Lord, there are times that my prayers are silent; yet they are not silent, but loud with affection as Augustine said. Thank you for the early morning prayers that you birth in my heart and that I pray with loud desire in my mind –  prayers for the welfare of others, prayers in the Spirit.

And thank you for the Holy Spirit, my constant companion, the Spirit of truth who instructs this sinner and leads him into all truth.

I love you Lord with all my heart and with all my thoughts.

Lord, sovereign hope of my soul, it is you, not man, not riches, not the promise of a better circumstance, that I hope in and trust in. What a day will bring forth, we do not know; what turn a man may take, we do not know. But we do know that you are good, working through all things and working out all things for our good and your loving purposes.

We wait not on man’s decision, but we look to your hand to provide and dictate and bring to pass. Let our hearts keep integrity in the waiting. Let our mouths be filled with gracious and wise speech in the trial.

In all things let us maintain the true reflection of you.

Lord, let not our hearts grow weary as we wait in hope for our new home, a place of eternal bliss. Keep us strong when disappointment comes; keep us renewed when our souls grow weary. Let joy be our constant companion. It will come, it will come, our hope will come and bring us home.

And so, I am grateful. I am grateful for this temporary tent you have given us to dwell in. Dwell with us! You do, indeed, accompany us along the way.

And as we wait Lord, may we serve, may we love and live faithfully until your great returning, the day we are redeemed in blameless bliss.

Lord, we do not know what tomorrow holds, we do not know what today may bring, but we do know we can trust in you to work all things for our good, to direct our paths, and to show us mercy and faithfulness. Our boast is in you, for wisdom and might and riches are in your hand to gift as you see fit.

We acknowledge you in this day; I acknowledge you in this day and rest in your care. I’ve accepted good from your hand and I accept the trials as well, those troubling friends who bring growth and character and opportunities to grow closer to you and glorify you.

Now Lord, I ask, that we would know your nearness today and see your hand at work in all things. Would you bring good news to make fat our bones? And give us grace to receive your goodness in all its forms.

Lord Jesus, you would often have us in a waiting pattern. We wait for the arrival of a grandchild; we wait for the sale of one house and the habitation of a new one. We wait for groceries to be delivered and for the weekend to come. We are often waiting, but in our waiting may our hearts learn what we are truly waiting for – you! May we wait for you.

Put in our hearts an eager expectation. Let us look beyond the temporal waitings to the return of you, Jesus, and the great and final heavenly home that we shall inherit. Forgive us for misplaced hopes and desires. In all our joy and waiting let us find our greatest joy in you.

In life’s battleground, Lord, may we hear songs of salvation rising from your people. Let us encourage one another, let us always build one another up in candor and true love.

The battle is yours, Lord. You have become our salvation, our chief cornerstone, our great warrior, the pathbreaker, and we stand in you. Strengthen us with all power according to your glorious might.

Lord, my feet slip and I call upon you and I am ok, safe, alright, protected and saved from the pit of doubt and despair.

Lord, I lean on you. No one who takes refuge in you will ever be put to shame!

Lord, my eyes are on you. You make everything beautiful in its own time. Your grace changes me and my thoughts are on your goodness; I delight in your grace.

Thank you for the precious gift of a new grandson. Oh, how you reconcile, oh how you bless. My heart can’t wait to see him in person, to hold him, to rejoice and enjoy him. Leo John Troy – wonderful name for Papa’s new grandchild.

You’ve carved a place out in my heart for him and I know that there will be a place in his heart for me. Thank you for this special relationship! Thank you for the freedom to enjoy it! My heart is filled! And will be more so.

Lord, you birth light in us! Often you speak to us and reward us as we seek you. You bring liberty, Spirit of the Lord, Spirit of Jesus, and I am so grateful. Search my heart and light up the dark rooms. Let truth be birthed and darkness flee under the powerful multi-faceted gospel story. Good News, Good News, Good News!

Indeed, I have drifted, indeed I have run, Indeed I have been a victim of circumstance. But you are to me Shepherd, Father, and Seeker and Light of my soul. Let my heart hold steadfastly to these truths.

Keep me from wanderings; tether my heart to you, my anchor! I wait for you in hope, Lord of my salvation.

Oh, the richness of the gospel! We are rescued by you Jesus, friend of sinners, lover of the lost, hope to the hopeless. You have brought us out of darkness into your kingdom of light and continue to light our hearts, our paths, our steps.

You make the unholy holy by your touch. Lord, we pour out our hearts to you and thank you for releasing us from dark deeds, guilt, and shame. It is you Jesus, my Lord and my God.

Let us wade always in the deep pool of your love. Doctor, healer, eraser of past sin, granter of future grace, we come to you and are restored, Shepherd of our souls. We love you Jesus.

Lord, you are an ever-present help in my time of need. The battle is yours! You are with me in my deepest darkness. Would you direct my eyes to your hill, the mountain of the Lord, where you are high and lifted up, exalted.

You provide all that is needed and care for your own. You are my Shepherd and I am your child, a continual work of your hands. And I praise you.

Great I Am, Son of God, eternal Father, mighty God, prince of peace, the One who was to come, you are Lord and Christ. I declare it, I believe it, I rest there and praise you my Lord and my God, my great Savior. There is none like you Jesus; Lord of all creation, heaven’s beauty, eternal life! You are my forever companion.

This is the Lord’s day and he has made it. I will rejoice and be glad in him, for he is my salvation. Lord Jesus, come to our side and stand us up in the trial. Remove from us doubt and confusion. Give us clarity of mind and security of faith. Our hope is in you, for you alone deliver and from ages past calm the storm, God the Son.

All the paths you have laid out for us are wonderful and good and we acknowledge you in them, along every step. Thank you, Jesus, Lord of all, our great Redeemer.

And now I acknowledge you in this day and give you praise. Lift us up to you O Lord!

Father, what you have promised you can and will bring to pass. I remember and cling to the words you have spoken to me: you will never leave me, I am yours, and you shall flow from me like rivers of living water because you love me so.

There is never a distance too far that I can go that your mercy can’t reach me. You are my faithful Father. Lord, let us hold on to and recite your promises as Jacob did in times of uncertainty and challenge on his journey home.

We may sense danger and expect fearful things, but you have promised good; help us to remember that, faithful Father, our God!

Lord, let us find your goodness, never missing it, in the daily, in the yearly, in the small conversations, in the working out and timing of circumstances. Let us find encouragement in all that you do, and let our eyes be opened to all that you do.

You are at work in the lives of men. Keep our society from the earthly distractions and love of darkness and free them from the fear of the light. I pray that those who don’t know you would know you.

Let our reliance, our hope, our joy, be rooted in your salvation and righteousness, Jesus. Yes, let us please you in a worthy manner, but never let that be the foundation of our hope or joy. Free us from ourselves and let us bask in you.

Thank you for the trials, Lord, for the testings that produce endurance and assure us of your great love towards us as sons and daughters who are received by you. Let us see them for what they are, refining love from you, the Refiner’s Fire.

Would you give us strength in the trials that we may come forth as gold, that they may have their intended result, the fruit you desire?

You are our friend in the furnace, within us in the valley of deep darkness, our ever-present help and close companion. You stick to us, you pursue us, you tether us to your unfailing love.

Let your work be perfected in us. Help us to remember and cling to the truth that you yourself will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish us.

Lord, I am weak, but you are strong; strengthen me in your strength, strength of my soul. I live in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Water my soul! Establish it.

Father, I come to you. Where else shall I go? Spirit of Jesus, Spirit of freedom and liberty, Lord Jesus, would you free this soul from the fowler’s snare?

You, the one who has called me has reminded me: you will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish me. Let faith rise and grow in me and in your church!

Lord, I am weak, my feet slip, and only you can rescue me. Jesus, I trust in, hope in, wait for, the coming of your promise both for now and forever. Lord, let me know you deeply.

Lord Jesus, show us the way of love and give us the heart and the strength to walk in it. You said if someone takes our cloak to give them our tunic. On the cross they took your garments and you gave your life – a ransom for many. You did not resist the evil one but kept entrusting yourself to the Father who judges all justly.

Let us walk as true sons, loving our enemies and doing good to those who do not love us. When chided, let us trust you fully and return kindness, not vengeance. Oh, what a beautiful Savior you are; that you would love us in our ungrateful, thankless, and wicked state. That you would pour out mercy and compassion, Jesus. That you have forgiven past, present, and future sin. Oh! What a love, what a towering, overcoming love!

Lord, you have lifted me out of despair. Heal my broken heart and Lord, as well, bind up my wounds and keep out the disease of past pain, poison, and injury. Renew my mind.

Forgive me of my thoughts, the distracting thoughts I have let take place in my thinking. I wait on you, lover of my soul; I lift my soul to you. Release me and cleanse me through and through, Father.

Let your truth be my foundation. Rescue your people from being led by their emotions, feelings, and perceptions, and let truth be our banner and guide.

May our eyes always look to you, our satisfaction in every situation, our answer to every problem. I pray the great blessing of “Blessed Assurance” upon us all.

Father, may the thought of me give rise to thanksgiving in people’s hearts. May my life cause others to be grateful. Lord, may we live in such a way, in truth and sincerity before you, that when others pray for us, it is joyous, thankful, and stress-free. May we be a blessing!

Let us be, grant us to be, good fathers, good husbands, friends, brothers, and sons and daughters who evoke gratitude and bring comfort. Holy Spirit, flow in us, overflow from us! Let your love be poured out and evident in us. Let us be bubbling springs of hope.

And for your saints we pray, in these wearying and deceitful times. Give us strength to stand in the truth, unmoved from the hope held out in the gospel, refreshed in you, Jesus, our Shepherd.

Thank you for the reminders, Jesus, the precious passages and promises given in the darkness of night and soul. You will keep me strong, strong to the end and blameless, blameless on the great day when you return. Your started work will not fail but shall be brought to full completion when I see you face to face.

You have called me since the first when I met you; I heard you call me. And you, the One who has called me, is faithful to preserve every part of me blameless on your day!

You are able and willing to keep me from stumbling. I rely upon you, Jesus, to bring me whole with great joy into your glorious presence, presented faultless.

Now keep my heart strong, convinced and assured, during these times of testing and discipline my Father and my God.

Lord of the Sabbath, let us know your great heart. Open our understanding to see your care for us. Lead us by your good Spirit, the Spirit of life. Amen

Father, we confess that faith is a foreign concept to us at times, yet you are faithful to encourage and build that faith.

Jesus, as you instructed us, we pray. We pray to build up this most holy faith, in your Spirit, the Spirit of liberty. Our flesh is weak, so strengthen us! Make our spirits soar.

Today I ask that your will would be done - your good plan for me, your wise working in my life and in my brothers and sisters’ lives. Let us walk in the wheat fields of your freedom and grace, being nourished by your Spirit, Lord of the Sabbath.

Grace and peace.

Father, may grace and peace rest upon your people. Turmoil, may it flee, sovereign Lord, at the sound of your rebuke, at the deposit of your word. Peace I give you. Every morning, every day’s journey, and every evening, may your people know you peace, Prince of Peace, Lord of Grace.

We cast our cares upon you, for you truly care for us. Thank you, able One. Thank you, willing Lord. All authority and power are yours alone. Let our hearts rest in your goodness, our thoughts staying upon you.

Lord of the storm, speak peace be still to our easily stirred hearts. And let us glory in your greatness and rest in your grace and peace.

Father, would you give us hearts of compassion, a symphony of sympathy? May we comfort others always spreading good news, glad tidings, and sharing freely the comfort with which you have comforted us. Bring us out of ourselves and give us considerate hearts, hearts that consider one another above ourselves.

Keep us from life’s bitter roots. Let us be carriers of your healing balm to those who weep along the journey, refreshing springs to the tired, weary, and lonely. Lord, lift us up to lift others up.

Give us gracious words that bring flavor to other’s lives. Keep from our lips the bitter poison of asps. Let our words be trees of healing and salt to all our conversations. Let us love one another in this way.

Thank you for the night-songs, Savior.

You come to me in the dark and fill my mind with truthful reasonings; you bring sanity of thought. Thank You, Holy Spirit. You are a welcome Companion, my Great Comforter.

Thank you for the trials, Father; they are friends in disguise, great opportunities to love and to walk in your truth. Thank you for the throne of grace that you sit upon richly lavishing grace and freely giving mercy as I come to you.

And I come to you because you have drawn and called me. How amazing is your grace! One day I shall rest forever secure in your firm embrace, held by the eternal arms, basking in the glory of your grace.

Lord, let my heart remember that you are the God of all grace —grace that raises and grace that keeps. You are merciful, the God of all mercy, and you love me. And because of that great love, because of who you are, out of your deepest nature you have raised me up with Jesus where I now sit with him awaiting the display of your immeasurable grace which will flow to me in kindness for all eternity.

If God is for us, who can be against us! Who dares accuse your people! We know our enemy — give us the strength and awareness to resist his lies, lies that sometimes score our sensitive consciences.

And Lord, raise the dead! There are many out there who lie hopeless, without you. Unless you act and draw them to yourself, there they remain. Jesus, have mercy. Lord, draw all to you in a great awakening brought by the truth and power of the Gospel.

Father, you have called us, you have carried us, you have anointed and empowered us by your Spirit. Now would you help us to walk in a manner that is worthy of that calling? Help us to be vessels useful to you, the Master of the house.

I pray we would not only have strength, but also deep joy and delight in knowing your ways which we are strengthened to walk in. I pray for peace on the path and great assurance in every step of this journey.

We are in the grip of grace as we are held and supported by your righteous right hand. You make us to rest, to lay in peace, feasting and overflowing. No valley is too dark in the light of your nearness.

Lord, would you protect your beloved church, your body, from the wiles of the enemy? Keep us in the light, protect the precious child, the coming of your bride. Keep us safe to the dawn of the new creation.

We face dangers within – deceivers holding deceitful doctrines. We face dangers without – worldly philosophies, a constant bombardment of values contrary to yours. Strengthen us! Turn us to a life of devoted prayer; let us be watchful and thank-filled.

Lord, would you restore those of us who are weary, whether it be by the hand of others or of our own hand. Renew our souls. Refresh your people. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and make us salt and light in a dark world.

Lord, let our hearts be still before you, trusting you and finding rest in your presence. We wait in hope for you to come into all our situations. We depend upon your faithfulness.

Thank you for speaking to us. Thank you for reminding us of your goodness. Thank you for bringing those “angels” who bear your good news using their gifts from you – those men and women who faithfully testify of your goodness in our lives.

You have captured our hearts. You have walked with us in this journey from start to finish. You have put on display your unending love and we are grateful to you, our God and Savior, the Holy One, Jesus.

Lord, you have the words of life. Where else shall we go to find meaning, truth, and purpose? We live not by bread alone, but by every word of your mouth. What money can buy does not satisfy. You give true food; you give abundant life. Let us find our satisfaction in you! You are our portion.

Remove all that would crowd you out. Give us hearts to work with you, to clean house. Lord, I invite you to come in, clean house, and provide that which is truly life: to satisfy my soul with that which truly satisfies.

Lord, forgive, wash, and cleanse me from all unrighteous imbibing and over-indulging of those things that only weigh me down. You are my rescue!

Lord, you are my hope.

I come to you as I am. Would you renew my thinking and soften my heart? Let my thoughts be towards you and let my heart embrace you as the wondrous one.

May I rest in your true rest. For you alone give strength and real assurance. Jesus, I come to you, the gentle and lowly one. Teach me. I take your yoke upon me to learn from you. You alone are my salvation, and you alone awaken my heart from its slumber. I love you, Lord, and you love me. As you have said to me, “You are mine.”

In word and deed, Lord, may we with authority and power, do all according to your good will and character, according to your name. May we sow seeds of peace and righteousness and fruitful may our deeds spring forth. Thank you, Lord for your good word to guide us.

In all things be glorified as we live in the enjoyment of your presence and will. Strengthen us, our memories, our attitudes, our actions. May we with all your power, according to your glorious might, live in a fashion that is pleasing to you, in heart and word and deed.

Give us gentle spirits.

Lord, would you lift us into service?

And give us hearts of hospitality and openness to our neighbors, Lord, that we would rise from your healing touch to serve one another in love. Freely we have received, may we freely give. Oh, that all would be done in love.

Father, you alone give us the ability to enjoy your prospered blessings; would you grant us to enjoy your freedom? He whom the Son sets free is free indeed. In every way. Completely. Thank you that we have fullness in Christ; we are made complete. Let that fullness spill over to bless others.

Open our eyes and hearts, would you Lord, to enjoy the freedom you have granted, to cherish it deeply and respectfully?