Home | Prayer
PRAYER JOURNAL TO GOD Day 1. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 - Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals. Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. My prayer: Lord, help me to follow your will for my life and let go of my own. Please empower me to set a good example as a father to my daughter and to completely let go of my addictions and pleasure-seeking ways. What God has revealed to me: That I need His power, His help, not only daily, but moment-by-moment in my life. That not I, but He has the answers. That His plan is the best plan for me, not my plan. I need to daily ask God for discernment in all areas and aspects of my life. That, as Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death." -also in Proverbs 16:25 Day 2. Proverbs 2:6-7 - For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity. My prayer: Lord, please give me wisdom, knowledge, and understanding! Help me to remain true and faithful to you and your will. Thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit, so I have the desire and the power to follow you. Help me to walk in integrity, so I can live a life pleasing to you. What God has revealed to me: That I need to pray for a hunger to know God's word. Read Proverbs 2 today and reread it later in the day. God is good -- all the time. Day 3. John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. My prayer: Dear Lord, please show me the difference between things that are good and things that are great. Help me to manage my time, and my resources wisely and to eliminate things that aren't essential for me. Please continue to be the Lord and Director of my entire life, not only today, but also in all the days that follow. What God has revealed to me: Working hard has its rewards. Even good people sometimes offer bad advice. It's like eating fish, eat the good (meat) and spit out the bones. Take the good and leave the bad. Discernment is key to knowing what's the good stuff to take in (swallow) and what's the junk to spit out. Day 4. Proverbs 21:2 - All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart. My prayer: Lord, make me a man like Joseph, a man who sees you in each and every circumstance, no matter how bad it may seem at the time. Let me please you with my life in spite of whatever is going on around me. Please reveal your plan (not mine) for my life. Please develop my talents for your glory and not to bring praise to myself. What God revealed to me: God wants me to wait on Him. I don't have to know right now everything He wants me to do or to be in my life. I just need to consistently follow Him in the little things each day and the big picture will begin to unfold. Discernment is critical, crucial here daily. Thank you, God, for giving me the blessing of discernment. Please continue to open my eyes to see things from your perspective. Day 5. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 - But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. My Prayer: Lord, help me to live intentionally. Help me to adhere to spiritual boundaries that are not only good for me, but that are essential for my walk as a believer. Keep me from being "lukewarm". Help me not to straddle any fences in my walk, but to steadfastly follow you in all areas of my life, especially those in which I am most vulnerable. What God has revealed to me: Discernment is a necessary ingredient, a critical component of life if I am to exercise basic good judgment, which I truly do desire. I must strive to be a Daniel, a Joseph, one whose walk is impeccable. Live with purpose, with intention; don't be swayed by emotions or feelings. It is wise to listen instead of talk. Perhaps this is why God gave me 2 ears and only 1 mouth. I can take more in by listening and I see how foolish some seem who want to be the center of attention that talk all of the time. Good, hard work has its own payoff, its own reward in self-satisfaction even if it's not praised publicly. Day 6. John 10:4 - When He puts forth all His own, He goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow Him because they know His voice. My Prayer: Dear Lord, please make your voice clear to me. Please grant me the discretion to follow where you are leading me, especially amidst so many other promptings or distractions. Please keep me inside your will in the choices I make when I leave here (rehab). I pray that I would yield more to the Spirit, even more than I have grieved it in the past. What God has revealed to me: God is in the process of restoring many relationships. People will always have their own opinion of what you should or should not do. Be open to suggestions, especially if it is within the boundaries of God's will and is not, therefore, contradictory to Scripture. Day 7. Job 36:11 - If they obey and serve Him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. My Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for giving me your Holy Spirit to will and to act according to your purposes for me. Please allow me, enable me to follow through with obedience while the Spirit leads me. Help me to be spiritually sensitive in every situation, seeking to do your will in all things. What God has revealed to me: When I was living in my addiction, each choice I made to go my own way, rather than God's way, became easier and easier as I grieved His Holy Spirit. Now I want disobedience to be difficult because I want to submit to His Spirit's leading of my life. My desire is to have a close-knit relationship with God, making it difficult to go my own way. Disobedience is the quickest way to lose discernment. Day 8. 1 John 2:16 - For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. My prayer: Dear Lord, please help me to be all that you created me to be. Help me to let go of anything that interferes with my walk with you. Help me to find my fulfillment in you. Please, this day, become the source of my joy and pleasure. Strengthen me so I can follow you with purpose. What God has revealed to me: God wants me to give Him my areas of struggle. Because in my weakness, He is made strong. Drugs and alcohol and sexual temptations are not something I alone can give up, but with Christ, everything is possible. He is prompting me today to let go of any preconceived doubt, fear, or worry that I have and to let Him do what He wants to do in my life. Always be on guard. The devil is always on the prowl searching for tactics to destroy me. When I am at my weakest, turn to God (don't sulk or have a pity party), because that is when I am most vulnerable. So it is important that I be vulnerable to God's power and not the enemy's ploys. Day 9. 2 Corinthians 10:5 - We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. My Prayer: Dear Lord, pleases help me to love you with all my mind. When I am tempted to think on things not pleasing to you, please convict me immediately. Help me to honor you with my thoughts and, consequently, my actions. Thank you, Lord, for working in my life, giving me a renewed mind to learn scriptures. What God has revealed to me: That I need to give Him my day, every part of it, before the day even begins. I need to hang in thater regardless of my circumstances. Remember Isaiah 40:31 "Those that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings as eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint." Guarding your mind, your thought processes is a pro-active stance you must take. It is so easy to fall into a negative pattern of thinking. It happens very quickly and before you know it, you have to retrace your thoughts back to where it began and ask for forgiveness. Day 10. Luke 11:17 - Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall." My Prayer: Dear Lord, the very second that I am tempted to entertain thoughts of any kind that are not pleasing to you, I pray that you would convict me and that I would reject it immediately. Help me to remain consistent in committing my day to you first thing in the morning before I do anything else. What God has revealed to me: Temptation begins in my own mind - James 1:14. What I do with that temptation no longer has to depend on my feelings at that moment or on any other circumstances. I am apparently an emotional individual. I do not need to let my emotions or feelings interfere with my walk with the Lord. That I am susceptible on Sundays! That I get offended easily by leadership that could make a big difference in the lives of men, yet they don't because it's just a job to them. I must be on guard at all times. This is the 3rd consecutive Sunday I've felt attacked spiritually. Day 11. 2 Corinthians 10:3 - For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. My Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to keep my thought life in check with your will. Whenever it is headed in the wrong direction I pray for sensitivity to your spirit that I may immediately surrender the thought to you. Help me to be able to step back and see my weaknesses, objectively and to take notice of the times I ammost vulnerable to temptation. What God has revealed to me: He has removed me from my comfort zone to teach me to fly on His wings of love and protection. I am out of my "zone" now and wanting to go where I am most comfortable -- in control of my finances with a job, etc. He has a perfect plan, wait on Him to put the pieces together. Don't hurry up or rush something myself, just to make it "fit". My weakness is a perceived need; a stronghold is something I think I need but don't. There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors. Things I hadn't thought of came up when talking to my dad tonight on the phone for thirty minutes. I must be on guard because as soon as I'm ready to leave, the devil is at the gate waiting hungrily. Remember, people are on my side praying for me! Thank you, Lord! "God will withhold no good thing from he whose walk is blameless." -Psalm 84:11 Day 12. 2 Corinthians 10:4 - The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. My Prayer: God, please open the eyes of my heart. Please allow me to see that everything you let happen to me in my life is for the good, even when it doesn't feel that way when it's happening. Help me to maintain a positive state of mind by living out the truth of Romans 8:28 that you use everything for the good. What God has revealed to me: I must stand against any false thought or idea that is against scripture. That memorizing scripture is key to the battle for the mind. Seek Him first and His righteousness through obedience and right living and all things will be added to me. I have to be pro-active in my stance. I need a hunger to know God's word, and discernment to perceive good from evil. What seems to be the right thing to do at the moment may not be what God had in mind for us to do. Listen for Him; seek Him, don't be too busy to wait on the Lord. Day 13. Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. My prayer: Lord, help me to claim your promise, to quote your scripture that no matter how bad things may seem in the present, that you are at work for the ultimate good in my life or character. Help me to be strong in your word and not lose hope. Faithfulness and patience are two fruits of your spirit that I need to develop and blossom in my life. What God has revealed to me: No matter what is happening in my life (good or bad), God is allowing it to happen so there is no room for blame or bitterness. I must choose to believe that the end result will be good, regardless of how my life looks or how I may feel in the present. He is at work constantly - There is no person, nor any situation that He doesn't allow to work out for the good of those who are called by Him. I don't have to know why everything happens the way it does. I only have to believe that God is working out His purposes in me and for me. This is a source of freedom from stress and worry as I know the Creator of this universe, as complex as it is, is genuinely concerned about me and involved in my life!! Day 14. Matthew 7:13 - Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. My Prayer: God, help me to focus less on myself and my problems and more on others and those around me. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of blessing others this Christmas by giving out toys at the Salvation Army. Help me to stay strong to my personal convictions and stay 100% committed to you. What God has revealed to me: I am quick to lose focus or become negative. I need to look for Him in all situations: good, bad, and ugly. He wants to be seen, sought out in each and every situation He allows to happen in my life. He is in control, not me! I must alter my perception to focus on this reality. Day 15. James 1:13 - Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God", for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. My Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you that you do not tempt me, nor do you allow things to become so strong that I cannot stand up against them. Help me to develop dependence on you. Help me to realize I don't have to be so "strong" and that your strength is made perfect in weakness. Help me to opt for the way out that you have already provided in my moment of weakness. What God has revealed to me: He is in control. He will make all things new in His time, not mine. The trials He has allowed to enter my life are to strengthen me or to reveal an area of weakness so that I may become dependent upon Him. Temptation starts within. We can even use seeming "good" things to cover over that fact or excuse whatever sin we actually want to participate in. This is the very essence of rationalization or justification. Temptation comes from satan, from thoughts in my own mind that I haven't taken captive to the obediece of Christ. We are tempted by the lure of our own evil desires - James 1:14 Day 16. Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." My Prayer: Dear Lord, please help me to be so in-tune with you that I do not fall for the lies and/or schemes that the devil throws at me. Enable me to be so close to you that I do not want our fellowship to be broken. Help me to seek out your will or what you would have me to do in every situation and please convict me when I am outside of your will. What God has revealed to me: I thank Him for the renewing of my mind through memorizing scriptures. His way is what is best for me, despite how I may feel at that time -- this is true 100% of the time! God can meeet all my needs. I need to stop falling for the lies that I need to go elsewhere to have my needs met. Satan knows his stuff -- he has been in the business of deceiving people for a long time now. Be alert! Remember the H.A.L.T. tactic - when I'm hungry, angry, lonely, or tired, this is when I am most vulnerable to his tactics. Do what is required of me by the Lord: to do justice, to love mercy, to walk humbly (Micah 6:8), follow Him in all His ways, to love Him and serve Hime with all my heart and soul. Day 17. James 4:7 - Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. My Prayer: Lord, help me to be susceptible to you. Help me to earnestly and honestly seek you when I'm feeling down, when I feel like giving in to temptation. Please let me remember, bring to my mind the negative consequences of my decisions whenever I feel the need to use. What God has revealed to me: He will give me the mindset to do His will and the power to act accordingly (Philippians 2:13). I must take a pro-active stance not to put myself in situations where I am most vulnerable to failure. He is in control and ever-present in each situation, no matter how dismal things may seem. I just need to humble myself and seek Him -- see James 4:7 and 2 Chronicles 7:14 I am most vulnerable when I am down in the dumps. I need to choose to remember that God is just as real on my bad days as He is on my good days -- He is unchanging. "Resist the devil and he will flee" -- I must be prepared, be diligent, have a game plan for when those rough times come so I won't be swept away by a flood of emotions. Day 18. 1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. My Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to recognize when my own sinful thought patterns are leading me astray. Help me not only to recognize them, but to turn to you when this happens. To turn to you knowing you're right there waiting for me just to call on you, for this moment you take over, whenever I let go. Thank you, God, for being my strength and my shield, for fighting the battles for me if, to your Spirit, I do yield. What God has revealed to me: He's there! A gentleman who doesn't need to be a gentleman -- a God with all strength capable of doing anything who patiently waits on my to call on Him for deliverance. Oh what power, what grace it must require not to step in and intervene, but instead put us in the driver's seat knowing He could apply the brake at any time if He so wanted. God doesn't expect me to overcome temptations on my own strength or power. That's not how He designed man. We are designed to call on Him in our moment of weakness, for then we are strong when we let go of our own capabilities and call on the name of the Almighty Creator of Heaven and earth to intervene on our behalf. Unconceivable power is within our reach. Are we plugged in??? Today I wrote "Battle Against Sin" Jesus is a gentleman, He stands at the door and knocks Waiting patiently for me to call on Him when I'm tempted to smoke rocks His word says that in my weakness is when He is most strong He's been right there with me, quietly guiding me along I know I need to love the Lord with all my heart and all my mind For when these things I am doing, His peace I, at last, will find I need to make a commitment to resist all temptations all the time Instead of eagerly seeking ways to indulge these sinful thoughts of mine But when I am tempted, it isn't God who's leading me astray It is the evil desires within me tugging each and every way So now that I'm aware I must carefully be on guard Combatting anything and everything enticing my poor heart So in His word I search to find the peace within To fight my battle effectively -- this battle against sin. Day 19. Matthew 4:1 - Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. My Prayer: Dear God, help me to grow more like you. Empower me to resist Satan's lies to go for the short-term pleasures. Help me to keep my mind steadfast on goals like getting to have visitation again with my daughter. Give me keen observations to see Satan's techniques and ploys so that I do not fall for them. Help me to learn your Word more and more and to stand on the truth of your Word. What God has revealed to me: I need to be aware of times when I'm most vulnerable to temptation: when I'm down and out, tired, lonely, bored, or hungry. What seems to be reasonable or justifiable at the time needs to be checked by the truth in God's word. I need to stand firm in my beliefs rather than have them fluctuate like my feelings. I no longer want any part of being a double-minded man, who is unstable in all his ways (James 1:6-8). I need to be aware of times when I'm most vulnerable to temptation: when I'm down and out, tired, lonely, bored, or hungry. What seems to be reasonable or justifiable at the time needs to be checked by the truth in God's word. I need to stand firm in my beliefs rather than have them fluctuate like my feelings. I no longer want any part of being a double-minded man, who is unstable in all his ways (James 1:6-8). Day 20. Matthew 4:4,7,10 - But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man should not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Then Jesus said to him, "...It is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'" My Prayer: Lord, in my daily walk, in times where my mind drifts and I'm about to bite hold of the lure to think on some lustful thought, please convict me and bring me back to you, fully restored. Make me aware, God, of how displeasing sexual sin is to you. Help me to keep myself pure for my life-long mate, not only in physical action, but also in my thoughts. What God has revealed to me: Today God is speaking to me about sexual purity. In church tonight, 1 Corinthians 6:18 was preached on -- Flee!!! Sexual temptation. Run away from it. For no other sin affects the body as this one does, for it is a sin against your own body. Then, in my readings I was in Proverbs 5 which also talks about the importance of saving sex for marriage. Daily time in God's word is mandatory for me to know more scripture and thus, fight off Satan's attacks. Jesus quoted scripture when tempted by the devil, so should I fight off temptation, not in my own strength, but by the power of God's word. The only way to know more scripture to fight off temptation with God's truth is to spend more time in it, renewing my mind. Day 21. Matthew 4:10 - Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan!" My Prayer: Dear Lord, please give me the ability to quickly discern Satan's tactics to lure me into sin. Help me to be on guard, to readily detect when I am being led away from your will to my own. Thank you for the warning signs you give me through your word, conviction from the Holy Spirit, godly friends, and through my own past experiences. Empower me to live for you consistently, day in and day out. What God has revealed to me: He is constantly at work in my life to bring me opportunities to use my gifts and talents for His kingdom. He has given me these gifts for this very reason, to honor Him, not to bring praise or attention to myself. My response to temptation must be to promptly say no, not to let the thought linger. There must be no delay, it has to be an immediate reaction, an instinct, to quickly denounce sin's enticement. Satan's tactics are to use my God-given abilities to meet my God-given desires in ungodly ways. The good qualities God gives us: charm, intellect, good-looks, etc. Satan tries to twist so we will use them in ungodly, dishonorable ways. We have to purpose ourselves to use our gifts and abilities to honor and glorify God -- the one who gave us them to begin with!! Day 22. Ephesians 6:10-11 - Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. My Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help me to set aside time for you each and every day that I am alive. Help me to never lose sight of its importance. Thank you for always showing up in my quiet times. Thank you for giving me a humger for your word. Day by day please strengthen me so I can accomplish goals that you have set for me, if I remain readily available to you. What God has revealed to me: Prepare beforehand my responses to temptation. Know ahead of time what my escape plan is, because if I haven't developed one beforehand, it's too late. I will be entirely too susceptible. Failing to plan is planning to fail. Planning ahead of time to always choose God's way will lessen the power or impact that temptation has on my life. Even when things are going great, I need to be careful not to let my guard down. Be aware of Satan's tactic to make us feel guilty of sin, that what we've done is unpardonable, and to convince us that we are unworthy of God's love. His plan would be to get us out of attending church. Shame is the name of Satan's game. Spiritual battle begins by planning ahead of time to set aside part of my each and every day for Him. Spending time alone with God in His word and in prayer is, in essence, putting on spiritual armor. Renewing my mind through studying and applying His words is vital to my "success" of being a man God can use to accomplish His goals (not my own). Day 23. Ephesians 6:14a - Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist... My Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that I am unconditionally loved by and totally accepted by you. Thank you God that there is nothing I can do to make you love me any more or less. Thank you that you don't judge me or value me based on my actions, but that I am completely pleasing to you. Help me to filter any thoughts that come into my head and to only ponder those which are pleasing to you, aligned with your will. Help me to live a life worthy of the call, but do not allow me to base my self-worth on my performance, but on how you see me. What God has revealed to me: Using Scripture is the most effective tool to sift through all the various ideas and misleading thoughts that come into my brain on a daily basis. Scripture is unchanging, a living reference there for me to use to completely renew my mind and overhaul my life. I protect myself and my future by spending time daily with God in His word. In 1 Peter 1:4 it says that God has a priceless inheritance for me being stored up in Heaven, that is pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. Day in and day out, I need to consistently walk with the Lord. I need to remember what He brought me out of and always keep in my mind the good, incredible things He's done for me in my life -- never forget!! Then, keep my eyes on the prize! Don't get sidetracked! Day 24. John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” My Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you that I am saved by grace rather than works; help me to consciously choose to commit to trust you as my Lord and Savior and not on my own performance to save me. Help me to let go of any subconscious allegations or accusations that I am holding over anyone’s head unknowingly. Help me to let go of any “performance traps” that I have set for anyone. Thank you for saving me from having to trust in my own words to save me – for me own righteousness is as filthy rags to you, Lord (Isaiah 64:6). What God has revealed to me: It’s not up to me to hold things over anyone’s head when they let me down or disappoint me. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict of sin in people’s lives, not mine. When at a crossroads of decision I must ask myself, “Is this in line with God’s word? Does it in any way contradict my relationship with Jesus Christ?” God is readily available and will respond to His children when on Him, they call. I need to follow Him wholeheartedly – nothing less! I must stand for truth without compromise be it at work, with friends, or at home. Because I am saved by grace and not by works, I must turn to the Bible (rather than my own “goodness”) and determine to believe what it says. Day 25. Ephesians 6:14b – “….with the breastplate of righteousness in place.” My Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to let go of any unforgiveness I have held within me. Please take away my harshness and criticism, and fill me with love and compassion. Please align my attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors with your will. Give me the desire to be obedient to what you would have me to do. Break down any walls I subconsciously build up in my life that are rebellious or contrary to your doings. What God has revealed to me: A decision not to forgive someone doesn’t affect them in a negative way nearly as much as it would affect me. I need to beware of bitterness, resentment, or unforgiveness taking root in my own life as I can see the effects it has on others. I have to pray for discernment and determine to remove from my life anything I know doesn’t belong. I must put on the breastplate of righteousness to cover all my vital organs. What will I be remembered by or as? What do I display to the world on a regular basis? Are my attitudes and actions more worldly or Christ-like? I have a circle of influence that no other person on earth has, a variety of friends and family that God has entrusted to me to impact for Christ. Day 26. 1 John 2:28-29 - Now little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him. My Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to constantly be on guard of myself, of how I come across to others. Please let me be a good representation of you, Lord. Use me to bring others closer to you rather that push them farther away. Thank you for turning my life around, and for using me to do good works for your kingdom, rather than contributing to this evil world. What God has revealed to me: I am constantly being observed by a world looking for inconsistencies in my walk. Choosing to walk in righteousness will protect my integrity, my reputation, and my withness for Christ. I am a living billboard for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What am I portraying? I must watch my words, attitudes and conduct. When I mess up, I have to be quick to repent of my sin, seek forgiveness, and make amends. God has put a circle of influence around me, which is a unique realm of lives that I have the power to impact. My walk must match my talk. Day 27. Ephesians 6:15 – “…and having shad your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Isaiah 26:3 – You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you. Isaiah 50:4b – Morning by morning He wakens me and opens my understanding to His will. My Prayer: Dear Lord, give me the boldness to share you with others. When asked what’s different about me or what’s my secret of peace, give me the strength to stand up for you and give credit where credit is due. Lord, help me to learn from the times I mess up, and not to condemn myself or others when they fall. Help me view failure as a way I move forward in my relationship with you, rather than believing the lie that it affects how you view me through your eyes. What God has revealed to me: God’s desire isn’t that I beat myself up repeatedly when I mess up. He wants me to accept His forgiveness, pick myself up, and begin to walk after I have stumbled. It’s not enough just to forgive others; we must learn to forgive ourselves. Failures do not keep us from being used by God. We have a high priest (Jesus) who can sympathize with our weaknesses, who was tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. – from Hebrews 4:14-16. In fact, this very same person (Jesus) pleads our case for us when we do mess up – how cool is that??? Rather than shrinking away from God, hiding from Him and fearing His punishment, I can realize what His love has done for me. To put it in perspective, look at the great heroes of the Bible: Moses had an anger issue and was a murderer; David (the only man in the whole Bible called “a man after God’s own heart”) was an adulterer and a murderer; Peter denied even knowing the Lord; Paul persecuted Christians, even oversaw them being killed, yet God used him to write two-thirds of the New Testament. The point is, being hard on myself, condemning myself, doesn’t make me a better person. My self-concept is more important than my short-term performance. God can use each and every one of us in spite of our many failures! Amen! Day 28. Ephesians 6:16 – “…Taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Hosea 12:6 – So now, come back to your God! Act on the principles of love and justice, and always live in confident dependence on your God. My Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to always live in confident dependence upon you, acting on the principles of love and justice as it says in Hosea 12:6. Bring to my remembrance who I belong to and at what a high price I’ve been bought at. Help me to live my life as if it were truly not mine – as if it completely belonged to you 100%. Constantly remind me of your love and your promises when I’m tempted to dwell on my own shortcomings and failures What God has revealed to me: No matter what we’ve done, no matter how far away from God we’ve run, He is right there waiting with expectant, open arms. We must not let our moods be swayed by doubts or fears or the lie that I must strive for perfection from my own effort rather than in faith in Jesus Christ alone. I have to remember that my own name is written on God’s hand (Isaiah 49:16). I must put on spiritual armor everyday knowing that our enemy is constantly on the prowl and he will hit me where I’m most susceptible. As the saying goes “give an inch, take a yard” – when our guard is loosened just a little bit, Satan will run with it. I once heard, “integrity takes a lifetime to build, but only a few short moments to lose.” How true this is! The key is staying focused – all the time!
Article Source: http://christian-topics.info
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
