Big shoulders

Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders— he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out. ~ Psalm 55:22 (MSG)

Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. ~ Philippians 4:6 (CEB)

Lord,

THANKS: I grateful for your big shoulders.

REGRETS: I'm sorry that I don't always release my anxieties to you. I mistakenly think that I'm so special that I can carry all my own problems.

INTERCESSION: Lord, I am giving you my problems right now -- even the problems I don't understand.

PURPOSE: I'm going to live without anxiety because my problems are no longer my own. You have taken them onto your shoulders. I'm not planning to take them back from you.

Amen.

Visible to all

All the ends of the earth have seen God’s power to save. ~ Psalm 98:3b (NCV)

Then Jesus said to them, “Do you hide a lamp under a bowl or under a bed? No! You put the lamp on a lampstand. ~ Mark 4:21 (NCV)

It's pretty clear, Lord, that your message isn't hidden and secretly kept for an elite group. You want the whole world to see what you are up to. And in an opaque age of hidden conspiracy theories and secret schemes, your global transparency is refreshing. It doesn't make sense, then, that I keep so many secrets. Sometimes it makes me feel extra special knowing that I have your truth in my back pocket and so much of the world is so clueless. Help me to get with your program. I want to make sure that your light shines to the world. And, please, start with me. I'm going take my Jesus light out of my pocket and I'm going to put it on a lampstand to make light for all. Amen.

Powerful Words

Though my life is constantly in danger, I won’t forget your Instruction. ~ Psalm 119:109 (CEB)

Lord, there is no one else that we can go to! Your words give eternal life. ~ John 6:68 (CEV)

Lord, I echo the words of the disciples -- "There is no one else that we can go to! You've got the powerful message that gives us the ultimate life." Why then do I suffer from amnesia -- forgetting just when I want to be remembering? Please implant your message deeper into my heart and mind. I want to remember as though my life counts on it. It does.  Amen.

Advocate

Please, Lord, don’t punish me when you are angry; don’t discipline me when you are furious. ~ Psalm 6:1 (CEB)

Who is going to convict them? It is Christ Jesus who died, even more, who was raised, and who also is at God’s right side. It is Christ Jesus who also pleads our case for us. ~ Romans 8:34 (CEB)

Lord Jesus,

THANKS: You are the best advocate that anyone could ever hope for. When we mess up you plead our case. And you never lose a case.

REGRETS: But I over work you. And I wish that I lived more consistently with the forgiveness that you have established.

INTERCESSION: Renew my energy for serving Jesus.

PURPOSE: You are the only one who is worthy of my undivided service.

Amen.