Heavenly Father I pray and I agree with the Psalmist when he prayed and wrote: Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. How long will you attack a man? All of you shall be slain like a leaning wall and a tottering fence. They only consult to cast him down from his high position; They delight in lies; They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. My soul, waits silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength and refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor. Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, do not set your heart on them. God has spoken once; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God. Also, to You, O Lord belongs mercy; For You render to each one according to his work. [Psalm 62:1-12]
Holy Spirit I come today to the throne room through You to offer myself as a living sacrifice to be used in God’s perfect will. I ask that You assist me in taking command of the morning and shaking out any evil that may be lurking or ready to attack me, my family, my friends, or my church and community. I petition before Christ that my mind be renewed, focused, and completely immersed in Your Spirit and will so that my thoughts align with the purpose God created me for. And so I know and rely on the love God has for me. God is love. Since I live in love I live in God and God in me. In this way, love is made complete in who I am so that I will have confidence on the day of judgment because in this world I have dedicated my life to be like Him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—my faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? God keeps me in perfect peace because I do my best to keep my mind stayed on God. After all, I trust in God. I will trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord I have an everlasting rock. For He brings down those who dwell on high, the lofty city; He lays it low; He lays it low, even to the ground; He brings it even to the dust. The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor and the steps of the needy. The way of the righteous is smooth; O Upright One, make the path of the righteous level. In the way of Your judgments, O Lord, I have waited for You eagerly; the desire of my soul is Your name, even Your memory. With my soul I have desired You in the night; my spirit within me seeks You diligently; for when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. Though favor is shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness, he deals unjustly and does not perceive the majesty of the Lord. Lord, Your hand is lifted, but they do not see it. They see Your zeal for the people and are put to shame; the fire of Your enemies shall devour them. [Romans 12:1&2; 1 John 4:16-18; 1 John 5:4&5; Isaiah 26:3-11]
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has given us a new birth into the living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that does not fade away, kept in heaven just for me, I am protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this I greatly rejoice, even though now, if for a little while, I have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of my faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tried by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom, having not seen, I still love, and in whom, though I do not see Him now, I believe and I rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving as the result of my faith the salvation of my soul. The end of all things is near. Therefore, I will be clear-minded and self-controlled so that I can pray. Above all, I and my brothers and sisters in Christ will love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. We will offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. [1 Peter 1:3-9; 1 Peter 4:7-11]