What A Wretched Man Am I

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do...As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: when I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my intervene I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man am I! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:15, 17-25)

Jesus my Savior,

Rescue me from my wretched state. 

Rescue me from this destructive pattern of sin. 

Rescue me from the evil that surrounds me. 

Rescue me from the things I hate. 

Jesus my Lord, 

Purify me from the sin of my past.

Convict me of the sin in my life. 

Reveal the sin that lays before me.

Amen. Let it be.

Lord, Teach Me How To Pray

Jesus, 

My prayer today is like the request of Your disciples when they asked You; "Lord, teach us how to pray".

I am not asking You to teach me how to pray in public; in worship services or in Bible Studies. I am asking You to teach me how to pray, wholly seeking Your face and Your glory. I am asking You to teach me how to pray, yearning for Your presence. I am asking You to teach me how to pray, with a hunger and a thirst for Your touch. 

Lord, teach me how to pray alone with You.

Lord, teach me how to pray with my wife.

Lord, teach me how to pray with my kids.

Lord, teach me how to pray for my family.

Lord, teach me how to pray for Your Church.

Lord, teach me how to pray for the lost. 

Lord, teach me how to pray for our church family.

Lord, teach me how to pray.

Increase My Faith

Jesus,

You spoke about faith a lot. I read Your words to Your disciples, those that you healed, and others that you encountered. I read that the faith of the Centurion Soldier amazed You. Likewise, I read that the lack faith of those in Your hometown amazed You.

Often I believe that my faith would amaze You as well. Yet I fear that Your amazement would be in disgust or disappointment rather than pride.

Christ, I want to increase my level of faith. I feel like the father of the boy that You healed who called out to you "“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Savior, in the same way that You proclaimed to the Father of the dead girl, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.", won't You proclaim over me, "Don't be afraid; just believe and you will be healed."

Jesus, I look to You for Your healing and a miraculous amount of faith in You. 

Amen. Let it be.  

Focus

God,

This morning I pray that You would clear my mind so that I can focus on what is most important to You. I pray that you would take the worry and the stress off of my mind and heart that I may devote all my energy to doing Your work today.

Amen. Let it be.

A Life Of Holiness

Jesus, my Savior, my King, and my Lord,

Daily I claim that You are The One that rules my life. Daily I claim that I want to be more like You. Daily I claim that I was to live and love more like You. Yet daily I make decisions that prove the contrary. 

God, You called he Israelites to be holy as You are holy. Christ, You call all thise who desire to come after You - those who desire to be your followers and Your disciples - to pick up their cross and die to this life. 

I admit that I have let You down, Father. I confess that I have failed You Lord. I have forsaken my first love and forgotten the price that You paid for my soul. I have lost the joy of my salvation and caused others to stumble through my attitude and example. 

Forgive me, I pray.

Holy Spirit, remind me of Your presence all around me. Make me aware of Your power within me. Keep Your call to holiness ever before me. Focus my eyes on the path that you have called me to.

For this day forward, keep my mind on Your holiness. Let my eyes remain fixed on You. Let my ears stay tuned to Your voice alone. Let my mouth speak words that are pleasing to You. Let my heart be filled with love for You and for Your creation. And let my life bring glory and honor to You.

Amen, let it be. 

Help Me Love The Church

Jesus, help me to love The Church in the same way You have first loved me. Help me first love the church You have blessed me with - my family. Then, help me to love the church You have called me to - the Robinson Free Methodist Church. And finally, help me to love Your Church - around the world. 

Amen, let it be.

Thank You Holy Spirit

Thank you Holy Spirit: 

When I don't have strength to carry on, You carry me. 

When I don't know where my next step is, You lead me.

When I don't know what to think, You grant me wisdom. 

When I don't know what to say, You give me words.

Thank You Holy Spirit for never leaving me and never forgetting about me. 

Amen, let it be.

Thank You Lord, For My Family

This morning I had surgery. 

Thank you Lord, for giving me a wife that loves and honors me. 

Kim took me to the hospital, sat with me talking to, laughing with, and calming me. She did not leave the hospital until we left together. She waited on my every need in the gentlest, most loving way (even helping me with my tights at the hospital and my underwear at home).

Thank you Lord, for giving me a daughter that cares about me and worries about me. 

Addison cried as we left for the hospital and was waiting at the door when we returned. She was most worried about the section of my stomach that had to be shaved, asking about the pain. 

Thank you Lord, for giving me a son that loves me and shows affection toward me. 

Zion was the most standoffish after I returned home. I grew to appreciate it when I learned that it was because he didn't want to hurt me in any way. He came close to my recliner after a while and asked if he could hug me. As he hugged me he whispered "I really love you Dad".

Thank you Lord, for giving me a son that prays for me. 

Bennett was overly affectionate when I came home this afternoon. He came into our room tonight, climbed up on our bed and sobbed as he told me all the ways he prayed for me today. 

Thank you Lord, for giving me a daughter that wants to be with me. 

Korah was glad to serene when I got home today. This evening she sat on my lap - quietly and peacefully - for almost an hour. Various time she looked over to me smiled, laughed, and said "Daa". 

Thank you Lord, for giving me this family. 

I am truly blessed. 

Amen, let it be. 

Patience to be a Husband and a Father

Father God, I must confess that I have not been the most patient person this afternoon. I have been impatient toward my wife and children - allowing my temper to flare up and my anger to surface. I have spoken and acted toward them in ways that are outside of love. 

Christ, through Your righteous blood, won't You purify me of these sins. Through Your atoning sacrifice, won't You forgive me of the wrongs that I have committed. Through Your example, won't You show me how I am called to love.

Holy Sporit, teach me how I am to speak, act, and live as a Husband and a Father. Bless me with a patience that comes only from You in stressful times. Empower me to live and love.

Amen, let it be.  

Bless This

Father God,

Bless this new day that You have granted me. 

Bless this new week that You have laid before me.

Bless this fresh year that You have ordained. 

Let it be used for Your glory. 

Amen, let it be. 

Love

God, help me to understand what Your love truly is.

Jesus, help me to understand how You loved while You walked this earth.

Holy Spirit, help me to understand who, when, and where I am called to love. 

Give me opportunities to show love. 

Amen, let it be. 

Jesus, My Friend

Jesus, help me to recognize You as my friend. Enable me to draw closer to You that I may gain the benefits of being Your friend and so I may become more like You. 

Amen, let it be. 

Your Vision

Lord, show me Your vision for my life.

Countless times in my life You have had to shake me and wake me from my slumber. You were pursuing me long before I even recognized You.

Even after I was introduced to You I did not accept You as my Savior.

And even after I accepted You as my Savior and You covered me with Your mercy, love, and grace, I did not follow You.

Today, You are my Lord as well as my Savior. You are the One I seek and the One that I follow. Yet in the cloudiness of my life I struggle.

Today, open my eyes and lift the fog that surrounds me, clear my path and remove the obstacles that lie before me.

Amen, let it be.

Daily Decisions

My Father God, every day I have choices that must be made. Every day multiple decision lie before me. Some are minuscule. Some are difficult. Some matter very little. Some are simple. Some affect others. Some are painful. Some change affect the future. 

Holy Spirit, every day I have choices that must be made. Every day multiple decision lie before me. Give me the wisdom to think through my words and actions. Give me the desernment to recognize right and wrong. Give me the strength to follow Your will and Your way. Give me grace when I fail. 

Amen, let it be. 

Called To Perfection

Father God, you call me to perfection - sanctification - in You. You call me to something that is far beyond what I can achieve on my own. I know that You call me to something that I an not achieve - can not attain - on my own so that I will seek You out in the desperate moments of life - moments when I am face-to-face with temptation and there seems to be no way out.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that no temptation will overtake me - only that which is common to man, and that You are faithful to me in these times - that You will not let me tempted beyond what I can bear - and that You will always provide a way so that I can stand up under the stress of these temptations that I am faced with.

Holy Spirit, fill me now. Do not allow temptation to have a grasp on me any longer. Fill me with the knowledge - like never before - that You are with me and that You have provided the strength I need to stand up under the temptations that I am faced with now - and the temptations that I will face throughout this day.

Jesus, let Your promises remain on my mind and in my heart. Lead me, once again into the perfect life that You have called me to live. When I am faced with temptation to sin, remind me that You expect me to obey You always.

Amen, let it be.

A Father

My Father, give me the wisdom to be the father that You have trusted me to be. Give me the patience to deal with my children in a way that shows love and teaches them patience. Give me the peace I need when life seems chaotic. Give me the understanding to teach them all that they need to know. Give me the actions to show them what is right and what is not. Give me the discernment I need to know when they are not following You. Give me the strength I need to discipline them in Your ways.And give me encouragement when I fail.

My Father, help me to be the Father that You have been to me.

Amen, let it be.

I Hate Divorce

Father God, I hate divorce! But I know that you hate divorce even more.

Your Word to us states that we are to hate evil and cling to what is good. Your Word to us that we are to love, despite - and sometimes in spite - of the hatred that is shown to us. Your Word tells us that love is patient, kind, not selfish, arrogant, or rude, but that it endures forever.

Father God, I hate divorce! But I know that you hate divorce even more.

As I celebrate the twelfth anniversary of marrying my wonderful wife - which You blessed me with. Today, I also lift up to You those that are suffering through the horrible consequences of divorce. I lift up to you the spouses that do not feel as though they have any option left. I lift up to You the children that are suffering through the disputes between husbands and wive - fathers and mothers.

Father God, I hate divorce! But I know that you hate divorce even more. 

I look forward to the day of complete and total peace - and love - in Your arms and in the heavenly home that You are creating for us. 

Amen, let it be. 

The Word of The Lord

God, Your Word states the Your Law - Your Word - is perfect and that it revives the soul (Psalm 19:7). I Lord, let Your Word be written in my mind and on my heart. Let Your Law, Your commands, and Your precepts never depart from me. Give me the wisdom to know Your ways and the strength to obey them. Great be me the respect I need for Your Word and everlasting joy as I live it out. 

Amen, let it be. 

Give Me Wisdom

Father God, if I could only ask one thing of You today, it would be that You would give me  wisdom.

Give me the wisdom to think through the situations that I encounter.

Give me the wisdom to make the decisions that I must make.

Give me the wisdom to not make the decisions that should wait.

Give me the wisdom to be patient and wait for Your hand to move.

Give me the wisdom to know when half-truths and untruth is being told.

Give me the wisdom to see, speak, and act on sin and evil.

Give me the wisdom to speak, teach and preach Your truth.

Give me the wisdom to act and witness for You.

Give me the wisdom to lead and guide others as You have called me to.

Give me the wisdom to act boldly when the situation demands.

Give me the wisdom to remain quiet when You desire me to.

Give me the wisdom to see, speak, and act on injustice and oppression.

Give me the wisdom to be patient and wait for Your will to be made clear.

Give me the wisdom to trust in You and You alone.

If I could only ask one thing of You today, it would be that You would give me wisdom.

Amen, let it be.

Drifted

God, I know that You never change, and that You never move - drift - draw - away from me. Yet I admit that in the busyness of life, and in the distractions that I allow into my life, I have moved away from You.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for giving me the awareness of this gap in our relationship with one another. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for not taking Your power of conviction and discernment away from me.

I admit that, in the midst of my busyness and distractions, I have drifted away from The One who created me, loved me, called me, and equipped me. I admit that, in the midst of my desire for the things of this world, I have drawn away from The One who lived for me, died for me, rose for me, and ascended for me. Jesus, my Savior, please forgive me. And, Jesus, my Lord, please take control of my life - my time, my thoughts, my actions - once again.

Amen, let it be.