Jesus, thank You for dying in my place on the Cross! Just like Barrabas, I am the truly guilty and You are the sinless One who demonstrated Your own love for me in that You died for me while I was dead in my trespasses and sins. Just as You were lifted up on the cross, and just as You were raised up from the dead, You lifted the weight of sin from my heavy shoulders when I turned to You in forgiveness. Not only did You pay off my sin debt but the incredible, unearned bonus is that You also gave me the gift of eternal life. I am amazed when I consider Your extraordinary love for me. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. Amen.

Father, Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path. There is nothing You will ask of us that Your Word does not supply guidance, reassurance, and courage for us to follow. We thank You for the great examples of Biblical characters who model godliness for us. We thank You also for the rascals in Scripture who remind us of the negative consequences that follow those who walk in disobedience to Your manual. Help us to read it, follow it and share its truths with those whom You put in our path. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Father, we contend earnestly for the faith once for all entrusted to the saints! The opinions of people are vast and man-centered, but we choose to follow the Scriptures that teach us, Jesus is the only way to the Father, whereby we receive salvation and life forevermore. We seek to avoid evil and walk straight ahead, not going one step off the right path. By Your grace we will be found faithful. Amen.

Father, we who have received Your grace, place our faith in You. We choose to walk uprightly with integrity and conviction. Our words and actions declare the pure, unadulterated counsel of Your Holy Word to other faithful leaders, trusting them to pass on that which has been entrusted to us. In doing so we are faithful stewards of that which You commanded of us through the great commission: “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every nation…”. We do this through Christ Jesus our Lord in whose name we pray. Amen.

Father, You have commissioned us, as believers, to reach the lost, inviting them to surrender their lives to Jesus and receive forgiveness of sins. It is at their point of surrender that we witness the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit; cleansing, restoring, purging, and maturing the young believer toward good works in Christ. We thank You for the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit at work in each of us who come to faith, equipping us with the endurance and perseverance needed to walk our journey of faith in the midst of an increasingly hostile and unaccepting society. It is through Jesus that we come to You in prayer. Amen.

Father, it is because of Your great compassion and the sacrificial death of Jesus that we, through faith, qualify for citizenship in heaven. We want to live as responsible citizens here on earth and conduct ourselves properly in accordance to the law of the land. We also choose to live responsibly as citizens of the heavenly kingdom reflecting that which is in accordance to Your Holy Word. We enjoy so many wonderful privileges here and now, but we will enjoy many privileges not yet revealed on this side of heaven when You transfer us to our eternal home land. Help us not to be so tied to this temporal life that we crave the pleasures and merits of this world above the future eternal inheritance promised to faithful followers of Jesus Christ. It is in His name that we pray. Amen.

Father, we so easily consume our mind and energies with offenses we suffer at the hands of cruel and hurtful people. But then we see how Joseph matured in the midst of his cruel treatment, rose above vengeful plotting and a tit for tat attitude, to focus on the bigger picture which was Your plan to save lives. May we rise beyond the foolishness and cruelty of others to see the bigger picture of Your overall plan for our lives. Whatever slight or evil intended by another cannot thwart Your good plan for our life if we are driven by Your Holy Spirit and not the offense. And at times it is in the offense that You conform us to be more like Jesus. You want us to forgive our offender so that we have deep abiding peace in our hearts and unobstructed focus for Your divine guidance in our lives. It is only through You that we can forgive and mature in our Christian walk. Amen.

Father, You who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until You call me heavenward or until the day of Christ’s return. May I willingly submit and quickly obey Your voice so that I will bear much spiritual fruit. I pray that the Fruit of the Spirit will characterize my life as I faithfully yield to the work of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Father, we want to be set apart as a people who care about others, regularly expressing care to them as we follow the Biblical mandate that each of us should look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others. Paul charged his readers to have the same attitude as Christ Jesus who is the supreme example of putting other’s needs before His own. May we be more interested in giving energy to others than taking it for ourselves, for when we refresh others, we ourselves are refreshed. We are replenished as we give to others, for Your reservoir never runs dry and we thank You for it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Father, we know the oft repeated expression that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never harm me” is a mistaken message certainly not derived from Scripture. Harmful words or actions do irrevocable damage that will not disappear through first aid or antiseptic. Hurtful words have a way of playing over and over in our head and enter into the deep recesses of our hearts. The more we cling to them the greater we risk exaggerating their original message. We build walls, become defensive and do little to resolve the problem. Help us to weigh our words carefully, put ourselves to the test of asking, “Are the words coming from my mouth pleasing in Your sight”. When we habitually put our words to this test we will not use foul language, engage in crude joking, gossip or slander another but we will instead choose to build one another up in love. Keep us faithful in doing so we pray in Jesus name. Amen.