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The Lord’s Prayer—A Perfect Model

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s

will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, NIV).

Introduction: In Matthew 6:9–13, our Lord Jesus Christ gave His disciples (and us) a perfect prayer

model. For, just as the Ten Commandments are the rule of our life, and the sum of our faith, so the

Lord's Prayer is meant to be the pattern of our prayer: “Pray then like this . . .” (Matthew 6:9a). In

other words, Christ has established the rule and model upon which our prayers should be framed.

However, this does not mean we are to be tied to the exact words of the Lord's Prayer. Rather, Christ

was basically saying, "This, then, is how you should pray." As much as possible, all of our petitions

should therefore be in agreement and harmony with whatever He expressed in the Lord's Prayer. With

that in mind, author-pastor Dr. John S. Barnett suggests that Christ's perfect prayer model be divided

into these daily prayer themes: 1

Sunday: Prayers of Worship – Matthew 6:9b

Monday: Prayers for Ministry – Matthew 6:10

Tuesday: Prayers for Family Needs – Matthew 6:11

Wednesday: Prayers for Forgiveness & Reconciliation – Matthew 6:12

Thursday: Prayers for Victory – Matthew 6:13a

Friday: Prayers of Reflection – Matthew 6:13b

Saturday: Prayers of Praise and Preparation for Sunday – Matthew 6:13c

In A. W. Tozer's beloved classic called The Pursuit of God is a Study Guide with this excellent

suggestion: "Why not try relating God's Word back to Him when you pray? Often referred to as

'praying the Scriptures,' this is a good discipline that helps us focus on God. It allows God to speak to

us. . . . You may not want to pray this way all the time, but see if it doesn't bring a deeper sense of

intimacy into your prayer life. [For then] your focus will turn from a 'prayer list'—gazing at needs—

to the Supplier—gazing at God." 2

To help you establish a pattern for systematic Word-filled praying, this daily prayer journal was based

upon the Lord's Prayer plus related Scriptures to pray back to the Lord. (Since it is God's will in Christ

that His children “pray continually," as the Holy Spirit leads, other prayers should also be offered

throughout each day.)

In addition, to help you "Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19, NIV),

seven beautiful hymns were included. As a result, through Word-filled prayers plus worshipful

singing you will be blessed with some of the sweetest times possible with the Lord Jesus Christ!

(Note: To access each of the seven recordings, press Control plus click on its title's link.)

1 Portions of the Lord's Prayer themes are from Dr. Barnett's The Joy of a Word Filled Family (Appendix B, pp. 380–

394.) Used by permission. That excellent book plus his Word Filled Families Walk in Truth (Dec 1, 2009, Mullerhaus

Publishing) are available through Amazon.com in a variety of formats. 2 The Pursuit of God with Study Guide (Camp Hill, PA: Wing Spread Publishers, © 2006, pp. 139, 140).

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Sunday: Prayers of Worship

“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9b, NKJV).

God is everywhere, watching, superintending, overseeing, governing everything in the

highest interest of man, and carrying forward His plans and executing His purposes in

creation and redemption. He is not an absentee God. . . . The wonders of God’s power are

to be kept alive, made real and present, and repeated only by prayer.3

What better way to prepare for the Lord’s Day services than to fill our heart and mind beforehand

with prayers of worship! For, if there is no worship, there is no change in the life. What is worship?4

Worship is the submission of all our nature to God: quickening of our conscience by His

holiness—being renewed through the life and power of our endless lives in Christ;

nourishment of mind by His truth; purification of imagination by His beauty; openness

of our hearts by His love; submission of our wills to His purpose. All of this gathered

together in adoration is the greatest of all expressions of which we are capable.

One clear way our Father in heaven invites our worship is by revealing Himself through His divine

names and titles in His Word. And, one of the greatest insights into adoring the Lord Jesus Christ is

in Revelation—a twenty-two chapter gold mine of real treasures as the LORD unveils Christ's deity

through more than sixty-seven names and titles. For, "All things have been handed over to [Jesus] by

[his] Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father . . . [who] so loved the world, that he gave

his only Son . . . in order that the world might be saved through him" (Matthew 11:27a; John 3:16a,

17b, ESV).

So then, let us now focus on worshiping our awesome Father God through heartfelt praises for our

Lord Jesus Christ and His majestic names and titles in Chapters 1–22 of Revelation:

Chapter 1: He is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, ruler over the kings of the earth,

the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Almighty, the First and the Last, the Son

of Man, the living One!

Chapter 2: He is the administrator of the church who has the sharp two-edged sword, eyes like a

flame of fire, and feet like fine brass!

3 E. M. Bounds' A Treasury of Prayer (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1961), pp. 190–191, as cited in Dr.

John S. Barnett's Appendix B of The Joy of a Word Filled Family (Mullerhaus Publishing, Tulsa, OK, © 2004). Used by

permission. 4 This initial introduction to worship plus the "Today's Living Hope Summary Prayer" at the end of each day's theme are

from Dr. Barnett's Living Hope for the End of Days (Tulsa, OK, Discover the Book Ministries, © 2007; Foreword by John

MacArthur). Used by permission. This extremely encouraging book of 365 daily devotions on Revelation is rated "5 stars"

at Amazon.com and is available in Paperback, Unlimited Kindle, and other formats.

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Chapter 3: He is the One who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, who is holy and true,

who has the key of David, who is the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the

Creation of God!

Chapter 4: He is the One who sits on the throne in heaven!

Chapter 5: He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, and the Lamb who was slain—

who lives forever and ever!

Chapter 6: He is the wrathful Lamb!

Chapter 7: He is the redeeming Lamb and the providing Lamb!

Chapter 8: He is the patient collector of our prayers!

Chapter 9: He is the One who holds back the monsters from the abyss!

Chapter 10: He is the Creator of heaven and earth and sea!

Chapter 11: He is Christ, the Lord God Almighty!

Chapter 12: He is the Christ, the Lamb, Jesus!

Chapter 13: He is the Lamb, whose is the Book of Life!

Chapter 14: He is the Lamb on Mount Zion, Jesus, the Lord, the Son of Man!

Chapter 15: He is again the Lamb, the Lord God Almighty, the King of saints, the Lord!

Chapter 16: He is the One who was and is and is to be, the Lord God Almighty!

Chapter 17: He is Jesus, the Lamb—Lord of lords and King of kings!

Chapter 18: He is the Lord God!

Chapter 19: He is the Lord our God, the Lord God, the Lamb, Jesus, the Faithful and True, the Word

of God, Almighty God, King of kings and Lord of lords!

Chapter 20: He is Jesus, the Christ!

Chapter 21: He is the Alpha and Omega, the Lamb, the Lord God Almighty!

Chapter 22: He is the Lamb, the Lord God, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the

First and the Last, Jesus, the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star, the Lord

Jesus—our Lord Jesus!

What a joy and privilege it is to worship our great God!

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• "The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted. . . . Give unto the

LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness" (Psalms 18:46,

29:2, NKJV).

• "LORD, [my] Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory in the heavens. . . .

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

human beings that you care for them?

You have made them a little lower than the angels

and crowned them with glory and honor. . . .

LORD, [my] Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8:1, 3–5, 9, NIV). 5

• "Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world,

from everlasting to everlasting you are God" (Psalm 90:1–2, NIV).

• "O LORD, how manifold are Your works!

In wisdom You have made them all.

The earth is full of Your possessions—

May the glory of the LORD endure forever;

May the LORD rejoice in His works" (Psalm 104:24, 31, NKJV).

• "It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, . . .

For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.

How great are your works, LORD, how profound your thoughts!" (Psalm 92:1–2, 4–5, NIV).

• "Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. . . .

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,

On those who hope in His mercy,

For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You" (Psalm 33:8, 18, 21-22, NKJV).

• “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. . . . [For] the

government will be on [your] shoulders. And [you] will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty

5 All NIV quotes are from the New International Version, © 2011.

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God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.6 . . . [May] your kingdom come, your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven" (Psalm 57:5; Isaiah 9:6b; Matthew 6:10, NIV).

Suggested Hymn: "Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending" (—Charles Wesley)

Lo! He comes with clouds descending, Once for favoured sinners slain;

Thousand, thousand, saints attending, Swell the triumph of His train;

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God appears on earth to reign.

Every eye shall now behold Him, Robed in dreadful majesty;

Those who set at naught and sold Him, Pierced and nailed Him to the tree,

Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing, Shall the true Messiah see.

The dear tokens of His passion Still His dazzling body bears;

Cause of endless exultation To His ransomed worshipers;

With what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture

Gaze we on those glorious scars!

Yea, Amen! let all adore Thee, High on Thy eternal throne;

Saviour, take the power and glory, Claim the kingdom for Thine own;

O, come quickly! O, come quickly! O, come quickly!

Everlasting God, come down!

“ ‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’

who was, and is, and is to come.”

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being” (Revelation 4:8b, 11, NIV).

Today's Living Hope Summary Prayer—

6 In Isaiah 11:1, just as the Spirit of the Lord came upon David when he was anointed king, ... so He will rest upon David's

descendant, Christ, who will rule the world. In Isaiah 11:2, "The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him" refers to the 3

persons of the Holy Trinity (see 6:3). "The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The

Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD" are Spirit-imparted qualifications that will enable the Messiah to rule

the earth justly and effectively. (Compare the 7-fold Spirit in Rev. 1:4.) In the New Testament, Christ dwells in believers

through the Holy Spirit. Hence, "the Spirit of truth" is the source of all truth which centers in Christ (John 14:16-17;

15:26; 16:13-15; cf. 1 Corinthians 2:12-16). [Source: The MacArthur Study Bible, © 1997, Word Publishing]

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We worship You, oh mighty King, for there is none like You! It is truly extravagant

of You to have taken us from the pit, out of the miry clay, to wash and robe us with

Your righteousness; to set our feet upon the Rock; to give us a new name, and a

personal intimate relationship with You—and to promise to us all the rights of being

a joint heir with You, oh Jesus! We are overwhelmed with unspeakable gratitude! At

the conclusion of Your Revelation, we pray that we will understand how You are truly

pouring out Your grace, mercy, and love in abundance—our inheritance in Christ. And

we thank You in advance for that! Bless us as we study [Your Word] this week; fill

our hearts with the wonders of who You are, Lord Jesus. Then help us to choose to

live in such a way that we, too, will reflect Your wonders. In Your precious name we

pray. Amen.7

7 To ask in Jesus' "name" doesn't mean simply tacking such an expression onto the end of a prayer as a habit.

Rather, as we come to the Father through Christ (John 14:13; 15:16; 16:23,24; Eph 5:20) with a reverential

attitude, we do so with the Holy Spirit working within us, energizing us to pray. For, when we pray, we are

praying "in the [Holy] Spirit" (Eph 6:18; Jude 20). Thus, it is a great privilege to come to our Father (Abba) as

adopted children in the name of the Son and on the basis of his mediation for us (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6) for then

our heavenly Father loves and actively cares for us in Jesus' "name"—and His eternal glory!

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Monday: Prayers for Ministry

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, NKJV).

God requires to be represented by a fiery Church, or He is not in any proper sense,

represented at all. . . . The great and eternal interests of heaven-born God-given

religion are the only things about which His Church can afford to be on fire.8

Isaiah's vision of our majestic, holy, and righteous God sitting on His throne, full of all His glory,

instantly brought him to his knees with a sense of his total unworthiness. (Isaiah 6:1–8) His worship

of the Most High God thus produced repentance, obedience, and finally ministry, as he cried out,

"Here I am, Lord! Send me!" Though still very conscious of his sin, Isaiah was prepared to serve

anywhere, anytime, anyhow, or anyway God directed because he was completely submitted to God's

will. Our own worship should likewise be focused on punctuating every moment with inward

whisperings of adoration, praise, and thanksgiving for our Most High God. In response, may He grant

us a "fiery Church" with Holy Spirit-prompted prayer ministries which inspire us to:

➢ Come before God with reverence by remembering His holiness vs. our own sinful nature.

➢ Pray out of insufficiency since ". . . apart from [Jesus, we] can do nothing” (John 15:5).

➢ Pray pleading the Lord's mercy because we don’t deserve anything.

➢ Pray with confidence for "if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us [and] . . .

we have the requests that we have asked of him" (1 John 5:14b, 15b).

➢ Pray in Jesus’ Name—our beloved Intercessor and Mediator!

Prayers for Our Nation

• “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love [you]

and keep [your] commandments, [we confess our nation has] sinned and done wrong. We have

been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws" (Daniel

9:4-5, NIV).

• [Oh, Most High God,] ". . . if [your] people, who are called by [your] name, will humble

themselves and pray and seek [your] face and turn from their wicked ways, then [please] . . . hear

from heaven, and . . . forgive their sin and . . . heal [our] land" (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV).

• [Heavenly Father, according to your Word,] "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any

people. . . . [Therefore,] Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show

us your unfailing love, LORD, and grant us your salvation" (Proverbs 14:34; Psalm 85:6-7, NIV).

• [And, through the Holy Spirit may] ". . . petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made

for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in

8 Ibid., E. M. Bounds, p. 133.

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all godliness and holiness. [For,] This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people

to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:1–4, NIV).

Prayers for Church Ministries

These beloved servants of God, plus missionaries serving Christ throughout the world, are on the

front line of a spiritual battle for the souls of men, women, and children. They therefore need faithful

prayer support. (See www.persecution.com for how to pray for the persecuted church.)

• [Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, please grant these beloved servants] ". . . the Spirit of wisdom

and revelation, so that [they] may know Christ better. [Enlighten their hearts to understand] . . .

the hope to which he has called [them], the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

and his incomparably great power for [all] who believe" (Ephesians 1:17b-19a, NIV).

• [Sovereign LORD, may they also] ". . . eagerly expect and hope that [they] will in no way be

ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in [their]

body, whether by life or by death. For . . . to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:20-

21, NIV).

• [Father God,] ". . . out of [your] glorious riches . . . strengthen [them] with power through [your]

Spirit in [their] inner being, so that Christ may dwell in [their] hearts through faith. And I pray

that [they], being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s

holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know

this love that surpasses knowledge—that [they] may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of

God" (Ephesians 3:16–19, NIV).

Prayers for a Personal Ministry

• "And this is my prayer: that [my] love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of

insight, so that [I] may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day

of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and

praise of God" (Philippians 1:9–11, NIV).

• [In addition, Father, please energize me to] ". . . pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds

of prayers and requests. With this in mind, [help me] be alert and always keep on praying for all

the Lord’s people" (Ephesians 6:18, NIV).

• [Loving Father, whenever I am with my unsaved friends, neighbors, or co-workers, please grant

empowerment to be] ". . . resolved to know nothing . . . except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

[And, may] my message [never be] with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of

the Spirit's power, so that [their] faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power" (1

Corinthians 2:2, 4–5, NIV).

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• "Moreover, . . . far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for [these

dear souls]; but I will teach [them] the good and the right way [so they will long to] . . . fear the

LORD, and serve Him in truth with all [their] heart; for consider what great things He has done for

[them]" (1 Samuel 12:23-24, NKJV).

Suggested Hymn: "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" (—Charles Wesley)

Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heaven to earth come down;

Fix in us Thy humble dwelling; All Thy faithful mercies crown!

Jesus, Thou art all compassion, Pure unbounded love Thou art;

Visit us with Thy salvation; Enter every trembling heart.

Come, Almighty to deliver, Let us all Thy life receive;

Suddenly return and never, Never more Thy temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing, Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,

Pray and praise Thee without ceasing, Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish then Thy new creation; Pure and spotless let us be.

Let us see Thy great salvation Perfectly restored in Thee;

Changed from glory into glory, 'Till in heaven we take our place,

'Till we cast our crowns before Thee, Lost in wonder, love, and praise! Amen.

Today's Living Hope Summary Prayer—

Thank You, dear Father, for our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ [who has so clearly

expressed in His written Word] what those who will be good and faithful servants are

doing during their earthly lives. How we long for Your approval! Do we have Your

approval? If not, what can we do? How can we live? What can we invest our life's

breath in that will lead to Your saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"? That

is what we long to be. We want to have Your spiritual ears today to hear what You

have to say. We want to be doers of Your Word, . . . and not just hearers. To that end

we commit ourselves and pray with expectancy for You to illumine our hearts and

quicken our wills that we might have Your approval. In the lovely name of Jesus we

pray. Amen.

Tuesday: Prayers for Family Needs

“Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11, NKJV).

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Prayer goes by faith into the great fruit orchard of God’s exceeding great and precious

promises, and with hand and heart picks the ripest and richest fruit. The promises, like

electricity, may sparkle and dazzle, yet be impotent for good till these dynamic life-

giving currents are chained by prayer, and are made the mighty forces which move

and bless.9

Whether family members are near or far, we should pray for their physical, financial, spiritual, or

personal needs. But when we approach God’s throne of grace, we need to do so in faith. For, “without

faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6a, NIV).

• [Father in heaven, just as first century disciples needed Christ's sermon on worry, as applicable,

may your Holy Spirit remind family members that Jesus has said:]

". . . I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your

body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

. . . For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you

need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will

be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:25, 32–33 NIV).

• [Thank You, Father, that] ". . . if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward [You,

oh] God. And whatever we ask we receive from [You], because we keep [Your] commandments

and do those things that are pleasing in [Your] sight. [Thus, we can trust that You] . . . shall supply

all [our] need according to [Your] riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (1 John 3:21-22; Philippians

4:19, NKJV).

• [However, should our] ". . . spirit [be] willing, but the flesh is weak [please grant empowerment

to] . . . not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with

thanksgiving, [help us] present [our] requests to [you, oh] God. And [then] the peace of God,

which transcends all understanding, will guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus"

(Matthew 26:41b; Philippians 4:6-7, NIV).

• [Gracious LORD, we are so grateful that] "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are

steadfast, because they trust in you" (Isaiah 26:3, NIV).

• [Therefore, may our whole family be enabled to] "Trust . . . in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD

JEHOVAH is everlasting strength[!]" (Isaiah 26:4, KJV).

Suggested Hymn: "Like a River Glorious" (—Frances Ridley Havergal)

9 E. M. Bounds, pp. 178-179

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Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace,

Over all victorious in its bright increase;

Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,

Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Refrain:

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest,

Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,

Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;

Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,

Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Refrain:

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest,

Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,

Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love.

We may trust Him fully all for us to do.

They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest—

Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Prayers for Reality in Your Children's Spiritual Lives10

Saving Faith—[Merciful Father, if any of our children have not yet believed in Jesus as their Lord

and Savior, I boldly ask that you will] ". . . open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to

light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance

among those who are sanctified by faith in [Christ]" (Acts 26:18, NKJV).

Living in Victory—[Father of our Lord Jesus, may each child of God experience this reality of

Christ's promise:] “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the

truth, and the truth will set you free. . . . [For] the Spirit of truth . . . will guide you into all the truth"

(John 8:31–32, 16:13, NIV).

Loving God’s Word—[Through the Spirit's teachings, energize them to] ". . . grow in the grace and

knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ [and] . . . not [depart] from the commandment of [His]

10 These prayers could be adapted for grandchildren or other family members.

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lips; [but treasure] the words of His mouth More than [their] necessary food" (2 Peter 3:18a; Job

23:12, NKJV).

Thinking of Heaven—[Furthermore, may those who were made alive in Christ] ". . . set [their] hearts

on things above, where Christ is, seated at [your] right hand . . . . [And,] Set [their] minds on things

above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:1b–2, NIV).

Finding Sin Repulsive—[Should any of our children grieve your Holy Spirit, please lead them to

repent and pray:] "I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin" (Psalm 38:18, NIV).

Staying Tender Toward God—[LORD, may this then become their heartfelt prayer:] "Create in me

a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. . . . My sacrifice, O God, is a broken

spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise" (Psalm 51:10, 17, NIV).

Today's Living Hope Summary Prayer—

Father, our hope is in You. You are our refuge. Although You do not remove the

difficulties of life, You just make it so much sweeter in those times when we flee to

You [and trust You wholly]. For there in Your embrace we find hope and joy and

peace and strength to go on—and to go back and [patiently] endure until You come or

call. . . . It could even be that the days written in Your book for us end this week. We

pray that we would therefore be those who live for You, Lord Jesus, a life that is true

and right. I pray that You, Holy Spirit, will put Your finger into the hearts of each one

of us and point out those untoppled idols, unforsaken sins, those unrestrained areas of

flesh in our lives, and that we would say, "Lord, I don't want to be found living, talking,

acting, or doing that in my last moments when You come or call for me." I pray that

we would make those choices while we're thinking about getting ready to stand before

You with all the redeemed, with all the angelic hosts, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord

God Almighty." We love You, Lord! Captivate our hearts we pray! In the name of

Jesus. Amen.

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Wednesday: Prayers for Forgiveness and/or Reconciliation

“And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12, NKJV).

Men [and women] must walk in upright fashion in order to be able to pray well. . . .

Praying takes its tone and vigor from the life of the man or the woman exercising it.

When character and conduct are at a low ebb, praying can but barely live, much less

thrive.11

Immediately following the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus said that if we don’t forgive the trespasses of others,

then our heavenly Father will not forgive us. (Matthew 6:14) Furthermore, God tells us that if we

regard iniquity in our heart, He will not hear our prayers. (Psalm 66:18) While it’s true that sins should

be confessed daily (1 John 1:9), we also need a regular quiet time of concentrated examination to

insure that our walk is not slowly being tarnished by undetected “black spots.” Thus, keeping “clean

accounts” with God and others is imperative if we are to live the Word-filled life.

• [Father in heaven,] "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious

thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm

139:23-24, NIV).

• [LORD, please] ". . . forgive [my] debts, as [I] also have forgiven [my] debtors. And . . . deliver

[me] from the evil one" (Matthew 6:12-13, NIV).

• [Thank you, Abba, Father,12 for your great mercy which] ". . . does not treat [me] as [my] sins

deserve or repay [me] according to [my] iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the

earth, so great is [your] love for those who fear [you]; as far as the east is from the west, so far

[have you] removed [my] transgressions from [me]" (Psalm 103:10–12, NIV).

• [For] "You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you" (Psalm 86:5,

NIV).

Suggested Hymn: "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" (—Isaac Watts)

When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my Lord;

11 E. M. Bounds, p. 163

12 Abba. An informal, Aram. term for Father that conveys a sense of intimacy. Like the Eng. terms "Daddy" or "Papa,"

it connotes tenderness, dependence, and a relationship free of fear or anxiety (Romans 8:15; cf. Mark 14:36 and

Galatians 4:6). The MacArthur Study Bible, © 1997, Word Publishing, p. 1708.

14

All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down:

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were an off'ring far too small;

Love so amazing, so Divine, Demands my soul, my life, MY ALL. Amen.

Prayers for Stability in Your Children’s Relational Lives13

Cultivating Love for Family Members—[Father in heaven, may this become our children's

commitment:] ". . . Let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of

God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:7-8,

NKJV).

Trusting God When Troubles Come—[LORD, also energize them to] ". . . clothe [themselves] with

compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one

another if any of [them] has a grievance against someone. [And] Forgive as the Lord forgave [them]"

(Colossians 3:12b-13, NIV).

Waiting for God’s Chosen Partner—[Moreover, please protect each one from ever being] ". . .

yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or

what fellowship can light have with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14, NIV).

Loving God's Plan for Their Lives—[Sovereign LORD, since believers] ". . . are God’s handiwork,

created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for [them] to do" [may they

all devotedly seek to follow your perfect plan for their lives] (Ephesians 2:10, NIV).

Today's Living Hope Summary Prayer—

Father, I pray that Your Spirit will touch our hearts with the reality that You own the universe

and are sitting at the finish line. May we live this life acknowledging that You own "me and

mine." I pray that we would hold our unclenched hands toward You and say, "All I am, and

all I have, I give to You." Father, I pray that You, who inhabit our thoughts and hear our

words before they are on our tongues, would have heard from Your people the most

transforming word we could give You from our salvation onward—"We relinquish the care

of all that we are and have so that we can be free to live and walk by faith as Your servants."

Lord, we want to be good stewards; help us to invest time in Your Word getting our marching

orders. Help us to spend time talking to You to find out how You want us to manage our

time, treasures, and talents. Help us to desire to do things that draw us to You, oh Christ, in

whose name we pray. Amen.

13 These prayers could be adapted for grandchildren or other family members.

15

Thursday: Prayers for Victory

“And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13a, NKJV).

Prayer is a wonderful power placed by Almighty God in the hands of His saints, which

may be used to accomplish great purposes and to achieve unusual results. 14

In John 15:5, Jesus said that without Him, we can do nothing. It is only through abiding in Christ, and

His Word, that we can have the power to be victorious in whatever we face. The key to unleashing

prayers that God always answers is to have them flowing from a Word-filled life. If you daily put on

the whole armor of God, He will give the power to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians

6:11)!

• [Lord God Almighty, according to your Word my] ". . . struggle is not against flesh and blood,

but against . . . the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore [energize me to] put

on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, [I] may be able to stand [my] ground

. . ." (Ephesians 6:12-13a, NIV).

• [With that in mind, Father, also enable me to] "Watch and pray so that [I] will not fall into

temptation. [For] The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41, NIV).

• [Should I happen to "fall into temptation," may your Holy Spirit remind that:] "No temptation has

overtaken [me] except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let [me] be

tempted beyond what [I] can bear. But when [I am] tempted, he will also provide a way out so

that [I] can endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV).

• [Furthermore, because] ". . . the weapons of our warfare are not of the [world] but have divine

power to destroy [satanic] strongholds, [through the Holy Spirit's power help me] destroy

arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought

captive to obey Christ [through] . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God . . ." (2

Corinthians 10:4–5; Ephesians 6:17b, ESV).

• [Because] "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path . . . thanks be to God who gives

[me] the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, [may I] be steadfast, immovable,

always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that [my] labor is not in vain in the Lord"

(Psalm 119:105; 1 Corinthians 15:57–58, NKJV).

• [Consequently,] "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13,

NKJV).

14 E. M. Bounds, p. 179.

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Suggested Hymn: "How Firm a Foundation"

(Based on 2 Timothy 2:19; Isaiah 43:1-2; Hebrews 13:5)

How firm a foundation, you saints of the LORD,

Has been laid for your faith in His excellent Word!

What more can He say than to you He has said—

Unto you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

And “When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,

My grace, all-sufficient, shall be your supply.

I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand."

“The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,

I will not, I will not, desert to his foes.

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!”

How firm a foundation, you saints of the LORD,

Has been laid for your faith in His excellent Word!

The promise of God to His children below:

"Do not fear, I am with you wherever you go!"

Prayers for Integrity in Your Children's Personal Lives15

Maintaining a Clear Conscience—[Father, please energize each believer in the Lord Jesus Christ

with a sacrificial love for others which produces] “. . . a pure heart and a good conscience and a

sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5b, NIV).

Learning to Stand Alone—[And, may those who love the Lord realize that Christ's] ". . . divine

power has given [them] everything [they] need for a godly life through [their] knowledge of him who

called [them] by his own glory and goodness [to salvation]" (2 Peter 1:3, NIV).

Seeking to Stay Pure in Mind and Body—[Since Christians are] ". . . sojourners and pilgrims [in a

hostile world, please grant them empowerment to] abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the

soul . . . " (1 Peter 2:11, NKJV).

Evidencing a Servant’s Heart—[Father God, may the Spirit of truth also enlighten] ". . . whoever

wants to be first [that he or she] must be [a servant] of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to

be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:44-45, NIV).

15 These prayers may also be applicable for grandchildren or other family members.

17

Not Becoming Bitter in Trials—[Sovereign LORD, if needed, please grant believers grace and

strength to] "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from [them], with

all malice. [Instead, may they] be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as

God in Christ forgave [them]" (Ephesians 4:31-32, NKJV)..

Today's Living Hope Summary Prayer—

Oh Lord, thank You that we have the precious privilege of having the greatest Bible teacher

of all time living within us—the author. By Your grace and through faith in the Lord Jesus

Christ, we have the anointing of Your Holy Spirit. . . . Therefore, as we study and ponder

and consider Your Word, gently illumine and quiet our hearts to the truth of the response

that You wish from us. For, in this conflict of the ages, in the swirling celestial battlefield

that is amassed around Your children, we are the focal point of the dragon who seeks to

disarm us from being able to walk in the power of Your Spirit through Your Word. I pray

that we would say yes to You, oh God. May we resist the devil so he will flee from us, and

may we see many turn from darkness to light around us. May our words of witness be

effectual as Your Spirit wings into the heart of each one we speak to. I pray that we will

learn about the victory of Jesus and be confident that we are more than conquerors through

Christ. In His name we pray. Amen.

How to Detect and Defeat Satan

“. . . deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13a, NKJV).

"The weapons we fight with . . . have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish

arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God [by

taking] captive every thought to [obey] Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4–5, NIV).

In The Strategy of Satan: How to Detect and Defeat Him (© 1979, Tyndale House Publishers), its

well-known author Warren W. Wiersbe emphasized conquering the enemy by obeying God's truth.

In Chapters 1–4, his material centers on Satan's attacks as a Deceiver, Destroyer, Ruler, and Accuser.

From then, Wiersbe discusses how to defeat the devil in the church and in the home. His entire book

reveals the nature of the spiritual warfare every believer in Christ will encounter—and even more so

as our Lord's second coming approaches.

Through use of either a paraphrase or direct quote, the following represents a few highlights from

Chapters 1–4's excellent foundational material. (Where to purchase Wiersbe's outstanding book

appears after these highlights.)

Satan – THE DECEIVER.

• Satan’s Target—Your Mind. "Why would Satan want to attack your mind? Because the mind

is the part of the image of God where He communicates with you and reveals His will to you." (p.

4) Therefore, Satan relished deceiving Eve's mind "by his cunning" (2 Corinthians 11:3).

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• Satan’s Weapon—Lies. If he can't trick you into questioning or denying God’s Word, like he

did Eve, then he will disguise his own lies as God’s truth. (John 16:13; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians

11:13–14)

• Satan’s Purpose—To Make You Ignorant of God’s Will. Why is that so important? Because

"... the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides

forever" (1 John 2:17).

• Your Defense—The Inspired Word of God. The Holy Spirit wants to transform your life by

renewing your mind through the truth of God's Word. (Romans 12:2; John 17:17)

Satan – THE DESTROYER.

• Satan’s Target—Your Body. If the devil can't deceive your mind, he will try to destroy your

body. For, ". . . when Satan attacks your body, he is attacking the one means God has of revealing

his grace and love to a lost world." (p. 29) (1 Corinthians 6:19–20; Philippians 1:20; Matthew

5:16; 1 Peter 2:9; Romans 6:12–13; Romans 12:1)

• Satan’s Weapon—Suffering. He wants "to control the circumstances around the body so that

the believer will suffer." (p. 33) But, except for how believers respond to personal suffering, God

is always in control. (Job 1:6–12)

• Satan’s Purpose—To Make You Impatient with God’s Will. Although the devil tried to cause

Job to impatiently lose faith in God, Job persevered and trusted the Lord instead. (Job 23:10;

James 1:2–4, 5:11)

• Your Defense—The Imparted Grace of God. The Apostle Paul also suffered from Satan's

attacks against his body, but through Christ's power he became victorious. (2 Corinthians 12:7–

10) God's grace is never deserved or earned; it is only given. (Ephesians 2:8–9) Therefore, "God

can give you grace for serving (1 Corinthians 15:9-10), for sacrificing (2 Corinthians 8:1-9), for

singing (Colossians 3:16), and even for speaking (Colossians 4:6). It also means that God can

give you grace for suffering, as he did with Job and Paul." (p. 42)

Satan – THE RULER.

• Satan’s Target—Your Will. "Satan’s original sin was a sin of the will. Five times in Isaiah

14:12–14 Satan says 'I will!' [Therefore,] he seeks to duplicate this sin in our lives, and he will if

we are not careful." (p. 53)

• Satan’s Weapon—Pride. To some degree, pride enters into all of Satan’s temptations. Pride is

thus the root of all sin because pride competes with God for control and glory. Therefore, “God

is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5–6).

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• Satan’s Purpose—To Make You Independent of God’s Will. Seeking to be independent of

God is to believe Satan’s lie that “you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). "If Satan can get you to

act and think independently of God’s will, he can then control your will and control your life." (p.

57)

• Your Defense—The Indwelling Spirit of God. The only way to conquer Satan is to

wholeheartedly surrender to God. (James 4:6–7; Romans 12:1–2) By yielding your mind,

body, and will daily to the Spirit of God, He will empower you to defeat the devil's schemes.

(Ephesians 6:10–12)

Satan – THE ACCUSER.

• Satan's Target—Your Heart and Conscience. "See how subtle and merciless Satan really

is. Before we sin—while he is tempting us—he whispers, 'You can get away with this!' Then

after we sin, he shouts at us, 'You will never get away with this!' Have you ever heard his

hateful voice in your heart and conscience? It is enough to make a Christian give up in despair!"

(p. 76)

• Satan's Weapon—Accusation. After cleverly deceiving you to believe lies about God until

you fall into sin, Satan might happily decide to appear "before our God" to accuse you of that

very sin. (Revelation 12:9–10) Hence, it is very important that you learn to discern between

the Holy Spirit's conviction through God's Word to restore fellowship with the Lord versus

Satan's hateful "fiery darts" of accusations which he hopes will make you give up in despair.

• Satan's Purpose—To Bring an Indictment by God's Will. As long as the devil can make

you feel guilty, but not repent, you will remain under indictment and will likely move farther

and farther away from God. In contrast, true conviction from the Spirit will usually result in

moving you closer and closer to the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Your Defense—The Interceding Son of God. "It is true that Satan stands at our right hand to

resist us and accuse us. But it is also true that Jesus Christ stands at God's right hand to

intercede for us!" (p. 80) (1 John 2:1; 1 John 1:9; Hebrews 13:20–21)

In other words, ". . . when you listen to Satan's accusations, you will focus your attention on

yourself and your sins; and this will only lead to defeat and despair. But when you listen to the

Holy Spirit's conviction, you will look by faith to Jesus Christ in heaven, your Advocate at the

throne of God. You will remember that he died for you and that God cannot reject you, because

you belong to Christ. It is because of the heavenly intercession of the Son of God that you and I

can defeat Satan's accusations." (p. 82) Hallelujah!

Note: The Strategy of Satan: How to Detect and Defeat Him (© 1979, Tyndale House

Publishers) can be purchased at www.Christianbook.com or 1-800-247-4784. It is also

available at Amazon.com.

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Friday: Prayers of Reflection

“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom . . .” (Matthew 6:13b, NKJV).

Humility is an indispensable requisite of true prayer. It must be an attribute, a

characteristic of prayer. Humility must be in the praying character as light is in the

sun. As a ship is made for the sea, so prayer is made for humility, and so humility is

made for prayer.16

The word “kingdom” in Matthew 6:9–13 refers to both the future (v. 10) and the present Kingdom of

God (v. 13). In Luke 17:21, Christ tells us that presently the kingdom of God is within believer’s

hearts. In other words, wherever the sovereign King of kings is, there is a kingdom, and He is to have

complete rule over us. Friday’s prayer theme therefore places an emphasis upon examining whether

or not we are giving Him first place in our lives. Since God knows how we are made, He knows both

our changeable and unchangeable features. He is thus never caught off guard by our weaknesses,

anxieties, and fears. As we open up to Him, we will realize that God sees us, and that He will help us

walk confidently in the everlasting way. (Psalm 139:23–24)

• [Father in heaven,] "Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always

been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness" (Psalm 26:2-

3, NIV).

• [Because] ". . . who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant

also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great

transgression" (Psalm 19:12-13, NIV).

• [Lord God Almighty, since pride competes with you for control and glory, also keep me mindful

that] "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. [For that reason, help me] ". . .

be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. . . . [For,] Pride

brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor" (Proverbs 16:18-19; 29:23, NIV).

• [With that in mind, LORD, please empower me to be an example of how to] ". . . be submissive

to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 'God resists the proud, But gives grace to the

humble' " (1 Peter 5:5b, NKJV).

• [Abba, Father,] "May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in

your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer" (Psalm 19:14, NIV).

16 E. M. Bounds, p. 148.

21

Prayers for Vitality in Your Children’s Eternal Lives17

Choosing a Life of Contentment—[Loving Father, in difficult times, may each of our children be

enabled to truthfully testify just like the apostle Paul:] ". . . I have learned the secret of being content

in any and every situation . . . [because] I can do all this through [Christ] who gives me strength"

(Philippians 4:12b-13, NIV).

Choosing a Life of Consecration—[LORD, also energize] “Whoever wants to be [Christ's] disciple

[to] deny themselves and take up their cross and follow [him, for] . . . apart from [Christ they] can

do nothing" (Matthew 16:24; John 15:5c, NIV).

Choosing a Life of Commitment—[Loving Father,] should one of our children commit to follow

Christ, but be tempted to postpone doing so, may he or she be reminded that Jesus said:] “No one

who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62,

NIV).

Giving a Life Back to the Lord—[Therefore, Lord Jesus, my fervent prayer is that each of them will

long to] "Worship and serve [you] with [their] whole heart and a willing mind[!]" (1 Chronicles 28:9b,

NLT). May these lyrics then become their desire as well:

Suggested Hymn: "Take My Life, and Let It Be Consecrated" (—Frances R. Havergal)

Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands and let them move At the impulse of Thy love;

Take my feet and let them be Swift and beautiful for Thee,

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing, Always, only for my King;

Take my lips, and let them be Filled with messages from Thee,

Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my will and make it Thine, It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart; it is Thine own; It shall be Thy royal throne,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure-store.

Take myself, and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee.

Ever, only, all for Thee. Ever, only, all for Thee.

17 These prayers may also be applicable for grandchildren or other family members.

22

Today's Living Hope Summary Prayer—

Dear Heavenly Father, bless us with Your enlightening power by [opening] our eyes

to behold wonderful truths from Your Word! May the humility of Christ, the insights

of Your Spirit, and Your blessed plan be present in our lives. As we increase in

knowledge, may we not become puffed up with pride, but rather humbly receive Your

engrafted Word that we may grow in Christ-likeness. We pray that in Jesus' name and

love we will also go out to reach the world around us—the world that is dying without

the hope of the Savior. Help us to be constantly ready to step heavenward, and to know

less of this world as our home and be more expectant of heaven! We pray all this in

Jesus' precious name. Amen.

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Saturday: Prayers of Praise and Preparation for Sunday “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13c, NKJV).

Prayer puts God’s work in His hands, and keeps it there. It looks to Him constantly

and depends on Him implicitly to further His own cause. Prayer is but faith resting in,

acting with, and leaning on and obeying God. This is why God loves it so well, why

He puts all power into its hands, and why He so highly esteems men [and women] of

prayer. . . . And, giving thanks is the very life of prayer. It is its fragrance and music,

its poetry and its crown. Prayer is bringing the desired down so it breaks out into praise

and thanksgiving.18

To prepare for the Lord’s Day services, make sure you’ve asked God to search your mind and heart

to reveal if there is anything displeasing in you (Psalm 26:2). Then, to experience the Lord’s presence

more fully, ask Him to fill your mind and heart with praise, for God says that He inhabits the praises

of His people (Psalm 22:3).

• "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;

I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, . . .

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;

with singing lips my mouth will praise you" (Psalm 63:1a-b, 3–5, NIV).

• “[I] give thanks to [you] LORD; [and] call upon [your] name;

make known [your] deeds among the peoples!

Sing to [you], sing praises to [you];

tell of all [your] wondrous works!

Glory in [your] holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek [you] LORD rejoice!

[May they] Seek [you] LORD and [your] strength;

seek [your] presence continually!

Remember the wondrous works that [you have] done,

[your] miracles, and the judgments [you] uttered . . .” (Psalm 105:1–5, ESV).

• [I] “Shout for joy to [you,] LORD . . . [and] Worship [you] with gladness;

come before [you] with joyful songs.

[For you] . . . LORD [are] God.

It is [you] who made [me], and [I am yours];

[I am one of] the sheep of [your] pasture.

18 E. M. Bounds, pp. 159 and 151.

24

[I will] enter [your] gates with thanksgiving

and [your] courts with praise;

give thanks to [you] and praise [your] name.

For [you], LORD, [are] good and [your] love endures forever;

[your] faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100, NIV).

• "I will [therefore] give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart;

I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

I will be glad and rejoice in you;

I will sing the praises of your name [forever], O Most High[!]" (Psalm 9:1–2, NIV).

"For by grace [I] have been saved through faith, and that not of [myself]; it is the gift of God, not

of works, lest anyone should boast. . . . [And] I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor

angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth,

nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate [me] from the love of God which is in Christ

Jesus [my] Lord. . . . Thanks be to [You, oh] God for [Your] indescribable gift—[Jesus Christ!]"

(Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 8:38–39; 2 Corinthians 9:15, NKJV).

Suggested Hymn: "My Jesus, I Love Thee" (—William R. Featherstone, 1846–1873)

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;

For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;

My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,

And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;

I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now!

In mansions of glory and endless delight,

I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;

I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow,

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now!

My Jesus, ’tis now!

Today's Living Hope Summary Prayer—

Oh Lord God, our Father, Creator, and builder of that glorious home You are preparing

for us, we love You! Thank You that You are going to make all things new so that we

need not despair about our bodies getting old or our world decaying. Nothing is

enduring here because our pilgrimage is heading us to the Celestial City, to a building

not made with hands, to a place that has foundations that shall never be moved. We

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praise You, Lord Jesus, for purchasing our place of abode forever with Your own

blood! We pray that by Your grace we will enjoy discovering more of the wonders of

heaven—the mansions of Jesus to which we are headed, and where we long to be.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. As we wait, may we not be shamed before You

when You come. Thank You for what great things You will do in our lives today [and

throughout eternity] as we bow before You. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Special Note: Because reverent meditations on the nature of God can bring an even deeper sense of

intimacy into your prayer life, may the Holy Spirit lead you to download a free copy of "What Is

God Like?"—a compilation of excerpts from A. W. Tozer's beloved classic, The Knowledge of the

Holy, related Scriptures, additional comments on the nature of God, and seven worshipful hymns.

If you are among those for whom Tozer wrote—"plain persons whose hearts stir them up to seek

after God Himself"—you will be mightily blessed through "What Is God Like?" which is available

at http://www.oakbrookpca.org/what-is-god-like/