Surrendered Life

February Prayers

February 1: Jesus…Our Antidepressant

“JESUS ANSWERED HER, "IF YOU KNEW THE GIFT OF GOD … YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED HIM AND HE WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU LIVING WATER" (JOHN 4:10).

Perfect Father, in this world, most of us need some sort of antidepressant to numb the pain we experience here. It hides the pain from us and us from the pain. We are afraid of pain. We do not want to feel it. Sometimes we think, by looking at it, we might be overwhelmed by it. The problem is…WE MIGHT NOT GO AFTER THE PAIN, BUT IT COMES AFTER US.

Everlasting Father, as a little girl, my earthly father had his own solution to pain. Whenever I would share my pain with him and start crying, he would hush me with the words, “Don’t cry, then you will feel better.” But to stop crying did not make me feel better. THE PAIN WAS STILL THERE, IN MY HEART.

"IF YOU KNEW THE GIFT OF GOD … YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED HIM AND HE WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU LIVING WATER"

My perfect Father, You abound in Love and Compassion! You sent us Your Gift, Jesus…to save us from the deep-seated pain in our hearts. Jesus, how encouraged I am that You do not tell me to stop crying…You cry with me. You are not afraid to face my pain, because You are above all. All authority on heaven and on earth has been given to You. MY PAIN WILL NOT OVERWHELM YOU. Jesus, you are abounding and abundant. You did not come to give me a band-aid, but a drink of Living Water that will flow deep into my wounds.

Jesus, I expose my pain to You as I reach out my hands and take the cup of Living Water You are offering me.

FOR GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD, BUT TO SAVE THE WORLD THROUGH HIM” (JOHN 3:17)

I love You, Gift of God!

Feb 2: Do Not Become a Slave to Sin.

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“DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT IF YOU CONTINUALLY SURRENDER YOURSELVES TO ANYONE TO DO HIS WILL, YOU ARE THE SLAVES OF HIM WHOM YOU OBEY, WHETHER THAT BE TO SIN, WHICH LEADS TO DEATH, OR TO OBEDIENCE WHICH LEADS TO RIGHTEOUSNESS?”
(Romans 6:16 AMP).

Everlasting Father, I acknowledge that l have life patterns of sin…where I continually get disturbed by the same set of circumstances and I always react to them in the same way. The father-of-lies did his job well. He suggested unworthiness and I ACCEPTED. He introduced shame and I RECEIVED. He offered hopelessness and I BOWED to it.

BUT I REALIZE THAT THERE IS A SPECIAL THREAT TO CONTINUALLY ACCEPTING EVERYTHING THE FATHER-OF-LIES OFFERS:

Jesus, I realize that if I continually accept unworthiness, I will be taken captive by it. If I continually conform to darkness, I will become trapped by it. If I continually respond to the lies and deceit of the enemy, I will be hobbled by them. If I continually succumb to sin, I will become ensnared by it.

Jesus, I do not want to be the father-of-lies’ slave…waiting upon him hand and foot…to perform his duties.

“BUT NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN AND HAVE BECOME SLAVES OF GOD, THE BENEFIT YOU REAP LEADS TO HOLINESS, AND THE RESULT IS ETERNAL LIFE. 23 FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN[A] CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD”
(Romans 6:23-24).

Perfect Father, the result of continually surrendering to the NEGATIVE DESTRUCTIVE BELIEFS of the father-of-lies …is DEATH, but Your Gift to me is POSITIVE CONSTRUCTIVE BELIEFS through Christ Jesus. May I continually surrender my thoughts to Jesus. Then the benefits I reap leads to Holiness and Life.

I love You, Jesus, my eternal Life!

February 3: The Holy Spirit Makes Alive

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IF YOU THEN, THOUGH YOU ARE EVIL, KNOW HOW TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS TO YOUR CHILDREN, HOW MUCH MORE WILL YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THOSE WHO ASK HIM!" (Luke 11:13).

Perfect abounding Father, You sent me Your Holy Spirit to provide in all my needs. I am not adequate in myself, God, but my adequacy is from You.

“….. THE [HOLY] SPIRIT MAKES ALIVE” (2 Corinthians 3:6).

Perfect Father, I am dependent on You. I really need the help of Your Holy Spirit, Your Gift to me, and I need Him every day…every hour…moment-by-moment. How glad I am that Your Holy Spirit can do miracles. He can make things that are dead in my life come alive. He can change my darkness into Light… my brokenness into Wholeness… my guilt into blamelessness.

Father, I need the supernatural touch of Your Gift in my life…in my hopelessness…in my brokenness…in my confusion. I need Your Gift to create Your Love in my heart for those I have not been able to love. I need Your Gift to create Your Forgiveness in my heart for those I have not been able to forgive. I need Your Gift to create Your Patience in me so I can deal with my circumstances.

I exalt You, perfect Father, for providing Your adequate Gift…Your Holy Spirit…whenever I realize my inadequacy and ask for Him.

“NOT THAT WE ARE SUFFICIENT OF OURSELVES TO THINK ANY THING AS OF OURSELVES; BUT OUR SUFFICIENCY IS OF GOD” (2 Corinthians 3:5).

I love You, Gift of God

Feb. 4: May You Love God Enough to Obey Him

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Everlasting Father, I yearn to experience Your Presence all the time. I long to hear Your Voice every day. I know that this is only possible if I obey You… if I follow Your moment-by-moment guidance…if I conform to Your Will.

“WHOEVER HAS MY COMMANDS AND OBEYS THEM, HE IS THE ONE WHO LOVES ME. HE WHO LOVES ME WILL BE LOVED BY MY FATHER, AND I TOO WILL LOVE HIM AND
SHOW MYSELF TO HIM” (John 14:21).

Almighty God, I love you with my entire spirit, soul and body. I will love You by
obedience… moment-by-moment obedience: obedience to the advising and counseling of Your Spirit… obedience to the promptings to follow Your Light…obedience to the urgings to accept Your Truth… obedience to the pressings to avail of Your Hope… obedience to the admonitions to appropriate Your Wisdom.

"IF ANYONE LOVES ME, HE WILL OBEY MY TEACHING….
AND I WILL SHOW MYSELF TO HIM.”

Most High, my moment-by-moment obedience renders Your moment-by-moment Revelation.

Thank you, God, that You yearn to reveal Yourself to me…that You long to unveil Your Love to me…that You wish to manifest Your Wholeness to me…that You yearn to demonstrate Your Power to me…that You long to expose Your Righteousness to me…and that all of this is possible through my moment-by-moment obedience to You.

“SO NOW WE SERVE NOT UNDER [OBEDIENCE TO] THE OLD CODE OF WRITTEN REGULATIONS, BUT [UNDER OBEDIENCE TO THE PROMPTINGS] OF THE SPIRIT IN NEWNESS [OF LIFE]” (Romans 7:6 AMP).

I love You with all my heart!

Feb. 5: To Love You Is to Obey You

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”WHOEVER HAS MY COMMANDS AND OBEYS THEM, HE IS THE ONE WHO LOVES ME. HE WHO LOVES ME WILL BE LOVED BY MY FATHER, AND I TOO WILL LOVE HIM AND
SHOW MYSELF TO HIM" (John 14:21).

Father, I know that love without deeds do not mean much. I want to love you enough to obey You.

I have discovered that when someone is rude and inconsiderate towards me, it is not the disrespect and inconsideration that bother me the most, but my BELIEFS that result from the person’s behavior…that I am not loved or that I am not lovable. Usually, in times like these, I start defending myself to prove that I AM loved and lovable. That just seems to make matters worse.

Most High, lead me into obedience…to focus on my own heart when someone disrespects and dishonors me…to admit that I feel unloved and unlovable…and to turn to You for help, instead of running, hiding and blaming my pain on my offender.

How amazed I am, Perfect Father, that You honor our obedience by showing us Your Truth, Your Hope and Your Love. Thank you, Jesus, that You show Yourself to us whenever we love You through obedience.

HE WHO LOVES ME WILL BE LOVED BY MY FATHER, AND I TOO WILL LOVE HIM
AND SHOW MYSELF TO HIM"

I love You, God, by obeying You!

Feb. 6: God Can Do More than what You Can Imagine

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“NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO IMMEASURABLY MORE THAN ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE, ACCORDING TO HIS POWER THAT IS AT WORK WITHIN US, TO HIM BE GLORY…” (Ephesians 3:20).

Jesus, I worship You for being my God of Power. I worship You in Spirit and in Truth.

God of Power, I realize that I often want to help You figure things out for me. I would ask You for help, but then I would imagine the solution. I sometimes even map out the whole plan for You of how You should solve my problems. At the very least, I realize that I like to give You some suggestions. Sometimes, I cannot visualize a solution and then I think to myself, “God must not have a solution either, since I cannot picture it myself.”

God, I want to let go of this pattern and trust that You, God of Power, can solve my problems without my help…that You will work things out in ways I do not understand. Work Your Faith in me so that I would know that JUST BECAUSE I DO NOT SEE AND UNDERSTAND THE SOLUTION DOES NOT MEAN YOU DO NOT HAVE ONE. Create in me a mind that believes that You can do immeasurably more than I ask or the solution I imagine.

“DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN EVERY SITUATION, BY PRAYER AND PETITION, WITH THANKSGIVING, PRESENT YOUR REQUESTS TO GOD”
(Philippians 4:6).

Almighty God, establish Your Trust in my heart, so that I would not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, present my request to You, God of Power. Then, after I have laid my request at Your feet, LIFT MY EYES TO FOCUS ON YOU, GOD OF POWER, who is able to do immeasurably MORE than I can even think or imagine. Let it be done according to Your Power, God.

I worship You, God of Power!

Feb.7: May You be Strengthened

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Perfect Father, today I just want to sit on Your lap and listen, absorb and embrace Your beautiful encouraging message of Hope and Power.

“I PRAY ALSO THAT THE EYES OF YOUR HEART MAY BE ENLIGHTENED IN ORDER THAT YOU MAY KNOW THE HOPE TO WHICH HE HAS CALLED YOU, THE RICHES OF HIS GLORIOUS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS, AND HIS INCOMPARABLE GREAT POWER FOR US WHO BELIEVE. THAT POWER IS LIKE THE WORKING OF HIS MIGHTY STRENGTH, WHICH HE EXERTED IN CHRIST WHEN HE RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD AND SEATED HIM AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS, FAR ABOVE ALL RULE AND AUTHORITY, POWER AND DOMINION, AND EVERY TITLE THAT CAN BE GIVEN, NOT ONLY IN THE PRESENT AGE BUT ALSO IN THE ONE TO COME.
(Ephesians 1:18-21).

Enlighten the eyes of my heart, Father, that I may know Your Hope and Your incomparable great Power for my past sins, mistakes and wounds…for my present iniquities and weaknesses…and for my future plans.

“THAT POWER IS LIKE THE WORKING OF HIS MIGHTY STRENGTH, WHICH HE EXERTED IN CHRIST WHEN HE RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD AND SEATED HIM AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS…”

Work Your mighty Strength in me, God of Power. Raise me from the dead. Make me alive. Replenish my faith. Restore my life. Renew my mind. Create in me a new heart.

May the eyes of my heart be enlightened in order that I may know the Hope to which You, God of Hope, has called me and that I may know Your mighty Strength with which You can make anything come alive…in my past…in my present…and in my future.

I honor You, Mighty God!

Feb.8: All Authority Has Been Given to Jesus

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“THEN JESUS CAME TO THEM AND SAID, "ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME” (Matthew 28:18).

Precious Jesus, I behold Your Power and Your Glory. All rule and Power has been given to You by the perfect Father. Your Authority is genuine and not counterfeit and no other force can hold up against it.

“CHRIST… FAR ABOVE ALL RULE AND AUTHORITY, POWER AND DOMINION, AND EVERY TITLE THAT CAN BE GIVEN, NOT ONLY IN THE PRESENT AGE BUT ALSO IN THE ONE TO COME” (Ephesians 1:21).

Jesus, I know that I have an enemy who is an impostor and deceiver and who loves to feign authority to dishearten and frighten me. He will try to convince me that SHAME is the authority that will always rule my life…that ABANDONMENT is the authority that will always reign in my life…that CONDEMNATION is the authority that will always prevail.

Jesus, all Authority on Heaven and on earth belongs to You. Your Authority applies to my PAST, my FUTURE and the PRESENT age in which I am living. I call on You to demolish any counterfeit authority of shame, abandonment or condemnation that the father-of-lies has set up against me. Let it be done according to Your Power and Your Glory!

I love You, God of all Authority!

Feb.9: God Provides a Way Out

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“NO TEMPTATION HAS SEIZED YOU EXCEPT WHAT IS COMMON TO MAN”
(1 Corinthians 10:13).

Thank you, my Father, that no temptation has seized me here on earth except what is common to man. Thank you, God, for reminding me that my enemy, the father-of-lies, does not appear as a little red man with horns, using black magic. He uses deception…luring me to believe something that is not true.

How comforted I am, Father, to know that although my adversary’s ways are disguised, they are not mysterious and insolvable. No temptation has seized me except what is common to man. The father-of-lies uses my own thoughts and reasoning…my own understanding…as bait to lure me into sinful defense patterns to still my heartache. He intercepts my thoughts and imbues them with his own lies, offering me sinful defense patterns to protect myself from the pain his destructive thoughts cause me.

“AND GOD IS FAITHFUL; HE WILL NOT LET YOU BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU CAN BEAR. BUT WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED, HE WILL ALSO PROVIDE A WAY OUT SO THAT YOU CAN STAND UP UNDER IT” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

God, Your Glory and Majesty are above Heaven and earth. Although my adversary desires to stay hidden and secretive, his ways are not mysterious and hidden to You. You know with certainty how the father-of-lies seduces and ensnares…AND YOU KNOW THE WAY OUT!

Thank you, Father, that You deliver me from evil. Lead me to accept Your way out of the pain in my heart, instead of accepting the father-of-lies’ negative destructive thoughts and protecting myself with defense patterns that destroy myself and those around me.

I love You, God, for providing a way out!

Feb. 10: God Made You for Himself

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“WHAT AGREEMENT IS THERE BETWEEN THE TEMPLE OF GOD AND IDOLS? FOR WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD. AS GOD HAS SAID: "I WILL LIVE WITH THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE” (2 Corinthians 6:16).

How unparalleled is Your Love, Perfect Father. You made me for Yourself. You delight in me. You made me to interact with me…to establish a relationship with me…to be my Father…and for me to be Your child.

How amazing is Your Love that You lavish on me, everlasting Father. You had a perfect plan to make our relationship possible. You sent Your Son, Jesus, to repurchase me from the father-of-lies so You can have a relationship with me. Jesus did not come on His own accord. He came because You sent him.

FOR GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD, BUT TO SAVE THE WORLD THROUGH HIM” (John 3:17)

How marvelous are Your ways, Father. You sent me Your Holy Spirit…the Counselor…to make the relationship between You and me possible. The Holy Spirit did not come on His own accord. He came because You sent Him.

“BUT THE COUNSELOR, THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS AND WILL REMIND YOU OF EVERYTHING I HAVE SAID TO YOU” (John 14:26).

I will walk with You, perfect Father. I will be Your child. Delight in me. Be my father. Be my God. Be my Life.

I love you

January 11: The Father of Compassion

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“PRAISE BE TO THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER OF COMPASSION AND THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT, WHO COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TROUBLES…” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Praise be to You, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are the Father of Compassion and the God of all Comfort…AND YOU WANT TO COMFORT ME IN ALL MY TROUBLES.

Father of Compassion, I know what the word COMPASSION means…the sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.

My heart fills with Hope when I realize that You are aware of my distress and that You have an intense desire to alleviate it.

“HE WILL COVER YOU WITH HIS FEATHERS,
AND UNDER HIS WINGS YOU WILL FIND REFUGE;
HIS FAITHFULNESS WILL BE YOUR SHIELD AND RAMPART.”
(Psalm 91:4)

How marvelous is Your Compassion, God of all Comfort. I invite You into my heart of sorrow, distress and anguish, to do for me immeasurable more than I can ask or imagine. Be my Comfort. Cover me with Your Feathers. Gather me under Your Wings. Let it be done according to Your Power.

My Hope is in Your Mercy. Your Faithfulness will be my shield against the lies of the father-of-lies.

“NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO IMMEASURABLY MORE THAN ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE, ACCORDING TO HIS POWER THAT IS AT WORK WITHIN US, TO HIM BE GLORY…”(Ephesians 3:20).

I Love you, God of Comfort!

Feb. 11: May You Experience the Love of Jesus

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“MAY YOU EXPERIENCE THE LOVE OF CHRIST, THOUGH IT IS TOO GREAT TO UNDERSTAND FULLY. THEN YOU WILL BE MADE COMPLETE WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF LIFE AND POWER THAT COMES FROM GOD. (Ephesians 3:19).

Perfect Father, You crown me with Your Love through Your Son, Jesus. How amazing that I can experience the Love of Christ every day, wherever I go, whatever I do. Thank you that I can talk to You, God, about everything and everyone in my life. Sometimes I have specific questions. Sometimes I feel hopeless. Sometimes I am sad. Sometimes I laugh. Whatever happens in my life, I can share it all with You, GOD, AND EXPERIENCE YOUR LOVE.

Walk with me through this life, God. Let me experience Your Love when I feel that I have been forsaken…when I feel rejected…when I feel sad. Tell me that I matter. Show me that I count. Embrace me with Your Presence when I go through the valley of the shadow of death. Enfold me with Your acceptance.

May I experience the Love of Christ, though it is too great to fully understand. Then I will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You.

I love You, God

Feb. 12: Your Worth Is Established by God

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HE HAD NO BEAUTY OR MAJESTY TO ATTRACT US TO HIM,
NOTHING IN HIS APPEARANCE THAT WE SHOULD DESIRE HIM.
HE WAS DESPISED AND REJECTED BY MEN,
A MAN OF SORROWS, AND FAMILIAR WITH SUFFERING.
LIKE ONE FROM WHOM MEN HIDE THEIR FACES
HE WAS DESPISED, AND WE ESTEEMED HIM NOT.
BUT HE WAS PIERCED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS,
HE WAS CRUSHED FOR OUR INIQUITIES;
THE PUNISHMENT THAT BROUGHT US PEACE WAS UPON HIM,
AND BY HIS WOUNDS WE ARE HEALED.
(Isaiah 53:2-5)

Perfect Father, You are the One who established my worth.
You are the One who settled my value.
You put the price tag on me.
On the price tag, Father, You wrote…Jesus.

Jesus was pierced…for me.
He was crushed…for me.
You did this, Father…for me.
That is how much I am worth…to You.

I honor You, Most High!

Feb. 13: Put Your Trust in God’s Love

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God, how comforting that Your Love for me never ends. I will put my trust in Your Love…not in my present circumstances…not in my past…not in my future.

“FOR I AM CONVINCED THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NEITHER ANGELS NOR DEMONS, NEITHER THE PRESENT NOR THE FUTURE, NOR ANY POWERS, NEITHER HEIGHT NOR DEPTH, NOR ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION, WILL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD” (Romans 8:38-39).

God, Your Love surpasses knowledge. Your Love surpasses the knowledge of someone rejecting me…of someone abandoning me…of someone failing me. Your Love surpasses death. Your Love surpasses the past, the present and the future.

May I grasp with all the saints how wide and long and high and deep Your Love for me is… so I may be rooted and established in Your Love…so that I may be filled to the measure of fullness by Your Love.

“AND I PRAY THAT YOU, BEING ROOTED AND ESTABLISHED IN LOVE, MAY HAVE POWER, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS, TO GRASP HOW WIDE AND LONG AND HIGH AND DEEP THE LOVE OF CHRIST IS, AND TO KNOW THIS LOVE THAT SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE—THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED TO THE MEASURE OF ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD” (Ephesians 3:17-19).

I love You, Father, for loving me!

Feb. 14: Love Rejoices with the Truth

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LOVE IS PATIENT, LOVE IS KIND. IT DOES NOT ENVY, IT DOES NOT BOAST, IT IS NOT PROUD. IT IS NOT RUDE, IT IS NOT SELF-SEEKING, IT IS NOT EASILY ANGERED, IT KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS. LOVE DOES NOT DELIGHT IN EVIL BUT REJOICES WITH THE TRUTH. IT ALWAYS PROTECTS, ALWAYS TRUSTS, ALWAYS HOPES, ALWAYS PERSEVERES, NEVER FAILS”
(1 Corinthians 13:1-7).

My Perfect Father, when someone fails me, I do not delight in evil, but rejoice with the Truth. When someone fails me, I know that person is hurting with thoughts of abandonment, condemnation and shame…and he is trying to fix evil beliefs with evil solutions that come from the father-of-lies.

But Your Love never fails. Your Love always protects…always trusts…always hopes…always perseveres. Your Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the Truth.

Thank you, Perfect Father that I may know that when someone fails me, I can rejoice with the Truth that I am not separated from Your Love. Thank you that I do not have to fix evil beliefs with evil solutions and become angry, self-seeking and rude, because I can rejoice with the Truth. Nothing will be able to separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thank you, God that I can rejoice with the Truth!

Feb.15: Only He Who Does the Will of My Father

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"NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS TO ME, 'LORD, LORD,' WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT ONLY HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN. MANY WILL SAY TO ME ON THAT DAY, 'LORD, LORD, DID WE NOT PROPHESY IN YOUR NAME, AND IN YOUR NAME DRIVE OUT DEMONS AND PERFORM MANY MIRACLES?' THEN I WILL TELL THEM PLAINLY, 'I NEVER KNEW YOU. AWAY FROM ME, YOU EVILDOERS!'” (Matthew 7:21-23).

Father in Heaven, I long to do Your Will. I long to be Your workmanship…created in Christ Jesus… to do the good works You have prepared for me since the beginning of time.

I do not want to prophecy, drive out demons and perform miracles…just for the sake of proving that I matter…that I count…that I am worthy. I would rather have a relationship with You, Father.

May I stop focusing on who I am NOT…and focus on who I am, created in Christ Jesus…Your workmanship…to do Your Will. Show me my personality, created in Christ Jesus….Your workmanship…that I may use it to do Your Will. Reveal to me my talents and my gifts, created in Christ Jesus…that I may use them to do Your Will. Keep me from doing the good works that were not prepared for me, but to focus on the good works that are waiting for me to be done.

Father-in Heaven, draw me into the Kingdom of Heaven…to do Your Will.

“FOR WE ARE GOD'S WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS TO DO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO” (Ephesians 2:10).

I love You, Father!

Feb. 16: Hope for Hopelessness

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“WE KNOW HOW MUCH GOD LOVES US, AND WE HAVE PUT OUR TRUST IN HIS LOVE. GOD IS LOVE, AND ALL WHO LIVE IN LOVE LIVE IN GOD, AND GOD LIVES IN THEM” (1 John 4:16).

Holy Father, we all struggle with hopelessness from time to time…beliefs that there are no solutions to our problems…that there are no open doors available…that there is no way out of our dilemma. But You have showed us that there is a way out of hopelessness…TO PUT OUR TRUST IN YOUR LOVE.

"AS THE FATHER HAS LOVED ME, SO HAVE I LOVED YOU. IF YOU OBEY MY COMMANDS, YOU WILL REMAIN IN MY LOVE, JUST AS I HAVE OBEYED MY FATHER'S COMMANDS AND REMAIN IN HIS LOVE. I HAVE TOLD YOU THIS SO THAT MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU AND THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE COMPLETE” (John 15:9-11).

Thank you Jesus that You have shown us how to remain in Your Love…by moment-by-moment obedience---obedience to the counseling of Your Spirit… obedience to Your promptings to follow Your Light…obedience to Your urgings to accept Your Truth.

Thank you for the promptings of Your Holy Spirit every day. Keep me from following the wrong counsel…negative thoughts of unworthiness, failure and defeat. Since the father-of-lies has no authority to snatch me from Your Love, he will try to lure me away with deception… thoughts that are not true. His goal is to lure me to the low place of hopelessness.

May I only obey Your counsel, God, so I may remain in Your Love.

“IF YOU OBEY MY COMMANDS, YOU WILL REMAIN IN MY LOVE..”

Feb.17: There Is a Way out.

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If I could define hopelessness, I would describe it as the place where there is no way out…where I am at a dead-end…where I have been tempted beyond what I can bear.

But in Your perspective, Perfect Father, there is no such thing as hopelessness. There is no place without hope, because You always provide a way out. I am never tempted beyond what I can bear, because You have already provided for the answer.

“I PRAY ALSO THAT THE EYES OF YOUR HEART MAY BE ENLIGHTENED IN ORDER THAT YOU MAY KNOW THE HOPE TO WHICH HE HAS CALLED YOU...HIS INCOMPARABLE GREAT POWER” (Ephesians 1:18,19).

May I know the Hope to which You have called me…Your answer…Your provision…Your way out by Your own incomparable great Power. May I stand up under Your Hope when the father-of-lies tells me that I am at a dead-end and there is no way out.

Almighty God, how encouraged I am that You have already provided for the answer…the way out. Work Your Patience in me, so that I would wait for Your way out, instead of taking my own way out.

I honor You, God, for providing a way out!

Feb.18: A New Lifestyle!

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“DON'T YOU KNOW THAT WHEN YOU OFFER YOURSELVES TO SOMEONE TO OBEY HIM AS SLAVES, YOU ARE SLAVES TO THE ONE WHOM YOU OBEY—WHETHER YOU ARE SLAVES TO SIN, WHICH LEADS TO DEATH, OR TO OBEDIENCE, WHICH LEADS TO RIGHTEOUSNESS?” (Romans 6:16).

Perfect Father, You abound in Glory. All my life, I have lived a LIFESTYLE of obeying the lies of the father-of-lies…moment-by-moment…a hundred times a day. When a thought comes to mind, I accept and believe that thought and react to it in a sinful way. I have become a slave to those thoughts…that I am not good enough…that I am not lovable…that I am not special. They started ruling my life.

Everlasting Father, I want to change my lifestyle. Instead of accepting, believing and reacting to these negative thoughts, I want to surrender them to You…moment-by-moment…whenever they enter my mind...a hundred times a day. I want to open my heart to Your Truth…Your Love…Your Revelation. Obedience leads to Righteousness.

Perfect Father, I know that You have infinite different ways to telling me how much You love me, but it requires this kind of obedience to experience Your Revelations of Love, Truth and Hope directly to my heart. Thank you for calling me to a new lifestyle.

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. (Romans 6:22).

I love You, God, for loving me!

Feb. 19: It Is for Freedom that Christ Set Us Free

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“IT IS FOR FREEDOM THAT CHRIST HAS SET US FREE.
STAND FIRM, THEN,
AND DO NOT LET YOURSELVES BE BURDENED AGAIN BY A YOKE OF SLAVERY”
(Galatians 5:1).

Jesus, nothing is too difficult for You. If I offer myself to You to obey Your Counsel…Your Wisdom shall set me free from the deception of the father-of-lies, who always suggests beliefs that are not true.

Almighty God, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great Power. If I allow my mind to be controlled by the Holy Spirit…Your Power shall set me free from the sinful nature of death that reigns in my mind.

Lord Jesus, You are with me. If I take captive every thought to make it obedient to You...Your Truth shall set me free from negative thoughts that kill, steal and destroy.

“IT IS FOR FREEDOM THAT CHRIST HAS SET US FREE.”

Christ Jesus, today I throw my arms wide open and receive the freedom that You hold out to me…freedom from helplessness…freedom from hopelessness…freedom from powerlessness…freedom from shame… freedom from guilt…freedom from fear…freedom from abandonment…freedom from unworthiness…freedom from condemnation…freedom from sin.

“SO IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED”
(John 8:36)

I love You, Jesus, for setting me free!

February 20: Jesus, the Much More of Your Salvation

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“FOR IF, WHEN WE WERE GOD'S ENEMIES, WE WERE RECONCILED TO HIM THROUGH THE DEATH OF HIS SON, HOW MUCH MORE, HAVING BEEN RECONCILED, SHALL WE BE SAVED THROUGH HIS LIFE!” (Romans 5:10).

Thank you, Perfect Father, that You sent Your Son, Jesus, to live in me so that He could share the full glory of His Life with me. This is not a one-time settlement…but a relationship. Just as the sun rises each day to bring life to this earth, Jesus was sent to impart His glorious Live to me each day anew…His Life abundantly.

You fill me with Joy, Jesus, by being the MUCH MORE of my salvation…by restoring me to MUCH MORE than I had been before…before the beliefs of abandonment filled my heart…before the beliefs of condemnation destroyed my relationships…before the beliefs of shame entered my mind.

I am like a well-watered garden, Jesus, because You give me MUCH MORE Love, Hope and Truth than I had ever had before…MUCH MORE than I can ask or imagine…MUCH MORE than anyone on earth can give me…Your abundant Life in me.

“I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE,
AND THAT THEY MAY HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY”
(John 10:10).

I love You, for being my Much More!

February 21: Be Released from Condemnation

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“…BECAUSE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE SET ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH” (Romans 8:2).

Perfect Father, we have all grown up with disapproval, criticism or accusations from some source or another, and the father-of-lies uses this as an opportunity long after the occurrence, to tell us that we are bad…guilty…unfit for life, because we are condemned.

“THEREFORE, THERE IS NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS” (Romans 8:1).

Whom have I, but You, God? You sent Your Son, Jesus to exchange the Law of Sin and Death for a new law… THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE. This law can do what I cannot do through striving…it can set me free from painful beliefs of condemnation and create in me new beliefs of acceptance.

Jesus, I admit that my mind is governed by beliefs of condemnation and that I do not have the power to get rid of them. I submit these beliefs to You now, and place them under Your Law of the Spirit of Life. I wish for my beliefs to be governed and purified by You. Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You will keep reminding me to submit beliefs of condemnation to you whenever they surface, UNTIL MY MIND IS FULLY GOVERNED BY YOU.

Thank you, Jesus, for the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus!

February 22: Go through the Right Door

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“I AM THE DOOR: BY ME IF ANY MAN ENTER IN, HE SHALL BE SAVED, AND SHALL GO IN AND OUT, AND FIND PASTURE” (John 10:9).

Dear Lord Jesus, I have noticed that You are the door and that I need to go through You to be saved. I need to go through You to be liberated from my own unrenewed mind. I have noticed that although I am a Christian, I still need to go through You daily, Jesus, to rescue me from a hardened heart. I have noticed that I need to go through You, Jesus, without stop, to guard me from sinful defense habits and patterns. I have noticed that I need You, Jesus, dawn to dusk, to keep saving me from myself…that I cannot make it on my own, although I am a Christian. You are the door through which I continually need to go in and out to find daily pasture.

“BUT YE HAVE NOT SO LEARNED CHRIST; IF SO BE THAT YE HAVE HEARD HIM, AND HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY HIM, AS THE TRUTH IS IN JESUS: THAT YE PUT OFF CONCERNING THE FORMER CONVERSATION THE OLD MAN, WHICH IS CORRUPT ACCORDING TO THE DECEITFUL LUSTS; AND BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND; AND THAT YE PUT ON THE NEW MAN, WHICH AFTER GOD IS CREATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS.” (Ephesians 4:20-24).

I have noticed, Jesus, that I need the Truth that is in You, day and night, to rescue me from my darkened understanding. I have noticed that I need You, Jesus, moment-by-moment, to put off my OLD MAN, the negative destructive beliefs instilled in my mind by the father-of-lies. I have noticed that I need You, Jesus, a hundred times a day, to change my attitude. I have noticed that I need You, Jesus, to continually create in me a NEW MAN…one that is like God in true righteousness and holiness. I have noticed, Jesus, that I cannot put on this NEW MAN by myself, but that I need You to put it on for me.

I love You, Jesus, for being the door!

February 23: The Tree of Life

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"I AM THE VINE; YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. IF A MAN REMAINS IN ME AND I IN HIM, HE WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT; APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING” (John 15:5).

Perfect Father, I have noticed that there are two separate “worlds” out there…the “world” of Truth and the “world” of deception. I would be living in the Truth until suddenly a negative thought enters my mind; I accept it and fall into a deep pit of pain. Everything is fine one moment… and utterly awful the next. Once I have fallen into this pit of pain, nothing seems to come together for me. Other negative thoughts start bothering me and soon despair enters. This pit seems like a different world than the one of Love, Hope and Truth that I was just living in a minute before.

IF ANYONE DOES NOT REMAIN IN ME, HE IS LIKE A BRANCH THAT IS THROWN AWAY AND WITHERS; SUCH BRANCHES ARE PICKED UP, THROWN INTO THE FIRE AND BURNED” (John 15:6).

Everlasting Father, I have noticed that as soon as I am severed from You, the Tree of Life, I enter the world of deception, where the father-of-lies rules. Here there is only hopelessness, hatred and lies. Here it is easy to wither very quickly.

“I HAVE GIVEN THEM THE GLORY THAT YOU GAVE ME, THAT THEY MAY BE ONE AS WE ARE ONE: I IN THEM AND YOU IN ME. MAY THEY BE BROUGHT TO COMPLETE UNITY…” (John 17:22, 23).

Precious Jesus, may I stay connected to You at all times. May I always be aware that Your Truth is only one belief away…and that as soon as I am disconnected from your Truth, I am connected to a lie…and as soon as I am disconnected from the lie, I am connected to Your Truth.

Keep me connected to You, Jesus. May I continually be in You…and Your beliefs of Love, Hope and Truth will be in me.

Thank you, Jesus, for being my Vine!

February 24: Take up Your Own Cross

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“AND ANYONE WHO DOES NOT TAKE HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME IS NOT WORTHY OF ME. WHOEVER FINDS HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, AND WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE WILL FIND IT” (Matthew 10:38, 39).

Perfect Father I will take up my cross: my weakness….my affliction….my pain, and follow Jesus. Thank you that He will show me what to do with it. I am determined to take responsibility for my own burdens: acknowledge my own anger, not the other person’s arrogance…admit my own pride, not the other person’s failures…. recognize my own hatred, not the other person’s faults.

May I never place my cross on my enemy’s shoulders and hold others accountable for my burdens. May I take up my own cross and follow Your Son, Jesus, because this pleases You, Father in Heaven.

“WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE WILL FIND IT”

Jesus, Light-of-the-World, shine Your Light on me as I take up my darkness and expose it to You. Jesus, Prince-of-Peace, grant me Peace as I take up my anxiety and hold it up to You. Jesus, Wonderful-Counselor, counsel me as I take up my confusion and turn it over to You.

I will honor You, God!

February 25: Look for God with All Your Heart

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“YOU WILL SEEK ME AND FIND ME WHEN YOU SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Everlasting Father, how often have I tried to save myself from feeling like an insecure little child, but I could not carry it out. How often have I tried to rescue myself from irrational behavior, but I could not perform it. How often have I tried to free myself from my own mind, but I could not succeed.

Eternal God, I have come to the end of myself. I cannot live with my tormented self anymore. I am seeking You with all my heart.

I WILL BE FOUND BY YOU," DECLARES THE LORD, (Jeremiah 29:14)

Thank you, God, that You want to be found…that I am always in Your thoughts. You do not hide from me on purpose. When I go through the valley of the shadow of death, You are with me.

I WILL BE FOUND BY YOU," DECLARES THE LORD, "AND WILL BRING YOU BACK FROM CAPTIVITY”

God, bring me back from captivity…from the beliefs of abandonment, shame and condemnation that live in my mind…so I could belong to Your Love, Hope and Truth. Carry me on eagles’ wings and bring me to myself…the Self that is Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. I will be found by You, because I am not surrendering to my pain, but surrendering my pain to You.

May I be found by You!

February 26: Doing Whatever Is Right in Your Own Eyes

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“You shall not do according to all we do here [in the camp] this day, every man doing whatever looks right in his own eyes”
(Deuteronomy 12:8).

I love You, O God, my strength. I shall not do whatever seems right in my own eyes. Doing what is right in my own eyes means that I would go straight into defense mode when someone is rude to me. Doing what is right in my own eyes means that I would believe every thought, positive or negative, that enters my mind.

Doing what is right in my own eyes means that I do not rely on Your opinion, Most High, when I feel my circumstances are hopeless. Doing what is right in my own eyes means that I am led by the deceitful desires of the OLD MAN, the negative destructive beliefs instilled in my mind by the father-of-lies. Doing what is right in my own eyes means that I do not subject my interpretations to Yours.

“Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Romans 8:12-14).

God, I realize I have an obligation…but it is not to live according to my flesh nature…the OLD MAN…the negative destructive beliefs that live in my mind. My obligation is to do what is right…to be lead by Your Voice…to live according to the NEW MAN who is filled with positive constructive beliefs of acceptance, belongingness and Truth.

I honor You with my will!

February 27: God is your Covering

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“WHEN THE WOMAN SAW THAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD AND PLEASING TO THE EYE, AND ALSO DESIRABLE FOR GAINING WISDOM, SHE TOOK SOME AND ATE IT. SHE ALSO GAVE SOME TO HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS WITH HER, AND HE ATE IT. THEN THE EYES OF BOTH OF THEM WERE OPENED, AND THEY REALIZED THEY WERE NAKED…” (Genesis 3:6-7).

Everlasting Father, I realize that the woman did what seemed right in her own eyes…she saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food…and she ate it. She accepted the suggestion the father-of-lies offered her…the bait that lured her away from her Father’s covering of Love, Hope and Truth.

“YOU SHALL NOT DO ACCORDING TO ALL WE DO HERE [IN THE CAMP] THIS DAY, EVERY MAN DOING WHATEVER LOOKS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES”
(Deuteronomy 12:8).

Father of the heavenly lights, I realize that if I do what is right in my own eyes, something significant happens…I become naked…void of Your covering. By accepting the counsel of the evil one…that I do not matter…that I am bad…that I have nothing to offer this world, I move out from under Your covering of Truth, Love and Hope. This exposes me to the father-of-lies…leaving me vulnerable to his beliefs of hopelessness, shame and unworthiness.

“HE WILL COVER YOU WITH HIS FEATHERS, AND UNDER HIS WINGS YOU WILL FIND REFUGE; HIS FAITHFULNESS WILL BE YOUR SHIELD AND RAMPART.” (Psalm 91:4).

Faithful Father, pull me back under Your covering of Truth, Love and Hope. Under Your wings, I will be safe from the father-of-lies’ words of condemnation, “You are not good enough!” Behind Your shield, I will be protected from the enemy’s accusation, “You do not belong!” Behind Your embankment, I will be shielded from the evil one’s charge, “You are a disgrace!” I will remember that You are faithful, Father, but that I have an obligation to stay under Your covering…to NOT do what is right in my own eyes.

I will stay under Your covering, Father.

February 28: The Covering of Hiding

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“WHEN THE WOMAN SAW THAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD AND PLEASING TO THE EYE, AND ALSO DESIRABLE FOR GAINING WISDOM, SHE TOOK SOME AND ATE IT. SHE ALSO GAVE SOME TO HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS WITH HER, AND HE ATE IT. 7 THEN THE EYES OF BOTH OF THEM WERE OPENED, AND THEY REALIZED THEY WERE NAKED; SO THEY SEWED FIG LEAVES TOGETHER AND MADE COVERINGS FOR THEMSELVES” (Genesis 3:6, 7).

Father of the fatherless, thank you for showing me that I need to be careful about the coverings I fabricate to cover my nakedness…to cover my feelings of shame…to cover my feelings of unworthiness…to cover my feelings of abandonment.

I realize that I can cover my feelings of abandonment, shame and unworthiness by hiding from them. I can hide under a mask…hide under my job…hide under distractions. The problem is that by hiding, the pain in my heart does not go away. I always find myself dealing with the same pain again… a week later…and then again a month later…even a year later.

“LIVE AS FREE MEN, BUT DO NOT USE YOUR FREEDOM AS A COVER-UP FOR EVIL; LIVE AS SERVANTS OF GOD” (1 Peter 2:16).

Perfect Father, call me out of my hiding places. Strengthen me to face my pain and allow You to see it too…to trust You with my weaknesses. Take away the lie that if I face my weaknesses, they would overwhelm me. Break through the lies that I am not safe if I come out of hiding. I authorize You to bring my heartache under Your Light of Truth…so I might be set free from darkness.

I love You, Father of Lights!