Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.—Colossians 4:5 (NIV)
When you feel overwhelmed with too much to do, ask God to help you prioritize the day’s tasks. Trust He will order your steps (Proverbs 16:9). Praise Him for His guidance and encouragement.
Heavenly Father thank You for helping me manage my time and balance my life.
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His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.”—Matthew 25:21 (NIV)
Have you ever asked yourself, how can I best serve the Lord so I can one day hear Jesus say, Well done? Today, take a moment, set your mind on God and ask Him to help you have the heart of a servant in all you do. Resolve to use your life as a training ground for His kingdom.
Dear Lord, I pray that I am faithful on my journey, open to hear Your instructions and willing to serve You.
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I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonderful deeds.—Psalm 9:1 (NIV)
One of the greatest prayers is “Thank You!” Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said, “Let your prayer consist of all the wonderful things that have happened to you. Name them, thank God for them and make that your whole prayer. You will soon find that these prayers of thanksgiving grow longer and longer, and you will have more and more things for which to thank God.”
Dear Lord, give me the vision to see Your blessings instead of my fears. May I feel Your presence in times of worry and remember Your strong desire to protect and guide me is more powerful than anything on earth.
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Then He told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, He gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people.—Matthew 14:19 (NLT)
When you feel lacking in energy, resources, or are unable to figure out how to make ends meet, turn to this verse and plan for the best outcome. Remember if you do your best, you don’t have to try to figure everything out because Jesus already has the answer.
Dear Lord, because of You, I believe in miracles. I know that when I give what I can, You are right there with me miraculously offering Your blessings.
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God, my shepherd! You have bedded me down in lush meadows, You find me quiet pools to drink from. True to Your word, You let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.—Psalm 23:1–3 (MSG)
God is essential to healthy living. When you make time to be with Him, you become stronger, and are able to handle life’s challenges. God protects you from danger and moves mountains in your life. When you need guidance, pray the above verse and trust His answer.
Thank You Lord, for guiding me and keeping me, safe, well-cared for and protected.
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My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.—Psalm 22:1-2 (ESV)
When God seems silent and you feel as if your prayers are going unanswered, change is happening behind the scenes. Even if you don’t feel it, you’re developing a deeper faith and a greater knowing. Wait patiently for His perfect timing.
Dear Lord, in quiet times, when I doubt that You are near; hold me close and comfort me, reassure me there is nothing to fear.
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You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.—1 Peter 2:5 (NIV)
Jesus wants you to live by His Word, knowing that You are part of a wondrous structure—a solid, living, precious and permanent part of His architectural plan. You are a living rock in His spiritual house.
Heavenly Father, I am a living rock and You are the Cornerstone, the Way, the Truth and the Life.
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I was angry, good and angry, because of Israel’s sins. I struck him hard and turned away in anger, while he kept at his stubborn, willful ways. When I looked again and saw what he was doing, I decided to heal him, lead him, and comfort him.—Isaiah 57:17-18 (MSG)
The Old Testament has many instances of God’s followers experiencing hardship and learning life lessons the hard way. However, today’s verse shows that God is merciful. His teaching is clear and simple: sin leads to pain and obedience leads to blessing. When you take this lesson to heart, you spare yourself difficulties and experience His grace.
Heavenly Father, thank You for guiding me on the path that leads me closer to You.
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As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?—Psalm 42:1–2 (NIV)
Just as a cool glass of water refreshes you on a hot summer day, Jesus the Living Water is the One who satisfies your spirit. When you feel drained, or out of sorts, reach out to Him. Ask Him to quench your spiritual thirst with His life-giving Spirit.
Heavenly Father, when I am weary or feel empty and afraid, refresh my spirit with Your healing streams.
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These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.—John 15:11 (ESV)
One of God’S greatest gifts is joy. Norman Vincent Peale said, “There is a human tendency to always think that we are going to begin being happy sometime in the future. The right time is now.” With faith in the Lord, your life can be full of joy.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of joy that lifts me up and keeps me going.
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I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.—Romans 12:1 (KJV)
Sometimes stress and responsibilities and can take up all your time. Don’t get caught in the trap of running from place to place without spending too much time thinking about where you are going and why. Take a moment and reflect. Review your priorities and ask God for insight and guidance. Are you in the center of His will or have you let other things crowd Him out?
Dear Lord, align my life with Your purpose.
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Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.—Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
There’s an old saying attributed to St. Ignatius, “Pray as if everything depends on God, work as if everything depends on you.” When you pray and work with all you’ve got, you really can’t lose. Even if you fall short of reaching your goal, you will be better for the experience.
Dear Lord, encourage me to keep working, keep trying, keep hoping, and keep praying.
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Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly…—1 CORINTHIANS 9:26 (NIV)
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.—PROVERBS 12:25 (NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God— this is your true and proper worship.—Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.—Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.—Genesis 1:21 (NIV)
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.—Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.—Romans 12:2 (ESV)
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.—Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.—Psalm 96:1 (NIV)
Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant my desire.—Job 6:8 (NIV)
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.—Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.—Romans 12:21 (NIV)
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.—Psalm 119:30–32 (NIV)
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.—Psalm 1:3 (KJV)
But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.—Jeremiah 10:12 (NIV)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?—John 11:25–26 (NIV)
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”—Galatians 5:14 (NIV)
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.—John 15:12 (ESV)
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.—2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)
My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.—Psalm 108:1 (NIV)
