, our neighbors.  We can show You we love You by loving those You love.  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.  (John 3:16)

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  (John 15:12-13)

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  (Romans 5:8)

And he is the propitiation for our sins:  and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.  (I John 2:2)

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:  and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  (I John 3:16)

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.  (II Corinthians 5:14-15)

I am nothing of myself, Lord.  I cannot do this of my own strength.  Please do this through me.  Love through me, Lord.  I am dead, and my life is hid with Christ in God.  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  Amen.

Thank You, Lord, for this restful day.

Thank You, Lord, for this restful day.  Thank You for the rest and the refreshing You gave me.

Bless all the people I come into contact with this week, Lord.  Bless their health, bless their families, bless their schooling, bless them at their jobs, give them favor wherever they go.  May all who are in the room with me feel Your peace, the peace that passes all understanding, the peace of Your Holy Spirit, who is present in me, who dwells in me.  Flow through me, Lord, and overflow gently onto others.  Bless them, Lord.  Comfort them.  Give them peace and joy, in the name of Jesus Christ.  May they all know Your amazing love, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Spirit rather than flesh

Lord, help me to walk in the Spirit.  I want to be after the Spirit, not after the flesh.  Galatians 5:16 says that if I walk in the Spirit, I will not fulfill the lust of the flesh:  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance.  This is the fruit I want.  This is the fruit that satisfies.

By him  therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.  Hebrews 13:15

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.  John 4:34

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you:  for him hath God the Father sealed.  John 6:27

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.  Hebrews 13:14

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.  I Peter 2:11

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law.  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22-25

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  And let us not be weary in well doing:  for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  Galatians 6:8-9

Lord, I want to sow to the Spirit, not to my flesh.  I want to walk in the Spirit, Lord.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  Colossians 3:1-3

No man can serve two masters:  for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.  Ye cannot serve God and mammon.  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.  Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  Behold the fowls of the air:  for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.  Are ye not much better than they?  Matthew 6:24-26

And why take ye thought for raiment?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat?  or, What shall we drink?  or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Matthew 6:28-33

Thank You, heavenly Father, that You will provide for my physical needs of food and clothing; You know what I have need of, and Your provision is better than any that I can get through worry and much toil.  Forgive me, Father, for wasting so much time and energy on thinking of such things, sowing to my flesh.  Thank You, Father, that You forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.  Luke 4:4

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient:  all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.  Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats:  but God shall destroy both it and them.  Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.  And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.  I Corinthians 6:12-14

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

Lord, help me to walk in the Spirit, not after the flesh.  In Jesus’ name I ask You, for Your glory, Amen.

Of You, Through You, To You

Of You, through You, and to You are all things, Lord.  To God be the glory.

Even the things I do not understand are of You, through You, and to You, Lord.  Be glorified.

This thing that I am having a hard time with, not understanding it, feeling hurt by it, even feeling thrown off balance by it, this  thing is of You, Lord, through You, Lord, and to You, Lord.  It is  for Your glory.  It is what it is time for me to learn from.  It is what is right for right now.  Thank You, Lord, that I may rest in Your care.  Thank You, Lord, that I am to trust in You with all of my heart, and I am  not to lean on my own understanding, for it fails me.  In all my ways I am to acknowledge You, and You will direct  my paths.  Thank You, Lord, that You are directing my paths.

That I am feeling thrown off balance by this thing shows me that my balance had room to be made stronger; an even firmer balance will result when my footing is corrected by this.  Your ways are higher than our ways, Lord, and Your thoughts are higher than our thoughts.  You know what is best for us, and we may rest in Your love and gentleness and mercy and perfect wisdom and power.  Thank You, Lord, for fixing my footing, that I may stand firmly in You, steadfast, immovable, secure in You.

Thank You for Your correction, Lord.  Thank You for fixing my sights, that I may aim more perfectly at the mark.  Thank You, Lord, that You are guiding me so that I will not be deceived.  Thank You, Lord, for teaching me truth.  Thank You, Lord, for teaching me discernment, for giving me discernment.  Thank You, Lord, for exercising my senses, sharpening me, blessing me, transforming me into the image of Christ.

Thank You, Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ, that all things are of You, through You, and to You.  Hallelujah!  To God be the glory both now and for ever, Amen!

Thank You, Lord

Thank You, Lord, that You hear our prayers.  Thank You, Lord, that You will never leave us nor forsake us.  Thank You, Lord, that You are the same yesterday, today, and for ever.  Thank You, Lord, that whatever we ask for in the name of Jesus Christ, You will give it to us.  Thank You, Lord, that all things are of, through, and to You.  To God be the glory both now and for ever, Amen.

It’s not about me.

Lord, I’ve been so self-centered.  Please forgive me, LORD.  You are my strength and my shield.  You are my purpose.  Please forgive me for serving my own belly, for worshipping myself rather than You in my thoughts and actions.

When I have felt like I didn’t want to be doing the work You have given me to do, and have complained and been downcast and even depressed, it was because I was thinking about what I wanted, or even wondering what I wanted, rather than only wanting to do what You wanted.  I wanted to serve myself rather than You and my neighbor.  Your word says we are to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these other things shall be added unto us.  We are to focus on You, and You take care of us.  Your word says, “Casting all Your care upon him, for he careth for you.”  All my care is to be cast on You, Lord, and You will take care of me and of all my needs.  Please forgive me, Lord, for trying to take care of myself instead of completely trusting You to take care of me.  Thank You, Father, that You forgive me, according to Your word, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Thank You that these things are for our own good.  You are so loving and merciful.  You want to take care of us, that we may be free to serve You wholeheartedly, without distraction, experiencing  peace and joy, because we don’t have to be preoccupied with those things that You are taking care of for us.  We don’t have to worry.  You don’t want us to worry.  Oh, Lord, remove the ridiculous burden I’ve been insisting on carrying around with me everywhere I go.  Your word says, Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee.  Thank You, Father.  I cast my burden, this burden, upon You, and You will sustain me.  Thank You, Father, for taking it from me, in Jesus’ name, Amen.  Thank You, Lord, for setting me free from all that excess weight.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.  Thank You, Lord, for Your wise and perfect ways.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This is Your day, Lord

This is Your day, Lord.  Use me as You see fit. 

Thank You that in You I have soundness of mind.  In You I have peace. 

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye  shall have tribulation:  but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

My peace is in You, Jesus.  I rejoice in  You.  My joy is You, Jesus.  My hope is in You, Jesus.  My peace, hope, joy, and rejoicing are in what is unchanging, so my peace, hope, joy, and rejoicing may always abound, unaffected by changing circumstances.

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and for ever.   Hebrews 13:8

Calm my anxious heart

Oh, Lord, please calm this anxious heart.  Quiet my thoughts.  In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul.  Lord, You  are good, and You bless us.  Calm me, Lord.  Quiet me with Your love, Father.  Holy Spirit, fill me with Your presence that all else is washed away, and there is no more place for it.  Jesus, You are my Saviour.  You died for me that my sins may be forgiven and that I may be cleansed from all unrighteousness.  Jesus, wash away my filthiness.  Cleanse away all impurities.  Flow through me, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, cleansing all and healing all and quieting all as You move through me.  Jesus, You are Lord.  You are Lord of my life, Lord of my body, soul, spirit, mind, heart, thoughts, feelings, appetites.  Jesus, You are my health, my wellness physically and mentally and emotionally and spiritually.  Jesus.  Hold me.  Calm me.  Comfort me.  You are my peace, Jesus.

Thank You, Lord.  Please stay here with me all through the day, while I do my work, while I am with people.  Jesus.  You are my peace.  Jesus.  Thank You that You will never leave me nor forsake me, Lord.  Thank You, Jesus, that You are with me always, even to the end of the world.  Jesus,  You are my refuge, my rock, my fortress, my high tower.  I run into You for shelter, for security, for quiet, for rest and refreshing at all times, no matter what is going on around me, no matter what business I am doing.  Jesus, You are my peace.  Quiet me, Jesus.  Amen.