March 30

May I go forth filled with the joy and confidence of your Spirit; and may everything I do this day, in word or deed, be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Amen.

*****

In the name of Jesus, I thank God for you—every time I pray. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Amen.

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Dear Lord Jesus, teach me to roll with the punches when even family and friends seem to delight in pointing out my faults, sometimes in chorus! Perhaps some of their criticism might be justified, but when several at one time point out a person's faults and give unsolicited advice, this is hard to take. ... Remind me that You too often faced criticism and verbal attacks, and yet even in Your time of extreme suffering on the cross You were able to say: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!"* ... Help me to learn to forgive and to forget; but often forgetting is the hardest! ... You and I know my faults and shortcomings better than others, and You know my heart. Teach me to live out Your love even in such trying times. It is my challenge, to "turn the other cheek," isn't it?

In Your holy name I pray.

Amen.

* (Luke 23:34)

© 2001 by D. L. Hammond, Permission to copy granted for noncommercial use.

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Dear heavenly Father, thank you, as always, for Your abundant blessings. I may never know until I reach heaven how many times You have had Your angels protect me from the wicked one. I do appreciate You watching over me and my loved ones. Lord, I pray this day for all of the backsliders. Lord, draw them back to Yourself. Forgive them and be merciful to them. Thank You, that Your mercy endureth for ever. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Lord, thank you for correcting me when I have missed You in some way. I do want to stay on the path of life. Keep Your children in the path of holiness and righteousness. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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Lord God, we thank you for having revealed yourself on this earth in the midst of sin, need, and oppression. We thank you that we can have joy in all you have done both before and since the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior in everything. To you be praise and thanks. Our hearts leap up with joy in you and in your deeds. Grant that we may be faithful to the end, victorious in all things through your Spirit, who helps and blesses us on our way. Grant your help to all who call to you and who long to rejoice in you. Amen.

March 31

Prayer to Live Christ's Word Today

Gracious God, Jesus is calling me to a new beginning; to a fresh call to discipleship. You are asking me to deny myself, take up my cross and follow you. It was at my baptism that you claimed me as your child.

Today, I affirm that I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. I surrender my will, my desires and my life to you, O God. I commit myself to your call to discipleship: to pray, study your Word, worship you, invite other people to a life of discipleship, encourage Christians in their life of faith, serve those in need, and give joyfully of the gifts that You first gave me.
This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Meditation

[Christ lives in me.]

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Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that you direct my way unto you, and make me and all of us to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you; to the end that we may establish our hearts unblameable in holiness before you, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Amen.

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God our Father, open our eyes to the beauty of your creation. Inspire us to appreciate all the wonders of life. May all that we see lead us to you. Amen.

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Dear heavenly Father, I praise You for Your abundant love and mercy toward us. Thank you for being patient with me as I am learning not to say things that would hurt You or others. I do ask that You help me to guard my lips from saying unkind things. Lord, even as David prayed these words, I ask that they be my prayer also. "Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." Help us all, as Your children, to say edifying things about one another. Thank you for the abundant life that is ours as we hear, speak, and obey the Words of God. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

*****

Lord our God, we turn our faces to you and plead with you to come to us earthly and often tormented people. May we find strength in the Lord Jesus Christ, through whom redemption is promised to us all. May your kingdom at last be revealed and everything change for the better even though we do not see it yet. May we always honor your name above all others, for you are our Father and we want to hold fast to your grace that lets us call you Father. In our troubled times we want to have enduring faith that you can bring a new time when good shall at last emerge from all the distress. Grant that every broken and needy person may experience your help, your grace, and your salvation, and may know that these always surround us, if only our eyes are open to see and recognize them. So we want to thank and praise you at all times, and at last know the joy of eternity, to your glory and honor. Amen.

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To Put Others First

Father, I'm praying that (name one or more) and others in my circle of family and friends will have servant hearts...

May they desire to have servant hearts, considering others better than themselves, putting others' needs above their own. (Philippians 2:3–4)

May they imitate Christ, who became a servant, humbling Himself to become human just like us, living a life of obedience even to death. Jesus came not to be served but to serve and to give His life. (1 Thessalonians 1:6; Philippians 2:6–8; Matthew 20:28)

May they serve one another in love, always wholeheartedly as though they are serving the Lord Jesus, not men. May they use the spiritual gifts they've received to serve others with the strength You provide, so that in all things You may be praised. (Galatians 5:13b; Ephesians 6:7; 1 Peter 4:10, 11b)

May they always be eager to serve, treating others as they would want to be treated. (1 Peter 5:2b; Matthew 7:12)

Help them to live for others, asking, "How would I want to be treated in this and every situation?"—and responding just that way.

In Jesus' name, amen.

- Jim & Kaye Johns