Heavenly Father I praise You for today. I praise You for how life often surprises us, like the Tigers winning a playoff round, and the weather being nice enough that I have not had to turn the furnace on. I praise You for helping each day to begin with Yo and end with You. I praise You for giving me the privilege to take command of my morning and that You will shake the evil out of it.
Holy Spirit Your word says: Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. Fear the Lord; serve Him in truth with all your heart, and consider what great things He has done for you. But the Lord told Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees. For man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. My defense depends on God, who saves the upright in heart. But as it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bears what is good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bears what is evil. For of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. [Proverbs 4:23, MEV; 1 Samuel 12:24; 1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 7:10; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Luke 6:45] As Your word points out I must keep my heart clean and know that what I say ultimately comes from my heart so I must guard my heart from evil, evil thoughts and guard my tongue also. Help me to allow my heart to be an open book to You, and that I am honest and humble enough for You to wash it as white as snow and cleanse it from any unrighteousness or sin. Let my heart be the temple Your Spirit can reside in and use daily.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Amen. [Romans 15:13] surprises us,