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To know you better every day

Our Father in Heaven, your name is special. Let us all give you proper respect. Let us treat your things with special regard. Keep us from acting in a profane manner.

Help us to think constantly of you and your plan of salvation. Thank you for reaching us with the Good News. We rejoice in our hope of eternal life. Reach others through our teaching. Motivate us to share the message of Christ with others.

We want to know you better every day. We read Scripture in order to understand you and what you like and dislike. Give us understanding. We ask for wisdom. Keep our feet from transgression. Hold back our hands from doing evil. Give us the power of your Spirit to win over temptation.

Lord God, the faith of many is weak. Their zeal wanes and, for some, is doused by the devil. Fire us up. Make us enthusiastic for Christ. But keep our fervor guided by knowledge. Let that knowledge be the firewood that keeps our love burning strong.

Father, the church seems such a fragile thing. So few people, with few physical and material resources. It seems like all our work would fail with but a little gust of wind. But we know that your Spirit enlivens us all. Your power will not be denied its efficacy in the world. The evil one cannot push over your people.

Others seem to have so much to work with. Resources are squandered, funds are spent selfishly, time is wasted. But help us not to look wistfully at what others have. Let us see how you work in and through us. Make us understand that we have all we need to be powerful instruments in your hand. Keep us from resentment and bitterness. May Christ live in us to bring us peace, joy, and righteousness.

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So many options and opportunities

Father, create a climate for your gospel to grow in this place. May government officials allow us to live in peace. Help us to be good citizens. Let our proclamation of Christ to each person have good results and contribute to a more just society. Bless us that we might be a blessing to others.

Father, there is so much to be thankful for, all from your good hand.

  • Thank you for so many options and opportunities.
  • Thank you for wisdom to use our time properly.
  • Thank you for your Spirit who gives us self-control.
  • Thank you for boldness in Christ to show the way through kind and true words.
  • Thank you for like-minded brothers and sisters who live by your will and pray at all times.
  • Thank you for a clear mind, a sound body, a tender soul, a seeking spirit.
  • Thank you for making us participants in the grace of salvation and in the mission of Christ.
  • Thank you for knowledge and wisdom to walk before you in love.
  • Thank you for providing for needs and for making your provisions always available to us.
  • Thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus the Lord who gave himself in our place, for our forgiveness.

Let my tongue be loosed today, so that it may speak of your goodness and love. Father, let the seed of truth bear fruit that remains to eternity.

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Responsibility for my actions

Lord, I take responsibility for my actions today and for my reactions to all that has happened to me in the past and that will happen today. I will blame no one. I will offer no excuses. I will seek no easy escape. I will possess the mind of Christ and show his kindness and patience.

You know that I am not capable of this, so I trust in your strength to be possessed of this transformed life.

Father, your sons and daughters also need such desire and power for life in Christ. So many of them are new in faith. Some are weak in their walk. Some have not yet seen the joy of full devotion. Some suffer mental anguish. Others face persecution and hardship.

Thank you for our family of faith. Let none wander away. Keep us all safe. Make love our language. Fulfill your will in us. Find praise in our midst. Blessed are you, O God, for your wisdom and compassion to make us your people and to give us those brothers and sisters that walk with us.

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What Distance Gapes

Before your glory, O God, we see our sin —
Hideous, horrible, ripping you from our souls —
What distance gapes between your holiness
And our uncleanness! Woe is me! — Woe!
The hand must cover the mouth: “Impure! Impure!”
To wash our hearts, to whom, to whom must we go?

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What Word Have We to Say?

What word, O Lord, have we to say
but praise and gratitude?
From your good hand, day by day,
come life and love and food.

O God, let grace for abounding grace
be found upon our lips;
For heaven’s blessing in every place
all pains and hurts eclipse.

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Your Perfect Plan of Love

Acts 4.23-31

Master of all, who made the heaven and earth
and sea, and every creature that they contain,
who by the Holy Spirit, through David, said:

“The nations rage, and foolish people plot;
Together earthly Kings and rulers stood
against the Lord, against his chosen Christ.”

You knew, O Lord, and know, the mind of man!
His thoughts are ever foolish, even from birth;
for your perfect plan of love he shows disdain.

And still Immanuel came! He chose to shed his blood;
with frail and humble humans he cast his lot —
the First of heaven in place of the lost, and last.

O Lord, you raised the Son of Man from the dead!
The Spirit’s power at work in impotent flesh
now gives a soul a chance to start afresh.

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Yours Is the Day

Yours is the day, yours also the night,
Creator of every heavenly light,
Sun, moon, and stars unnumbered,
Before your greatness man is humbled.

You do not sleep, nor nap, nor slumber,
The hairs of our head, you know their number,
We fall before your holy beauty,
Teach us, Lord, our divine duty.

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We Need Relief

When pressure comes, we need relief —
O God, provide!
In loss and pain, we feel great grief —
Come, Lord, abide!

The heavy heart bears crushing weight —
Give Jesus’ load!
Let our steps pass the narrow gate
To your abode!

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Energy and motivation today

Father of your people, thank you for bringing us to life. Give us energy and motivation today to serve with love and kindness.

Prepare me for that great day in heaven.

Give me ever greater assurance of salvation and of your existence, of your nature to reward the one who seeks you.

Help me live in holiness and fear of you.

Thank you for the blessings of the morning, for the lovingkindess of the day, for the peace and contentment of the evening.

Make your presence known.

Yours is the praise, the honor, and glory now and forever.

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Breathe in me the desires of the Holy Spirit

Our Father in Heaven, glorify your name this day in us and in our speech and actions.

Save me this day, O Father, that I might live in your presence and serve you, for your pleasure.

Show me, Father, how to pray more for your kingdom.

Open my eyes to needs. Reveal the opportunities to help others, for I am often focused on my own affairs.

Put power in my hands and humility in my heart.

Wash me constantly in the blood of Jesus my Lord.

Breathe in me the desires of the Holy Spirit.

No measure can be taken of your greatness. You explode all our categories of thought and dimension.

Open my ears to your word. Let your blessed strength enter my heart to transform and empower.

Bring your fellowship near. Make the joy of your presence real. Let us as your people live in true communion.

Break out your song of salvation among us.