Something Greater

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