Psalm 8:1–4 (NLT)
1 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens . . . 3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— 4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?
Matthew 6:8 . . . for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
Psalm 40:5 . . . O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.
Psalm 115:12–13 . . . The Lord remembers us and will bless us . . . He will bless those who fear the Lord, both great and lowly.

O Lord, Our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth. You are the glorious One, your glory is higher than the heavens. When we look at the work of your hands, we are in awe that you would even think about us. What are we compared to all that you have created. Yet you made us in Your image, you crowned us with glory & honor among your creation. And you gave us dominion over your creation on your behalf.

Still we think, because you are so majestic, that you are far out there somewhere, too big to know or care. But you are also our Abba Father, and you know what we need even before we ask. And not only do you know, but you have done so many great things for us that we aren’t even aware of, just as a good earthly father does for his children.

We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but your plans for us are too numerous to list. We could never grasp all you’ve done for us, or all you have planned for us, or all your thoughts toward us.

You have not forgotten us Lord, and you never will. You will bless those who fear you, no matter our station in life. Our blessings come, not in the status of this life, but in knowing and fearing you.

Thank you Father. I love you. Amen.

Psalm 50 (selected verses NLT) 
1 The Lord, the Mighty One, is God, and he has spoken; he has summoned all humanity from where the sun rises to where it sets. 4 He calls on the heavens above and earth below to witness the judgment of his people. 5 “Bring my faithful people to me— those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices.” 6 Then let the heavens proclaim his justice, for God himself will be the judge. 8 I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer. 9 But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens. 10 For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. 14 Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. 15 Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” 23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” 

Thank you, Lord. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for all you are. Thank you for all you've done in me. Thank you for all you're doing in me, And thank you for all you have planned to do in me and through me for your glory and your kingdom. Thank you, Lord.

Thank you, Abba Father, for adopting me and for making me your own. Thank you for your unfailing, never-ending, relentless love.

Thank you, Jesus, for your indescribable sacrifice. Thank you for exchanging my sin for your righteousness, for saving me, redeeming me, and buying me back from sin and death.

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for continually filling me. Thank you for leading and guiding me and for giving me all I need for every day and every circumstance.

Thank you, Lord. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Ephesians 3:20–21 (NLT)
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

It starts with Glory to God, all glory to God. And it ends with glory to God, through all generations forever and ever. It begins and ends with HIS glory, and it is accomplished through HIS mighty power at work within us.

So, FROM His Glory TO His Glory, THROUGH His mighty power at work within us . . . How in the world can we make this about OUR desires or expectations? How in the world can we make the "accomplish infinitely more" about what we expect, desire, plan, or assume?

Is this not a promise, an assurance, that if we will join God in what HE is doing, for HIS Glory, that through his mighty, supernatural power at work within us, that we would be able to accomplish infinitely more than we ask or think - FOR HIM, for His Glory?

That WE would be able to JOIN God in bringing glory TO God, in the church, and in Christ Jesus, through all generations forever and ever. That we would be able to take our place in the countless generations of seeing God work supernaturally in and through us, to bring HIM glory, according to HIS will and HIS plan.

It can only be FROM his glory and TO his glory if it is according to his plan and his purpose, in line with his will. So, truly, we must start there. We must seek to join God first.
Amen.

I take refuge in you alone, Lord. My faith is in you alone. I have no good apart from you. Oh, the sorrow of those who have run after other things (god's) that you have not given them.

You alone are my inheritance. You, personally, are my blessing. You guard all you have given me. The land you have given me is a good land, because you are in it - and you are my true blessing.

I have set you before me, and I will not be shaken. Because you are at my right hand, I will not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad. I rejoice, and I rest in the absolute safety of your presence.

You will show me the way, and I will walk close to you. For only in your presence is there fullness of joy. And in walking hand-in-hand with you are the greatest and most lasting pleasures of this life and eternity.

Selah, Amen.
Pastor Dave

James 1:5–8 (NLT)
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

I need your wisdom Lord, & I know you will give it. I trust you Lord. I need your wisdom and I need your perseverance, your endurance. I know that I can’t know exactly where I’m going, I have to walk by faith & not by sight. I just need your assurance that I’m in your will, that I’m making your decisions.

My faith is in you alone, wholeheartedly. Help me not waver or have divided desires. My desire is for your will alone. I thank you for the steadfastness you’ve given me Lord, but I need it more, I need your peace and your assurance. My loyalty is to you alone, this world has nothing for me. I will trust you with all my heart, I will not depend on my own understanding, help me to seek you every day, for every move, and as I seek you for every decision, I will trust you to be setting my path before me, doing with me exactly as you will. And I will be happy there. For your Name’s sake, amen.

Joshua 23:11 says. “So be very careful to love the Lord your God (nlt).”

The greatest way to ensure that we are walking in the blessings of God and are never at risk of backsliding is to be very careful to love the Lord your God; this is our single greatest safeguard to ensure our growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Why did Moses call all of Israel in the great Shema to this one thing in Deuteronomy 6:5, “and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength (nlt)” ?

Why must we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, & strength? Because our actions are driven by what we love! Our actions are not only driven by what we believe, our actions are driven by what we love. We all know people who ‘believe’ everything the Bible says about Jesus Christ, but they are still destroying their lives by their love for the world.

James 2:19 says, “even the demons believe” but their belief doesn’t change their actions, does it? Because our actions are driven by what we love.

If we love sin more than we love Jesus, we will ultimately fall more away from Jesus in order to fall more in love with sin. The same goes for loving the world more than Jesus.

In Mat 22:37 Jesus said the entire law can be ‘summed up’ in these two commands; love the Lord your God, and love your neighbor. How could Jesus sum up the entire law with just two commands? Because our actions are driven by what we love.

In Joshua Ch 23 (our Jos224 message) we see three safeguards to ensure that we will continue to walk in the blessings of God and be safe from the risk of falling away;

1. Be careful to follow all of God’s Word.
2. Do not cling to the world, or the things of the world.
3. Above all, be very careful to maintain an ever-increasing love for Jesus Christ.

Let’s do that.
Pastor Dave

Heaven is home. All that heaven is, is our home. Heaven is our permanent home. Heaven is beyond our imagination, and heaven is our home.

All that brings joy to our hearts is reserved for us in our heavenly home. At the heart of that joy will be Jesus, himself. He will be the center and the source of our eternal joy.

And heaven is real; it is tangible, it is a place of real experience and real relationship, where we will really be reunited with our loved ones and friends that have gone home before us, through their faith in Christ.

There will be nothing in heaven that will make us sad, or make us feel any other burdensome feeling we experience here. Our home in heaven is joy indescribable, in a perfect and very real relationship with Jesus, and with that same real relationship with loved ones and friends already there.

Heaven is our home; it is our promise, it is our inheritance reserved for us by God. The confidence of heaven drives us.

Pastor Dave

Romans 8:23 (NLT)
23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children... (Heaven!)

Philippians 3:20 (NLT)
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (NLT)
9 The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him...”

God is looking for a man, or woman, whose heart is fully set on Him, and who will trust God for all that God desires to do; in them, around them, and through them. God is looking for a fully consecrated (set apart) soul, in order that God may do what He desires to do in that person's world.

If I desire to be that person, then I must be willing to be nothing, that Christ may be everything. God alone must be my portion. If I find my all in Him, then He is free to accomplish all that He desires in and through me.

Zechariah 4:6 (NLT)
6 ...It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
The place, the amount, the appearance of what God begins to do is not the thing. It is that God is beginning the work, through my heart and life that is fully surrendered and fully consecrated to Him.

Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)
10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin...

The Lord calls us to come away with him, alone, on a regular basis. Your world, with all its nonstop demands, can, and needs to be, put on hold for few minutes, in order for you to be alone with Jesus. Instead, most Christians put Jesus on hold. Rationalizing that someday they will find time to do what they know is most important. But the longer you push Jesus into the background of your life, the harder it will be to find him in your life.

We live in a culture that glorifies busyness; we've made time a tyrant dictator that controls every minute of our lives. Even we who follow Jesus have been swept up into the tempo of the world. We've bought into the lie that more is always better: more work, more accomplishment, more activity.

But Jesus calls us to walk on a solitary path with him, making time alone with him our highest priority and our deepest joy. Not time about him, not time for him, time withhim. A regular time of interaction; hearing from him and responding to him. This is the 'better thing.' This is the highest priority for a Christ-follower.

Jesus came to visit Mary and Martha. Mary sat at the Lord's feet, glued to his every word. Martha frantically worked for the Lord. Martha complained to the Lord about her sister, and the Lord responded in Luke 10:41-42 ". . . “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Please don't leave this devotion until you pray through it, making it your own and listening for the Lord to speak to you in it.

A Prayer Following Psalm 27 (nlt)
The Lord is my light and my salvation - so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When the evil one seeks to devour me, when he inspires others to discourage me, they will stumble and fall. No matter how big the battle seems, my heart will not be afraid. Even if it looks like the enemy is getting the upper hand, I will remain confident.

The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above the enemy. In his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.

Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

I know you will not turn your back on me. I know you will not reject me. You have always been my helper. I know you will not leave me alone in the battle, I know you will not abandon me, O God of my salvation! Even if all those who care for me abandon me, You, Lord, will hold me close.

Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for the enemy is crouching in the shadows, waiting for me. Do not let me fall into his schemes. He is constantly searching for a way to discourage and even destroy me. Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.

I will wait patiently for the Lord. I will be brave and courageous. Yes, I will wait patiently for the Lord. Amen.

Proverbs 2:1–11 (NLT)
1 My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. 2 Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. 3 Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. 4 Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. 5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. . . 9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. 11 Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.

Heavenly Father, may my life be marked by a continual and sold-out search for your wisdom and your understanding. Help me never to think I've arrived, to never stop crying out for your insight and direction in my life. And most of all, please protect me from thinking that my ideas and thoughts are automatically from you. You alone grant wisdom, understanding comes from you alone, in myself I have none. I can only understand what is right, and what is the right way to go, as you pour your wisdom into my heart. Then your knowledge will fill me with joy, wise choices from you will watch over me, and your understanding will keep me safe.

Keep me from thinking too highly of myself or my own thoughts. As I search for your wisdom, please lead me in the direction you know is best. For your glory in my life, Amen.

Please pray for our friend Leanna who lost her younger brother today.

Psalm 27:4 & 8 The one thing I ask, LORD — the thing I seek most — is to live, to dwell, to rest in your house; today and all the days of my life, delighting in your perfections and meditating in your Temple. Lord, that is what I need today. My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”

Psalm 73:26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God you will remain the strength of my heart; you are mine forever.

Psalm 29:11 Lord, you will give me strength, you will be my strength. You have promised to bless your people with peace, Lord. Please pour out your strength and your peace on me today.

Psalm 91:1-2 Lord, you promise that if I will dwell in your secret place, in the secret place of the Most High God, that I will abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I need that, Lord. I need to abide and to rest in your shadow, in your good care. I will say of you, Lord, that you are my refuge and my fortress, you are my God, in you alone will I trust.

Isaiah 12:2 God you are my salvation; I will trust in you and will not be afraid; for you, LORD GOD are my strength, my song, and my salvation.

Isaiah 30:15 Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, you have said, “In returning to you and resting in you shall I be saved; in quietness and trust shall be my strength.” I will rest in you, Lord. I will trust in you alone. I know you will be my strength.

Isaiah 44:8 I will not tremble with fear, Lord. I know that you alone are God. No one else is a mighty rock for me to rest on and trust in. I fall on you alone, Lord. You are my mighty rock and my safe fortress.

John 14:27 Lord Jesus, please pour your peace that surpasses understanding into my life right now, the peace that you left with us, the peace that you gave us. Please overwhelm me with that peace right now, that my heart would not be troubled, neither would it be afraid.

Isa 26:3–4 Lord, You will keep me in perfect peace as I learn to trust in you completely, as I learn to keep my thoughts fixed on you! I will Trust in you always, for you, Lord God, are my eternal Rock.

Psa 62:5–8 All that I am will wait quietly for you God, for my hope is in you alone. You alone are my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from you alone, Lord. You alone are my refuge, a solid rock where no enemy can reach me. I will trust in you at all times. I will pour out my heart to you God, for you alone are my shelter and my strength.

Psa 28:7 You LORD, are my strength and my shield. I trust you with all my heart. You help me, and my heart is filled with joy. I will burst out in songs of thanksgiving because of who you are.

Zeph 3:17 For you, Yahweh, The LORD of Heaven and Earth, are living with me. You are The Mighty Savior, and you will take delight in me with gladness. With your love, you will calm all my fears. You will rejoice over me with singing.
Let it be so Lord. In my life let it be so, for your glory and for your name. Amen.

Meditate on God's Word. Pray His Word. Believe His Word.

Isaiah 26:3–4 (nlt)
3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! 4 Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.

Psalm 28:7 (nlt)
7 The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Psalm 62:5–8 (NLT)
5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. 7 My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. 8 O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.

Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)

17 For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Psalm 27:4 & 8 (NLT)
4 The one thing I ask of the LORD— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. . . 8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”

Psalm 73:26 (nlt)
26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

Psalm 86:2 (nlt)
2 Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God.

Psalm 29:11 (AMP)
11 The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.

Psalm 94:18 (AMP)
18 When I said, My foot is slipping, Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, held me up.

Psalm 91:4 (NLT)
4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Isaiah 12:2 (esv)
2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

Isaiah 30:15 (esv)
15 For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

Isaiah 44:8 (cev)
8 Don’t tremble with fear! Didn’t I tell you long ago? Didn’t you hear me? I alone am God— no one else is a mighty rock.

John 14:27 (esv)
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Philippians 4:6–7 (nlt)
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Praying Psalm 62:5-8.

(5) Oh Lord, only you give inward peace. Let all that I am wait quietly before you. You alone are my hope, I will depend on you and I will wait as long as you say. My hope is in you alone.

(6) You alone are my rock and my salvation, the solid rock under my feet. I will stand in you alone. You are my fortress where I am safe, and I will not be shaken.

(7) My victory, my help, and my honor come from you alone, Lord. You are my refuge, my safe harbor, my rock where no enemy can reach me.

(8) So I will trust in you alone, and completely, at all times. I will pour out my heart to you, I will lay down my life for you. For you alone are my refuge, my fortress, and my place of safety.
I am rock-solid secure in you alone, Lord. So I will rest in you, and trust in you, and wait on you alone. My hope and my peace come from you, nothing else. Thank you Jesus. Amen.

I will enter your gates with thanksgiving, Lord. I will enter your courts with praise. I will give thanks to you and praise your name. For you are so good to me. Your unfailing love continues forever, and your faithfulness continues from generation to generation (Psalm 100:4-5).

I will give thanks to you Lord and proclaim your greatness as long as I have breath in my lungs. I will let the whole world around me know the great things you have done in my life (1Chron 16:8).

I will tell of your great unfailing love, Lord. I will praise you for all you've done. I will always rejoice in your great goodness to your people, which flows from your unending mercy and love (Isa 63:7)

I will be thankful in all circumstances, for this is your will for all those who belong to Christ Jesus (1Thes 5:18).

Lord God, since I am receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, I will always be thankful and please you by worshiping you with holy fear and awe (Heb 12:28).

Heavenly Father, you so, so good, and I am so, so thankful; for all that you are and for all that you've done. Your faithful, steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 136). May you be glorified in my life. in Jesus' name, amen.

Praying Psalm 19:7-11

Lord, your instructions are perfect, they revive my soul. They give me new life. They restore me. Your decrees and teachings are trustworthy and sure, following them makes me wise even though I am simple. Your commandments are right, they will bring joy to my heart if I will follow them. Your commandments are pure and bright, they will enlighten my eyes and give me insight for living. My reverent worship of you, opposed to anything else in this life, is pure and will endure forever.

Lord, your laws are fully and entirely true and righteous, each one of them. They are more desirable than gold, any amount of gold. They are sweeter than honey dripping from the honeycomb. Your instructions are my warnings in this life. They guide my path and keep me from destruction, and in keeping them is great and eternal reward.

Lord, give me the strength to trust your ways, your truths, and your instructions, above my own thoughts and above this world's influence. In you is true life, both now and for eternity. Fill me with your Spirit to this end. In your name Jesus, amen.

Pam and I have just returned from a month in Israel, where we have been with 2 groups of church family and friends. In honor of our time there, here is an adaptation from The Jewish Prayer Book;

Thank you Lord God, who ever lives and endures, and who has restored my soul. Great is your faithfulness.

How good is your dwelling place Lord, the place I always desire to be, and the place I can only enter because of your abundant mercy. May I always worship in your presence.

O Lord, I love your dwelling place, where your glory rests. I humbly bow before you Lord, my maker. I fall upon your eternal grace O God. From your unconditional and abundant mercy, Lord, thank you for saving me.

Adapted from Siddur Avodat Israel © 2008 Jewish Daily Prayer book. Pg 3

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT) And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

The history of Israel points to a truth taught clearly enough by all history; people will soon be what their leaders are. The leaders set the moral pace for the people.

Whatever sort of man the leader is, the people will soon follow his leadership. The people followed David in the worship of Jehovah, Solomon in the building of the Temple, Jeroboam in his falling away from the Lord, and Hezekiah in the restoration of the temple worship.

It is not complimentary to the masses that they are so easily led, but we are not interested in praising or blaming; we are concerned for truth, and the truth is that for better or for worse religious people follow leaders. A Godly leader will change the attitude and spiritual condition of a church for the better. A fleshly or ungodly leader will change the attitude and spiritual condition of a church for the worse. The church will ultimately become what its leaders are.

Lord, help us to impact the attitude and spiritual health of our church for the better and never for the worse. Strengthen us in the power of your Holy Spirit, that we might be Godly leaders worth following. Amen.

My soul, all that I am, will wait silently and only upon you God, and I will silently submit to you; for my hope and expectation are in you alone. You alone Lord, are my Rock and my Salvation. You alone Lord, are my Defense and my Fortress, In you I shall not be moved. With you alone God rests my victory and my honor; You alone are my Rock of unyielding strength. You are my refuge, my security, and my shelter from the storm. My Lord God, I will trust in you, lean on you, rely on you, and have confidence in you alone, at all times and in every circumstance. I pour out my heart to you God, for you alone are my refuge, my fortress, and my strength, Selah. Praise your mighty Name! (from Psalm 62:5–8)

Lord, you say in Isaiah 43:19 For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. That is who you are Lord; You are the God who makes all things new. And you make us new, Lord. You promise in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that anyone who belongs to you has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! That’s what you do, Lord. You make a pathway through the wilderness. You create rivers where there is only dry wasteland. And for those who belong to you, Lord, you leave the old life behind, in that wasteland. Then you create in us an entirely new life, complete with rivers of living water (Jn 7:38).

And so, Lord, I say with Paul in Philippians 3:12-14 I press on to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me. Lord, you laid hold of me, for an eternal purpose and an eternal goal. And so, Lord, Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which you, through Christ Jesus, have called me.

In Revelation 21:5 you say, I am making everything new! And then you remind me Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true. I will write it down Lord, for all that you tell me is trustworthy and true. You indeed make all things new, including me. For your glory and in your name, amen.

Lord, your Word says we are to always be being filled with your Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among ourselves, and making music to YOU in our hearts. Always giving thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 5:18–20).

Heavenly Father, thank you! Thank you for everything. In the wonderful name of Jesus Christ our Lord, thank you. Thank you for filling me with your Holy Spirit. Please continually keep me being filled, Lord. Fill me to overflowing, that I may always have a song in my heart to you. May I hide in my heart your psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and may they flow out when I’m around others.

Lord, your life in me is my praise. My life in you is my song, it is the melody of my heart. May I always live in your shelter, finding true rest in your presence (Psa 91:1-2). And, by the continual filling of your Holy Spirit, may I always be joyful, always be praying, and always be thankful, in all circumstances. This is your will for me, Lord, and for all who belong to you (1Thes 5:16-18). Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, forever and always. In your name Jesus, Amen.

John 7:38 (amp) Lord, you said, “He who believes in you (who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on you) as the Scripture has said, from his innermost being shall flow (continuously) springs and rivers of living water.” It’s the cleaves to, trusts in, and relies on part that I must continuously grow in, Lord. Like the man who cried out to you, “I believe; help my unbelief! (Mk 9:24)” I believe, Lord, you know I do, with all my heart. Help me to always, more and more, cleave to you, trust you, and rely on you, in every circumstance.

Lord, I don’t need to figure things out. I can rest in your presence; cleaving, trusting, and relying on you. This is where (and when) your peace that passes understanding will guard my heart and mind – in you (Phil 4:6-7). I will rest in you, rolling my burdens over to you, because I know that you care for me.

1 Peter 5:7 (amp) says to “Cast the whole of my care [all my anxieties, all my worries, all my concerns, once and for all] on You, for You care for me affectionately and You care about me watchfully.” You do Lord, you care so much, and you’ve given me so much. And so I will rest in you; cleaving, trusting, and relying on you. And as I do, out of my innermost being will flow rivers of living water.

Lord Jesus, please fill me with your Holy Spirit afresh and anew today. Pour out your Spirit to overflowing upon me. And I will speak with songs and hymns and spiritual songs, with a melody to you in my heart. And I will give thanks always and in everything to You, in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord (Eph 5:18-20). Amen

Psalm 13:1–6 (nlt)
O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die. Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!” Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall. But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.

How long Lord, will it feel like you’ve forgotten me? How long will it look like you have looked the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will it feel like the enemy has the upper hand? Please hear and answer me, Lord. Lighten my eyes, restore the sparkle, let me behold your face in the darkness, unless I give up. Don’t let my enemies say, “We have defeated him.” Don’t let them rejoice, don’t let me be a notch on their belt.

Lord, I will trust in your unfailing love, I will. I will choose to rejoice in you, because you have rescued me. I will sing, I will choose to sing, I will force myself to sing to you Lord. Because you are good, and you are so good to me! You have always been good to me Lord, and you will always be. Praise your great & mighty name, forever, amen.

Hebrews 11:1 - Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. 2 Corinthians 5:7 - For we walk by faith, not by sight. Hebrews 12:2 - We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith... Ephesians 6:16 - hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 1 Peter 1:7 - These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. Habakkuk 2:4 - Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.

Heavenly Father, my faith is my confident expectation that what you’ve promised will absolutely come to pass. My faith is all the evidence I need of the things that I cannot see, because I walk by faith, not by sight. And I will continue to walk this way. But I can only keep walking by keeping my eyes focused intently on you, Jesus. My faith is in you, in who you are. You are my champion. You initiated my faith, and you are perfecting my faith.

So I will hold up the shield that is my faith, and it will stop all the fiery attacks of the devil. The trials that the devil hopes will destroy me, you will use to prove that my faith is genuine. How can I see, or show, that I have genuine faith, if not in the midst of trial. These trials refine and purify my faith, like a refiner purifies gold. And the faith that you’ve given me Lord is worth so much more than mere gold - or anything else in this world.

The proud trust in themselves, in what they can accomplish in their own strength. But their lives are crooked Lord. Because of the righteousness and eternal life that you’ve given me, I will live by my faithfulness to you. I will continuing to walk by faith and not by sight, my eyes set steadfast on you. I will hold up the shield and allow the trials to refine and purify my faith, until I see you face to face. And then my faith will become my sight. Every step I take in your name Lord Jesus, Amen.