Father, there is much that we don’t understand on this side; why some go through life seemingly with ease and little trouble, and others seem to be born with trouble that never goes away. It is not for us to understand Your ways for You are a God of mystery with greater purpose than we can comprehend, and yet You have made clear to us through Scripture that which we are to understand. Some of the very trouble we seek to avoid is what brings us to faith and causes us to live a life that is honoring to You and purposeful to others. Keep our hearts sensitive and compassionate toward those who are undervalued by the world’s standards. When we put ourselves in their place, we identify with their struggles and feel the deep hurt they experience when looked down upon and rejected by others. May we be Your tender arm of compassion and Your gentle voice of acceptance and unconditional love. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to walk on this earth and show us the way to You. Through His death and resurrection we have forgiveness and hope of eternal life. You replace our heart of stone with a heart of flesh born of the Spirit. We confess our sins and ask You to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Show us through Scripture and godly teaching how to turn away from the ever-changing values and principles of this world where the prince of darkness reigns. Endear our hearts instead to building an eternal spiritual foundation while we look upward to that great City whose Maker and Builder is the Lord Jesus Christ. Our minds cannot conceive what is in store for us but it will far surpass anything we might possibly hope to find in this life. Keep us faithful until that eventful transfer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Father, we are “richly blessed” when we call upon You to save us from our sins. You desire to share riches of eternal value with the redeemed. Far too many play around with the idea of surrendering their hearts. They think about it in certain settings or when influenced by believing Christians or persuasive Scripture. We pray that they would not just stand outside the door of the kingdom, but take the necessary steps to step inside the kingdom of God by confessing with their mouths and believing in their hearts that Jesus Christ is raised from the dead. When we truly believe and boldly confess we are changed from within and our actions from without. That’s the mark of the true believer. May our lives give evidence of Your redemptive work and boundless blessings. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Father, You know the true content of my heart though others may be fooled by my words and actions. So it is with You that I must keep a short account and pray from a genuine heart that I will act in accordance to Your revealed will and think upon those things which are honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. Thoughts form in my mind before they are spoken from my mouth, so I pray that You would purify my mind, keep my tongue from evil, and enable me to stand for that which is honorable in Your sight so that I pass the tests of life and hear you say, “I am pleased with your integrity.” In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Father, it’s been said that “courage is fear that said its prayers”. And it’s true that You can change our hearts and outlook even when the circumstances have not changed. But it requires our dependency on You through persevering in prayer which results in absolute trust. We can be assured of Your eternal encouragement and good hope as it encourages our hearts and strengthens us in every good deed and word. It is through Christ Jesus our Lord that we pray in faith believing that You turn tragedy into triumph, as You work out all things together for our good. Amen.