God hears us

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.

Psalms 40:1‭-‬2 NLT

God, I don’t always understand Your timing, but I want to patiently wait on You. Please hear my prayers and comfort me when I struggle to understand Your plans. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Father to the fatherless

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

Psalms 68:5 NLT

God, You care for those who might struggle to feel like they belong. Thank You for welcoming everyone into Your Kingdom and family. Please make me aware of the people who need extra love and care. Show me how to offer the same hospitality that You give to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Focus on God's vision

Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:3 NLT

God, I want my life to be lived for Your glory. In moments where it is difficult for me to surrender my plans to You, please help me focus on Your vision for the future. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Trust in the Lord

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 NLT

God, You are worthy of all of my trust. But sometimes, it can be difficult not to let the world distract me from trusting You. Please help me to trust You with all of my heart and mind, beyond my feelings, thoughts, and circumstances. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Love is the greatest

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT

God, You created faith, hope, and love. But Your love is the strongest creation. It is because You loved me first that I can love others. Please increase my ability to show faith, hope, and love to everyone around me, for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Rejoice in the Lord

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

Habakkuk 3:17‭-‬18 NLT

God, I can’t help but be grateful and notice the ways that You’re working. Thank You for all that You’ve done, and for sending me Jesus. Thank You for creating a way for me to know You, and for You to know me. Because of Your great love, I can rejoice at all times! Thank You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kind words

Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

Proverbs 16:24 NLT

God, please give me opportunities to speak words that encourage and bring healing to others. Let my love for You inspire me to offer kind words to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Don't worry about tomorrow

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Matthew 6:34 NLT

God, You tell me that I don’t need to worry about tomorrow. This can be so challenging when I think of all that’s happened in the world around me. Please help me to lay down my concerns to You and trust that You hear my prayers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Eyes of the Lord

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

1 Peter 3:12 NLT

God, You see and know all things. You hear our prayers and desire for all to know of Your goodness. Forgive me when I fail to live with perfect integrity. Even though I make mistakes, I am grateful that You don’t reject me. Because of Jesus, You don’t hide from me. Thank You for showing me grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Lord is King

And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord—his name alone will be worshiped.

Zechariah 14:9 NLT

God, You see and know my heart better than anyone. And You reign over all things. I want people to know You, so please provide me with opportunities to share You with others. Give me the courage and boldness to make You known wherever I go. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Seek God wholeheartedly

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

Jeremiah 29:13 NLT

God, thank You for revealing Yourself to the world, and to me. Thank You for choosing to have a personal relationship with me. Today, please help me to seek You with my whole heart. And as I draw closer to You, please deepen my relationship with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Beyond anything you could imagine

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8‭-‬9 NLT

God, I want my thoughts to be in line with Your thoughts. I want my ways to be in line with Your ways. Please work in my heart and mind so that this becomes a reality. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Our refuge and strength

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

Psalms 46:1 NLT

God, You are my refuge and strength! You sustain my life every day. When I am in trouble, You help me overcome my circumstances. Thank You for giving me a future and hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Care for others

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

James 1:27 NLT

God, You know my heart and intentions. Search me and know my ways, and purify my desires to look more like Yours. Help me to be a light in the world. You invite me to care for others around me. Please provide opportunities where I might encourage and serve people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Patient endurance

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12 NLT

God, You promise to bless those who remain faithful to You in trials. Thank You for seeing my pain and hardship and not allowing it to go unnoticed. Thank You for promising to reward my perseverance one day. When I face hard times, help me to grow into the person You have called me to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I trust in God

This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.

Psalms 91:2 NLT

God, You are my shield and Protector. With each new day, I want to trust You more and more with every part of my life. Please help me to release my plans and desires over to You. I trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Lord is close

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalms 34:18 NLT

Father God, You are always near, but today I am inviting You to come close to me. Show me how near You are. Here are my burdens—please take them. I am tired of pretending that I can carry them. Remove my fears and replace any heaviness in my life with Your relentless love. Come close to me as I come close to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Search me oh God

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Psalms 139:23‭-‬24 NLT

God, You know my heart better than anyone else. Please test my heart so that it would look more and more like Your heart. Know my thoughts and realign them with Your thoughts and will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

There is no one like You God

“How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!

2 Samuel 7:22 NLT

God, You are so great! You are the only true God and there is no one like You. Thank You for the ways that You have chosen to reveal Yourself to me. I long to hear Your words and remain obedient to You. Please continue to make Your presence known to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Spirit

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

1 John 4:4 NLT

God, thank You for giving me the courage and discipline to pursue You and keep away from evil. Because of Your work in my life, I know that You are greater than anything that fights against me. You have overcome the world, and You live in me! Strengthen me, and help me continue to eradicate the character traits that are not in Your nature. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God's peace will guard you

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7 NLT

God, by Your grace, You have offered me a relationship with You. I can be known by You, and I can know You. Thank You for giving me peace that extends beyond my feelings and circumstances. Thank You for protecting my heart and mind from becoming overwhelmed by what’s happening around me. Because of You, I can have peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Good knows better than I do

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Luke 11:13 NLT

God, thank You for giving good gifts to Your children. Thank You for sending Your Spirit to us when we need guidance and assurance. As I go about my week, please help me to trust that You are near. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Love is a verb

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

1 John 3:18 NLT

God, please help me to love others through my actions. It’s because of Your love and the act of sending Jesus to us that I am able to love others. Help me to honor people in my life through words, deeds, and actions. Please provide me with opportunities where I can serve others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thank you God for the women in our lives

She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.

Proverbs 31:20 NLT

God, thank You for the women You’ve placed in my life that encourage me and model their lives after You. Thank You for their hearts of service and leadership and the way it shapes those around them. Please continue to guide them as they live out their callings. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sustained by God's Word

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 4:4 NLT

God, I want Your Word to be alive and active in my life. Scripture helps me examine my thoughts and convicts me to live as Jesus did. I cannot live apart from Your Word because it offers me a way to know You more deeply. Please continue to reveal Yourself to me through Scripture, and sustain me through Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Return to the Lord

That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Joel 2:12 NLT

God, even after I disobey You, You still call after me. You still love me abundantly. Thank you for making a way for me to return to You. Please make anything that dishonors You completely unappealing to me. Change my heart and make me eager to seek after You and Your righteousness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Refreshed

For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.”

Jeremiah 31:25 NLT

God, when I am weak, You are strong. When I am lonely, You are my comforter. When I feel unable to keep moving forward, You give me the strength I need to persevere. Please remind me when I feel overwhelmed that You are with me. Refresh my soul, and give me rest. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Devote yourself to prayer

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Colossians 4:2 NLT

God, starting a new habit can be hard, but I want to dedicate time to pray with You each day. Help me to develop a discipline of prayer, offering You thanks for all that You are doing in the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Confess and be forgiven

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

1 John 1:9 NLT

God, I confess that I have not always been the person You’ve created me to be. I sometimes fail to love You with my whole heart, mind, and soul. I do not always love my neighbors as You love them. Please forgive me, God. Transform my heart and renew my mind so that I can draw closer to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Repent and turn to God

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.

Acts of the Apostles 3:19 NLT

God, I am so thankful that You don’t hold me to a standard of perfection. When I make a mistake, You accept and forgive me. You never give up on me—thank You. When I confess my wrongdoing, please help me avoid making the same mistakes again. I want to live a life that honors You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I thirst for the living God

I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?

Psalms 42:2 NLT

God, I want to spend time getting to know You, and I desire for You to know me. Thank you for making it possible for me to meet with You anywhere I go. As I seek You, let me find You. Please make me continually aware of Your presence in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.