Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.—Colossians 4:5 (NIV)
When you feel overwhelmed with too much to do, ask God to help you prioritize the day’s tasks. Trust He will order your steps (Proverbs 16:9). Praise Him for His guidance and encouragement.
Heavenly Father thank You for helping me manage my time and balance my life.
His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.”—Matthew 25:21 (NIV)
Have you ever asked yourself, how can I best serve the Lord so I can one day hear Jesus say, Well done? Today, take a moment, set your mind on God and ask Him to help you have the heart of a servant in all you do. Resolve to use your life as a training ground for His kingdom.
Dear Lord, I pray that I am faithful on my journey, open to hear Your instructions and willing to serve You.
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonderful deeds.—Psalm 9:1 (NIV)
One of the greatest prayers is “Thank You!” Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said, “Let your prayer consist of all the wonderful things that have happened to you. Name them, thank God for them and make that your whole prayer. You will soon find that these prayers of thanksgiving grow longer and longer, and you will have more and more things for which to thank God.”
Dear Lord, give me the vision to see Your blessings instead of my fears. May I feel Your presence in times of worry and remember Your strong desire to protect and guide me is more powerful than anything on earth.
Then He told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, He gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people.—Matthew 14:19 (NLT)
When you feel lacking in energy, resources, or are unable to figure out how to make ends meet, turn to this verse and plan for the best outcome. Remember if you do your best, you don’t have to try to figure everything out because Jesus already has the answer.
Dear Lord, because of You, I believe in miracles. I know that when I give what I can, You are right there with me miraculously offering Your blessings.
God, my shepherd! You have bedded me down in lush meadows, You find me quiet pools to drink from. True to Your word, You let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.—Psalm 23:1–3 (MSG)
God is essential to healthy living. When you make time to be with Him, you become stronger, and are able to handle life’s challenges. God protects you from danger and moves mountains in your life. When you need guidance, pray the above verse and trust His answer.
Thank You Lord, for guiding me and keeping me, safe, well-cared for and protected.
My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.—Psalm 22:1-2 (ESV)
When God seems silent and you feel as if your prayers are going unanswered, change is happening behind the scenes. Even if you don’t feel it, you’re developing a deeper faith and a greater knowing. Wait patiently for His perfect timing.
Dear Lord, in quiet times, when I doubt that You are near; hold me close and comfort me, reassure me there is nothing to fear.
You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.—1 Peter 2:5 (NIV)
Jesus wants you to live by His Word, knowing that You are part of a wondrous structure—a solid, living, precious and permanent part of His architectural plan. You are a living rock in His spiritual house.
Heavenly Father, I am a living rock and You are the Cornerstone, the Way, the Truth and the Life.
I was angry, good and angry, because of Israel’s sins. I struck him hard and turned away in anger, while he kept at his stubborn, willful ways. When I looked again and saw what he was doing, I decided to heal him, lead him, and comfort him.—Isaiah 57:17-18 (MSG)
The Old Testament has many instances of God’s followers experiencing hardship and learning life lessons the hard way. However, today’s verse shows that God is merciful. His teaching is clear and simple: sin leads to pain and obedience leads to blessing. When you take this lesson to heart, you spare yourself difficulties and experience His grace.
Heavenly Father, thank You for guiding me on the path that leads me closer to You.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?—Psalm 42:1–2 (NIV)
Just as a cool glass of water refreshes you on a hot summer day, Jesus the Living Water is the One who satisfies your spirit. When you feel drained, or out of sorts, reach out to Him. Ask Him to quench your spiritual thirst with His life-giving Spirit.
Heavenly Father, when I am weary or feel empty and afraid, refresh my spirit with Your healing streams.
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.—John 15:11 (ESV)
One of God’S greatest gifts is joy. Norman Vincent Peale said, “There is a human tendency to always think that we are going to begin being happy sometime in the future. The right time is now.” With faith in the Lord, your life can be full of joy.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of joy that lifts me up and keeps me going.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.—Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
There’s an old saying attributed to St. Ignatius, “Pray as if everything depends on God, work as if everything depends on you.” When you pray and work with all you’ve got, you really can’t lose. Even if you fall short of reaching your goal, you will be better for the experience.
Dear Lord, encourage me to keep working, keep trying, keep hoping, and keep praying.
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”—Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)
The Bible is filled with different people praying the amazing prayer, “Here I am Lord. Send me.” Have you dared to pray this prayer? Of course it requires deep devotion and a bold courageous heart—but its benefits are amazing! Be prepared to have your life changed by His grace and instruction.
Dear Lord, Here I am. Send me!
Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly…—1 CORINTHIANS 9:26 (NIV)
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.—PROVERBS 12:25 (NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God— this is your true and proper worship.—Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.—Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.—Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.—Romans 12:18 (NIV)
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.—Ephesians 5:15–16 (NIV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.—Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
And he opened his mouth and taught them.—Matthew 5:2 (ESV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.—Romans 15:13 (NIV)
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.—Matthew 6:17–18 (NIV)
The Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.—Romans 8:26 (NIV)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.—Matthew 28:19 (NIV)
We love because he first loved us.—1 John 4:19 (NIV)
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.—Revelation 22:13 (NIV)
Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.—Luke 2:14 (NIV)
As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.—1 Samuel 18:1 (ESV)
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”—Galatians 5:14 (NIV)
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.—John 15:12 (ESV)
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.—2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)
