Something Greater

Christ is risen! O Lord, you drew Jesus up from the grave, shutting the mouths of his enemies, healing his body, mind and soul, fully restored to life forever more. Grant us that same hope, O Lord! Through days of fatigue, times of loss, and years of toil, renew for us the joy of our salvation. Bring us under the banner of your love, and grant us heart-filled hope of that same mercy-covered, grace-filled resurrection. O Lord, be our helper today and forever! Turn our pain into praise, our fatigue into faithful prayer, our regret into rest. Too long have we forgotten you. Beginning today, may our daily dwelling place be with your holy Spirit, through your holy Word. May we hide our sin from you no longer. May we number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom, satisfied with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Let everything within us praise your great goodness and rule over our lives! A Prayer based upon Psalms 30, 60, 90...

Lord, be our shepherd and provide what we need. Grant us rest, even as we do what you have called us to do. Renew our minds and hearts to desire and do what is good and true, in everything honoring you. Lead us through the circumstances and challenges that you have determined for us today, for the sake of your great goodness, wisdom, and power. Even when we go through the darkest hour, weak and dismayed, strengthen our hearts against any fear that you have left us alone. Comfort us with correction and support. Strengthen our hearts against plans and passions that corrupt faithful obedience to you. Remind us of all you have done, the work of your hands, your faithfulness, and your righteousness. Prepare us to be with you for all eternity. Fill us with your spirit of goodness and faithful love and praise, from the rising of the sun to its setting. You alone are the Most High over this whole earth, yet you stoop down to raise the poor from the dust, and the needy from the tras...

Lord, be not far from me, for today's tasks and obligations feel overwhelming, stress-filled, and tiring. Holy Spirit of God, grant me patient endurance, remembering the great goodness and power of God that is working in me for his glory and my ultimate good, through thick and through thin. When I reach the end of myself, remind me of the holy sacrificial suffering endured by Jesus for my sake, and the righteous redemption and rescue made by Jesus for my sake. May I fear dishonoring my Savior in disobedient despair. May frustration today be turned into faithful praise of all that Christ has purchased for me. May I trust in the steadfast love of God for every moment and every circumstance that he has determined for me today. May I be thankfully firm, trusting in the Lord, with a steady heart, unafraid. because God has done it all! A Prayer based upon Psalms 22, 52, 82, 112, 142 Photo by NEOM on Unsplash

O Lord, forgive me for running to other people and things for refuge: images, sounds, articles, news, politics, posts, food, drink, people and places. All these are gifts, and can be pleasing and useful, but my greatest need is my God and Father, your holy Word, your Spirit of comfort and help, your holy Son of salvation and authority, and your steadfast love. Today I feel entangled and caught by fatigue and unfinished projects. Today I call upon you in my distress. To you I call for help. Draw me out, Lord, rescue me from apathy and careless distraction. Bring me out into a broad place, a place of delightful dependence upon you alone. Lighten my darkness, clear my mind, focus my sight and sharpen my hearing. Support me, encourage me, secure my steps, teach me humility, trust, honesty and perseverence, and guide me in the way of Jesus my King. Fulfill your purpose for me. Thank you, O Lord, for your steadfast love and your faithfulness! A Prayer based upon Psalms 18...

God our Father, help me today to consider the wonder of your faithful love. Your love-filled holy Spirit opened my mind and heart to the seriousness of my sin, and the sacredness of your Savior. Your love-filled holy Son Jesus took upon himself the wrath-filled punishment for sin that I deserved. Your love-filled power over death raised Jesus from the grave. Your love-filled authority over all people and all things made Jesus our King. What a wonder! Today, may your holy Spirit fill me with satisfaction, even as I deal with all that you will set in my path, through thick and through thin. Let not my troubles make me to forget you, Lord. Help me to remember and rejoice in your care, moment by moment. In all that troubles me today, remind me to cry aloud to you, to seek you, to lean into weakness as an opportunity to trust you. Give me a song today, to rejoice in, and perhaps even sing! Open my heart to trust that someday soon we will see Jesus as King over th...

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge. You are my Lord, my King, my Defender, my Ruler...I have no good apart from you. Protect my heart from seeking from the world that which only you are able to provide: counsel, instruction, security, joy, goodness, life, and pleasures forevermore. Though earthly princes and kings rage, and the mountains of nations and kingdoms crumble into tyranny, anarchy and chaos, may you be my refuge and my fortress. Lord, still my heart and mind with humble, trust-filled obedience, knowing that you are God. You will be exalted among all nations, over all the earth! Lord God, help me to remember your abundant, steadfast love. I have sinned. I have committed iniquity. I have done wickedness. Yet you have promised me forgiveness and redemption through the life, death, resurrection and return of Jesus, your Son, our Lord and King. You have saved me from the hand of the Enemy! You heard my cry, and withheld your wrath, and showed me me...

O Lord, calm my anxious thoughts and my discouragement. I've hurt others with my words and quietly resented those around me. I've carelessly given my heart to things that dishonor you and those I love. I've acted as if you do not see nor judge me. I've broken my word. I've believed lies. My heart is so far away from all that you created me for. Open my eyes to hear in your holy word how great and good you have been to me. Pierce my hard heart and bring me to my knees in repentance and rejoicing. You love righteousness and hate wickedness. May your holy Spirit remake my heart and mind after your own! Command faith-filled obedience in me. Exalt yourself above all that this world promises and threatens. Fill my heart and mind with humble dependence upon you alone for all my hungers and thirsts. A Prayer based upon Psalms 15, 45, 75, 105, 135 Photo by Sam Williams on Unsplash

How long, Lord Jesus? How long will I feel distant from you? How long must I deal with all these anxious concerns within me? How long will weakness dominate me? I feel my feet slipping. I feel I am losing my way. I am tempted to arrogance and envy and self-absorbed pity. Let me not fall! Let me not be swept away from faithful obedience to your love! Holy Spirit of God, restore brightness to my eyes, and victory over my brokenness, and rejoicing in your faithful love. O my soul, bless the Lord, and all that is within me bless the Lord and do not forget all that your Savior has accomplished: forgiveness and redemption, a heart that loves you, faithful love and compassion. I confess my bitterness as sin and stupidity. Who do I have in heaven but you? I know that you are always with me. You hold my right hand, you guide me with your Word, and you will take me up in glory in the end. My flesh and my heart may fail, but you, Lord Jesus, are the strength of my heart, m...

Save me, O Lord, for my faith and obedience are being tested. The world is loud with lies and flattery and hypocrisy, and I feel myself drawn into the boastful, self-exalting madness of using wealth and power to plunder the poor and possess pleasure for myself. I feel my heart growing cold and calculating, weak in faith and envious of others. Place me, O Lord, in the safety of your Holy Spirit's correction and comfort. Open my eyes and ears to the promises of your holy Word. My soul thirsts for the peace that is found only in Jesus. Come, Lord Jesus! Restore to me a heart of rejoicing and reverent awe of your great goodness. Teach me to love my salvation, purchased for me at great cost by your Son Jesus Christ. May you, Lord Jesus, have dominion from sea to sea, to the ends of the earth. May your enemies bow down before you in genuine repentance and joy-filled celebration! May all nations call you Blessed! May the whole earth be filled with your glory! A...

In you, O Lord, I take refuge. My unholiness and self-worship are destroying my soul. I long to see your face, to think as you think, to feel as you feel, to do as you do. Protect and deliver me, Lord, from my spiritual sickness. Rescue me from wickedness. Be gracious to me and heal me, for I have sinned against you. For you are my hope and trust. Be not far from me. Holy Spirit of God, remind me of Jesus, of all that he has suffered on my behalf, and all the mighty work that he has accomplished for me. O God! You have done great things! Who is like you? Revive my soul and comfort me with your mercy and grace, your steadfast love and justice. A Prayer based upon Psalms 11, 41, 71, 101, 131 // Milt Reynolds Photo by Minja Nim on Unsplash

Lead me, O Lord, in all that is good and right in your sight. Today I face so many tests of faith: weariness of body, chores yet to be finished, friends and family enduring difficult circumstances and conditions, my own selfishness and pride...Lord, I need your Spirit of goodness and rightness every moment today! Encourage my heart to rejoice in your power and authority over all these tests of faith. Spread your protection over all that concerns me, that I endure the hard things faithfully, with a softened heart, trusting in your promise to be near those who love your name and seek your face and your ways. Say to my soul, "I am your Salvation! I am your Rest!" A Prayer based upon Psalms 5, 35, 65, 95, 125 // Milt Reynolds Photo by Clément Falize on Unsplash