January 1: Life Through His Spirit

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“BUT HE WHO UNITES WITH THE LORD IS ONE WITH HIM IN SPIRIT”
(1 Corinthians 6:17).

Perfect Father, I thank you today that You did not abandon humankind after we sinned and abandoned You.  You went with Adam and Eve after they were expelled from the Garden.  You went with Moses when he led a furious rebellious crowd out of a land of slavery.  You went with Abraham when he had to leave his land for a foreign place where he had never been before.  You went with Joseph when he was accused of a wrong he did not commit.  My heart rejoices that it was never Your intention, perfect Father, to abandon Your people…to abandon me.

Everlasting Father, I thank You that You love me so much that You sent the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Your Son, Jesus, to dwell inside my spirit.  I delight in the Holy Spirit, who serves as a channel through whom You keep in contact with me.

“GOD SENT THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON INTO OUR HEARTS…” (Galatians 4:6).

Father, I am encouraged that You long to be involved in every detail of my life today…through the life-giving Spirit of Your Son, Jesus.

“THE FIRST MAN ADAM BECAME A LIVING BEING; THE LAST ADAM, A LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT” (1 Corinthians 15:45).

Everlasting Father, I will open my heart and listen to what Your Spirit wants to tell me…to what You want to reveal to me.  I am aware that uniting with Your Spirit opens up a channel for Your Voice and Counsel to flow into my spirit…into my heart.  Your Holy Spirit stands ready to impart a message of Life to me from You.  I am overjoyed that this life-giving Spirit is closer than I could think or imagine.  He is in my heart.  I will reach into my heart now and listen.  I will pour out my heart to You, Father and listen to Your Counsel as You supply me with Life through Your Spirit.

January 2: Hope through His Spirit

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“MAY THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE AS YOU TRUST IN HIM, SO THAT YOU MAY OVERFLOW WITH HOPE BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT” (Romans 15:13).

My perfect everlasting Father, I thank you again today that it was never Your intention to abandon Your people…to abandon me.

Father, I am overjoyed that You are the God of Hope and that it is Your desire to fill me to the brim with Hope.  Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit into my heart to provide a means to transfer Your Hope to me.  I jubilate that You, Father, never meant for me to go through life without Hope.

Holy Father, I invite Your Spirit of Hope to impart Hope to me in place of my disheartened and despairing heart.  I know that the Holy Spirit does not speak His own message, but that, which He receives from You, everlasting Father.

“TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING” (Proverbs 3:5).

Perfect Father, I know that You do not want me to hold onto my hopelessness, therefore, I submit my hopelessness to You.  I have noticed that I become hopeless whenever I lean on my own understanding.  Therefore, Father, God of Hope, I am willing to give up my understanding of every situation in exchange for Your interpretation…Your viewpoint…Your perspective.  I will trust in You, Lord, with all my heart and cling to Your understanding, because Your understanding is infinite and accurate.

“GREAT IS OUR LORD, AND OF GREAT POWER: HIS UNDERSTANDING IS INFINITE”
(Psalm 147:5).

I Love You

January 3: Truth Through His Spirit

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“BUT WHEN HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, COMES, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH” (John 16:13).

Everlasting Father, I realize there is one thing in this life that I cannot do without…and that is Your TRUTH.  I realize that I have an enemy and his weapon is deception.  I clearly understand how the enemy uses his deception against me… by trying to persuade me to believe something that is not true, because his name is the father-of-lies.

“TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING” (Proverbs 3:5).

Precious Father in Heaven, my heart leaps with joy, because You understand deception and You know the enemy’s schemes inside-out.  You have not abandoned me to deal with the father-of-lies’ deception by myself, but You have sent me the Holy Spirit, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, to help me live in the Truth.

Most High, I acknowledge that I need Your Truth more than anything else in my life.  I acknowledge that I cannot live without Your Truth for even a minute.  I embrace your Truth to guide me into all Truth instead of blindly believing the lies the enemy tells me.

Perfect Father, I surrender my understanding…all thoughts…all beliefs to Your Spirit of Truth today.  I delight in Your Spirit of Truth, who is not far away, but resides in my heart.  Whenever a negative thought enters my mind, I will reach into my heart for Your Spirit of Truth to guide me into complete Truth and set me free from each negative thought.

“GREAT IS OUR LORD, AND OF GREAT POWER: HIS UNDERSTANDING IS INFINITE”
(Psalm 147:5).

How I adore You, perfect Father, and how I cherish Your Truth.  My cup runs over, because You are of great Power and Your Understanding is infinite.  Glory to Your Holy Name!

I Love You

January 4:  Wisdom through His Spirit

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“IT IS BECAUSE OF HIM THAT YOU ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO HAS BECOME FOR US WISDOM FROM GOD—THAT IS, OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOLINESS AND REDEMPTION” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Perfect Father, my cup runs over when I realize how much You must love me.  You sent me Your Son, Jesus, so I would receive Wisdom from You…Redemption, Righteousness and Holiness.

My everlasting Father, how encouraged I am that You sent Your Son, Jesus to be my Redeemer…to repurchase me from the father-of-lies…to free me from the stresses and harms of the enemy’s negative beliefs…to clear me from sin.  But that was not all.  You sent Jesus to be more than Redemption to me.  Because of Jesus, I shall also receive Your Righteousness and Holiness.  I shall not lack in anything.  Jesus has become my Wisdom.

“GOD SENT THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON INTO OUR HEARTS…..” (Galatians 4:6).

Jesus, how I value Your Spirit in my heart!  Thank you for the immense resource of Wisdom that is made available to me through Your Spirit.  I receive Your Wisdom, Jesus, by giving up my own wisdom…my own understanding of the circumstances in my life…my own judgment of the people in my life---in exchange for Your understanding, Jesus.  Your understanding is infinite!

“BUT HE WHO UNITES WITH THE LORD IS ONE WITH HIM IN SPIRIT”
(1 Corinthians 6:17).

My beloved Father, how I love You for sending the Spirit of Your Son into my heart.  I am not alone.  My heart is not alone.  I will not fear the lies of the father-of-lies, for Your Presence is my Dwelling Place.  Your understanding is my Wisdom and Your Wisdom is my refuge.  How great are Your benefits!

“PRAISE THE LORD, MY SOUL, AND FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS—WHO FORGIVES ALL YOUR SINS AND HEALS ALL YOUR DISEASES, WHO REDEEMS YOUR LIFE FROM THE PIT AND CROWNS YOU WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION, WHO SATISFIES YOUR DESIRES WITH GOOD THINGS SO THAT YOUR YOUTH IS RENEWED LIKE THE EAGLE’S” (PSALM 103:2-5).

I Love You

January 5 : Jesus, our Wisdom from the Father

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“IT IS BECAUSE OF HIM THAT YOU ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO HAS BECOME FOR US WISDOM FROM GOD—THAT IS, OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOLINESS AND REDEMPTION”
(1 Corinthians 1:30).

My Father, how You must love me…to lead me into paths of Wisdom… Righteousness, Holiness and Redemption.  Thank you for sending me Your Son, Jesus, to become my Wisdom…my ability to distinguish between deception and Truth.

“FOR THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD IS FOOLISHNESS IN GOD'S SIGHT”
(1 Corinthians 3:19).

Perfect Father, You know how I am formed…that the wisdom that comes from my mind is not reliable, because the mind of sinful man is death.  I acknowledge that I cannot rely on my own wisdom…because my ability to identify deception and know the Truth is tainted by the enemy, the father-of-lies.
“BUT THE WISDOM THAT COMES FROM HEAVEN IS FIRST OF ALL PURE; THEN PEACE-LOVING, CONSIDERATE, SUBMISSIVE, FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUIT, IMPARTIAL AND SINCERE”
(James 3:17).

Precious Jesus, I rejoice that You abound in Wisdom that is pure…full of mercy and good fruit…peace-loving, considerate, submissive, impartial and sincere.  And You supply this Wisdom to live in my heart.  You satisfy my desires with good things.

How marvelous is Your Wisdom, Jesus, to consist of Righteousness, Holiness and Redemption.  Work your Righteousness in me…so I can be free from guilt and sinful habits and patterns that result from acting upon the negative beliefs that live in my mind.  Work your Holiness in me…so I can overcome the degrading beliefs that live in my mind.  Work your Redemption in me…so I can be free from the distresses and harms of the father-of-lies.

Jesus, I exchange my own wisdom that is foolishness in God’s sight, for Your divine Wisdom that is full of mercy and good fruit.

I Love You

January 6: Wholeness through His Love

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“LONG BEFORE HE LAID DOWN EARTH'S FOUNDATIONS, HE HAD US IN MIND, HAD SETTLED ON US AS THE FOCUS OF HIS LOVE, TO BE MADE WHOLE AND HOLY BY HIS LOVE” (Ephesians 1:4 MSG).

Everlasting Father, thank you for your message of Hope… that You have always had Your eye on me, long before You had laid down earth’s foundations…that You want me to know that I am the focus of Your Love and that You long to make my broken heart whole from its wounds of abandonment, shame and condemnation.  I hear that You are saying that it is only through Your Love that I can become whole.  There is no other way that I will achieve this…only through Your love.

Father, I confess that the enemy, the father-of-lies, has tried to convince me otherwise.  The evil one first convinced me that I was no good…that I was worthless…a non-person…an alien.  Then he landed the rest of his plan.  Since he deemed me unworthy, he urged me to WORK for my acceptance.  When I found out that my striving was not bringing any results, the father-of-lies urged me to WORK HARDER.  But no matter how hard I tried, I could not work myself into wholeness.

Perfect Father, I am tired of trying to work for my wholeness…for a healed heart.  I give up.  I am coming to You just the way I am, Father, so that You can heal me with Your Love.  I am coming to sit with You for awhile, sharing my sorrow with You.  I am drawing near to Your Love to penetrate through the emotions and beliefs of my heart…that I am worthless…a non-person…an alien.  I will not let the father-of-lies keep me from experiencing the miracle of what a perfect Father’s Love can do.

Thank you, Father, for your healing words, “You are not an orphan.  You are not abandoned.  You are not a mistake.  You are the focus of your Father’s Love.  I made you for Myself.  I delight in you!”

I Love You

January 7: Holiness through Jesus

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“IT IS BECAUSE OF HIM THAT YOU ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO HAS BECOME FOR US WISDOM FROM GOD—THAT IS, OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOLINESS AND REDEMPTION” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Heavenly Father, thank you that You have not left me here on this earth to fend for myself.  I know that I am not strong enough to battle against the father-of-lies by myself.  How marvelous is Your provision of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who has become my Wisdom from God…filled with pure, peace-loving, considerate submissive Holiness.  And You have sent the Spirit of Your Son to live in my heart.

BUT THE WISDOM THAT COMES FROM HEAVEN IS FIRST OF ALL PURE (James 3:17).

May I be found in You, Jesus, not having a Righteousness of my own, but Holiness that is through faith…the Righteousness that is found in You.

“AND BE FOUND IN HIM, NOT HAVING MINE OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH IS OF THE LAW, BUT THAT WHICH IS THROUGH THE FAITH OF CHRIST, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF GOD BY FAITH” (Philippians 3:9).

Jesus, today I will not focus on the circumstances or the person who is causing me heart-ache.  I will focus on my own heart.  I will not bring the circumstances or other people to You to be changed.  I will bring my own heart to You to be changed.  I want to witness a miracle in my heart.

I invite you into the places in my heart where the arrows of the father-of-lies are lodged.  Be my Wisdom.  Be my Holiness.  Be My God.  I will listen for Your Words of Wisdom.

I Love You, God!

January 8: Power through His Spirit

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“BUT HE SAID TO ME, "MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS." THEREFORE I WILL BOAST ALL THE MORE GLADLY ABOUT MY WEAKNESSES, SO THAT CHRIST'S POWER MAY REST ON ME…” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

My Father in Heaven, from everlasting to everlasting is Your Power.  Thank you that it is true…Your Power is really made perfect in any weakness.  When I feel abandoned, You do not want me to try and fix that, but to submit it to Your Power, so Your Power could overcome my weakness of feeling abandoned.  When I feel rejected, You do not want me to hide it, but to surrender it to Your Power, so Your Power could prevail over my weakness of feeling rejected.  When I feel inadequate, You do not want me to run from it, but to yield it to Your Power, so Your Power could defeat my weakness of feeling inadequate.

All my inmost being praises You, perfect Father, that You sent Your Son, Jesus, to deal with any weakness I might have.  Jesus is able to do what I will never be able to do by trying to get rid of any weakness myself.

“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 am ready to give up my weaknesses.  I admit that nothing I do can get rid of them.  I have tried to hide them…fix them…run from them…Nothing works.

I realize that I cannot give away what does not belong to me.  Therefore, I acknowledge that these weaknesses live in my own heart.  They do not belong to my neighbor…my co-worker…my friend.  I own them.

I long to be free from my weaknesses, Jesus, therefore, I call them by name and lay them by your feet.  May Your Power be at work in me to do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine…to overcome my weaknesses.

I love You

January 9: Peace through the Lord of Peace

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“NOW MAY THE LORD OF PEACE HIMSELF GIVE YOU PEACE AT ALL TIMES AND IN EVERY WAY”
(2 Thessalonians 3:16).

Perfect Father, how my heart sings with joy when I think of Your Love.  You sent Your Son, Jesus, to give me Your Peace…at all times…in every way…in every circumstance.

“JESUS LOOKED AT THEM AND SAID, "WITH MAN THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE” (Matthew 19:26).

Father, oftentimes, things seem so unlikely and impossible to me when I look at the circumstances, but I set my focus on You, Father…the person-hood of God…instead of my impossible situation.  When I set my focus on You, Father, I see Someone who is perfect (Matthew 5:48) and who always rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).  I know that every time I seek You, You hear me and take notice.

Perfect Father, instead of focusing on my circumstances, I set my focus on Your Son, Jesus, who is the Lord of Peace.  I marvel when I try to grasp that it is the Lord of Peace Himself who transfers His own Peace to me.

I bring my anxiety about my circumstances to You, Perfect Father.  Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, all things are possible with You.  Jesus, I now invite You, the Lord of Peace, into that troubled place in my heart.  I lay my circumstances at Your feet.  Be my Lord of Peace…at all times…in every way….and under all circumstances.

“GRACE UNTO YOU, AND PEACE, FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST” (2 Thessalonians 1:2).

I love You

January 10: The Light of Life

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“WHEN JESUS SPOKE AGAIN TO THE PEOPLE, HE SAID, "I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. WHOEVER FOLLOWS ME WILL NEVER WALK IN DARKNESS, BUT WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE" (John 8:12).

Jesus, I want to learn to walk in the Light of Your Abundant Life.  I turn to you to turn my abandonment into belongingness…my condemnation into acceptance…my darkness into Light.

Precious Jesus, thank you for becoming my Light.  I have learned that I have a flesh-nature that is filled with darkness.  I keep on doing the things I DO NOT want to do, and the things I DO want to do…I CANNOT.  I have been trying to tame this flesh-nature of mine, but my nature does not want to be tamed.  It refuses to obey me…no matter how hard I try.

“FOR GOD, WHO SAID, "LET LIGHT SHINE OUT OF DARKNESS," MADE HIS LIGHT SHINE IN OUR HEARTS…” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Jesus, Son of the Most High, Your Name is exalted on earth and in Heaven.  You are the only One who can turn water into wine…let Light shine out of darkness…turn my self-nature into Your Nature, BECAUSE ALL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO YOU (Matthew 28:18).  I am giving up trying to change my nature of darkness, and am placing it under Your authority.  Work Your Nature in me, exchanging my nature for Your Light…to shine from it.

Light of the World, teach me to live a life of I can’t Jesus, You have to do it for me.  Whenever negative thoughts fill my mind, I will turn to You and say Jesus, I do not know why I am feeling this way, but I will not hide it, blame it on others or try to fix it, because by now I know I can’t.  I bring it under your authority to change it for me.

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!

January 12: The Relationship

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“…THAT THEY MAY BE ONE AS WE ARE ONE” (John 17:22).

Jesus, Savior of the world, when you lived your life here on earth, You lived a life perfectly united with Your Father, the Most High.  To You it was all about the relationship…Your unity with Your Father.  You knew how much Your Father loved You.

“…THAT THEY MAY BE ONE AS WE ARE ONE:  I IN THEM AND YOU IN ME. MAY THEY BE BROUGHT TO COMPLETE UNITY TO LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT YOU SENT ME AND HAVE LOVED THEM EVEN AS YOU HAVE LOVED ME.” (John 17:22-23).

Jesus, Light of the World, just before You left this earth to be with the Father, You prayed the above prayer for me.  You could have prayed for anything, but You prayed for that which was most important to You…MY RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU AND THE FATHER…THE UNITY.

Precious Jesus, oftentimes the father-of-lies tells me that the relationship with You and the perfect Father is not important…that it is senseless to pray…that it is senseless to seek unity.  He would say things like, “Your Father does not really want a relationship with you.  He is not going to answer you when you pray.  You are just wasting your time.”  To one of my friends the enemy said, “You have no favor with God.”  To another friend, “God has brought you to this earth to punish you.  He does not even like you.”

Jesus, I will resist the father-of-lies by turning my negative thoughts over to You.  He will try anything to keep me from having a relationship with You and the Father.  But I will build a relationship with You.  I will spend time with You.  I will talk to You.  And I will remain quiet in Your Presence…so I can hear You tell me now much You love me…so I can hear the Father tell me how much He values me…that He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds…that He understands me…that He takes pleasure in those whose Hope is in Him.

“BUT THERE IS A SPIRIT IN MAN: AND THE INSPIRATION OF THE ALMIGHTY GIVETH THEM UNDERSTANDING” (JOB 32:8).

I love You, Jesus

January 13: Cultivate the Unity

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“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 TO LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT YOU SENT ME AND HAVE LOVED THEM EVEN AS YOU HAVE LOVED ME” (John 17:22-23).

Perfect Father, I have found that I seem to sin when I do not feel loved.  When I do not feel loved, I go into patterns of hiding, running and blaming.  When I do not feel loved, I start wearing a mask.  My reasoning is that if I am a different person, I might be loved more.  When I do not feel loved, I tend to run away from situations because of the pain in my heart.  Sometimes I put the blame on others when I do not feel loved.  I realize that these are all sinful behavior patterns to cope with my pain of feeling that I am not loved.

Most High, You know everything.  You knew that there would be times that I would not feel loved on this earth…and You cared.  YOU MADE YOUR OWN LOVE AVAILABLE TO ME…so that I would never be without love.  How splendid are Your ways, Father…to offer me the same Love You have for Your Son, Jesus.  I shall not lack.

“I PRAY ALSO FOR THOSE WHO WILL BELIEVE IN ME THROUGH THEIR MESSAGE, THAT ALL OF THEM MAY BE ONE, FATHER, JUST AS YOU ARE IN ME AND I AM IN YOU” (John 17 20,21).

The next time I do not feel loved, Father, I will not hide, run or blame.  I will come and sit on Your lap…to receive Your Love in that place of my heart where I feel unloved.  I will come often and stay long.  It does not matter where we meet…in my favorite chair…in a sunny spot…or on my daily walk.  I know You are always close by, for You are my dwelling place.

May we become one, Father, You in me and I in You.  May we be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You love me as much as You love Your Son, Jesus.

I love You, my Father!

January 14: Sanctification for Spirit, Soul and Body

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“MAY GOD HIMSELF, THE GOD OF PEACE, SANCTIFY YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH.  MAY YOUR WHOLE SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY BE KEPT BLAMELESS AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Father, God of Peace, how amazing is Your Peace  How amazing are You…to be able to sanctify me through and through…spirit, soul and body.  You purify me with Your Peace from the inside out, starting with my spirit, continuing to my soul and finishing with my body.

How encouraged I am, Father, when I ponder all the places in my heart you have already purified by bringing Your Peace into these innermost places where anxiety, hatred and jealousy reigned.  During difficult circumstances, I will keep focusing on the trouble spots in my heart …not the circumstances, because it is in my heart that You start Your amazing job of purification…using the circumstances as Your tool.

Lead me into Your sanctification, Lord, by doing heart surgery on my troubled heart and removing the beliefs that keep me from Your Peace.  Release Your Peace into my heart as I lay before you the trouble spots of feeling lonely, rejected and improper.  I want Your Peace that starts in my heart to spread to my emotions and to my body…so I can be purified through and through.

“I AM THE LORD WHICH SANCTIFY YOU” (Leviticus 20:8).

God of Peace, You alone can purify my heart.  I will not attempt a job that only You can do.  I know that if I would attempt the job of sanctification, it would be a job done on the outside only, because I do not have the power to change myself on the inside.  I will allow You to purify me by exposing to You all the places in my heart where Your Peace does not reign yet.

I love you, God of Peace!

January 15: Your Father Draws You

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"NO ONE CAN COME TO ME UNLESS THE FATHER WHO SENT ME DRAWS HIM”
(John 6:44).

How great is Your Love for me, Father, that You desire to draw me close to show me Your Love, Hope and Truth.  Thank you for continually drawing me closer to Your Presence, lifting anxiety, fear and despondency from my shoulders.

Thank you, perfect Father, that You already started drawing me to You when I was a little girl and that You have never since let me go.  I am still being drawn closer and closer to You, every day.  Some days I feel that I am dwelling in the inner room of the Most High.

“MAY GOD HIMSELF, THE GOD OF PEACE, SANCTIFY YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH.  MAY YOUR WHOLE SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY BE KEPT BLAMELESS AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

My cup runs over with encouragement, Father, that You keep drawing me closer and closer to You…to Your Peace…to Your Truth…to Your Hope…so You can beautify me through and through…spirit, soul and body.

“THE ONE WHO CALLS YOU IS FAITHFUL AND HE WILL DO IT” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Call me, Father, to everything I need to be.  Break through the walls I have set up.  Be in charge of my life.  Come find me in my hiding places.  Find me behind my mask that I sometimes wear when I am scared.  Pull me up from the ground where I sometimes fall face down.  Do in me a complete work of being purified.

“BEING CONFIDENT OF THIS, THAT HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL CARRY IT ON TO COMPLETION UNTIL THE DAY OF CHRIST JESUS” (Philippians 1:6).

Thank you, Father, that the good work You started in me, You will carry on to completion.  You never give up.  You never get tired.  You never lose Hope or Power or Courage.  I rely on Your Faithfulness.

I love You, Father, for drawing me close!

January 16:  Live a New Way

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“TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT” (Proverbs 3:5).

My everlasting Father, thank you for calling me to a new way of living: to stop leaning on my own understanding…to stop depending on my own way of thinking…to stop believing my own perspective.

Help me to understand WHY You require me to not rely on my own understanding when my mind deems my understanding correct and true.

“THE MIND OF SINFUL MAN IS DEATH, BUT THE MIND CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE” (Romans 8:6).

Perfect Father, You are showing me that my natural assumptions are not reliable.  My natural way of how I perceive people and circumstances are not in line with how You perceive people and circumstances.  My mind’s reasoning is not trustworthy.

Although this is a brand new way of thinking for me, Perfect Father, I will obey.  I will run all my assumptions by You instead of blindly believing them.  I will acknowledge You, God, in all my ways!

“IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT”

Father, I enjoy acknowledging You in all my thoughts…in all my interpretations…in all my assumptions.  Whenever I run a negative thought by You, Father, You always show me that my reasoning is off…and that I need my perspective to be exchanged for Yours.  Then I hear the Truth about myself…about my mother and father…and about You, God.  Instead of hearing “I am not good enough.  I am not accepted.  I am rejected,” I hear, “You are my beloved daughter.  You are accepted.  You are precious.”

May this become a moment-by-moment lifestyle to me…not leaning on my own understanding, but asking for Your perspective, God of Truth, in everything I perceive and believe.

January 17:  Purifying your Thought Life

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God, I realize that You want to purify my thought life, BECAUSE IT IS IN MY THOUGHT LIFE THAT MY ACTIONS ARE BORN.  If my thoughts are ugly, my actions will be ugly too.  If my thoughts are unkind, my actions will be unkind too.  If my thoughts are filled with darkness, my actions will be filled with darkness too.

Father God, my thought life looks like a war zone.  Dark thoughts of “I am a failure.  I am worthless.  I am not good enough” ravage my mind all the time.  Negative thoughts are running loose everywhere, turning my mind into a battle zone.  The worst thing is…I believe everything I think.

“MAY GOD HIMSELF, THE GOD OF PEACE, SANCTIFY YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH.
(1 Thessalonians 5:23).

My Father, I realize that if I fail in my actions, it is because I have not received Your Redemption and Righteousness through Jesus Christ into my thoughts. I do not HAVE because I HAVE NOT RECEIVED.  I have not received because I HAVE NOT ASKED.

Redeem my thoughts, Jesus.  God of Peace, I invite you into my negative thoughts.  Download Your Peace into my thoughts.  God of Hope, deliver Your wondrous Hope to my hopeless mind.  God of Comfort, shower me with Your Comfort that is filled with Compassion.  Sanctify my thought life, so I can live my life for You…filled with Love, Hope and Truth.

“AND WE TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT TO MAKE IT OBEDIENT TO CHRIST”
(2 Corinthians 10:5).

Lord Jesus, I bring each negative thought to you…one by one.  I bring you the thoughts of rejection and abandonment that have been running loose in my mind, annihilating my heart.  I lay at Your feet the thoughts of shame and guilt that have been causing me a lot of pain, sadness and unworthiness.  In faith, Jesus, I submit these thoughts to Your authority to be submissive to Your Will.  I bring these thoughts under Your control so they would be used only for Your Will.  Thank you, perfect Father, for sending Your Son to purify my thought life.

How I love you!

January 18: Purifying your Emotions

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“MAY GOD HIMSELF, THE GOD OF PEACE, SANCTIFY YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH.  MAY YOUR WHOLE SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY BE KEPT BLAMELESS…” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Everlasting Father, You created me spirit, soul and body.  How amazed I am that You yearn to purify me through and through…all the way to my emotions.  I grasp that my emotions do not stand alone; my emotions are governed by what I believe…by what I accept as true or real.

“TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT” (Proverbs 3:5).

Thank you, Father, for being my Truth…my Peace…my Understanding.  I have noticed that my emotions break down and become hopeless when I lean on my own understanding…when I depend on my own beliefs…when I rely on my own interpretations.

Therefore, whenever my emotions are perturbed, I will find the belief that supports these emotions.  After I find the belief, I will submit it to You, God, to bring it under Your surveillance…to surrender it to Your interpretation.  Your understanding is infinite and true.  Lift my eyes above my own understanding to allow You, God of Wisdom, to give me Your perspective.  Let Your infinite Understanding keep me in Your Truth…so my emotions will also be purified.  Let it be done according to Your Perfect Will, my God.

I love you, my God

January 19: May Your Mind be Controlled by the Spirit

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“MAY GOD HIMSELF, THE GOD OF PEACE, SANCTIFY YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH.  MAY YOUR WHOLE SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY BE KEPT BLAMELESS…”
(1 Thessalonians 5:23).

My perfect Father, how encouraged I am that You are able to purify me through and through…even my mind.

Father, I have discovered that I act out the beliefs that reside in my mind. If my mind contains negative beliefs, I have negative emotions and destructive actions.  If my mind contains positive beliefs, I have positive emotions and constructive actions.  My mind seems to be a control center that affects my whole life…how I handle myself…how I handle other people…how I handle You, God.

“THE MIND OF SINFUL MAN IS DEATH, BUT THE MIND CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE” (Romans 8:6).

God of Truth, be the belief-controller of my mind.  It is the job of an air traffic controller to control the incoming and outgoing planes and tell them where to go.  He gives the planes permission to land and take off and the pilots have to obey.  This ensures life and peace.

In the same way, God, I authorize You to be in charge of what my mind believes.  Control the beliefs that enter my mind moment-by-moment.  Give permission to the pure beliefs of Truth to land…and command all negative evil beliefs to leave… so my mind could be filled with Your Life and Peace.

“TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT” (Proverbs 3:5).

I love You, God of all Truth!

January 20: Your Body Is Not Your Own

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“MAY GOD HIMSELF, THE GOD OF PEACE, SANCTIFY YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH.  MAY YOUR WHOLE SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY BE KEPT BLAMELESS…”
(1 Thessalonians 5:23).

I shout for joy, God, for it is You who purify me…spirit, soul and body.  I worship You with gladness, God…for You sanctify me from the inside out.  You beautify my heart and mind and Your holiness carries over to my body…my actions and reactions.  Jesus, Light of the World, I wish for You to become my reaction to everything in life.  When a hurtful situation arises, I wish for You to react through me with Love and Understanding toward the other person, instead of me reacting in defense to my own pain.  Then I will know that Your sanctification has filtered through from my heart all the way to my body…and my actions and reactions.

“DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO IS IN YOU, WHOM YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM GOD? YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN” (1Corinthians 6:19).

God, You made me and I am Yours…spirit, soul and body.  I am not my own.

“THEREFORE DO NOT LET SIN REIGN IN YOUR MORTAL BODY SO THAT YOU OBEY ITS EVIL DESIRES.  DO NOT OFFER THE PARTS OF YOUR BODY TO SIN, AS INSTRUMENTS OF WICKEDNESS, BUT RATHER OFFER YOURSELVES TO GOD…” (Romans 6:12, 13).

Precious God, I offer every part of me to You…to purify me all the way.  Who can understand Your Power, God?  All things are created by You for Your Glory!  Delight in me, God…in what You have created.  May my spirit, soul and body be purified and beautified for You.

I love You, precious God!

January 21:  May You Be Willing

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"O JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM, YOU WHO KILL THE PROPHETS AND STONE THOSE SENT TO YOU, HOW OFTEN I HAVE LONGED TO GATHER YOUR CHILDREN TOGETHER, AS A HEN GATHERS HER CHICKS UNDER HER WINGS, BUT YOU WERE NOT WILLING” (Matthew 23:37).

God, Redeemer, I often find myself not willing to come into Your Presence…to submit to Your Will…to allow Your Redemption.  Sometimes, I would much rather lean on my own understanding than allow Your Understanding, Jesus, to rule my mind.  But I always pay the price later.  Sometimes You plead with me to hand my pain over to You, but I hold onto it with all my might.  I would much rather hide, run or blame my pain on someone else.

How often have You, the God of Peace, wanted to instill Your Peace into my heart…but I was not willing.  How often have You, perfect Father, offered to exchange my understanding for Yours…but I was not willing.  How often have You, God of Light, proposed to change my rejection into acceptance…change my abandonment into belongingness…change my unworthiness into excellence…BUT I WAS NOT WILLING!

Father of Compassion, I want to be willing to allow You to alleviate my distress and comfort me.  God of Peace, I want to be willing to let You purify me until all my emotions are filled with Peace.  Jesus, I want to be willing to permit Your Power to be made perfect in my weakness.  Beautify me until my heart is healed from all rejection, abandonment and shame.  Spirit of Truth, I want to be willing to let You guide me into all Truth.  May my mind be fully governed by Your Spirit.

I honor You, God, by being willing!

January 22: The Big LIE of Unworthiness

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“AT ONE TIME WE TOO WERE FOOLISH, DISOBEDIENT, DECEIVED AND ENSLAVED BY ALL KINDS OF PASSIONS AND PLEASURES. WE LIVED IN MALICE AND ENVY, BEING HATED AND HATING ONE ANOTHER” (Titus 3:3).

Father, You have made Your Truth known to me…and I am free to live my life for You.  Thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus, to save me from THE BIG LIE OF UNWORTHINESS.  I do not have to live deceived…enslaved by my own self-nature…harboring malice and envy in my heart towards all those who seem so worthy compared to me…being hated by others who think I am better than they are, and hating those who are better than me. 

“HOW OFTEN I HAVE LONGED TO GATHER YOUR CHILDREN TOGETHER, AS A HEN GATHERS HER CHICKS UNDER HER WINGS, BUT YOU WERE NOT WILLING”
(Matthew 23:37).

Father of Compassion, Your Compassion is above earth and heaven.  You are showing me that I do not have to live the rest of my earthly life in the Big Lie of Unworthiness…because You sent me the Spirit of Truth.  May I be willing to receive Your counsel.

“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).

Holy Father, I am willing every day…every hour…every moment, TO LET GO OF MY UNWORTHINESS …AND RECEIVE YOUR WORTHINESS FOR ME.  Send Your Gift…Your Spirit of Truth, to navigate me away from the deception that so readily enslaves and destroys.  I acknowledge that I have been lead astray to believe the Big Lie of Unworthiness and I acknowledge that I need a Savior for that too.

I love You, Holy Father

January 23: The Broken Cistern that cannot Hold Water

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“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, Your Greatness is unmatched!  You love me so much that You sent me a Gift…Your Son, Jesus, who can give me Living Water when I am thirsty. 

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

Holy Father, I know that it is the world’s way to condemn…but You did not send Your Son to condemn me, BUT TO SAVE ME!

"MY PEOPLE HAVE COMMITTED TWO SINS: THEY HAVE FORSAKEN ME,
THE SPRING OF LIVING WATER, AND HAVE DUG THEIR OWN CISTERNS,
BROKEN CISTERNS THAT CANNOT HOLD WATER.
(Jeremiah 2:13)

How glad I am, Jesus, to have found out that IT IS OK TO ADMIT THAT I AM HURTING.  For a long time I have been playing games when the pain comes, almost as if I believed that You would not love me when I have pain…that You would condemn me.  I would dig my own cistern and try to fill it up with joy, but I could never fool myself…it was a broken cistern that never held water.  The joy did not last.

In the world, I always have to pretend to be happy and that nothing is wrong, but with You, Jesus, it is exactly the opposite. 

I admit, Jesus, that my pain is real.  Fill me with Your Living Water.  I have come to drink from Your well of Living Water that never runs dry.  I will stop pretending that I have what it takes…that everything is OK when it is not.  I will stop denying that I am hurting, because You did not come to condemn me, Jesus,…but to save me.

I love You, Jesus, for saving me!

January 24: Put aside the Darkness

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THIS IS THE VERDICT: LIGHT HAS COME INTO THE WORLD, BUT MEN LOVED DARKNESS INSTEAD OF LIGHT” (John 3:19).

Jesus, Light of the World, I am ashamed to say that I have caught myself many times loving darkness instead of Your Light.  For example, when someone offends me, I know that I can come to You and receive healing for their offense committed against me, but oftentimes I am not willing to come to You.  My reason?  I know that You, Jesus, will heal my heart and turn me into a good friend or wife or mother again, but I do not want You to do that, since I reason that my offender does not deserve a good friend or wife or mother like me.  Therefore, I would rather stay in darkness myself…TO TAKE REVENGE.

Precious Jesus, I do not understand why I would want to choose darkness instead of Your Light.  I have caught myself walking in circles to avoid the Light.  I would focus on the other person’s darkness, knowing very well that my own heart is filled with far more darkness, but if I can stay focused on the other person’s darkness, mine can stay hidden and I can hold onto it a little longer.  But I know that darkness is like quicksand…it pulls you in slowly…until you drown and suffocate.

“SO LET US PUT ASIDE THE DEEDS OF DARKNESS AND PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT”
(Romans 13:12).

Jesus, my Savior, the father-of-lies often tries to persuade me to stay in darkness…to stay where I do not belong…to stay in the state of confusion, hatred and jealousy, because from here he manipulates me…controls me…commands me, but I will put aside the deeds of darkness. 

I will stop playing mind games, but become honest with myself by focusing on my own heart and calling a spade a spade.  I will ask myself why I feel so angry…so hateful…so jealous.  Is it because I feel betrayed?  Is it because I feel overlooked?  Is it because I feel unlovable?  I will surrender my darkness to You, Jesus, so Your Light may shine on me and heal my heart. 

I love You, Light of the World!

January 25: Demolish Arguments

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“WE DEMOLISH ARGUMENTS AND EVERY PRETENSION THAT SETS ITSELF UP AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND WE TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT TO MAKE IT OBEDIENT TO CHRIST” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Abba Father, it gives me great pleasure to be Your child.  Inhabit my mind, Jesus. Cast down all imaginations and arguments that form in my mind against Your knowledge and against Your Truth.  May I be a bearer of Your Truth.

Jesus, I realize that I sometimes entertain painful thoughts, imaginations and arguments in my mind.  A negative thought would enter my mind and I would receive it and maintain it in my mind.  I would allow arguments I had with other people to entertain my mind for hours on end…going back and forth between my part and that of the other party without letting You into my thoughts.  I would hear the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit prompting me to drop the debate in my mind… to surrender it to You, God, but I would not listen.  “Just a little while longer, Father,” I would insist.  “I just want to replay it one more time.  I almost have it figured out.” 

“THE LORD DOES NOT LOOK AT THE THINGS MAN LOOKS AT. MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART" (1 Samuel 16:7).

Jesus, I desire for MORE of You.  I desire for You to be in my daily thoughts…in my daily arguments…in my daily imaginations.  I understand that I am not capable to bring Truth to the arguments in my mind, God, therefore, it is senseless for me to entertain negative thoughts and arguments in my mind without letting You in.

Jesus, I hunger for You to inhabit my thoughts…my arguments…my imaginations. I desire to worship You in Spirit and in Truth. YOU ALONE KNOW THE TRUTH!  You understand my heart and the pain that these thoughts cause.  You are able to bring me Truth and Rest as You examine my thoughts.  And Your Truth sets me free! 

I love You, God of Truth!

January 26: Be Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind

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Perfect Father, You always reward those who seek you!  I worship You with gladness.  Father, many of us suffer from severe shyness that started in us as children and followed us into adulthood.  We avoid people, shrinking from contact with others.  We are hesitant to commit and apply ourselves.  We distrust our own ability to act and speak what is expected of us.

“AND GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE ALL GRACE ABOUND TO YOU, SO THAT IN ALL THINGS AT ALL TIMES, HAVING ALL THAT YOU NEED, YOU WILL ABOUND IN EVERY GOOD WORK” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

But You are able to make all Grace abound to me, so that in all things at all times, I will have the confidence I need to abound in every good work.  Penetrate my shyness, God.  Show me the beliefs the father-of-lies had planted in my mind as a child that are causing me to feel inadequate…beliefs that I do not measure up…that I am not as good as other people…that I am a lesser being.

“….BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND.  THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TEST AND APPROVE WHAT GOD'S WILL IS—HIS GOOD, PLEASING AND PERFECT WILL.”
(Romans 12:2).

Father, how comforted I am to know that You are able to penetrate all beliefs of inadequacy in my mind and exchange them for new beliefs of adequacy.  You transform me by renewing my mind with new beliefs.  The old becomes new.  Shyness turns to boldness.  Only YOU are able to do that, Most High!

“AND THE GOD OF ALL GRACE … WILL HIMSELF RESTORE YOU AND MAKE YOU STRONG, FIRM AND STEADFAST” (1 Peter 5:10).

God of all Grace, I bring You any belief of inadequacy and unworthiness that is left in my mind.  Make me strong, firm and steadfast.  Breathe Your Truth into my mind…so that in all things …at all times, I will have all the confidence I need to face any person or any crowd.

I love You, God of all Grace!

January 27:  Be on the Alert

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 “BE OF SOBER SPIRIT, BE ON THE ALERT. YOUR ADVERSARY, THE DEVIL, PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION, SEEKING SOMEONE TO DEVOUR” (1 Peter 5:8).

Perfect Father, thank you for sending Jesus to be my Savior against my cruel raging adversary…the roaring lion.  I know my adversary prowls around incessantly, looking for a chance to obliterate the Hope, the Peace and the Truth that You so trustfully imparted to me.  He always stands ready to wipe out anything I am willing to forgo.  He is wicked, relentless and extremely cunning.  He shows no mercy!

In Africa, where I grew up, the roaring lion would prowl around a herd of elephants in the hope of scaring a young one away from the rest of the herd.  As long as the little elephants stay close to the adults, they would be safe.  Sometimes, a young one panics, separating itself from the herd and starts running.  That is exactly what the lion wants.  The little elephant is now defenseless against the sharp claws of the lions that will tear it apart until nothing is left.

“THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY; I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL” (John 10:10).

Jesus, protect me from the evil one.  I will be on the lookout for him.  I know that he does not attack from the outside.  He attacks from the inside…from my own deceived mind and from my own shattered heart.  Therefore, I will be careful what I think and believe.

“…I PRAY ALSO FOR THOSE WHO WILL BELIEVE IN ME THROUGH THEIR MESSAGE, THAT ALL OF THEM MAY BE ONE, FATHER, JUST AS YOU ARE IN ME AND I AM IN YOU” (John 17 20,21).

I WILL STAY CLOSE TO YOU, FATHER.  Your Love protects me from the evil one’s insinuations that I am unloved and unlovable.  Your Hope shields me from the father-of-lies’ suggestions of hopelessness.  Your Truth guards me against my own understanding.

I love You, my Savior!

January 28: Offer Yourselves to God

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“HE WAS A MURDERER FROM THE BEGINNING, NOT HOLDING TO THE TRUTH, FOR THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM. WHEN HE LIES, HE SPEAKS HIS NATIVE LANGUAGE, FOR HE IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF LIES.  YET BECAUSE I TELL THE TRUTH, YOU DO NOT BELIEVE ME!” (John 8:44, 45)

Perfect Father, I believe You…that my adversary is the father-of-lies…that there is no truth in him…that his native language is deception…that he lures me into thoughts and beliefs that are not true.  I understand that he attacks from the inside…from a deceived mind and a broken heart.

“DO NOT OFFER THE PARTS OF YOUR BODY TO SIN, AS INSTRUMENTS OF WICKEDNESS…”
(Romans 6:13)

Therefore, everlasting Father, I will not continue offering my thoughts to the father-of-lies as an instrument to be used for his schemes of wickedness and deception.  Instead, I will offer You my deceived mind to be cleansed from all deception the father-of-lies has instilled in me since childhood.

“BUT RATHER OFFER YOURSELVES TO GOD, AS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FROM DEATH TO LIFE; AND OFFER THE PARTS OF YOUR BODY TO HIM AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Romans 6:13).

I offer myself to You, Father…mind, heart and body.  I present my thoughts to You to be used as instruments of Your Righteousness.  Renew my mind that had been taken captive by the beliefs of the father-of-lies.  Heal my broken heart that has believed the lies from the father-of-lies all these years.

Thank you, God of Truth, for giving me the chance to live in Your Truth that sets me free from hopelessness and despair.  How amazing is Your care.

I love You, God of Righteousness!

January 29: Resist the Devil

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“SUBMIT YOURSELVES, THEN, TO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU”
(James 4:7).

Perfect Father, God of my heart, we have all heard people quote, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  However, I know, Father, that the secret to resisting the devil lies in the first part of that verse, “Submit yourselves, then, to God.”  This is true, God, because it is You in me who conquers the father-of-lies.  It is not MY RESISTING that is pushing the father-of-lies away.  IT IS YOU, GOD OF POWER, WHO IS RESISTING HIM IN ME!

“YOU, DEAR CHILDREN, ARE FROM GOD AND HAVE OVERCOME THEM, BECAUSE THE ONE WHO IS IN YOU IS GREATER THAN THE ONE WHO IS IN THE WORLD”
(1 John 4:4).

Jesus, I will fear no evil, for You have overcome the evil one…AND YOU ARE IN ME.  Even though the father-of-lies is always looking for an open door and the right moment to make a move, I will fear no evil, FOR YOU ARE MY DWELLING PLACE.  Even though my adversary is a murdered and a thief, I will fear no evil, for You, who are in me, are greater than he who is in the world.  I will withstand the devil’s nature of hatred that threatens to live through my life, by submitting myself to You and Your Nature of Love to live through me each time…all the time…a hundred times a day.  I am dependent on You, God. 

RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU”

May I be released by Your Truth when the father-of-lies tells me that I have no favor with You, Father…that You will never answer my prayers…that You, Father, will not provide.  May I be found in You, God…and You in me.

  I love You, God; You are my strength!

January 30:  Become Like Jesus

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“AND WE, WHO WITH UNVEILED FACES ALL REFLECT THE LORD'S GLORY, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO HIS LIKENESS WITH EVER-INCREASING GLORY, WHICH COMES FROM THE LORD, WHO IS THE SPIRIT” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Perfect Father, one of the things that has influenced me the most in my life is the example Jesus left me when He was a human here on this earth.  I ponder His example often and draw from the illustration He left me about His relationship with You, Perfect Father. 

“I DO NOTHING ON MY OWN BUT SPEAK JUST WHAT THE FATHER HAS TAUGHT ME” (John 8:28).

Father, I pray that You will transform me into the likeness of Your Son, Jesus, who spoke nothing on His own, but only what You have taught Him.  May I too reflect His Glory and speak only what You have taught me.  May I not lash out in anger when someone offends me, but allow time for Your words to form in my heart…words of kindness…words of gentleness…words of truth.

“JESUS GAVE THEM THIS ANSWER: "I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, THE SON CAN DO NOTHING BY HIMSELF; HE CAN DO ONLY WHAT HE SEES HIS FATHER DOING, BECAUSE WHATEVER THE FATHER DOES THE SON ALSO DOES” (John 5:19).

Father, I pray that You will transform me into the likeness of Your Son, Jesus, who was completely dependent on You and did nothing by Himself.

“APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING” (John 15:5).

May I too understand that I can do nothing by myself…but allow Jesus to act through me.  May I grasp that I cannot love by myself…but allow Jesus to love through me.  May I fathom that I cannot hope by myself…but allow Jesus to hope through me.

May I become like Jesus, Father, because Jesus became like You!

I love You!

January 31: Set your Mind on Things Above

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“SINCE, THEN, YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST, SET YOUR HEARTS ON THINGS ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.  SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON EARTHLY THINGS” (Colossians 3:1-2).

Jesus, what a privilege to have the opportunity to be raised with You!  What a joy to live in Your Hope, Truth and Love.  I worship You with gladness.

“SO IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT LIVING THIS NEW RESURRECTION LIFE WITH CHRIST, ACT LIKE IT. PURSUE THE THINGS OVER WHICH CHRIST PRESIDES.  DON'T SHUFFLE ALONG, EYES TO THE GROUND, ABSORBED WITH THE THINGS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.  LOOK UP, AND BE ALERT TO WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND CHRIST—THAT'S WHERE THE ACTION IS. SEE THINGS FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE” (Colossians 3:1-2 MSG).

Jesus, I long to live a new resurrection life with You, every day…moment-by-moment.  Work Your new resurrection Life and Nature in me, so that I would not shuffle along with my eyes to the ground, focusing on the things of this earth.  Lift my eyes to look up and see You at work…see Your Hope…see Your Faithfulness…see Your Perspective.

May I focus on the God of Hope…not the hopelessness.
May I focus on the God of Compassion…not the sorrow.
May I focus on the Spirit of Truth…not the lies.

May I see everything from Your Perspective, Jesus.

Thank you that I can be raised with You, Jesus!