God, have mercy on me, a sinner.—Luke 18:13 (NIV)
When we give God our all, we must offer it with the admission that we are human—flawed and imperfect—in ways we can’t completely understand. When we offer our weakness and sin, God offers a new heart and spirit.
God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.—Nahum 1:7 (NIV)
At one time or another, you may go through a crisis of faith, questioning if God is really good, loving and powerful. If you feel abandoned and filled with doubt, draw closer to Him. Know that His strength is available when you are weak.
Heavenly Father, there is no experience, pain, nor struggle that blocks Your love.
Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.—Luke 21:36 (NIV)
Often in life we make decisions based on choosing what we want or choosing what is right. When you are at a crossroads between devotion and desire don’t be led astray by temptation. Look to your heart on what you truly want—to be a faithful, good person.
Heavenly Father, I trust You to lead me to the right choice.
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.—Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)
Are you feeling down? Talk to God. Be honest about your feelings. You don’t need to pretend that you’re fine when you are struggling with pain and sorrow. Instead, do as Nehemiah did: Cry. Be sad. Mourn. Grieve. Ask God to help you believe that tomorrow will be better.
Heavenly Father, I know You rescue those with crushed spirits. Wrap Your arms around me and heal my broken heart.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”—Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
Your prayers aren’t always answered with a yes. When God says no and you accept His answer, you allow Him to do His work. It’s not always easy to surrender to God’s will, but it will bring you to a deeper faith when you recognize He knows your needs and directs you, not the other way around.
Dear Lord, I know that Your ways are higher than mine. I may not understand why You say no, but trust Your answer.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.—Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)
Today is the 19th anniversary of the terror attacks. Although the initial shock of the tragedy has subsided, we remember the depth of grief and horror as if it were yesterday. We also remember the power of prayer that united a nation and the power of hope in God that helped us carry on. Out of devastation, we rose up with renewed courage, strength and faith.
Heavenly father, comfort the hearts that are still hurting from losing loved ones on 9/11. Let them know that You are with them.
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.—Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
We live in a world of instant gratification, so when God’s timing is at work, our instinct is to take our lives in our own hands and wear ourselves out trying to force an outcome. Be patient. When we wait on God’s timing, the ingredients of success and accomplishment will be there.
Lord, when I am pacing and pacing trying to speed up Your timing, redirect my impatient energy and help me enter a quiet, peaceful place and wait.
Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail.—Luke 22:31-32 (NKJV)
Life’s challenges can sometimes turn you upside down and make you feel ripped apart. When you are feeling shaken and sifted like Peter in today’s verse, Jesus intercedes. When you are at your lowest, He is by your side.
Lord Jesus, because of You, I can overcome life’s hardships. Because of You, my faith will not fail.
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 3:14 (NIV)
Instead focusing on past experiences that caused you regret and bitterness, fill your mind with positive thoughts. Spend time with God. Ask Him to help heal your broken heart and turn your pain into power with a purpose.
Heavenly Father, free me from past hurts. Keep me facing forward.
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him.—Psalm 62:5 (NIV)
When you are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted like David in the above verse, know that you do not have to face your problems alone. Take a few deep breaths and exhale your tension. Turn to God. Surrender your anxiety to Him. Pray and ask God to fill you with His perfect peace.
Heavenly Father, my hope comes from You.
Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.—1 Chronicles 16:11 (NIV)
God’s purpose for you is far greater than you can imagine, far greater than your own happiness or peace of mind. To discover your purpose, turn to His Word. Spend time deepening your faith. Each day, nurture those around you, find joy in everything you do and never forget how important your life’s work truly is.
Heavenly Father, on days when I lose sight of my purpose for being here, help me to remember I’m doing this for You.
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.—1 Samuel 3:9 (NIV)
If you’re facing decisions in your life—big or small—and you need to hear from God, turn to Samuel’s prayer in today’s verse. Quiet your mind and wait for His wisdom. Consider whether you’re listening for God’s voice in your life.
Heavenly Father, help me to tune into Your voice. I am listening.
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)
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.—Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.—Luke 6:27 (NIV)
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.—Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.—Jonah 1:3 (ESV)
Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite.—Judges 3:15 (NIV)
There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.—Exodus 3:2 (NIV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.—Romans 3:23–24 (NIV)
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.—James 1:27 (NLT)
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.—Ephesians 6:16 (NIV)
I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.—Job 42:5-6 (NLT)
Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.—Joel 2:13 (NIV)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”—Jeremiah 29:11 (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)
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