#761 - PSALMS 31:24 // PROVERBS 31:10

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord! Psalm 31:24

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. Proverbs 31:10

Heavenly Father, I need to wait on you. You are worthy of being waited on. I praise you for how you’ve honored how I’ve waited on you in the past. I thank you. But now, I must wait on you again. For the next season in my life to get underway, I must finish this season well. I must wait on your timing for things to move forward. I must wait on how you will act in the lives of others. I must wait, and I bless your name for giving me this opportunity to wait. Your word promises that in my waiting, you will renew my strength. Give my heart courage Lord as I wait on you. You have perfect timing. You have a perfect way. Waiting on you is waiting for perfection. Thank you for wanting to give me nothing less than perfect timing. I praise your name, and will wait for you in whatever form or fashion you call me to for as long as you call me to! You are worthy!

I praise you Lord for my wife. I praise you for her grace. Her kindness. Her patience. The way she serves me, thinks about me, prefers me. I have found an excellent wife, she is more precious than jewels, and it is only by your grace that this is true. Thank you Lord for 16+ years of marriage in which every year we have grown closer to you and closer to each other. Help me Lord to honor my wife as the precious gift that she is to me. I repent for the many ways in which I have failed to do this. I repent for the ways in which I’ve taken your gift to me for granted. I repent for not loving as you have loved the church. Help me Lord. I am in desperate need of your Holy Spirit power to be the husband that you have called me to be. I need your Holy Spirit to be the husband that my wife needs to see you, glorify you, and surrender every part of her life to you. Strengthen me Lord by your hand. I pray all of this in Jesus name, Amen.

#760 - PSALMS 30:4-5 // PROVERBS 30:5-6

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:4-5

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6

Heavenly Father, I thank and praise you for your “momentary anger.” On many occasions, I have felt this anger towards me, but I am so thankful that you do not stay angry with me. In Christ, I am forgiven. In Christ, I am cleansed. In Christ, I am rescued from your anger and your wrath. And instead, I have your favor, blessing, and approval. I could not live under an anger from you that was prolonged. I could not have joy. I could not have peace. I could not have rest. Thank you Lord that your favor is what I should feel more than your anger. You have more favor towards me than you have anger. Thank you Lord! Though seasons of darkness and despair are inevitable, seasons of joy and gladness are equally inevitable and eventually, they will be eternal! I praise your name!

Your word is sufficient. What you have spoken is enough. What has been revealed through your Word has all everyone needs for a life of godliness and contentment. Every word you have spoken has come to pass and will come to pass. It was completed before you spoke it! Lord, help me to see your word as sufficient as it is. Give me the confidence to wholeheartedly believe in the sufficiency of your word that it shows up in my preaching and teaching. May my words only be used to bring to greater clarity and light your words. May my words help to show people the importance of your Word. I praise you Lord for how you’ve called me to use words, but help me to never add to your words. Help me Lord. Help me. I love you Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

#759 - PSALMS 29:1-2 // PROVERBS 29:11

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. Psalms 29:1-2

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. Proverbs 29:11

Heavenly Father, I ascribe to you glory. I ascribe to you dominion and power. I ascribe to you honor. I ascribe to you worth. I ascribe to you perfection. You alone. Lord, make me into a man who desires to ascribe to you your attributes and describe to others your wonder. There is none more worthy. There is none more deserving. There is none like you. Nothing. No one. I praise you God.

Lord, I thank you for this proverb. I thank you for this distinction between the wise and the foolish. May I never forget that it is the fool who feels free to say whatever he wants to say whenever he wants to say it. It is the wise that are more prudent with their words. It is the wise who think before they speak. It is the wise who refrain. Give me this wisdom. Give me this self-control. Give me this discernment between what should and shouldn’t be said. Your son Jesus is the perfect example of this. On so many occasions he could’ve said so much more. On so many occasions he could’ve give fuller vent to his spirit, but he exercised self-control. But he only said what you wanted him to say. Help me to live the same. Help me to only utter words that you would have me to utter. Nothing more. Nothing less. Thank you for hearing this prayer. Thank you in advance for forming me into the type of man who is known more for what I chose not to say than what I actually said. I pray all of this in Jesus name, Amen.

#758 - PSALMS 28:7 // PROVERBS 28:9

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalms 28:7

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. Proverbs 28:9

Heavenly Father, I trust you. Your heart. Your plans. Your ways. Your will. Your timing. Your sovereignty. Your omniscience. I trust you Lord. You alone are the trustworthy one. For generations you have been faithful to your word. For generations you have done what you said what you would do. You are the only one with perfect integrity. Therefore, you are the only one worthy of being trusted with all of my being. I trust you God, and I thank you for how you have helped me over the years as I have put my trust in you. Financially. Emotionally. Relationally. Vocationally. In every area that I have trusted you, you have helped me. I praise your name! I give thanks to you! You are my helper!

Lord, for someone for who prayer has become such an important part of my life, I fear my prayers being an abomination unto you. Help me to heed your law. Help me to respect your law. Help me to not turn away from your words as outlined in the scriptures. Help me to not scoff at your word. Help me to not neglect your counsel. Instead, help me to run first to your law. Help me to run first to the scriptures. Help me to regard them as they should be regarded…as your very words! I praise you for how you have left your words to me. I praise you for how you have left your words to your church. You have not left us alone. You have not left us without instruction. Help your word then to be the lamp unto our feet and light unto our path that you intended it to be. Help me to prioritize it as such all the days of my life. I pray all of this in Jesus name, Amen.

#757 - PSALMS 27:8 // PROVERBS 27:2

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” Psalms 27:8

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. Proverbs 27:2

Heavenly Father, I desire to give you what you want! If you want your face to be sought, I desire to seek it! I seek your ways. I seek your character. I seek your will. I seek your plans. I seek your purposes. I seek your intentions and motivations. I seek your heart. I seek the why, the way, and the when of what you want. I seek your statutes. I seek your wisdom. I seek you. I seek you. And because your word says when I seek you, I will find you, I look forward to how you will reveal yourself to me in my seeking. Thank you for showing me yourself on so many occasions as I have sought you. Thank you for supplying all my needs as I have sought you. Thank you for being the only one worth seeking in this life. I love seeking your face, and I look forward to a lifetime of being loved, ministered to, and guided by you as I do.

Lord, I repent for the times when I have felt the need to praise myself. I repent for the ways in which my insecurity has led to me bestowing glory upon myself rather than you. Or, rather than waiting for it to come from someone else. What you have declared over me, in Christ, is all I need. Anything I would want to praise myself about or have other praise me for, pales in comparison to what the infinite affirmation you have over me in Christ Jesus. Lord, help that to be enough. Help that to satisfy. Help that to satisfy me in such a way where I can reserve my praising for you and others. Help me not to waste another breath on my acknowledging myself when it could be better invested praising you and affirming others. Make me so secure in you that I have no need to “praise myself.” I love you Lord and I thank you that your affirmation is sufficient. And not just sufficient, satisfying. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.

#756 - PSALMS 26:6-7 // PROVERBS 26:24-26

I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O Lord, proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds. Psalms 26:6-7

Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Proverbs 26:24-26

Heavenly Father, I praise you for your wondrous deeds. For the ways you’ve blessed, sustained, honored, provided, increased, loved, cared for, promoted…your acts of goodness in my life are innumerable. I praise you. I thank you. All glory, honor, praise, and thanksgiving is due to your name alone. Lord help me to be the kind of man that does not shrink back from proclaiming my thanksgiving aloud. Make me into the type of man that testifies often to your goodness in my life, the life of my family, the life of my church, and the life of the Body of Christ as a whole. You are doing wondrous, gracious, good things all the time. Help me to see these things. Help me to perceive these things. Then, give me the courage to thank and praise you publicly! You are worthy!

Once again, Lord, I ask you for discernment. Discernment between those disguising themselves with their lips and harboring deceit in their heart and those who aren’t. Help me not to be this type of person. Help me not to be so easily fooled by flattering words. Help me to see the heart behind people’s words. I need this wisdom. I need this understanding. Thank you for pointing me in this direction. I know it will save me from being hurt. I know it will keep me from unnecessary pain. I love you Lord and I, once again, thank you for how you love and lead me through your very words! Thank you for the Word of God and for how it is truly living and active in my life. I pray all of this in Jesus name, Amen.

#755 - PSALMS 25:12-14 // PROVERBS 25:6-7

Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. Psalm 25:12-14

Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. Proverbs 25:6-7

Heavenly Father, I fear you. I fear your greatness. I fear your wrath. I fear holiness. I fear your power. I fear your might. I fear your justice. I fear your impatience. I fear you treating me as my sins deserve. Help me to maintain this fear Lord. Help me to maintain a strong sense of awe and wonder for who you are and how you allow me to, by your grace, relate to you. Help me to be amazed by you. Enthralled. Awestruck. You are worthy God. You are worthy! And as I grow in my fear of you, Lord, please, give me your friendship. Grant me your instruction. Extend to me your covenant. Deliver on your promises of fearing you! I praise you Lord for these truths.

Lord, I’m so thankful for how you’ve placed this proverb so deep in my soul. For someone who for so long, longed to be told by people of importance, “Come up here,” thank you Lord for providing me this instruction and wisdom. Thank you for helping me to trust that you see me. You have every ability to “promote” me when the time and place is right. I need not promote myself. I need not put my name in the hat. I need not fight and wrestle for opportunity. It is better to be invited than to ask for an invitation. Thank you Lord for helping me to see this as clear as day. And, most of all, thank you for giving me opportunities over the years where you have, in your way, said, “Come up here.” I love you Lord and praise your name. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

#754 - PSALMS 24:4-5 // PROVERBS 24:10

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psalm 24:4-5

If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Proverbs 24:10

Heavenly Father, oh how I desire clean hands and a pure heart. So often, my hands aren’t clean and my heart isn’t pure. Forgive me for these times. Cleanse me of my unrighteousness. I repent for the times when I’ve minimized sin in my life as anything less than “cosmic treason” against a Holy God. I want my motives, my intentions, my deeds, my words, my actions to be pure before you. Purify my heart God. I desire the blessings that come along with being this type of man. I desire the favor. I praise you Lord for how you have cleaned my hands and purified my heart over the years. Do more. Go deeper. Make me purer. Make me more righteous. Make me more holy, for your glory. No matter what it takes. No matter what it requires that you prune. Clean hands and a pure heart, this is my desire.

Lord I praise you for holding me up over these last couple of years. The only reason I did not faint is not because I have great strength, but because in spite of my small strength you saw fit to strengthen me with your perfect strength. Thank you. I praise your name. I never would’ve make it without you. I never would’ve lasted. I never would’ve maintained my love for you and your Church if it were not for your sustaining strength. I would’ve been bitter. I would’ve quit. I would’ve been resentful. But God. But you God! Thank you Lord. I pray that you would give me an even greater strength in the days ahead. Strength for persecution. Strength for criticism. Strength to battle through insecurity. Strength to overcome financial insecurity. Lord make me stronger so I can testify to the strong God who strengthens me! I love you Lord. I praise you. Thank you for being my strength. In Jesus name, Amen.

#753 - PSALMS 23:3 // PROVERBS 23:6-8

He restores my soul. Psalms 23:3

Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words. Proverbs 23:6-8

Heavenly Father, I praise you Lord for being a God who revives, renews, and restores. I praise you Lord for not only reviving me physically, but more importantly, thank you reviving me spiritually. Thank you for seasons of refreshing. Thank you for silence. Thank you for solitude. Thank you Lord for people, places, opportunities, affirmations, and experiences that restore my soul. Thank you for using your Word on many occasions to restore my soul. Thank you for being a restorer! It’s who you are. You restore people. You restore relationships. You restore us to yourself. I praise you Lord for your restoring nature. Thank you for being a shepherd who longs to restore me inside and out. I praise you God as my restorer!

Lord, give me wisdom. Help me to keep a healthy distance from those who are “inwardly calculating” and from those who “heart is not with you.” Sometimes, I can be so gullible. So wanting to believe that someone is for me that I can actually place myself in harms way. Give me wisdom Give me discernment. Help me to stay away from those who don’t have your will for my life in mind. Please keep me from people with ulterior motives. Protect me Lord. I will not discern these things all the time. Please protect me. Protect my wife. Keep evil, manipulating people away. I love you Lord, and I thank you for hearing my prayers. I praise your name. I pray all these things in Jesus name, Amen.

#752 - PSALMS 22:27-28 // PROVERBS 22:2

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. Psalms 22:27-28

The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all. Proverbs 22:2

Heavenly Father, I praise you for your global vision. I praise you for being the God of all creation. I praise you for having on your mind all of the nations and not just the United States of America. Forgive me for my, often times, limited view of the depth, breadth, and width of your love for all of the nations. Give me more of a global vision. Give me more of your heart for all people. Help me not to be so self-centered. Help me to love and have an awareness for all of your children from every race, creed, and tribe.

Lord, help me not to only have a deeper love for more of the globe, but also to have a deeper love, awareness, and care for people of all socio-economic statuses as well. You are the Maker of them all! Each are precious in your sight. Rid me of prejudice. Rid me of preferential treatment. Rid me of arrogance. Create in me a clean heart God. Renew a right spirit within me. It is only by your grace and mercy that I have and enjoy the socio-economic status that I do. Rid me of my hubris. I love you Lord and thank you for your Word and how it molds me and makes me more into your image each day. I praise your Holy name. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

#751 - PSALMS 21:2 // PROVERBS 21:1

You have given him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Psalm 21:2

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. Proverbs 21:1

Heavenly Father, I praise you for being so kind and gracious to give me my heart’s desire. My desire for a mental, emotional, and spiritual break from the burden and responsibility of being a Lead Pastor. My desire for a new start. My desire for greater influence, impact, and opportunity. You know and have seen the desires of my heart and you have not withheld them from me. I praise your name and magnify you for giving me both what I need and much of what I want at exactly the right time!

Lord I thank you that you hold the heart of the king in your hand. You are sovereign over it all. You can change things on a dime. You can “let things go” for longer than we think is right, but ultimately, nothing is out of your reach or control. In a moment, you can turn the king’s heart to be more in alignment with your will. Any moment. You are strong. You are mighty. Help me to live as if this is true. Help me not to be overly swayed by the “rights” or “wrongs” of the king. Help me not to be overly frustrated or flustered. Help me to trust that every power is under the power of God. I love you Lord and praise you as the all-powerful One! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

#750 - PSALMS 20:1-6 // PROVERBS 20:5

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion! May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans! May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Psalms 20:1-6

The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. Proverbs 20:5

Heavenly Father, Answer. Protect. Send. Remember. Regard. Grant. Fulfill. Save. This is what you DO! I praise you Lord as a mighty God with a mighty hand who does not sit passively watching the universe and earth pass the time. Instead, you act. You move. You bless. You heal. You work all things out for the good of those who love you and are called according to your purpose. You are constantly working to bring your purposes to pass in the world and in our lives. You are the ultimate chess player. You know the end from the beginning. You know exactly what pieces to move and when to move them to accomplish your ends. I praise you Lord for your mighty, strong, perfect powerful hand!

Lord, I thank you for the purposes you put in my heart. I thank you for the purposes you put in the heart of others. Lord, I ask that you would please make me a man of understanding. By your Holy Spirit help me to understand not only the purposes of my heart, but help me to serve others by helping them to understand the purposes you have placed in their heart as well. Give me good questions to ask. Give me heavenly insight to share. Give me supernatural discernment to pass along. Apart from you I can understand nothing of eternal significance. Give me understanding Lord. Give me understanding. I love you. I thank you for the understanding you have graciously given me. Give me more. Help me grow deeper and wider in my understanding. Give me insight beyond my years and experience. For your glory Lord. For your glory Lord. I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

#749 - PSALMS 19:7-9 // PROVERBS 19:6

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. Psalms 19:7-9

Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. Proverbs 19:6

Heavenly Father…Perfect. Sure. Right. Pure. Clean. True. This is who you are! This is the God I serve! This is the God I worship and I surrender my life to! Lord I praise you for your Holy attributes. I praise you for your perfection. I praise you for being so much higher, greater, stronger, purer, truer, and cleaner than me! The smallness I feel in your bigness and greatness is refreshing! I am so thankful that every part of.who you are is holy! My heart needs something as perfect and pure as you to extol and worship! I praise you Lord. I praise you Lord! I bow before your majesty. I kneel before your perfection. I honor you. I glorify you. I magnify your name. Your attributes. Your character.

Please forgive me for the times I’ve magnified me. How foolish! How stupid! How ignorant! Why would I magnify something lesser when there is something so much better to extol. Forgive me Lord. I repent of my foolishness.

Lord, continue to cultivate a generous spirit within me. Continue to cultivate a gift-giving spirit within me. I praise you for the promise of friends and favor that come from this generosity, but I ask that you cultivate this spirit primarily so I can be a more accurate reflection of you! You give generously. You bless lavishly. You go over the top. You give more than we need. You supply both our needs and, often times, our wants also! You are radical in your generosity towards me. Thank you Lord. Help me to reflect your generous heart for me in increasing ways with the people you place in my life. When I give may they feel your love, your kindness, your spirit. I love you Lord, and I pray all of this in Jesus name, Amen.

#748 - PSALMS 18:19 // PROVERBS 18:16

He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me. Psalms 18:19

A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before the great. Proverbs 18:16

Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that you delight in me. I am so thankful that your delight in me precedes your rescue of me! You love me. You care about me. You cherish me. You think about me. Your eye is set on me. Your mind is on me. And the thoughts you have towards me are loving thoughts, caring thoughts, good thoughts, pleasurable thoughts. Not evil thoughts. Not condemning thoughts. Not disappointed thoughts. Thank you Lord for your delight in me. Thank you for Jesus who makes it possible for you to have an eternal delight in me! For the rest of my days here on this earth and long after I am not on this earth, you will delight in me! Praise you God!

Lord, I also praise you for how you have taken the gifts you have given me, and used them to bring me into spaces and places that I otherwise would not be invited into. You have “made room” for me before people who are more educated than me, wealthy than me, godly than me, mature than me, and experienced than me. You have allowed my words to be heard by great men and women of God. Thank you for doing this work. You know the desires of my heart. Some fleshly and some godly,. Thank you for honoring them even in their impure forms.

I boldly ask that you continue to use my gifts to make room for me and bring me before great men and women. Enlarge my territory! Bless me indeed! Yes, for my joy. Yes, for my satisfaction. Yes, for my delight. But ultimately, so your gospel can be heard. So your good news can be received. So your Word can be taught, So lives can be transformed. ALL towards the end of your glory.

But, I do ask that as you answer this prayer, you would give me the accompanying humility to steward the “rooms” that you make available to me with grace and a very present awareness that apart from you I can do nothing. Strip me of any accompanying pride, hubris, ego, or entitlement. Keep me low. Keep me really, really low.

I love you Lord. I praise you. I adore you. I pray all of these things in Jesus name, Amen.

#747 - PSALMS 17:8-9 // PROVERBS 17:3

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me. Psalms 17:8-9

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts. Proverbs 17:3

Heavenly Father, I praise you for the shadow of your wings. I praise you for your protection. I praise you for your covering. In you, I am never exposed. In you, I am never vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. In you, I cannot be harmed by the evil of man. It is not even your actual wings that need to cover me! The shadow is sufficient! I am so grateful for how the shadow of your wings has protected me from the many evils and schemes of the enemy that I am aware of, and the shadow of your wings has also protected me from so many evils that I am not aware of. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord!

Lord, I also praise you for the crucible and furnace of suffering, disappointment, failure, and folly. For through it you make me more like you. Through it, my impurities are burnt away. Through it, my faith is exposed for where it actually is. Thank you Lord for testing my heart. Thank you for giving me opportunities to see that my heart is not where it needs to be, and thank you for giving me opportunities to see that my heart is exactly where you desire it to be. Lord, please never cease testing my heart. Lord, please never stop refining me into your image and likeness. Keep burning. Keep pressing. Keep sanctifying. Keep pressuring. All for the purposes of me becoming more like you for your glory. I love you Lord, and I pray all of this in Jesus name, Amen.

#746 - PSALMS 16:7-8 // PROVERBS 16:3

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Psalms 16:7-8

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3

Heavenly Father, I praise your name for the counsel you have provided me on so many occasions. What to say. What to do. Where to go. How to lead. When to speak. When not to speak. Who to trust. Who not to trust. Through your Word. Through your Holy Spirit. Through the counsel of others. Through my critics. Through my parents. Through the team of pastors I’ve been privileged to serve with. You have been so faithful. I worship you Lord as my perfect Counselor. I thank you for the Holy Spirit that lives within me to counsel me and convict me. I bless your Holy name!

Lord, I give your my work. I give you my plans. I give you my ambitions. Desires to be fruitful for you. Ambitions to be influential. Hopes to have a significant Kingdom impact. I commit it all to you. As I have done before, I, once again, lay all of the plans I have at your feet. Not my will but your will be done. The work of preaching, the work of leadership, the work of writing, the work of team-building, the work of evangelism, the work of creating a culture of corporate prayer…I commit it all to you. In your hands will my plans and purposes be established. I take it out of my hands and place it into yours. Establish it Lord. Your time. Your way. For your glory. I pray this all in Jesus name, Amen.

#745 - PSALMS 15:1-3 // PROVERBS 15:28

Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill. Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Psalms 15:1-3

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. Proverbs 15:28

Heavenly Father, I worship you for making it clear to me those who may worship you in your sanctuary. I thank you for making it plain those who can enter your presence. It is those who refuse to gossip. I worship you for not having anything to do with unrighteousness. You are pure. You are holy. You are blameless. You will have nothing to do with those who use those words to harm others; those who use their words to tear down others. Thank you for Jesus who makes it possible for me to be in your presence despite my unrighteousness. Thank you Jesus. I praise your name,

Lord, help me to consider my words before speaking. Help me to ponder. Help me to think through the consequences of the words I choose to use. Help me to use words that uplift, heal, help, and encourage. Help me not to speak hastily for rarely will anything good ever come from me not thinking before I speak. I pray all these thing in Jesus name, Amen.

#744 - PSALMS 14:2 // PROVERBS 14:29

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. Psalms 14:2

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. Proverbs 14:29

Heavenly Father, as you are “seeing,” may I be found seeking! I praise you for having eyes that see. Nothing goes unnoticed. Especially, those who are seeking after you. I praise you for honoring how I have sought you. Give me the focus, determination, commitment, and conviction to seek you more. More of your Word. More of your promises. More of your character. More of your will. More of your ways. Help me to seek you more. So that as you look, as you see, you will find me seeking you with all of my heart.

Lord, give me patience. As you are slow to anger with me, help me to be slow to anger with others. Help me to, as often as possible, have in clear view your patience, understanding, grace, and mercy that you have poured out on my life With all the years that you have been slow to anger with me, help me to be slow to anger with others. Help me to believe that anger will only get me into trouble. Anger will only lead me down a dark road. Hasty anger will only result in my floundering and failing. Lord give me a supernatural patience with others that reflects your great supernatural patience with us. Thank you for your patience Lord. I praise you for your long-suffering. I am so grateful. I praise your name. I lift you up as my all-wise, long-suffering, everlasting King. I pray all of this in Jesus name, Amen.

#743 - PSALMS 13:6 // PROVERBS 13:20

I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. Psalms 13:6

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 13:20

Heavenly Father, I praise you as my Lord and King who has “dealt bountifully” with me! In every area of my life you have chosen to pour out your favor and blessing. My wife loves me in ways that goes far beyond what I have deserved or earned. The joys I experience with my work as a pastor go far beyond what I could have hoped or imagined. The blessing of being able to buy a home in the Bay Area for the discounted price that we did is far beyond how I would’ve expected a house purchasing experience to be. The ability and accessibility to eat such delicious foods goes far beyond what is necessary for me to live. The ministry opportunity that you’ve provided for me next goes far beyond what I could’ve ever hoped or imagined. You have dealt bountifully with me when it comes to your grace, mercy, and forgiveness, You have dealt bountifully with me when it comes to the relationships and friendships you’ve blessed me with. The comforts I’m able to experience. The clothes I’m blessed to be able to buy. The modes of transportation you’ve given me to enjoy. All of it is so much more that I need. I praise you Lord for your goodness and I lift up praise to your name! You are worthy Lord. You are worthy!

Lord, I also thank you for the wise counselors you’ve placed around me. My wife. My parents. The pastors/staff I’m privileged to serve alongside. The pastors. The friends. The mentors. Thank you Lord for the wise men and women who’ve you’ve brought into my life. They are an extension of your love and mercy and I am so grateful! As I prepare to move out of the Bay Area, Lord I pray that you would prepare for me wise men and women to guide and grow me up into the man of God you are desiring for me to become. I thank you for the wise men and women who I already know are awaiting my arrival! Help me to submit to their wisdom. Help me to grow from their wisdom. Please give me one or two men I can truly walk alongside for many years so that I can become wiser and wiser for your glory alone! Keep me Lord from fools. Help me to spot them from miles away! Help me to avoid their company. Help me to discern who they are before being impacted negatively by their influence.

I love you Lord. I praise you Lord. This time to praise you, to learn from your wisdom, to meditate on your word, and to grow closer with you is such a blessing and is so life-giving. Give me the focus to keep protecting this time each day as it is so important to my abiding in you. I pray all of these things in Jesus name, Amen.

#742 - PSALMS 12:5 // PROVERBS 12:18

Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs. Psalms 12:5

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18

Heavenly Father, I praise you as my God and King who one day, “will arise.” One day, judgement will come. One day, you will make all wrongs, right. One day, you will place all of your children under the safety for which we long. I praise you Lord for having that perfect day set in your mind. You know the beginning from the end. You know how much we can handle. You know how much will sanctify us without breaking us. You know. You know, perfectly. Please Lord, give us perseverance till that day. Give us resolve till that day. Give us more of you so that we can endure. Give us vision for that day. Give us hope for that day. Give us the belief that you will say what you said you would do. I praise you for being a God who keeps his Word.

Lord, help my tongue bring healing. For everyone who encounters my words, may they be healing words. Help me to be aware that my words can kill. Words can injure. Words can leave people emotionally and spiritually damaged. Lord, help me not to be loose with my words. Instead, help me to be intentional. Help my words to be life-giving. Help my words to be like a healing balm. Even if my words bring conviction, help my words to restore, renew, reinvigorate, and point people to the beauty and excellency of you! I tremble at the responsibility that you’ve given me to be a mouthpiece for you. Help me steward this responsibility well. Without your strength and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, I will fail. I love you and praise you for how you will empower me to use my words to glorify you. I pray all of this in Jesus name, Amen.