Spirit

The Living Word

Holy words long preserved
for our walk in this world,
They resound with God’s own heart
Oh, let the Ancient words impart.

Words of Life, words of Hope
Give us strength, help us cope
In this world, where e’er we roam
Ancient words will guide us Home.

Holy words of our Faith
Handed down to this age.
Came to us through sacrifice
Oh heed the faithful words of Christ.

Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world.
They resound with God’s own heart
Oh let the ancient words impart.

Ancient words ever true
Changing me, and changing you.
We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart.

“As people understand Your word,
it brings light to their lives.
Your word makes even simple
people wise.” -Psalm 119:130 (ERV)

Mediations

Prayers

Psalms 46 – Living Bible (TLB)

46 God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. ² And so we need not fear even if the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea. ³ Let the oceans roar and foam; let the mountains tremble!
⁴ There is a river of joy flowing through the city of our God—the sacred home of the God above all gods. ⁵ God himself is living in that city; therefore it stands unmoved despite the turmoil everywhere. He will not delay his help. ⁶ The nations rant and rave in anger—but when God speaks, the earth melts in submission and kingdoms totter into ruin.
⁷ The Commander of the armies of heaven is here among us. He, the God of Jacob, has come to rescue us.
⁸ Come, see the glorious things that our God does, how he brings ruin upon the world ⁹ and causes wars to end throughout the earth, breaking and burning every weapon. ¹⁰ “Stand silent! Know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation in the world!”
¹¹ The Commander of the heavenly armies is here among us! He, the God of Jacob, has come to rescue us!

• Abuse
• Accidents
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Betrayal
• Bitterness
• Chronic Illness
• Depression
• Disappointment
• Divorce/Separation
• Doubt
• Dysfunctional Relationships
• Facing Death
• Hidden Sin
• Lack of Forgiveness
• Self-Esteem
• Shame
• Worry

Abuse:

“Jesus, I feel alone at times when I think about what has been done to me. I wonder if it’s somehow my fault. Thank you for reassuring me time after time that it’s not my fault and that You are here with me even in my darkest hour. Help me to sense Your presence now, I pray. You are my Savior, and You have promised to never leave me. What a wonderful promise!”

“I Love the verse in scripture that says the battle is the Lord’s. My battle is not with weapons or against a large army, but it feels every bit as challenging! I fight a battle to love myself and to forgive the ones who have hurt me. I fight it every day. I’m thankful that the battle is Yours, Jesus. I can’t do it on my own.”

Accidents:

“Lord, I know that there is a time for everything. Your Word tells me this. I don’t understand how this could be part of Your plan, but I pray You will use even this for Your glory. May I look back one day in the future and see how Your hand was at work in my life even though it was a very difficult time.”

“God, these are hard days. I wake up to the sun shining through my window, and I wonder how it could be so bright and pretty outside when I feel so sad and sick inside. I know that it may take time, but I pray that You will restore in my heart a sense of joy. And for today, Lord, will You carry me? Will You please remind me that You are so very close and that You have not –and will not – ever let me go?”

Anger:

“Dear God, I know that anger lives in pain. Where there is hurt in my life, I often react in anger. Things I regret later explode from my mouth. Please heal the pain in me and set a guard over my tongue so that I will not hurt others in my anger.”

“Lord, James 1:19-20 sums it up. I want to be quick to listen to what others have to say; slow to speak; and even slower to lose my temper. My anger will never produce Your righteousness in my life. Please help me to take Your Word into my heart and allow it to transform me.”

Anxiety:

“Lord, I’m a worrier. I worry about my family and my friends. I worry about the future because there are so many unknowns. I know that in my anxiety I sin because I am not trusting You. Please replace my fear with faith. Please help me to rely on You when I begin to worry needlessly.”

“God, no one knows the secret fears that I carry around in my heart. No one but You. May I lay down fear and pick up confidences instead. You are my confidence and my peace.”

Betrayal:

“I sit here hurting in disbelief. Betrayal stings! You know the sting of betrayal. You were betrayed by Peter three times before the cock crowed. He said he would never turn away from You and yet, it happened. Remind me that in our humanity we are weak. Give me a forgiving spirit that I might reach a place where I can forgive those who have betrayed me.”

“Lord, I betrayed my friend. I shared information that was not to be shared. I have not been trustworthy. Whether my friend knows or not doesn’t matter. I feel so guilty inside. Please forgive me for being a gossip. In the moment, it feels good to be the one in the know. Afterward, it saddens me that I was not true to my friend.
“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret” (Proverbs 11:13 NIV)

Bitterness:

“Lord, it’s hard not to compare others’ lives with my own. I see another woman’s nice things. I’m envious of her husband who seems to be more caring than my own. I watch her children succeeding in areas where my own are struggling. Remind me that it’s not good to compare myself to others. Help me to have a thankful and content heart that is right before You.”

“Help me to focus on blessings over betrayals and friends over foes. Lord, I thank You for the people in my life, the opportunities You have given me, and the needs You meet every single day. I will choose to focus on the good rather than allow bitterness to fester in my heart.”

Chronic Illness:

“Jesus, You healed the sick. You caused the lame to walk. You took away the lepers’ spots. I don’t understand why You won’t heal me in the same way. I know that there are things we just won’t understand until we get to heaven. Please comfort me as I wait to understand Your ways.”

“Just as the apostle Paul prayed for You to remove the thorn from his flesh, I pray for this thorn to be taken from my life. I wait in expectation of what You will do. You will either remove it or You will continue to walk with me through this adversity, using it to strengthen my faith. I trust You, Lord, to do what is best for me.”

Depression:

“I cannot imagine singing. I can barely get my shower and see to the duties of the day. But I have faith in You, Lord. One day I’ll be on the other side of depression and I’ll sing a new song. I’ll tell of how You healed me and lifted me up. I’ll sign a new song and it will be one of great joy and deliverance (Psalm 40:1-3)

“I feel like a failure, God. A loser. A bad Christian. I feel like an awful employee because of my lack of focus. I feel like a pitiful wife and mother because I’m so sad all the time. I feel beat down. Please remind me of my identity in Jesus Christ. I claim today that I am deeply loved and that I am not a failure. Bring healing to my mind today, Jesus, just as You healed the bodies of those who dared to reach out and touch Your robe.”

Disappointment:

“Lord, I’m not where I thought I would be in life. I imagined things differently. I knew a prince would not ride in on his white horse, but I never expected my reality to be quite this mundane. There are dishes to be done and a house to keep clean. The laundry piles up around. I pray that I’ll work at everything I do today as if I’m working for You. Give me a contentedness in the midst of disappointment.”

“Lord, You know that things haven’t turned out as I wanted. You saw the dream as it grew within my heart. You watched me get my hopes up. You were there as I held my breath, hoping for the answer I wanted so desperately. I wonder why You let it all slip through my fingers. Remind me that Your ways are higher than my own (Isaish 55:8-9) and that You always have my best interest in mind.”

Divorce/Separation:

“I feel like I need some help, Lord. I don’t think I can move past this without assistance. If there’s a certain friend or counselor I should turn to, please put that person in my path. Make it clear to me, I pray, if I should attend a support group. I want to heal, Father, and I need help.”

“God help me not to be bitter about this divorce. I know that bitterness can grow up and fester in my heart and that it has the potential to ruin my life. I have seen others allow this to happen, and I don’t want to be like them – sitting around talking about this for years to come. Give me strength to grieve well and then to move forward well. Thank you, Father.”

Doubt:

“God, forgive me for doubting You. I don’t want to be like Thomas who demanded tangible proof. He wanted to see the nail scars in Your hands before he would believe You. I find myself feeling like that at times – wishing You could come down here and chat with me for a while, assuring me You have my future under control. Your Word gives me all the promises I need. I know that. I want to believe. Help my unbelief (Mark 9:23-24).”

“When I begin to doubt You, Lord, bring to mind all the times that You have answered my prayers. Sometimes this helps me to remain calm and trust You even in the midst of circumstances that seem impossible. You are the God of the impossible. You are strong and mighty, sovereign and faithful. I trust You, God.”

Dysfunctional Relationships:

“God, some of this is not my fault. Helpe me to see the parts I do need to take responsibility for and make the necessary changes. I want this relationship to be better, and yet I keep doing and saying the same things. Wanting is not enough. I must take action. Guide me, I pray, an help me to see my part in it all so that I can change.”

“Give me a new heart, God. I need one. I’m so angry and hurt, and I try to control this relationship but I always fail. You are the only way, truth, and life. Please renew my efforts today and give me a brand-new heart toward the people involved (Psalm 51:10).”

Facing Death:

“God, it’s easy to say one doesn’t fear death – until it’s knocking at the door. I know I am drawing closer and closer to the time when I will take my final breath. Please reassure me that while death is ‘the final enemy,’ You have already defeated it! I will live forever with You in heaven.”

“Heavenly Father, I entrust my family and friends into Your care. For so long, I’ve worked and tried to care for them. I’ve given all that I can. My time draws near. Please take care of them for me as I have to leave them behind.”

Hidden Sin:

“God, this hidden sin eats away at my heart. I have no peace because of it. Help me to give it to You. Help me to run from it so that it will not have any power over me any longer. The temptation is great, but I don’t want to return to it anymore.”

“There are habits that I’ve developed that don’t line up with who I say I am. I go to church on Sunday and worship You through song, but my worship stops at the door. I’m leading a double life, and I want to come clean before You, Father, and before my family. I am so tired. Please give me the courage to confess.”

Lack of forgiveness:

“God, free me of resentment and self-righteousness. Take the two-by-four out of my own eye before I worry too much about the speck in someone else’s! Make me humble enough to forgive.”

“Lord, may I carry Your forgiveness to all who have hurt me. May they see You in me. Work Your reconciliation through me.”

Self-Esteem :

“Christ I want to trade my low self-esteem for Christ-esteem. Make me confident in who I am through Christ. I wrestle with dark spiritual powers of evil, but You are greater than these (Ephesians 6:12). Remind me of my salvation and of my great worth in Christ Jesus.”

“You knit me to gather in my mother’s womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works, Creator God (Psalm 139:13-14).”

Shame:

“You are the author and perfecter of my faith. You took my shame upon Yourself and died for me. You did not stay in the grave. You sit sat at the right hand of God. You are my Savior and Redeemer. You made a way for me to be a child of God (Hebrews 12:2).”

Worry:

“God, I give You my present and my future because You can handle them better than I ever could. You have shown up in my past and provided for my every need. You have filled my life with blessings. Help me to trust You with the unknown by banking on what I don’t know – You are a faithful God.”

“You are with me and You are for me. If God is for me, who can be against me? What will it matter if there are? No one is stronger than my God.”