Growing saints think themselves nothing; full-grown saints think themselves less than nothing.
C.H. Spurgeon

Ecclesiastes 3:14 (NASB)
14 I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.

Philippians 4:4-6 (NASB)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God

As a Christian, one of the most difficult parts of living for Christ is to grow in sanctification, while living in a culture that is counter to it. Our culture values pride of self, pride of accomplishments, and wealth.

Yet scripture is clear. We are not God and only He deserves praise. We have not earned our relationship with God. We can do nothing to gain God’s acceptance. But we can accept His free gift with love in our hearts for Him. Then our thankful response in humble appreciation is to serve His kingdom. Yet, all the time being tempted by the world to take credit for our deeds.

Heavenly Father, I pray that my pride is only in You and not in myself. I pray, with help from the Holy Spirit, that I can put my life in proper perspective with You. I pray that I will be anxious for nothing, but trust in You always. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

All things else being equal, the destiny of a man or nation may safely be predicted from the idea of God which that man or that nation holds. No nation can rise higher than its conception of God.
A.W. Tozer Sermon:Our Faith Reflects Our Concept of God

Romans 11:33-36 (NASB)
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?
35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again?
36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

The scriptures give us a picture of the many attributes of God; those characteristics which give us a view of Him. It is that idea of who He is that determines what we think of God and how we worship Him. Different commentators have their list of attributes that are derived from scripture references. They form two major categories – attributes that only God has (incommunicable), and attributes that God shares with His creation (communicable). Of the incommunicable attributes, the following are often given.

Infinite – cannot be contained within any boundaries
Immutable – unchangeable
Omnipotent – all powerful
Omniscient- knowing all things
Omnipresent – present everywhere without limit

Since God’s character and attributes are unchangeable, it is our concept of God that limits us. Especially if we degrade or dismiss the incommunicable attributes of God. Nations have done that throughout history, only to fall and pass into oblivion. If we can truly grasp even part of the six attributes above, our only reaction would be to reverently worship Him. And then after we understand through scripture the love, mercy, and grace He has given us through the sacrifice of His Son for our sins, that worship grows into love for Him. That love then manifests itself with prayers of praise and thanksgiving.

Father, your character is beyond my full understanding. You are infinite in wisdom, you are just, and you are loving. I pray that as I meditate on Your attributes, your Spirit will bring forth prayers of praise and thanksgiving that honor You. I pray that our nation would turn back to You in a way that glorifies You. Amen.

Ephesians 6:18 (NASB)
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Paul gave the Ephesian church an image of battle to describe the struggle that the church and saints would have against the forces of evil. In preparation for that battle, he called the believers to put on the armor of God.

Truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and the word of God are all parts of the armor. All parts of the armor are needed. We can’t take up just the sword, without all of the other pieces in place. We are told to put on the FULL armor of God.

And then, he tells us to pray for all believers. If we are to pray for God’s church and its people, we have to be prepared. We have to be ready for battle. We need the support of the armor. Suit up, for it is time to pray for our fellow believers.

Father, as I come into the throne room in prayer, I come ready for battle. I pray for all believers. I pray against the forces of evil. I pray that Your truth, Your perfect righteousness, the good news of Your gospel, the faith that You have given, Your free gift of salvation, and the Holy Scriptures would be ever before me. I pray that my petitions would bring You glory. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Psalm 31:9,14-16 (NASB)
9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
My eye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body also.
14 But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord,
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in Your hand;
Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.
16 Make Your face to shine upon Your servant;
Save me in Your lovingkindness.

We all go through times of grief. We often ask why; we often ask why me. But we have a Father that is willing to let us crawl up in His lap as He folds His arms around us to comfort us. He will never turn away if we call out to Him as our Lord and Savior.

David went through many sorrows. He was not a perfect man. Yet he always cried out to a perfect God, One whom he knew would comfort him.

Father, there have been times of trouble in my life and times of trouble to come. Yet You are my rock and my salvation. When I am in distress, may my first thoughts be of You and how you are my comfort. I pray that I will always depend on You for all  things. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Deuteronomy 6:5 (NASB)
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

“Pray is something deeper than words. It is present in the soul before it has been formulated in words. And it abides in the soul after the last words of prayer have passed over our lips.”
From the book by O. Hallesby, “Prayer”, pg 18.

Prayer is more than just words. It is nourishment for the soul. It grows our love for God like no other. It strengthens our body. Our morning prayers uphold us throughout the day and our evening prayers quiet us for a time of rest.

And that is just the tip of the iceberg. I’m pretty sure that I cannot even comprehend all of the amazing properties that prayer has on us. And when we pray, it glorifies God. I can’t think of anything more important than to spend time in prayer with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. What do you think?

Father, giving You thanks cannot express the true wonder and blessing that Your gift of prayer provides. If I were to praise you for all time and beyond, it wouldn’t give You the glory that You deserve. Yet, here I am, thanking You for prayer. I humbly praise You for it. I am without words to properly express my gratitude. Thank You also that Jesus is interceding on my behalf. It is in His name I pray. Amen.

Psalm 105:15
“Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm.”

Matthew 14:35-36
And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick; and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured.

In the Old Testament, references to touching were primarily commands to not touch someone or something. There are many references to not touching unclean things. But in the gospels, an unnamed woman who had been sick for 12 years was convinced that if she only touched the garment that Jesus wore, she would be healed. And she was. Word spread and many people wanted to touch Jesus to be healed of their afflictions.

Just how close is my relationship with Jesus? Am I someone that is in the crowd, but not near enough to reach out and touch Him? Am I someone who would rather stand back and know of Him, but not really know Him? Does the feeling of proximity to Him change from day to day? How about you?

Heavenly Father, I pray that my relationship with You would become closer each day. Jesus, I want the touch of your cloak to give me the strength to turn away from the sin in my life. I pray that You would always feel close by. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Psalm 16:8-11 (NASB)
8 I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

When I look in the mirror, do I see someone who follows Jesus? Do my actions reflect the words of my mouth? Do I constantly seek His direction and the path that He wants me to take?

Regretfully, I fall down each day. I repent. Yet He picks me up with His psalms. His Word restores me.

Father, Your words bring gladness to my heart. A recent prayer that I heard has echoed in my mind. “I know that where Your finger points, Your hand will provide.” I pray that Your will be done. I pray that my will would conform. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Luke 7:9 (NASB)
Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”

There are many examples in the Bible of people being amazed at Jesus. It was what He said, how He acted, and what He did that amazed them. However, there is only one example in scripture where Jesus was amazed and that was when He saw the faith exhibited by the Roman Centurion who asked Jesus to heal his slave. Even though Jesus was willing to go to the slave, the Centurion’s faith was so great that he told Jesus not to bother to come to him, but only “say the word” and he knew that his slave would be healed.

How often do we want a sign from Jesus rather than just believing that anything is possible through Him? How often do my prayers reflect the weakness of my faith? We can learn much from the Centurion, who simply believed. We can gain much from Jesus, who is the author and perfecter of our faith. Faith is not something that we muster. We only need to allow the faith that is possible from Jesus to fill us.

Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, I pray that You will increase my faith, even today. I pray that my spirit will accept the faith that You provide without hesitation; that it would flow through me completely as I believe just as the Centurion did. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

1 Corinthians 11:23 (NASB)
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;

The Lord’s Supper is the most precious of ordinances. Think of the time when it was given to us. Jesus was to be betrayed that night. It was the darkest night for Him, but the brightest for us. He remembered our comfort, even while he was to be put to the greatest test.

The Lord’s Supper is intended only for those that are His children; for those that love Him. Jesus is our brother and He brings to us the greatest gift of all. It is a time where we can be fed by Him as we remember what He did for us. It is all about Christ. It is a time to deal honestly with our soul, to take of it only in reverence as the sacrament that Christ intended.

Father, when I come to the table that You prepared for us, prepare my heart and cleanse my soul. I pray that I would meditate on your words and consider the love You have for your children during this sacred event. I pray that I would cherish and look forward to each time where I can share that holy meal with You. I pray in Your name. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,

Jude 20,21 (NASB)
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

Whenever we are in prayer, we are in the presence of the most Holy Triune God. The three persons of the Godhead are always there. The Father, His ear open to our words and feelings. The Son, interceding for us with the Father. The Holy Spirit whispering words of encouragement and bringing thoughts to the surface for us to speak. There can be no true prayer without all three. If we attempt to pray without even one of them, it is not true prayer. Always pray to the Father, in the name of Jesus, and by His Spirit.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, let my praise, repentance, adoration, and supplications be a sweet aroma to You. I pray that You would be glorified in all that I do and say. Your glory is my true enjoyment. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,