The good news of Christ
Heavenly Father, make us like Jesus, for we strive to be like him. This is our goal, because we know he pleased you in all things and shared an intimate relationship with you.
Also, we want others to see him in us, so that they might be saved through our words and actions.
Empower us to remove any thoughts or behaviors inconsistent with his life. Continue reading “We want others to see Jesus in us”
Father, if clothes make the man, we want to put on Christ and be clothed with your love and compassion.
If accessories complete a wardrobe, we want to be complete in the Lord Jesus by not lacking in any attribute of his, as we imitate his example.
We want people to identify us by the attitudes and actions of him who saved us by his blood. Continue reading “If clothes make the man”
O God, make the door of this house wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship; narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride, and strife.
Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to children nor to straying feet, but rugged and strong enough to turn back the tempter’s power. Continue reading “Make this door wide enough”
Let me talk more, O Lord, about you and those things you do and delight in, and less about myself and my desires and accomplishments.
Let me study more, O God, your ways and will, and less on how I can get ahead and taste success.
Let me meditate more, O Father, on your word and your commands, and less on my wants and needs.
Let me trust wholly, O Savior, in your promises and in your plan to save, and not at all in my strategies and tactics for providing for self.
Lord, let no worldly thought disturb
Your peace in me, no passion curb
My joy in Christ, let nothing cause
The loss of faith — let me give pause
To count my blessings — show me hope
That outlives time, the fuller scope
Of spiritual power, the depth of love,
Your majesty in the form of a dove.
Only because of your mercy are we alive, O Holy One.
Your people forget your awesome deeds and complain that their needs aren’t being met. Yet you are patient.
Be patient with me still, O Sovereign God. Teach me to wait upon you.
I trust you for every need. I will not fear nor fret. I may not know how or when, but you will provide at the right time in ways that we can never dream about. Continue reading “I will not fear nor fret”
In Verdict Valley we face the battle,
The clash and clang of sword and shield,
Midst cries of woe and noise of Babel,
We look to you, O Lord, to wield. Continue reading “In Verdict Valley”
What you desire, O God, we want as well:
Your glory and world salvation in gospel truth,
A holy family, of every land and tribe,
A Kingdom big enough for any and all. Continue reading “From hills and heights make darkness flee”
Lord God, the Bible is a marvelous book, full of power, wisdom, and mind-changing truths. We know it comes from you, perfect as it is, tailored to our need, complete in every way, and evidencing the unified thread of your redemptive purpose. Continue reading “We know the Bible comes from you”
God of heaven, when I feel down,
Remind me you, above, still reign,
I need no miracle, need no sign,
Only a thought of you again.
God of earth, when feet are tired,
When the aching back makes my eyes blurred,
When facing death, the heart is scared,
I’m heartened by what Jesus dared. Continue reading “God of Heaven”