Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.—John 3:5 (NIV)
Dear Lord, wash away my sins and guilt. Wash me and I will be clean.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.—Romans 15:5 (NIV)
Do you ever wonder how you wound up in the life that you have? Maybe you feel like you’re in the wrong place or the wrong job? Perhaps a better question to ask is: how can I change myself or my attitude to make things better?
Dear Lord, I truly believe that my life is unfolding as it should and I am where I am supposed to be—right here, right now.
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”—John 20:29 (NIV)
Thomas had his doubts resolved by a personal visit from Jesus. Yet for most of us, when we face a dark night of the soul we must forge ahead with less dramatic proof. Through faith we can surpass our doubts and with confidence we can know that when we seek God we find Him.
My Lord and My God, help my unbelief! When my faith falters, help me believe.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.—2 Peter 3:18 (ESV)
Your spiritual growth continues until you enter into eternity. Regardless of your chronological age your spiritual age depends on your dedication to your faith. And unlike the negative connotation of old age, having an old spiritual age is a precious gift!
Loving Father, I long to be led by Your heart. It is my deepest desire to grow spiritually each and every day.
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.—Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)
If you have been praying for something for a long time, ask yourself, could I have already received the answer and somehow missed it? Sometimes we are so focused on what we want, that we don’t recognize the answer we receive.
Dear Lord, I know You hear and answer my prayers. I’ll keep praying, knowing that You are helping me as I go forward.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.—Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
You can hear God at any time, but in the above verse King David gives a model for listening and hearing Him in the morning. When you wake, make time to allow God to speak to you. Each day is an opportunity for you to be guided by His instructions, His daily treasure.
Heavenly Father, I am here. I am listening.
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.—Philippians 3:13 (NIV)
In the above Bible passage, the Apostle Paul gives wonderful guidance on overcoming life’s problems. Even in times of tremendous pain, you are never alone. There is always a brighter future ahead.
Heavenly Father, Your grace and Your strength are always with me in spirit. I praise You for Your glory.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.—Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
Live God’s word by focusing on the powerful teachings of Jesus. Allow Scripture to shape your actions. When you practice His Word, you will see amazing developments unfold.
Dear Lord, help me harness the power of Your word. Give me the strength and wisdom to follow in the footsteps of Jesus’ perfect example.
And we also thank God continually, because when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.—1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV)
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said that through enthusiasm, prayer and faith you can reach your highest goals. In order to make your dreams come true, “Ask and believe; dream and believe; work and believe.”
God of Heaven, remind me that my thoughts truly can change my life!
To You, O Lord, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me. For if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit.—Psalm 28:1 (NASB)
Sometimes in your prayer life it might seem as if God is quiet—that maybe He is not present or hearing you. If this happens to you, continue praying. Keep track of your prayers and how you feel. Often you’ll discover that this desert period in your prayer life has brought about the most beautiful blooms.
Dear Lord, when I wrongly feel as if I am doing this alone, give me the energy to persevere and the faith to continue on.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.—Psalm 147:3 (NIV)
Does disagreement or resentment weigh on your heart? Jesus tells us to forgive our debtors, to love our enemies and to pray for those who harm us. Follow His way with this prayer.
Heavenly Father, please help me to release negative feelings so that I can experience Your true joy.
… A time to laugh.—Ecclesiastes 3:4 (NLT)
Heavenly Father, when I’m stressed and looking at life too seriously, nudge me to seek more joy and laughter.
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)
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.—1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.”—Habakkuk 2:2 (ESV)
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.—Philippians 3:13 (NIV)
So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.—Genesis 1:21 (NIV)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.—Romans 12:2 (NIV)prayer
Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.—Genesis 5:24 (NIV)
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.—Genesis 50:20 (NIV) Bib
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.—Luke 6:38 (NIV)
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”—John 15:13 (NIV)
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.—Psalm 119:30–32 (NIV)
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.—Psalm 1:3 (KJV)
But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.—Jeremiah 10:12 (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)
