Count it all joy, my brothers,
when you meet trials of various kinds,
for you know that the testing of your faith
produces steadfastness.
(James 1:2-3)
Satan uses temptations to weaken faith and discredit its virtues, but You, loving God, use testings to strengthen faith and enlarge fruitfulness. When trials awaken fear or threaten pain, grant me such confidence in Your goodness that I count them as joys, nor shirking from them but enduring them with good cheer in Christ Jesus, my Savior. Amen.
Now Jesus did many other signs
in the presence of the disciples,
which are not written in this book;
but these are written so that
you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God,
and that by believing you may life in His name.
(John 20:30-31)
There is no everlasting life apart from You, Lord Jesus. Fill me with the desire to know You better and love You more fully; then guide me by Your Spirit as I read the Bible so that I grow in faith and become ever more active in sharing it with others. I pray this in Your name. Amen.
And the angel said to me,
“Write this:
Blessed are those who are invited
to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
And he said to me,
“These are the true words of God.”
(Revelation 19:9)
O Your pure grace, heavenly Father, You have invited me to Jesus’ supper of salvation. I know that I have not deserved this blessing, but I rejoice in it, give thanks for it, and ask You in Your great goodness to invite many others to share in its delights by faith in Christ. To that end, make me a faithful repeater of Your true words. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights
with Whom there is no variation
or shadow due to change.
(James 1:17)
This nation, with its heritage of sacrifice in defense of human liberty, is a precious gift from You, holy Father. Spare me from taking for granted the blessings of freedom and democracy You have bestowed on America; but guard me, too, against every temptation to equate allegiance to country with allegiance to You and Your divine word; through Christ Jesus, the Savior of all nations. Amen.
Then the men of Israel said to Gideon,
“Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also,
for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”
Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you,
and my son will not rule over you;
the LORD will rule over you.”
(Judges 8:22)
Forgive me, Almighty God, for wanting too much out of secular authorities. My salvation depends on You alone. Rule over my heart! Teach me to recognize the limits of earthly governors while also holding them in prayer before You; in the name of Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Amen.
The man from whom the demons had gone
begged that he might be with Him,
but Jesus sent him away, saying,
“Return to your home, and
declare how much God has done for you.”
And he went away,
proclaiming throughout the whole city
how much Jesus had done for him.
(Luke 8:38-39)
Whenever I want to do something I think is “bigger” with You, Lord Jesus, remind me of the mission opportunities You have opened for me in my home and community. The whole city in which I live needs the news of Your death and resurrection. Grant me joy in local ministry, trusting that by Your power it contributes to global ministry. Amen.
But Balaam answered and
said to the servants of Balak,
“Though Balak were to give me his house
full of silver and gold,
I could not go beyond the command
of the LORD my God to do less or more.”
(Numbers 22:18)
Spirit of holiness, the commands of God are complete in every way; His revealed truth needs neither addition nor correction. Make the Scriptures so precious to me that nothing can induce me to veer from them in any way, for these are they that make Jesus known as the Savior of sinners. Amen.
And [Jesus] took them in His arms
and blessed them,
laying His hands on them.
(Mark 10:16)
Though pressed by other matters of great importance, Lord Jesus, You deliberately and purposefully made time for children. Teach me to do the same—to make time for the people around me and to welcome “interruptions” as opportunities to bless others with Your love. Amen.
“Not by might, nor by power,
but by My Spirit,” says the LORD of hosts.
(Zechariah 4:6b)
When facing any obstacle and tempted to rely too heavily on intellect, muscle, money, position, or anything else to overcome it, O Lord God, Commander-in-Chief of the armies of angels, correct me by Your word and lead me to lean wholly on Your Spirit, Who always points me to Jesus, Your Son. Amen.
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