O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house
and the place where Your glory dwells.
(Psalm 26:8)
Spirit of God, awaken in me a holy hunger to be in God’s house with His people, hearing His word, receiving His pardon, and being strengthened in faith for daily discipleship. Forgive my lackluster worship and transform it into vibrant praise, for I ask this through Christ Jesus, my Lord. Amen.
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil,
but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
(1 Thessalonians 5:15)
That little “always” convicts me, righteous Savior. Forgive me. In the sinfulness of my heart I often seek to retaliate rather than do good to everyone. Lead me to Your cross to learn the love that repays evil with blessing. I ask this in Your name, Lord Jesus. Amen.
And [Jesus] said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him.
For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts,
sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting,
wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.
(Mark 7:20-22)
Holy, holy, holy are You, Lord God almighty. Sinful, sinful, sinful am I. Purify my heart! Drench me in the blood of Christ, shed from the cross, to drown my wickedness and bring to fruitfulness in me the faith that clings to Jesus’ cleansing name and gladly proclaims it to others. Amen.
The LORD is slow in anger
and great in power.
(Nahum 1:3a)
It is altogether because You, O Lord, are slow to anger and great in power that I am saved from sin and death and can face each day’s troubles with hope and cheer. You poured out on Jesus, Your Son, Your anger against all evil and demonstrated Your great power by raising Him from the grave and promising to raise with Him all who trust in Him. Thank You! Amen.
But far be it from me to boast
except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by which the world has been crucified to me,
and I to the world.
(Galatians 6:14)
By Your death in time, Lord Jesus, You secured my life in eternity. Hold Your cross always before me to protect me against every spiritually perilous impulse to magnify myself or take undue pride in any earthly achievement or accomplishment. Take center place in my heart and make cross-bearing my greatest honor and delight. Amen.
I know, my God, that You test the heart
and have pleasure in uprightness.
(1 Chronicles 29:17a)
Your testings, O God, are always intended to strengthen my faith; Satan’s temptations are always intended to weaken it. Help me discern the difference, embracing the former, even when they may be painful in some way, and fleeing the latter. Make me daily more upright, more like Jesus, in Whom You are always well pleased. Amen
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like
a merchant in search of fine pearls,
who, on finding one pearl of great value,
went and sold all that he had and bought it.
(Matthew 13:45-46)
Teach me, Lord Jesus, to value the kingdom of God more highly than all earthly possessions and treasures; and grant me faith’s willingness to forego or overcome whatever impedes me or any fellow disciple from following You to the palace of heaven. Amen.
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