Father, keep us from nursing grudges, from that selfish and infesting attitude that would hold hostage those who keep us from our pleasures. Let us remember the law of love: love for you and love for others.

I confess, it’s not all about me!

Heal this heart in this area of selfishness and let me loosen my grip on what I want and look to you, multiplier of bread and fish, owner of all that we see.

May we look not only to our own needs but also readily and quickly to the needs of others.

Father, I pray that you would help us to walk in the kingdom dynamic, the kingdom of your Son, as taught by him. Fill us with the knowledge of your will. Give wisdom and understanding.

Jesus, you showed us your compassion and care for us while on this earth. You demonstrated it by meeting our needs and providing food, rest, healing, and teaching. Thank you! Now let us, who have freely received, freely give.

Let us spend our time wisely. Give us wise hearts.

And I pray for continual fellowship with you: a constant awareness of your presence and purpose for my life. Lord, grant me a willing heart.

Lord, bring our thinking and attitudes beyond the current culture’s patterns to a soft, uncritical, non-jaded, unsuspecting, receiving heart. Let our hearts be easily assured by your words both written and spoken personally to encourage and build us up.

I don’t want to be a critical thinker but rather a spiritually astute man of spiritual understanding. Let my heart cry out, “Abba, Father”! Holy Spirit, I invite you to speak, to change, to sanctify, and to redeem in purity, this mind, heart, and soul.

Lord, thank you for gifts. Please send opportunity and provide grace to make the most of each of those opportunities you place before us. Keep us from the blindness of ignorance to what surrounds us – placements by you, divine disturbances, hidden blessings. Move us, Lord! Send us. Here I am.

You have freely given. Now I freely give, teach, show, and live out the great grace you have displayed in my life. Be merciful Father! For I walk with the limp of imperfection and stutter with the speech of faltering words. You are merciful, gracious, and compassionate. May I overflow by your power with the lovingkindness you have shown me.

Father, your kingdom come and your will be done. Give what you command and command what you will as Augustine prayed so well. Your kingdom is a kingdom of freedom, of rest, of desire fulfilled, a kingdom of power and authority. It is a kingdom where you Jesus, the King, walk among us by your Spirit. It is a kingdom of righteousness and love and calling fulfilled, the already but not yet.

I hunger and thirst for the fulfillment of your kingdom, the day you will come, Jesus, and make me to stand blameless, above reproach, full of joy, like you, completely free, before your throne. I long for the realization of that day and your eternal, loving embrace

Mercy and grace flow from your throne, Father. And so now, I approach with confidence as your child, welcomed into your presence by the blood of Jesus alone. I am a bought child, adopted by your redeeming love. I am not my own. I am yours, and you are mine.

Mercy and grace.

Purify me from all unrighteousness and every stain and all the effects of sin. I am not separated from you, yet I feel its muck and stench around me. Restore my soul and bring it rest. My hope is in you whether I sin or whether I stand. You are at my right hand to defend me from the condemnation of my enemy.

I love you Jesus.

There are many things to be set free from, and much opportunity to be set free from those things that bind us. And you are the one who sets us free. Jesus, Son of God, set us free! Then we are truly free, knowing freedom in our hearts.

Break the chains that bind us to a love of this world, those areas where a death-grip is on us. We are truly children, children with new selves; so, help us to lay aside that old self and put on the new self, created in your likeness, Father, a true reflection of the beauty of Jesus.

Lord, I come as I am, waiting on you, trusting you, my strength and my shield.

Your love is a mighty vast ocean; deep. The depths of your endless love swell to break over me. Great is your mercy and praised is your glorious grace. Your love goes further than the horizons that I see; it is an endless ocean.

Let this world know your love. Where there is blindness and darkness, let the sound of your faithful love come and awaken the hearts of men. Yes, Lord, awaken the hearts of men.

Your cross rose above this earth and you were lifted up; draw all men to yourself. Make the Father known to the lost and blind and even to our wandering hearts; may we know His steadfast heart.

Your love’s power is greater than any power we can master. It is a risen love. It overwhelms, it surprises, it is powerful and holy. Let this love visit the shores of our hearts and overcome all of our doubts and fears, meeting us, your deep calling to the depths of our thirsty souls.

Jesus, would you heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds? Would you offer not only healing but also protection from further woundings? And give us hearts full of forgiveness, forgiving as the Lord forgave us. Whether wounding comes, those hurtful arrows, or not, you are our shield and we look to you Jesus, our tower and strength.

Thank you that you are working all these things out for good. Good: simple, solid, satisfying. Good. Lord, we wait on you in hope.

Father, thank you for the work you have done in us in the passing land, our Goshen, our Holland, our waiting. Thank you for bringing us to places, setting our feet on a solid rock and setting our hearts in a good, open place.

We expect that you will continue to lead us, to form us, and to grow us because you are faithful.

Let our lives salt the lives of others, bringing grace and the life of Jesus to light men’s hearts. May all we do honor you and bring praise to your name. May we live lives worthy of you and above reproach. Here I am, Lord…

Lord, would you set our expectations to be correct? Our expectations of who you are, what you think, your ways. Show us your ways, fill us with the knowledge of your will, give us good wineskins, and appropriate expectations, to receive who you are and what you are doing. Let us not be caught unaware, or unprepared.

You are building your kingdom, that holy dynamic. Let your kingdom come. Raise our eyes and give us spiritual ears and sight to embrace who you truly are, to grow in the grace and knowledge of you, to expect correctly, to enjoy being surprised by you, and to be joyously filled with gratitude.

God of all grace, you have provided for us at this time an abundance of blessing and we are grateful. We can, as your word says, do all things through Christ. So, Jesus, give us strength of mind, heart, and soul, to enjoy your glory, and to steward wisely to your glory, the pressed down, shaken together, open-windowed blessings you have thrown into our laps.

We are willing. Still us. Increase that mustard seed of faith and let it grow into a mighty tree of shelter, comfort, and blessing to others.

All by your grace, Jesus. Amen.

Here I am Lord, your servant. Let my heart be willing, abounding in service and sacrifice. Give me opportunity to bring light in the darkness, to lift heavy loads, to make others’ burdens light. May I be a joy to others, in all sincerity and purity of love.

I offer to you, Father, all that I have – it is not much, but it is something; make it great in your hands, to bring your kingdom to this earth.

And Lord, please give me strength to live worthily, a vessel of honor in your community. Awaken this servant’s heart in Jesus’ name.

Lord, may our lives center around you, like a wheel centers around its axis, around its axle, never moving away from center, congruent, suitable to its use and purpose, submitting to and not resisting your purpose for our lives. And your purpose is good.

Give us heart, give us desire, give us emotional fortitude to live this day, to live all days, strengthened with great power for patience and endurance according to your great and glorious might.

Lord, Father, we approach your throne of grace asking for mercy on our wanderings from faithful reflection of who you are, and for the grace of repentance to live in a manner worthy of you.

Father, would you draw us, your children, into fellowship around your Son; fellowship in the Spirit that goes beyond good friendship and good times?

Lift our conversations above the natural to the joyous reflections and discussions around your word. I pray for song, joyful hearts, reminiscing and hopeful stories of the good to come.

Let us be a constant encouragement to one another, building each other up in love, edifying, stabilizing, strengthening one another in truth and love, in you, Jesus our Lord.

Lord, would you fill us with a knowledge of your will, a deep, contact, revelatory, knowledge, giving us spiritual wisdom and understanding that we might grow in our walk; that it would be fruitful and zealous, filled with good deeds that bring honor and glory to you.

Keep us from the dark deeds of this world done in secret and deception and let us walk in a way that pleases you; not our own desire. Lord, give us light! Help us to walk in it!

I confess to you any dark deeds that I have participated in, knowingly or unknowingly. Thank you that I am forgiven and redeemed; your adopted child.

Lord, I pray for boldness and opportunity; Spirit of Jesus, help me! Would you give me a willing heart, more in love with you, hating the ways of this world, consumed by your joy and your love?

Restore to us the joy of your salvation and use us as pure vessels in your house – let your kingdom come, for we are your servants.

Lord, let our hearts overflow with your message, let the word of Christ dwell in us richly. And we are grateful, both for the blessings in this life, but supremely for the blessings of eternal life to come: knowing you forever!

Lord, would you cause us to be salt and light, a quenching water to thirsty souls, showering and lavishing your love on a dying world? Lord, bring life, and let us bring the message of life to others.

I pray we would live beyond obligation and walk in superlative love, a love that goes beyond miles and duty to the exemplification of your great love.

Jesus, you fulfilled the law, let us walk in your grace, let it be who we are. Remind us of it always.

Lord, who can comprehend your great love for us? It goes to the heavens, accompanied by your faithfulness, reaching to the clouds. Give us unburdened and soft hearts to receive this, even though we fail, sin, and are accused.

He is a defeated enemy, but you are a victorious king for death could not hold you down.

Lord, give us grace to rest in it; let grace and peace be upon your people – no condemnation! For you have called, justified, and glorified me, your child, gifted with sonship in Christ! Amen.

Lord Jesus, you are Lord; Lord over every power and authority, ruler over every kingdom and dominion, and transformer of our hearts and lives. You called a sinner a woman, a pharisee by his name, Simon. You give value and you give names.

You brought a demon possessed man, isolated, living in solitude, from insanity to proclaiming your compassion, love, and power.

You changed this man; you change this man. You have set me free. You daily renew my mind. And I praise you. From depressed to joyful, from bound to free, all to the glory of God the Father, my Father!

Today I will walk in your strength, for apart from you I can do nothing. Fruitful, useful, spiritual, kingdom worthy, all these attributes come from your glorious might, Father.

I am, I confess, at times, stunned and bewildered by my limitations. It is humbling to know that I have a limit on my love. Strengthen me to grasp how long, wide, high, and deep is your ever-reaching love, Jesus. Empower me by your Spirit to walk in it.

This is hard, Father. It is like trying to reach out of the grand canyon and touch the sky. I will only soar as you lift me up into your presence. I smile, for you actually dwell with the lowly, and this broken and contrite heart knows your presence.

Lord, I pray, humble myself before you, and take the rest I need. This body grows weary, this mind becomes over-exercised, and this spirit needs daily renewing in your presence.

Lord, I need you! Father, I come to you! Holy Spirit, water of life, refresh my soul.

You are building us together, fitting each of us as stones, multi-faceted, beautifully shaped, hard but not hardened, into a glorious dwelling where we will be your people and you will be our God. This is your eternal purpose and you are glorified in it.

Lord, I welcome you into this day. I acknowledge you and humbly commit this day to you.

Lord, my heart is filled with encouragement from you; thoughts of you, who has set me free and set my feet on solid ground and an open place. You have placed me as you have promised, and I am grateful.

Oh, the years of pain and destruction. Oh, my foolishness. But oh, your grace in Christ, my sweet and kind Shepherd who has brought me through and out and will bring me home. I am grateful and I praise you Father, through your Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

For sure, indeed, your goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life. You pursue me, and for that I am forever grateful, forever yours!

Gracious Father, how wonderful is the gift of your Son and all you have done for us through him. We praise you, we thank you, we worship you in spirit and in truth.

All that we have need of you provide. Bless that provision and lighten our hearts today, to simply enjoy you and the beauty you have shown.

Your goodness and grace surround us and you have filled us with your Spirit. Build us into that glorious dwelling, your abode. We love you, Lord!

Lord, you are my joy! You have rescued me from deep darkness and lit up my trail and I am, along with being forever yours, forever grateful. You have delivered me, drawn me close to you, to your kingdom through your son, who is dearly loved and who loves me dearly.

Your joy is my strength! Strengthen me with your joy; strengthen us with your strength.

Let our hearts know and experience the pleasure of your joy. Restore to us joy, the joy of your salvation, to all areas of our lives!

Father, I come to your throne of grace, asking for mercy and grace in this day of my needs. Strengthen this heart, make it bold as a lion and humble as a lamb. You instruct me, a sinner, in the way I should go.

Please guide my heart and my thoughts and let my ways be pleasing to you. I humbly submit my thoughts to the truth of your word. Thank you for preserving for us wise instruction, scripture, well preserved and passed down to us for edification.

Remove from me rebellion and arrogance. Restore my soul, cleanse it of all its wanderings and fill it with your truth. My heart is yours.

Lord, would you bind our hearts together in service and in love? Connect us as fellow servants of you, our Lord. Bring into my life dear brothers that I may again labor with for you. There is such great joy and connection in serving you with a friend.

Lord, I pray for unity in your body, a laying aside of selfish ambitions and ideals, a breaking down of walls of arrogance. Release our hearts from ungodly stipulation and grant a softness and love that is guided by your patient truth.

Lord, would you let a spirit of companionship and friendship be upon your people as David and Jonathan had. In Jesus name, amen!

Lord, I commit this day to you; establish my plans, guide my path. Also, Lord, would you guide my heart and my attitude. Fill my heart with kindness and my thoughts with clarity and good intention towards others.

All men are liars! But you have not called us to love the perfect – they need no love! For how can we love that which does not exist? Yet we are called to love and befriend those who fall short of our impossible standards, those we may disagree with, those who make mistakes and are different than us.

Join us Lord, with our brothers and sisters in patience, goodwill, and trust; always persevering and hoping for the best. We love our family, let us love the church and be a living expression of faith.