Days 63-68, Romans 12:9-12

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

-Romans 12: 9-12

Father, you know what is going to happen to all of us in our daily lives! You have planned it out from the beginning. Lord, I confess my sinful nature of being lazy and letting my desire to do things that are easy and thoughtless take over! The very things that keep me away from you! I thank you whole-heartedly for the friendships you have placed into my life; the sisters and brothers I have in Christ and the family and friends I have that don't know you. Your blessings are too much when I stop and think of them all. I pray for my love to show through your strength; that the people in my life would know your love because of how I show love to them. May I be patient and always in prayer.

Lord, I pray for the leaders of my church. Thank you for the Drapers! Thank you for calling them back to IL and for speaking so clearly on how you would have them serve. Thank you for their hearts of sacrifice and love! How gentle their spirits are; how gracefully they have walked through adversity because they rely upon your strength! Thank you for the example they are of your servant Jesus Christ! I pray that the church would come around them and support them in their new ministry roles. May they be strengthened and encouraged by us.

Thank you for the members of my small group as well. I am blessed by their love and concern daily! I am amazed at how you call people together to glorify you! You are glorified through the men and women here! You constantly amaze me and I cannot wait to gaze upon your face and sing your praises forever!

Thank you for your sacrifice and the love you have for us. May we live as Romans instructs; to love genuinely.

Days 59-62: Ecclesiastes 7:21 & 22

Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.
-Ecclesiastes 7:21 & 22

Father, how true these words are! Especially right now in my life! Thank you that I can turn to your word in every situation and find something that speaks to my heart! Father, I pray for my attitude at work. I have been quick to anger; jumping to the worst possible outcome immediately. I ask that you would grant me a calm spirit in that place. I ask for the desire to even get out of bed and go to work! As that has become a challenge recently. Lord, help me love others who I don't get along with! Humble my heart and mind so that I have a servant attitude and not one trying to control everything. Thank you for being a wonderful leader that was humble and giving so that I have an example to follow. May I look for your guidance in my daily walk. May I actually look like a Christian to the world, not like someone who doesn't know you at all! Father, help me, I am not strong enough to do this on my own!

In Christ's name, Amen!

Days 55-58: Ecclesiastes 7:14

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

- Ecclesiastes 7:14

Father, you have given us your word so that we may find you in our lives! Thank you for doing this and for being so much more than I can possibly imagine. You know when I need to read, hear, or see certain things to keep on your path; thank you for bringing me to this verse today. Thank you for the book of Ecclesiastes! Thank you for the wisdom in this book. I pray for this wisdom; I pray that I would seek out righteousness before evil and that I would not try to understand your ways. Thank you, Father, for making both prosperous days and adverse ones! One without the other would mean I would never know you! Thank you for days of trial, for they have drawn me closer to you! I pray my heart would continue to seek after you!

In Christ's precious name, Amen!

Day 52-54: Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

-Ephesians 2:10

Father, thank you for creating us with a desire to work. Thank you for giving me the desire to always be working toward a goal. Lord, I confess my need for perfection and control. I confess that when I know how to fix something that I often will do anything to get it taken care of; to the point of stepping beyond my place. Lord, I ask for patience in situations where I know I am right, but do not have the power to change anything! I ask that you would take away the resentment that is starting to build and replace it with love for those around me in this difficult predicament. I also pray for direction in where you want me to be working. You know what I can and cannot handle! Father, show me the path to take! Thank you for loving me and for walking with me through this often times rough journey!

In Christ's awesome name, Amen!

Day 48-51: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Father, thank you for the gift of life! Thank you for all the wonderful gifts you give us within this life on earth and the eternal life praising you! Thank you for family and friends, for joyous occasions and for support in times of trial. Thank you for loving us!

In Christ's name, Amen.

Day 47: Psalm 4:1

"Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!"

-Psalm 4:1

Father, You hear our prayers and you promise to answer them when they are in line with your will for our lives! Thank you for being a God that knows our every thought and desire. Thank you for wanting us to come to you still and reveal our hearts to you. Thank you for caring about our desires and for shaping us into men and women who love and serve to glorify you! Lord, show me where you would have me in this world! Show me where to serve at church and how to serve outside of the body of Christ. Teach me how to love the lost and be a light among the darkness. Father, care for the suffering and embrace them in your arms. Lord, thank you for easing my pain. Even though the pain is lessened, the desire is still there. Lord, I pray for your timing; knowing that it is perfect. I pray for peace in the waiting! May I serve you while I wait!

In Christ's name, Amen!

Days 43-46; Mark 13: 32-37

"But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake."

-Mark 13: 32-37

Father, May I stay awake and always look for your presence in my life! May I work for your glory. May I find peace and joy in walking with you! May you work all things together in my life for your glory! May I worship you consciously! Thank you for your guiding principles and words!

In Christ's name, Amen!