Something Greater

Lord, how my troubles have increased today! I feel overwhelmed and and I need your help. Protect me from faithless anxiety. Remind me of your great goodness and sovereign rule over all that concerns me. Grant me trust-filled sleep and restore my confidence in your control over all circumstances. Remind me of your promises and plans for me, promises and plans of righteousness and justice. Restore my trust in you unfailing love. Everything in the world and all that is in the universe are under your control, Lord. Teach me to fear the consequences of ignoring you, of minimizing you, of making plans and pursuing goals with little regard for your majestic power and judgement. Teach me to depend on your faithful love, in all circumstances, through thick and through thin. Teach me to wait for you, to rejoice in you, to trust in you, and to hope in you. I lift my eyes to you, the one enthroned in heaven. Like a servant’s eyes on his master’s hand, like a servant girl’s...

Oh my soul, why are you sad today? Have you forgotten the joy of forgiveness? What troubles are you keeping to yourself today, hiding from your Lord, refusing to pour out your heart to the One Who hears and cares? Is your pain caused by distrust of your Maker and Master? Do not act like a stubborn mule without understanding! Trust in the Lord and come near to his faithful love. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice in his forgiveness and favor! Find rest in God alone. Do not try to find satisfaction in circumstances of business or fame or distraction. Put no trust in defeating others, in gaining wealth, or ruling with importance. Strength belongs to God. Faithful love belongs to the Lord. He alone will have the final word on all things. He alone is just, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Rejoice, oh soul! Place into his hands all that you need and desire, and rest secure in his goodness and power over all circumstances and conditions. Trust in the Lord and come...

Lord, what broken, sin-confused platform, pleasure or protest am I thoughtlessly allowing to guide my plans and desires? What assumptions am I naively making that I'm not questioning...not contrasting with your holy Word? Lord God Almighty, my only King and Counselor, Savior and Sustainer, lead me in the way I should walk, the way in which I should stand, the way in which I should sit, and the way in which is my greatest good and your greatest glory! In you, O Lord, do I take refuge from deceptive, destructive counsel. In your righteousness deliver me. For your name's sake, lead me and guide me out of the net of self-glorification, self-moralization, and self-defeating desire to impress others. Into your hand I commit my spirit, for you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God! My times are in your hand, and gladly will I trust you through thick and through thin. A Prayer based upon Psalms 1, 31, 61, 91, 121 // Milt Reynolds Photo by Quang ...

Yesterday, Lord...my heart and head in turmoil, overwhelmed by circumstances beyond my control. I cried to you for help, and now I see that you have brought me through it, granting me trust-filled rest and praise-filled joy in how you have provided for me today. Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God. Who understands the power of your anger? Your wrath matches the fear that is due you. Teach me to number my days carefully so that I may develop wisdom in our hearts. Satisfy me in the morning with your faithful love, amplify your joy in me, open my eyes to see your work of splendor, and establish me in your glory! Let everything that breathes praise the Lord God Almighty. Hallelujah! A Prayer based upon Psalms 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 // Milt Reynolds Photo by Vanburn Gonsalves on Unsplash

Lord, give me strength today...strength to trust you when circumstances are difficult and my emotions are troubled. Give me peace today...peace to obey your Word, to love you more than anything this world can offer, and to love my friends and neighbors the way you love me. Break down my pride, Lord. By your power, teach me to recognize my need for you. Bring me into situations today that reveal my selfishness, my lack of humility, my false sense of superiority over others. Open my mouth to clearly speak of your faithful love, your wonderful providence, your awe-inspiring strength and wisdom in creation, redemption and restoration. All of heaven and earth belong to you...you created them in righteousness and justice, in faithful love and truth. You have made Jesus to be the Rock of my salvation, the greatest of all kings. For the sake of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, forgive my sin and form my heart to love and obey you above all others. Halleluja...

Lord, my heart feels frustrated and resentful towards people and circumstances. Open my mind to consider what you have done, and are doing, and will do in, and around, and through me...even in this difficult time. Make my heart to trust in your strength and wisdom in all things, pleasing or painful. Lead me into trust-filled patience and compassion and genuine love for you and for those you have brought into my life. Thank you, Lord, for your goodness, for your faithful love, even in my distress and fear. You are for me; I will not be afraid. You are my helper; I will not give in to despair or anger. Bring to my mind today a song of praise, a prayer of trust, and a shout of victory. I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what you have done! Do what is best, Lord, as you teach my unruly, ungrateful, disobedient heart and mind to trust and obey your holy Word. Satisfy my heart with the promise and presence and preciousness of Jesus, my Redeemer, Savior and Ki...

Our Lord is great, vast in power; his understanding is infinite. He is my light and my salvation — whom should I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life — whom should I dread? Because of my adversaries, show me your way, LORD, and lead me on a level path. Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me, for I take refuge in you. I will seek refuge in the shadow of your wings until danger passes. I am certain that I will see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living. My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident. I will sing; I will sing praises. My whole source of joy is in you. Lord, calm my heart and turn my mind to your holy Word. Strengthen my weak faith. Turn my fearful heart towards trust-filled dependence upon you alone, in every circumstance in which you have brought me. Strengthen and encourage my heart to wait for you. A Prayer based upon Psalms 27, 57, 87, 117, 147 // Milt Reynolds Photo by Devon Hawkins on Unsplash