With a question on my mind,
With a battle at my hand,
I shall turn to you, Lord.

With a burden upon my heart,
With envy in my eyes,
I shall turn to you, Lord.

With words upon my lips,
With gossip in my ears,
I shall turn to you, Lord.

From my own selfish desires,
From my prideful, sinful ways,
I shall turn to you, Lord.

Not for my sake, O God,
But for others I might meet
With Kingdom truths I share, so
They shall turn to you, Lord.

Thank you, Jesus,
for your:
Example of living,
Blood washing me clean,
Constant giving of self,

Knowing my pain,
Healing my hurt,
Forgiving my sins,
Showing me love,
Always being with me,

Bearing my burdens,
Giving me rest,
Taking on my suffering,
Setting a standard,
Remaining patient with me,

Extravagantly loving me,
Teaching me with your Word,
Life-giving sacrifice,
Saving my eternal soul,
Thank you, Jesus.

As I consider the enormity of Your creation,
Your brilliance and purpose divine,
Breathing it in with all my senses,
No reason for my complaints or whine.

From all of history before this time,
And for all eternity henceforth,
Nothing has ever occurred to You,
All of it planned, foreseen, and on course.

Such beauty comes from only Your design,
With majesty, all stories do testify
Of your wonderful loving kindness,
In prayer and study, draw me nigh.

In your Word I find great comfort,
Often, easing me into peaceful rest.
With prayer I seek, to my heart please speak,
The story of Jesus, I do love best.

 

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My head has occasion to be noisy,
At times, my heart let’s out a wail,
My imaginations run amok,
If it goes on too long, I’ll surely fail.

Take these thoughts away, Lord.
At your feet, these burdens I put,
Embracing your long-lasting peace, God,
Keep my troubles under your foot.

Lift me up against these storms,
Which haunt my mind and heart.
Protect me from my sin against thee,
Never again, do I want to depart.

Let me be a light to others,
Forgive me of dark periods past,
Have mercy upon me, Father.
These troubles to you, I cast.

The enemy is fighting fierce.
Battles within are waged in my mind,
Search my heart and spirit, Oh God,
At its core, I hope you will find:

That I sing a song of Glory!
Praising your character, true.
Of your love and enduring faithfulness,
My greatest hope and trust is because of You!

 

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Today, I come in worship, O God,
To your majesty and power,
Of your creativity and design.
For your tender mercies, your grace,
And your enduring love so divine.

Today, I come to sing you praise,
Wonderful savior, Great Shepherd,
Jesus, the Christ – cleanser of my sin,
Blessed redeemer, who went to the cross,
Eternal victory, defeating death, rising again.

Today, I come to listen, Holy Spirit
Full of wisdom, and counsel, my teacher.
For how you guide me, with constant prayer,
Groaning, interceding, and leading,
Great comfort to know you’re always there.

Today, I come to serve thee, Lord
Ar work, with smiles and tears,
In fellowship with others,
By example daily in my living,
Christ-like love to all strangers and brothers.

Today is yours, God
Allow me to redeem its time.
Thank you for the gift of this day,
In such a way to please you,
More aware of your love always.

 

Photo on Pixabay by Skitterphoto

I messed up, God.
So many opportunities.
I wasted too many.
The time is and always will be,
Yours.

Elders I didn’t respect.
Followers I cast away.
Friends ignored. People wronged.
Not my people,
Yours.

Chances to proclaim your goodness,
To offer forgiveness or friendship,
To help heal someone’s hurt,
Not because of my words,
Yours.

The day is not mine to waste,
but of opportunities from now I find,
Thank you for forgiving me,
Redeemed, it’s no longer my life, but
Yours.

 

Photo on Pixabay by James DeMers

 

 

Living Small

Thank you for this day,
One of a certain number,
A total of which I am uncertain
But I have this day,
And I am grateful.

Thank you for this song,
Every situation like a reminder,
Of a song I used to sing,
Yet now I sing of you,
Thank you, Jesus; Thank you, Lord.

Thank you for this meal,
I shall savor every bite,
Only be your giving and means,
Might I prepare it and take part,
Breaking bread in thanks.

Thank you for this prayer,
this faith, this assurance so blessed,
You precede everything.
In my life and outside of my life,
With promise to direct my paths.

Thank you for enough,
So I may rejoice at living small,
Knowing that by your saving grace,
I’m living as a part of your larger purpose.
May others see what you’ve done for me.

For this day,
this meal,
this prayer,
this song,
for the beauty of living small:
Thank you!

 

Photo on Pixabay by condesign

 

Intercessions

I seek your favor, God
But not for my own today.
Others are in need of your power,
It’s for them I come to pray.

As I ask these things I bring to you,
I pray most that they will surely see:
Upon the answers of my prayers,
They see your work, done miraculously.

Friends adding to their family,
Provide health and means to grow,
With loving all around them,
Letting their joy overflow.

Travelers have need of your mercy,
Protecting them from danger or harm.
Give them safe passage and return,
Giving thanks to you when they come home.

So many sick and hurting,
Give them healing, or at least peace
Do so in such a way, God
Their praise of you will never cease.

And those battling habits of harm,
hurting themselves and those near,
block their path to destruction,
bringing them out of such despair.

To those who’ve been broken hearted,
Dreams dashed or from love gone bad;
Show them tender mercies and love in such,
they turn to you, no greater love to be had.

Homelessness is rampant,
Jobs and careers are being sought,
Civic unrest, hunger abounds,
Selfishness and pride being wrought.

From the dominion of darkness they reside
Rescue them from the bonds that bind,
Let them praise you for you goodness,
Wonderful works of yours they find.

Photo from DollarPhotoClub

Hallelujah! I shout to celebrate,
Victory always because of you.
Every trial, trouble and test of time,
You always bring me through.

The battles are easier, when my eyes I affix
To seek your Kingdom in every season.
Your purpose I trust, Your will I seek,
In everything I’m confident of your reason.

Why do I fret, should I ever tremble?
Fretting comes when I rely on my own.
Whether on accident or by stupidity,
You rescue me, this you’ve always shown.

Thank you, Father; Thank you, Jesus;
Thank you, Holy Spirit, too!
Show me how to be, where to go,
Instruct me on what I should do.

If I should stray, or trip on the path,
Towards your voice I will listen with care.
All good that happens to me in time,
Is only because you’re always there.

What can I learn from this?
How does it apply?
Trying to seek first, your Kingdom,
Yet also, wondering why.

In going through this challenge,
Give me pause to reflect on your Word,
or bring me back to a sermon,
from a preacher I once heard.

Show me the way, Dear God
Spirit, please guide on what to do.
Prove me beyond this struggle,
Strengthen me towards a breakthrough.

My desire is to please you, Lord,
So I cast away doubt or fear,
Looking for a glorious testimony of your goodness,
And how you are always right here.

Though I want this grappling to cease,
From this battle, to be set free.
I want to serve your purpose and goodness,
Thank Jesus, for saving a wretch like me.

 

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