Category: Christian Living

Pleading in Prayer

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2019 was about praying. I went through Jesus’ Example Prayer and now I have prayed through Psalm 119. God timed that one perfectly! For 2020 I want to continue praying God’s Word, but with a greater emphasis on God’s Word rather. God’s Word is the best foundation for life.

Here is the last section of Psalm 119. God is so good!

Listen to my cry for help, O Lord!
Give me insight by Your word!
Listen to my appeal for mercy!
Deliver me, as You promised. 

Psalm 119:169-170

Dear Heavenly Father, I need You! Give me the understanding that Your Word provides.  Listen to my plea for compassion and deliverance according to Your promises.

May praise flow freely from my lips,
for You teach me your statutes.
May my tongue sing about Your instructions,
for all Your commands are just. 

Psalm 119:171-172

May I readily show appreciation for how You teach me and sing about Your justice.

May Your hand help me,
for I choose to obey Your precepts.
I long for Your deliverance, O Lord;
I find delight in Your law.
May I live and praise You!
May Your regulations help me!
I have wandered off like a lost sheep.
Come looking for Your servant,
for I do not forget Your commands.

Psalm 119:173-176

I need help to continue choosing to obey Your ways. I long for the freedom only You can provide.  I have joy in Your law.  May I praise You as long as I live.  I need the protection and help from Your ways. 

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Holding and Being Held

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Rulers pursue me for no reason,
yet I am more afraid of disobeying Your instructions.
I rejoice in Your instructions,
like one who finds much plunder.

Psalm 119:161-162

Dear Heavenly Father, even though there are those who want to hurt me I am more afraid of disobeying You.  Your ways are more exciting than treasure.

I hate and despise deceit;
I love Your law.
Seven times a day I praise You
because of Your just regulations.
Those who love Your law are completely secure;
nothing causes them to stumble.

Psalm 119:163-165

Deceit is disgusting.  Your law is truth, therefore I love it.  I praise You for Your just laws. Thank You for the security Your laws bring.

I hope for Your deliverance, O Lord,
and I obey Your commands.
I keep Your rules;
I love them greatly.
I keep Your precepts and rules,
for You are aware of everything I do.

Psalm 119:166-168

Thank you for the sure hope of deliverance by following Your laws.  I will keep Your rules.  I know You are watching me.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Defense and Deliverance

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See my pain and rescue me!
For I do not forget Your law.
Fight for me and defend me!
Revive me with Your word!
The wicked have no chance for deliverance,
for they do not seek Your statutes.

Psalm 119:153-155 NET

Dear Heavenly Father, help me in my weakness, I work hard to follow Your ways. The wicked cannot be delivered; they do not follow Your laws.

Your compassion is great, O Lord.
Revive me, as You typically do!
The enemies who chase me are numerous.
Yet I do not turn aside from Your rules.
I take note of the treacherous and despise them,
because they do not keep Your instructions.

Psalm 119:156-158 NET

I am in awe of Your wonderful compassion.  Restore me as You always do.  There are so many who want me to fail, but I refuse to go against Your law.  I watch for those who seek to harm others and despise them, because they hate Your ways.

See how I love Your precepts!
O Lord, revive me with Your loyal love!
Your instructions are totally reliable;
all Your just regulations endure.

Psalm 119:159-160 NET

I will live Your ways!  Revive me with Your lovingkindness.  Your ways are trustworthy and will endure.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Cry Out and Meditate

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I cried out with all my heart, “Answer me, O Lord!
I will observe Your statutes.”
I cried out to You, “Deliver me,
so that I can keep Your rules.”
I am up before dawn crying for help.
I find hope in Your word.

Psalm 119:145-147 NET

Dear Heavenly Father – please hear me.  I need Your help to follow Your rules.  I call for help early in the day.  I find hope in Your word.

My eyes anticipate the nighttime hours,
so that I can meditate on Your word.
Listen to me because of Your loyal love!
O Lord, revive me, as You typically do!
Those who are eager to do wrong draw near;
they are far from Your law.
You are near, O Lord,
and all Your commands are reliable.
I learned long ago that
You ordained Your rules to last. 

Psalm 119:148-152 NET

I look forward to the time that I can meditate on Your word.  I need to talk to You and be strengthened by You. Those who cling to wrong are close by.  They do not want to follow Your law.  Thank you that You and Your rules are reliable and meant to last.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Fairness, Justice, and Reliability

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You are just, O Lord,
and Your judgments are fair.
The rules You impose are just,
and absolutely reliable. 

Psalm 119:137-138 NET

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that your rules are like You: fair, just, and reliable.  This fills my heart with joy.

My zeal consumes me,
for my enemies forget Your instructions.
Your word is absolutely pure,
and Your servant loves it! 

Psalm 119:139-140 NET

I am excited to follow Your rules.  Why do some forget them?

I am insignificant and despised,
yet I do not forget Your precepts.
Your justice endures,
and Your law is reliable.
Distress and hardship confront me,
yet I find delight in Your commands.
Your rules remain just.
Give me insight so that I can live.

Psalm 119:141-144 NET

I am no one special, but I will follow Your ways. They are consistent and they last. When hard times come, Your ways are a comfort to me and bring joy.  I love You, Lord.

I pray this in Jesus’ Name.

God is so good.

Understanding, Direction, and Light

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Your rules are marvelous.
Therefore I observe them.
Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines.
They give insight to the untrained.
I open my mouth and pant,
because I long for Your commands.

Psalm 119:129-131

Dear Heavenly Father, Your rules, Your ways are worth longing after.  They give us understanding, direction, and light.

Turn toward me and extend mercy to me,
as you typically do to Your loyal followers.
Direct my steps by Your word!
Do not let any sin dominate me!
Deliver me from oppressive men,
so that I can keep Your precepts.

Psalm 119:132-134

I seek the mercy that You give to Your loyal followers.  Guide me with Your word.  Do not let those who oppose You stop me from obeying Your rules.

Smile on Your servant!
Teach me Your statutes!
Tears stream down from my eyes,
because people do not keep Your law.

Psalm 119:135-136

Teach me the joy of Your ways.  I cry when I see those who do not obey You. 

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

The Strength to be Thankful

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I have spent this week talking about areas of life where I have a hard time being thankful. When I struggle, I often go to Scripture – the Bible – to find real events that happened in the lives of men and women. These people had hard times, but still shouted praise to God.  When others are able to do that, I find more strength to do the same.  I hope this helps you.

Give thanks to the Lord! Call on His name! Make known His accomplishments among the nations.

1 Chronicles 16:8 NET

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good
and His loyal love endures.

1 Chronicles 16:34 NET

Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
and His courts with praise.
Give Him thanks.
Praise His name.

Psalm 100:4 NET

I will thank the Lord with all my heart!
I will tell about all Your amazing deeds.
I will be happy and rejoice in You.
I will sing praises to You, O Most High.

Psalm 9:1-2 NET

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His loyal love endures. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His loyal love endures!

Psalm 136:1,26 NET

Praise the Lord, O my soul.
With all that is within me, praise His holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul.
Do not forget all His kind deeds.
He is the One who forgives all your sins,
who heals all your diseases,
who delivers your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with His loyal love and compassion,

Psalm 103:1-4 NET

God is so good.

Bad Weather Anyone?

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Living in Minne”snow”ta, I expect bad weather.  Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, we had a lot of heavy, wet snow.  I confess that after getting over 50” of snow last February (plus more the rest of the winter), I did not look forward to snow this winter.  So, in order to remember thankfulness this week, I had to do a lot of praying. 

I enjoy having snow on the ground in the winter.  The ground looks prettier – and let’s face it, who doesn’t like a white Christmas?  It is the difficulty of clearing the snow from my driveway that I don’t like.  It can be hard to do. 

When I encounter tasks like snow removal, that cause me difficulties, I spend time in prayer.  I have to admit, clearing my driveway at the end of a hard day can be therapeutic.  I can burn calories and negative emotions in the same shovel swing.

We know in this life there will be things that attack our attitude of gratitude.  We know from the Bible and many life blessings, that God is good.

God is so good.

When You’re Sick of Being Sick

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Health issues can be so heavy they topple us.  Some health issues are a tough inconvenience, while others change the course of our lives.  Being sick challenges our desire to give thanks to God.

While health issues can make it hard to be thankful, God has shown me ways to find gratitude.  I can start with the fact the Jesus Christ died for my sins. His gift of salvation is easy to be thankful for.

2 Corinthians 12:9 gives us help in our weakness.  “But he said to me, ‘My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.”

Health issues cause physical weakness.  When we lose what we are used to having, we are more likely to cry out to God for help. Then He shows us so much more to be thankful for.

God is so good.

Insight into Following God’s Way

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I do what is fair and right.
Do not abandon me to my oppressors!
Guarantee the welfare of Your servant!
Do not let the arrogant oppress me!
My eyes grow tired as I wait for Your deliverance,
for Your reliable promise to be fulfilled.

Psalm 119:121-123 NET

Dear Heavenly Father, there is such a fight between Your right way of living and those who oppose it.  Please keep me on the right path and protect me from those who would lead me astray.  I long for the fulfillment of Your promise.

Show your servant Your loyal love!
Teach me your statutes!
I am Your servant. Give me insight,
so that I can understand Your rules.
It is time for the Lord to act—
they break Your law!
For this reason I love Your commands
more than gold, even purest gold.
For this reason I carefully follow all Your precepts.
I hate all deceitful actions. 

Psalm 119:124-128 NET

Give me insight into the truth of Your word.  Teach me what I need to know.  Show me Your loyal love.  I love Your commands; they are more valuable than the purest gold.  I despise actions that go against Your way.  I will carefully obey what You command.

I pray this in Jesus’ Name.

God is so good.