“May the Lord show you his favor and give you peace.” Numbers 6:26
Dearest Father God,
Thank you for your all encompassing favor. You dwell in my heart and guide my steps. You light my path with your word and your blessings fall new upon me each morning. Thank you that when I am broken, you bind my heart; when I am lost you search for me; when I am troubled, you pour out peace in double-portion.
Lord, you know my tendencies to fight for control. When ultimately, I have none. Your will for me is perfect. No amount of wrestling or rationalizing will calm my anxious ways. You alone can quiet my unrested soul. You know my nature to turn away from you when I am afraid. Thank you for your faithfulness to love me in my humanity. You chase after me with kindness, peace and joy.
Father God, there are so many hurting people in our world; people who are searching for meaning, searching for answers, searching for guidance. You know them by name and you know their innermost battles. Your love for them is boundless. Please, place into their souls the richness of a love that only you can give.
Holy Spirit, thank you for your guiding presence. Thank you for opening my eyes to the challenges of our broken, hurting world. Give me your compassion to reach out to those who suffer, give me strength of mind, body and character to extend your work on humanity. May you soften my heart toward suffering, toward injustice and toward wayward, hurting souls who can’t seem to find the way back to you.
Thank you, God, for the gift of your Son, Jesus, who suffered persecution, torture and death on a cross so that none would be lost. Thank you that his love was so great, he faced the ultimate test and endured the ultimate sacrifice for me.
Jesus, I need less of myself and more of you. Your work on the cross was the ultimate testament of selfless love. Help me to reflect that sacrifice. Help me to be your hands and feet, serving others as you served us. Show me the benefit of sacrificial love. Let your light shine into the deepest crevices of my heart and be a soothing ointment on the hurt that lives there. Through your healing, may I become a guiding light to your light of hope.
Be with those now who are broken and grieving. Be with the lost. Lord, impart your blessings on them and give them hope in your purpose for their lives. Deliver us from the darkness and evil that is so prevalent in our world today.
As we turn our calendars to a blank page, help us to remember the days have already been written in the book of life. You know their cadence and their rhythm. The hours, minutes and seconds are already etched into eternity by your hand. Help us to return our focus to your will and glory as we face the next chapter of our lives.
These things I pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ,
Amen
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