Today We Pray

Dear marvelous God, You are my light, my life, and my salvation. Grant to me, I pray, such fullness of faith and such a consciousness of Your love and goodness. Let Your blessed Spirit dwell within me, giving me healthy body, peace of mind, faithfulness of heart, and holiness of life and being.

Hold us all in your loving arms. Let us be comforted by the strength and peace You make available to us through the birth of Your son, Jesus. Thank You for all the many gifts You offer us, during our life on earth and for all eternity.

I dedicate this day to You, mighty God. I pray that your Spirit will lift me up this day. Let Your face shine upon me all the day long, that I might do Your will and lead a new life in Christ, reborn in the Spirit.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Isaiah 30:19

"O people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you."

God promised to us from the people of Zion that we don't need to cry anymore. He will most certainly be gracious to you at the sound of your cry for help. When He hears it, He will answer you. Our time of tears is over!

 The Lord is indeed kind. As soon as He hears your cries for help, he will come. Cry for help and you’ll find it’s grace and more grace. The moment He hears, He’ll answer.

The Daily Grace - Accomplishing His Great Work

From the beginning, God has relied on people to advance His work. After equipping Adam to cultivate the land and supervise the animals, God left the work of the garden in his hands (Gen. 2:15-20). The pattern has continued. When God wanted a dwelling place on earth, a tabernacle and temple did not descend from the sky; thousands of artists and craftsmen worked to fashion them (Ex. 35-38; 1 Kings 6).

When Jesus proclaimed the new reign of God's kingdom on earth, He invited human beings to help. He told His disciples, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" (Matt. 9:38). As a father does with his children, so does God welcome us as His kingdom partners. God uses humble servants to accomplish His great work.

How can you contribute for the advancement of His Kingdom today? As we start another week, challenge yourself to work hardly, for the Lord, not for men. Please God today. Work for His glory!

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that in Your love and wisdom, You invite us to accomplish Your acts of love, service and kindness here on earth. Thank You for the privilege of helping You. Cleanse the thoughts of my heart by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love You and worthily praise Your holy name. 

You know all about me, Lord, and You love me. Thank You for understanding me completely! Please help me to love You and follow You today.

Into to Your hands, O Lord, Jesus Christ, my God, I commend my spirit. Bless me and all those who pray in faith of You this day; save us and grant unto us everlasting life.  Through Christ I pray.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Proverbs 11:18

The wicked man earns deceptive wages. But he who sows righteousness and lives his life with integrity will have a true reward that is both permanent and satisfying. Bad work gets paid with a bad check. Good work gets solid pay. This is a challenge for us to work hard. We need to work hard to earn a living. But, always be reminded to work for the Lord, not for men. 

The Daily Grace - More of Him, Less of Me

Will we live to draw attention to ourselves? Or will we focus on the privilege of knowing and experiencing Jesus more intimately? Do our choices bring honor to God or to us? Our desire for recognition wouldn't be such a problem if it didn't tend to replace Jesus as the focus of our attention. But being absorbed with ourselves crowds Him out of the picture.

Life cannot be all about us and all about Jesus at the same time. This makes Paul's statement that he counted "everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ" (Phil. 3:8) strategically important. Faced with a choice between himself and Jesus, Paul intentionally discarded the things that would draw attention to himself so he could concentrate on knowing and experiencing Jesus. For us, the decision is the same.

In everything, acknowledge His presence, acknowledge His Name. Make His Name famous. It should be more of Him, less of us. This is an act of humbleness that God wants us to have. Always bring honor to His Name.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, I bless you, O God most high and Lord of mercies. It is You who forever works great and mysterious deeds for me, glorious, wonderful, and numberless; who provides me with sleep as a rest from my infirmities and as a repose for my body tired by labor. I thank you that you have not destroyed me in my transgressions, but in your love toward mankind you have raised me up, as I lay in despair, that I may glorify your majesty.

I entreat your infinite goodness, enlighten the eyes of my understanding and raise up my mind from the heavy sleep of indolence. Open my mouth and fill it with your praise. So that, I may unceasingly sing and confess you, who is God glorified in all and by all, the eternal Father, the only-begotten Son.

Fill my heart with the peace you give to those who wait for your salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. Help me to be content, O Lord. To you be the glory and the honor, forever and ever, through Jesus my Lord.

Amen