Pray to the Father

“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

Matthew 6:6 MSG

God, here I am. I just want to get to know You better. Forgive me for all the times I’ve made prayer about me instead of You. Change the way I think and live, and make me eager to talk to You every day. Here I am Lord, let’s talk. Amen.

Jesus never changes

Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all. For Jesus doesn’t change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he’s always totally himself.

Hebrews 13:7‭-‬8 MSG

Jesus, the world may change—but You won’t. You don’t shift. You don’t unexpectedly change Your mind or leave us. You give us a consistent example to follow because You are trustworthy and worth following. So please help us to look to You as we go about our daily lives. Help us to follow the example You set. Amen.

Love people well

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21 NIV

God, when I am overwhelmed by the brokenness I see, help me to remember that You see me. You are in control. I might not be able to stop all the pain and injustice I witness, but I can help overcome evil by doing good. Please help me to do that. Give me the courage and humility to love people well today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

According to God's purpose

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Romans 8:28 NLT

God, here I am. I need You. I want You. I am weary, and I need Your rest. I know that You are good, but right now, what I’m experiencing isn’t good. Please help me. Grieve with me, and remind me that You are near. Even though what I’m experiencing isn’t good, please redeem every part of my life for my good and Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Great is God's faithfulness

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Lamentations 3:22‭-‬23 NLT

God, when the troubles of my heart are many—You are still faithful. When I am tired, overwhelmed, burnt out, or grieving—Your love still wraps around me. Thank You for showing me kindness and mercy every day. Your mercies never cease, and Your steadfast love endures forever. Great is Your faithfulness! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

An encouraging word

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

Proverbs 12:25 NLT

God, as I go about my day, help me to be on the lookout for people who might need a reminder of Your love and kindness. Use me to be a source of encouragement to the people around me. And when I get worried by events that are beyond my control, please remind me that You are near by filling me with Your peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God's comfort

When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

Psalms 94:19 NLT

God, You are in control. And because You are in control, I am safe. I am Your child. And because nothing can separate me from You, I can run to You when I face troubles of any kind. Please help me to remember that. Remind my soul of what is true, and comfort me as I face hardships that are too big for me to handle. Fill me with joy as I believe in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God loved us first

We love because God first loved us.

1 John 4:19 NCV

God, thank You for showing every generation throughout history the same unconditional love. You are constantly inviting us to experience intimacy with You. What a beautiful gift that is! Today, no matter what I face, help me to love others like You have loved me. Let my life be evidence of Your love at work in the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May Your Love Overflow

So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:9‭-‬11 MSG

Father God, who am I to deserve being known by You? You daily give me access to Your perfect presence. And through Your Holy Spirit, You shape who I am. Please increase my knowledge of You. Deepen my love for You and my understanding of what pleases You. Keep me blameless as I await Jesus’ return. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Be strong and courageous

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 NLT

God, in You I have all I need. But when trials come sometimes I forget that You are in control. I need You to make me strong and courageous. So please give me the courage I need to trust in You. Remind me that You are with me, and that You will continue to instruct and guide me. Show me that You are near. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Love

Jesus answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’

Matthew 22:37‭-‬39 NCV

God, You triumphed evil and saved me from eternal separation from You. You showed me sacrificial, humble, and unconditional love. I am so grateful for this, and yet, sometimes I fail to love others like You’ve loved me. So today, I am choosing to intentionally show my devotion to You by loving people like You have loved me. And, I am asking You to please help me do this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Joy and Peace

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 NLT

Father God, please fill me completely with joy and peace because I trust in You. And if I start to feel overwhelmed, hopeless, confused, or fearful—remind me that You are near. Please make me aware of Your presence. Fill me up, God, so that way I might overflow with confident hope, regardless of what comes my way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

True humility

True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.

Proverbs 22:4 NLT

Jesus, You have shown me what true humility looks like by giving up Your life for my sake. Today, as I interact with other people, help me to consider others as better than myself. And help me to do this not from a place of insecurity—but because I know who I am and I love who You are. Amen.

All we need

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

2 Peter 1:3 NLT

God, thank You for giving me everything I need to live a godly life. Because of Your Spirit within me, I can have victory over every addiction, fear, or mistake that tries to hold me back. Thank You for being enough for me. I am so grateful that I get to know You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God is worthy of all our praise

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah.

Psalms 68:19 NASB1995

God, You are worthy of all my praise! When I am weak, You carry me. When I am overwhelmed, You support me. My burdens are not unknown to You. Thank You for never requiring me to bear my hardships alone. Thank You for letting me bring them to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In the light

But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:7 NLT

God, You gave us Your Son, the light of the world. Give me the courage and strength of character to follow Jesus unconditionally. Regardless of the trials or temptations I face, I want to walk with Him. I want to experience a personal relationship with Him. I want Jesus to be the one thing I pursue above all else. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Joy

The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise.

Proverbs 23:24 NLT

Father God, I am so grateful that I can call You my Father. In Your presence, I experience wholeness and joy. You are the greatest gift I have ever received. Today, please help me to live from a place of confident assurance as Your loved child. Give me Your wisdom and make me more like You. Allow me to go through life filled with Your great joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Forgive as you have been forgiven

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Colossians 3:12‭-‬15 NLT

God, just as You have forgiven me unconditionally, You are asking me to forgive others. Please help me to do that. Fill me with humility and empathy, and help me to see other people the way that You see them. Show me how to love people the way that You do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Taste and see

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Psalms 34:8 NLT

Father God, You are so good to me! I don’t have to look very far to see evidence of Your goodness in my life. Even in the midst of hard situations, You show Yourself faithful, just, ever-present, and trustworthy. I have seen that You are good because I have cried out to You for help, and You have saved me. Blessed be Your name! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living by the Holy Spirit

Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

Galatians 5:25‭-‬26 MSG

God, thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit, and for making a way for me to live by Your Spirit. You are so kind to bless me with Your presence. I don’t want to take that for granted. So starting today, please teach me how to live in step with Your Spirit. Give me confidence, boldness, and discernment as I seek to follow You with my whole heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Body of Christ

This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

1 Corinthians 12:25‭-‬27 NLT

Jesus, because of Your death and resurrection, I am part of Your body—the global Church. Help me to take the role I play in it seriously. The choices I make reflect the way Your Church is perceived. So use me to bring Your hope, love, and joy to the world. Use me to build others up. Bring revival to Your people, so that way Your Body represents You authentically and powerfully. Amen.

Stand firm

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT

God, I need You. You have given me everything I need to live a godly life, but this doesn’t mean it’s easy. So please help me to not waiver in my faith. Help me to be on guard against any attacks or lies from the devil. Give me the courage to stand strong in my belief in You, and to live for You every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Know Jesus

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

Philippians 3:10‭-‬11 NLT

Jesus, You daily show me what unconditional love looks like. Your sacrificial death paved a way for me to experience eternal life with You—a life where suffering no longer exists. No matter what I face, I want to go through life with You. So keep me close to You, and give me the strength to willingly suffer for You. Amen.

No More

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Revelation 21:4 NLT

Father God, thank You for deeply caring about who I am. I’m so grateful that one day, You will take away all the pain and hardship I’ve experienced. But until that day comes, I will trust You and cling to You. I will place my hope in You. I will bring You my pain, and allow You to comfort me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Change the way I think

We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5 MSG

God, You know everything about me. You know what I’m going to say before I speak it. You know all of my thoughts, desires, and intentions. All that I am, I give to You. And starting today, I commit to intentionally evaluating every thought that I have. Please remove any idea or behavior that will keep me from becoming the person You created me to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The harvest is great

He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Matthew 9:37‭-‬38 NLT

God, give me eyes to see how I can be the answer to Your prayer today. Show me how I can meet the needs of the people around me. Help me be the hands and feet of Jesus. And as I serve You, please let the way I live inspire others to serve You, too. Increase the number of people who are loving You by loving others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Love your enemies

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

Matthew 5:44 NLT

God, this is so hard, especially when it comes to those who have hurt me or my family so deeply. It is only by Your power and Your love that I can do this, so here I go Lord. I forgive them: the people who’ve caused me pain … the people who’ve wronged and betrayed me. I forgive them, because You forgave me. Please bless those people, Lord. Transform their lives and bless them like You have blessed me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Take heart

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 NLT

God, I believe in You. No matter what comes my way—I believe that You have overcome the world. Even though trouble is ever-present, You are my constant source of peace. You surround me and protect me. Nothing is too difficult for You to accomplish. I will praise You because You are the One in whom I trust—You are in control. Amen.

Renewed by the Word of God

You’re my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me.

Psalm 119:114 MSG

God, I place my hope in You. Every word from You proves true. Your Word shows that You’ll never leave me, You’ll fight for me, and You’ll protect me. So when I’m afraid or overwhelmed, I will not lose heart. I will remember Your promises and run to You. You are my refuge and strength—the One in whom I trust. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For the glory of God

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT

God, whatever I do, please help me to do it for Your glory. When I’m talking to other people—let it be for Your glory. When I’m working—let it be for Your glory. When I’m spending time with family and friends—let it be for your glory. In all that I say and do, let me do it for You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.