So we do not lose heart.

Though our outer self

is wasting away,

our inner self is being

      renewed day by day.

For this light

     momentary affliction

is preparing for us

an eternal weight of glory

beyond all comparison,

as we look not to the things

           that are seen

but to the things

           that are unseen.

For the things that are seen

     are transient,

but the things that are unseen

     are eternal.

       2 Corinthians 4. 16-18

(Do not lose heart.

There is nothing random

     in this hardship,

nothing that God cannot use

     to strengthen us

     or redeem.

God does great things

that we cannot comprehend,

far beyond our vision

       or even our lifetimes.

We have just

        to be faithful.)

O LORD,

We all struggle with something.

And You provide the strength,

not just to get through it,

but fulfill Your purposes.

Help us to realize

that what we experience

is laden with Your glory.

We are just on the other side

and cannot yet see.

We do not just believe in You.

      We can trust You.

 

...and whose

   speech is gracious...

           Proverbs 22. 11

(What sets believers apart

is not being perfect

    (of which we are not)

but how we respond

   when it's obvious

   we are not

and in unfavorable situations.

Do we respond to others

   with His grace

   that we have been given?

Is my speech gracious

     in this volatile moment?

What am I bringing

               to the table?

Grace or argument?

Building up or tearing down?

Do I have to be right,

choose to win

    or choose to defuse?

God's grace is practiced

              in words,

more powerful than

   we will ever grasp.)

O LORD,

We seek to know You

   and to make You known.

Help us to realize

that includes how we respond

  in volatile situations.

No one expects us

     as believers

     to be perfect,

but unexpectedly gracious.

Help us to reveal Your grace

in how we act

            differently

because You abide in us.

 

...are being transformed

into the same image

from one degree of glory

            to another.

For this comes from the Lord

       who is the Spirit.

            2 Corinthians 3. 18

(The image of Christ

        is changing us

bit by bit,

day by day,

moment by moment,

decision by decision,

experience by experience.

Who do I look like

      in this situation?

Does anyone see Christ in me?

Do I?

Christ transforms us

          not all at once

   or in ways we expect,

lest we think

           it is our doing.

Not just change,

but literally

   change into another form,

another heart,

     and that would be

     Christ in us.)

O LORD,

Help us not be afraid of change,

but seek to know You more,

and imprinted with

          the image of Christ

in all we do and say

                   and are.

Please transform our hearts.

Radiate from within us

   that others would know

the radical difference

      You make in us.

It is not in us,

                  but You.

 

...even though

a door was opened for me

           in the Lord...

          2 Corinthians 2. 12

(Not always the journey,

the pathway,

the outcome we expect,

but His way

     and His purposes in it.

Even in what we do see,

God brings about

        something deeper,

comprehensive and eternal.

God redeems

        every circumstance

to draw us

      and others closer to Him.)

 

O LORD,

Help us not just to

     seek another path,

     or seek new doors,

     or even an answer,

but to seek You.

Make us aware

   not just of where

   and what and how

but sensitive to Your Presence.

You cover us

not only in Your purposes

   but by Your steadfast love.

You weave us

into the grander narrative

         for Your glory,

even that which we

    cannot see yet.

 

For He will complete

what He appoints for me,

and many such things

are in His mind.

             Job 23. 14

(God is not just

working it out.

He is working in it

   and through it.

Our experiences

and our stories

have not yet ripened.

We may not yet see

but God is working

            mightily.

We have only

    to be faithful to Him.

God always works

   in multiple outcomes.)

O LORD,

You anoint

    and You appoint.

Cover this day before us

as we follow You in it,

even the twists and turns,

the paved and the potholes,

the unexpected troubles

   and the joys that surprise us.

You deliver us through,

You protect and provide,

You sustain,

You complete,

and cover our story this day

    with Your glory.

Please continue to pray for the people of Afghanistan

and about the turmoil and suffering in that land.

 

For we were so utterly burdened

beyond our strength

that we despaired of life itself.

Indeed, we felt that

we had received

        the sentence of death.

But that was to make us

rely not on ourselves

             but on God

who raises the dead.

        2 Corinthians 1. 8-9

(Beyond our strength,

even totally overwhelmed,

that we would turn to God,

to know Him more,

    and rely on Him.

This experience is just

another incredible story

in our chronicle

        of His faithfulness.

Not in our strength

           but in His.)

 

O LORD,

If we only realized

that we are not

      alone in this,

but dwelling in You

and running with You,

   we would be astonished.

There is nothing random

   in these circumstances

but Your glory

       in whatever we face

and knowing new dimensions

              of Who You are.

Our story

     bearing the imprint

               of Your glory.

 

...for a wide door

for effective work

has opened to me,

and there are

   many adversaries.

      1 Corinthians 16. 9

(Doors surround us

to minister to others

and to live out the gospel

in all that we do

and the choices we make.

Are we aware and ready,

   shoes tied on,

when the doors are cracked

     or wide open

     with a welcome mat?

And are we conscious of

distractions, reluctance

     and our own excuses?

God redeems every action

      and every word

for the furtherance of His kingdom.

Even that which

           we are unaware.)

O LORD,

Help us to be fearless for You

in ministering to others,

aware of both visible

    and invisible struggles

    all around us.

Use us for Your kingdom today

that we may know You more

and make You known.

Redeem every action,

every choice,

every word,

every prayer,

every kindness

to love others right to You.

 

Therefore, my beloved

      brothers and sisters,

be steadfast,

immovable,

always abounding

     in the work of the Lord,

knowing that in the Lord,

your labor is not in vain.

         1 Corinthians 15. 58

(Not just believing

but knowing

God is using us mightily

for His Kingdom

     and for His glory,

even in what we do not

       see or realize.

We have only

        to be faithful to Him.

God brings

    His fruitfulness to it,

more than we can know.

Even today,

even in this.

Every experience,

every situation,

even every difficulty

  is radically different

because we follow Him.

What would I do differently

   if I knew it was

         not in vain,

   but eternally appointed?)

O LORD,

Guide us in our choices today.

Provide for us

      what we really need

not just for the task,

   but to know You more.

Anoint our time and

   appoint Your glory to it.

Assign Your purposes to it

   and realign our hearts to You.

Go before us, O LORD,

go with us

that we may see Your wonders

   as You bring Your glory

   before us into this day.

 

...Who does great things

     beyond searching out,

and marvelous things

     beyond number.

            Job 9. 10

(This is not the end of the story,

      nor barely just realized.

We cannot know how

    God is already redeeming

    for His glory,

beyond what we can see,

immeasurable,

innumerable,

exceeding our vocabulary,

     words we don't even know yet,

and our limited comprehension.

I do not have to know

              or understand

   to fully trust Him in it.

He is sovereign.)

O LORD,

It is not in us.

It is not we who live,

but Christ who lives in us.

You do great things

    we don't even know.

We are humbled

    by what we do see

and acknowledge

and recognize,

     not just Your hand,

but You.

You are with us.

You dwell in us.

We are not alone.

Your Presence changes

    how we see,

    what we see,

    how we approach,

        navigate,

        and do,

because You change

         and reset our hearts

from circumstances

           to Your glory.

Mark the blameless

and behold the upright...

          Psalm 37. 37

(Seek out those people

who intentionally

           run with God.

Learn from them,

underline what they do,

watch their ways,

and how they navigate

  in this broken world

          with the LORD.

What is their heart like?

How do they live it out

      when they fail

      or life is really hard

      or when all looks bleak?

How do they respond

           to affliction

and to the affliction of others?

Is it all about them

           or all about Jesus?

Is there joy and strength

    that cannot be explained

    if not for God?)

 

O LORD,

You never intended for us

to do life on our own

without You

or without Your people.

You have said that

   You have many people

   wherever we may be.

Help us to seek them out,

those who have

   the mind and heart of Christ,

those who know You

and follow You

         moment by moment.

Those who are not perfect

            and know that,

    but who know You.

And help us to be a witness

     and bear with-ness

in this community

to build up those

              among us

and those around us

to point them to You.

Help us to know

that You are truly

               among us

and You have

        strategically appointed us

    for Your Kingdom

    and for Your glory,

even in unexpected places,

among unlikely people

    and in the seemingly absurd.

May we bear witness to You

and be faithful to You today,

even in ways

          we will never know.

 

 

There was a man

in the land of Uz

whose name was Job,

and that man was

    blameless and upright,

one who feared God

and turned away from evil.

               Job 1.1

(Job was an ordinary man.

He was not perfect,

but what distinguished

   --and empowered him--

was that he loved God,

worshiped

and followed Him.

And through

his daily spiritual practices

       and choices,

God strengthened him

for the hard stuff

we all struggle with.

Could Job have endured

if he had not already

set his heart and mind

           on the LORD?

Not in his strength,

but God's strength in him.)

O LORD,

We all face potholes

and cliffhangers

and hard stuff.

Grant us the endurance

to not just get through

but that You bring

        Your glory in it.

Help us to follow You

with great intention

to worship,

love and serve You

     in our daily decisions.

 

Trust in the LORD

      and do good;

dwell in the land

    and befriend faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the LORD,

and He will give you

the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD,

trust in Him,

and He will act.

             Psalm 37. 3-5

(Little daily choices

never turn out to be so little,

but profoundly transform

              our hearts,

radically alter

    the trajectory of our lives,

and significantly impact

the lives of everyone around us.

Am I trusting God in this,

seeking the welfare of others,

following Him through the thicket,

watching not that God will act,

     but that He is already?

God at work.

God at work in us

       changes everything.)

O LORD,

You have spelled out for us

how to approach this day,

how to handle the hard stuff,

       and how to trust You.

We only know in part,

we can only see shadows,

but we know

that You are here with us.

Help us to trust in You

               even more,

even in this,

even when all we know to do

       is to be faithful to You.

Fill our pockets with

      Your graciousness today,

to be grace-filled in the volatile

and faith-full in the whirlwind,

for Your glory in this,

             not our own.

 

And who knows

whether you have not come

to the kingdom

for such a time as this?

             Esther 4. 14

(There are

       no ordinary days.

We are all

strategically placed

        and appointed

to be faithful

in this place,

right now,

right here.

What does faithfulness

look like today

in what we are facing,

in all we do,

in how we approach it,

in what we pursue?)

O LORD,

We don't know what to do,

but our eyes are on You.

          (2 Chronicles 20.12)

Anoint this day,

appoint Your way,

assign Your work,

re-align our hearts.

Bring Your glory to this,

  even this situation,

and grant us Your strength

to be Your faithful people

        in this place today.

May Your Presence prevail

for the good of

        Your Kingdom.

Do this

in remembrance of Me.

       1 Corinthians 11. 25

(These familiar words

are used in the liturgy

      of communion.

But they extend far beyond

      the walls of the church.

In whatever we do,

     we worship Christ.

We work and worship

not just in awareness of Him,

       but in His Presence.

The Hebrew word avodah

means simultaneously

        work and worship.

Christ bears witness to the world

         through us.

What is before me

may be difficult

       and hard to do,

but how do I do it differently

   in remembrance of Christ?)

O LORD,

We all struggle

in some way or another

   what to do

with what is before us.

But we would do it joyously

     if we knew it was from You.

Not in our strength,

   but in remembrance of You.

Bring Your glory

           to this story,

   even in dark places.

Shine through the

    dire circumstances,

radiate Your Spirit in what is

     volatile and distressing

that all may see You

and know that You are God.

May we serve and honor You

and be a witness to You,

          even in this.

 

Let them be like chaff

before the wind,

with the angel of the LORD

driving them away.

              Psalm 35. 5

(May the LORD blow away

           my fears.

Am I willing to let them go

          and blow away?

Am I holding tight to them

--my favorite fears,

deep rooted worries,

staked in the ground anxieties?

Do I let the LORD 

have a strong hold on me,

           or allowing my fears

           to grip me?)

O LORD,

Blow away our fears

      before the wind

that we may see You

                 clearly

and love You

without chaff distracting us

and clogging up our hearts.

May we hold tightly to You

       with both hands

       and a whole heart.

Wrench away the chaff

that drains us of strength

and makes it hard to breathe.

When the chaff blows away,

    life is very different.

Your strength sustains us,

no matter the circumstances.

 

So whether you

       eat or drink,

or whatever you do,

do all

to the glory of God.

   1 Corinthians 10. 31

(There is no

    sacred and secular divide.

There is nothing

   that cannot bring Him glory.

Nothing too ordinary,

nothing insignificant,

nothing too small or great.

Even in this daily task,

every relationship,

what we do

    and how we do it,

even our attitudes,

maybe especially our attitudes.

We do it to His glory.

But He brings His glory to it.

Even in unlikely places,

the unexpected,

and what we don't see

          or recognize.

His glory is not limited

         to our lifetimes.

God is bigger than that.

There are no

        little daily choices,

but only those that

        change our lives

     and those around us,

in whatever we do.

"Do all" translates

          exactly that.

What does that look like

       in today's encounters?)

O LORD,

Bring Your glory to this day.

Make me not just aware

     of You,

but transformed by You.

Anoint this day, O LORD.

Appoint me in it.

Assign my every action.

Re-align my heart.

Help me to stop and realize

     that Your glory

     is all inclusive.

There is nothing beyond

            Your witness

             in this world.

May Your glory

    get all over

    what I do today

in permanent marker,

soaked in,

indelible,

undeniable,

life-changing.

This is no ordinary day.

You don't make them

             that way.

 

No temptation

has overtaken you

that is not common to man.

God is faithful,

and He will not let you

be tempted

beyond your ability,

but with the temptation

he will also provide

     the way of escape.

     1 Corinthians 10. 13

(Nothing --

no temptation,

no affliction,

no suffering,

no lack or weakness--

that others have not

gone through

         before us.

That does not discount

nor ignore

our own pain or struggle,

      but gives us hope.

We are not alone in this.

God is faithful.

He has placed others

around us

not to point to an exit door

       but love and help us

       to endure.)

O LORD,

Help us to seek You

      in our struggles,

those fears and situations

that overwhelm

       and overtake us

and keep us up at night.

Please help us to realize

when we seek You,

we are strengthened

with a strength that is

        from You.

We can endure differently.

Bring us through,

not just to survive

       but somehow thrive, 

not in spite of it

       but through it.

Because You are here

     to carry us.

 

 

Our soul

    waits for the LORD.

He is our help

           and our shield.

           Psalm 33. 20

(Are we waiting for the LORD?

Or is He waiting for us?

Waiting for the LORD

is never passive,

not waiting for directions,

marching orders,

        or answers,

    but seeking God Himself.

He is our help and shield,

not changing circumstances.

"The only thing harder

than waiting on the LORD

is not waiting for Him."

     -- Crawford Loritts

Don't get ahead of Him.

Get ready.)

O LORD,

We wait for You,

knowing that You are working,

knowing that the situation

        may not yet have ripened,

and we may not yet be ready.

You are on the move.

May we wait with

             shoes tied on,

             backpacks ready,

and our eyes on You.

In the meantime,

help us to fulfill what

     we have left undone.

Waiting for You

doesn't always mean

     getting ready to leave,

but staying faithful to You,

even here,

even now.

 

...for they perceived

that this work

had been accomplished

with the help of our God.

         Nehemiah 6. 16

(Not just that others

     would realize it,

but that we would

recognize God's hand

           and strength.

There is no way

we can do it on our own.

Are we explaining Him away?

Are we claiming His glory

             for ourselves?

Or pointing others

                  to Jesus?)

O LORD,

May we work and accomplish

what You have placed before us

for Your honor.

May what we do

      point others to You

by how we do it,

  why we do it,

and out of great love

               for You.

May we work in such a way

that others see You.

Through Your strength,

help us to strengthen

    those around us.

May we realize that

     Your help

always changes the outcome.

Will they revive the stones

     out of the heaps

     of rubbish,

and burned ones at that?

               Nehemiah 4. 2

(God redeems

the unlikely and unexpected.

The walls of Jerusalem

lay in waste for 140 years.

Nehemiah led the exiles

to rebuild it in 52 days.

What can I do with

     this pile of rubble

     before me?

God stirs His creative spirit

         in each of us

for the restoration

     of this broken world.)

O LORD,

We are surrounded by

     a broken world

     and a mess.

Please order our days.

Anoint our time today,

point us

  and appoint us

    to acts of goodness

           and restoration

and to turn things

     rightside up again

with love an

Will they revive the stones

     out of the heaps

     of rubbish,

and burned ones at that?

               Nehemiah 4. 2

(God redeems

the unlikely and unexpected.

The walls of Jerusalem

lay in waste for 140 years.

Nehemiah led the exiles

to rebuild it in 52 days.

What can I do with

     this pile of rubble

     before me?

God stirs His creative spirit

         in each of us

for the restoration

     of this broken world.)

O LORD,

We are surrounded by

     a broken world

     and a mess.

Please order our days.

Anoint our time today,

point us

  and appoint us

    to acts of goodness

           and restoration

and to turn things

     rightside up again

with love and grace

    and kindness.

I can't do everything,

but I can do something

     by Your strength.

 

 

 

Blessed be the LORD,

for He has wondrously shown

His steadfast love to me

when I was

       in a besieged city.

           Psalm 31. 21

(We all have felt at times

living in a besieged city,

surrounded by fear,

    both real and imagined,

overwhelmed by circumstances,

and not yet knowing

            the end to this.

But we all also possess

a chronicle of God's faithfulness.

      He is still with us.

Even though we may struggle,

   God has not left us alone.

When we faithfully seek Him

    on the "ordinary" days,

God builds His strength in us

to know His Presence

       in times of trouble.

"Run with Me.

    Right here with you.")

O LORD,

In times of favor,

You are here.

In times of trouble,

You have not moved.

Help us not just to see

   Your steadfast love

                 for us,

but to show Your love

          for others.

We are not in a random place,

but strategically appointed

to bring Your name here,

Your strength

    to help others to You,

Your Presence where we are.

How we pray,

what we say,

how we respond,

how we serve,

   all reveal our love for You.

And reveal to others

      that You are indeed real.

 

But I trust in You,

        O LORD.

I say,

     "You are my God."

My times

    are in Your hands.

         Psalm 31. 14-15

(Even in this difficult,

scary, overwhelming

             situation,

God is sovereign

and we are not alone.

In the midst of fear

and despair

and what seems like defeat

and how in the world am I

     going to get through this,

remind,

recite,

repeat outloud,

engrave these truths,

not just a promise

          but this reality.

God redeems.

God has a strong hold

     on each one of us.

"Trust Me in this."

Don't rush ahead of God.)

O LORD,

You are my God.

Help me to realize

   what that means

right in the middle

       of this hard place.

Help me to

         trust You.

I cannot understand everything,

         but I can trust You.

Help me also to come alongside

others to encourage them

     that You are here,

and You love us with

       a steadfast love

which means

sometimes we don't understand,

and most times we won't see

    the full impact of Your love

or Your eternal outcomes

                  in this.

Our times are in Your hands,

      not in our control,

      and never have been.

Help us to follow You into it,

       and let You work

    Your wonders in our days.

The hand of our God

was on us,

and He delivered us

from the hand of the enemy

and from ambushes

             by the way.

         Ezra 8. 31

(God's protection

        and provision

are upon us

in what we see,

what we don't see,

and what we only see

  in the rearview mirror.

He may not deliver us

    from what we fear

but right through it,

foes and struggles which are

    both real or imagined.

God never intended for us

    to go it alone.

"Follow Me.  I am with you."

No matter what,

with Him,

we are secure even in

       impossible places.)

O LORD,

None of us know

what this day holds,

        but You do.

And You have

   a secure hold on us.

Help us to

   be Your faithful people,

even in the hard stuff.

Strengthen us

with a strength that is

                not ours.

Grant us Your peace

even in the volatile

and the absolutely scary.

Work through us

in success or failure

that You would be seen,

undeniably Your victory,

Your glory,

and Your Presence.

Even in what

      we do not realize,

even in our messing up,

even in our inabilities,

           You redeem.

 

This is how

one should regard us,

as servants of Christ

and stewards

  of the mysteries of God.

       1 Corinthians 4. 1

(And this is how we

should see ourselves,

as servants of Christ,

bonded in love to Him,

serving Him,

and loving others.

We cannot explain

  the deep works of God,

but know there is

 profound purpose

in what we cannot grasp.

We will not understand

         everything now,

but someday,

   all will be revealed.

"Oh, that is why

         that happened."

We make a choice now

     to trust Him fully,

even in what is now

   hidden in the shadows.

My grandmother used

to tell me as a little girl,

"Sometimes you

just have to trust God

about that.")

O LORD,

We take hold of Your Word

to help us navigate

the hard stuff

in this very broken world.

We stand in awe of You,

we stand in Your strength,

we hold on with both hands

and even with aching hearts.

Help us to go forth

with hearts set on You,

not on circumstances,

even in the difficult.

Grant to us Your strength

which is far beyond ours.

Grant to us Your peace

that surpasses

   our own understanding,

and know that

this situation is fully in Your hands

and Your steadfast love.

 

 

I planted,

Apollos watered,

but God gave the growth.

       1 Corinthians 3. 6

(We can take no credit

for what God does

with our faithfulness

               to Him.

We have no idea

how God uses

even the simplest deeds.

There are

    no small obediences.

God calls us to be faithful.

He brings His fruitfulness to it.

He brings His glory.

Faithfulness to God always

     leads to fruitfulness.

Sometimes we see.

Sometimes the results are

far beyond our vision

   or our lifetimes.

God always works in

       multiple outcomes.

We plant a tiny seed.

God produces a forest.)

O LORD,

We cannot know

the extent of Your glory

in everything

       done in Your name.

You bring the growth.

In all things

          great and small,

may we be faithful to You.

And You alone

    complete it

in deeper ways

than we can ever know.

 

But we have

the mind of Christ.

       1 Corinthians 2. 16

(That profound reality

changes everything

we see,

how we see God,

other people,

circumstances,

   and even ourselves.

Having the mind of Christ

transforms how we

   experience the situation,

and how we respond.

How do I approach

this difficulty

           differently

because I know Christ?)

O LORD,

Help us to realize

not just a change of perspective

but grasp the reality

     of knowing You.

Lay Your mind

          over ours

that we would comprehend

this situation differently

in light of Your goodness,

grace and steadfast love.

This life

is not all there is.

Help us to lay before You

our day,

our struggles,

even those heavy things

  we cannot budge

  or even speak,

that You would release

     the bonds of despair,

fill us with

        Your strength,

and bring Your glory

     through us.

 

Wait for the LORD;

be strong,

and let your heart

        take courage;

wait for the LORD!

        Psalm 27. 14

("Trust Me in this."

Not waiting for God

       to catch up

       or show up,

but seeking Him who has

   already gone before us,

providing,

and redeeming

  in ways we do not realize,

far beyond our vision,

far beyond our own lives.

Even now, even in this.

It is not a matter

    of God showing up,

             but us.

Being courageous means

   not going it alone

   without Him.)

O LORD,

You never promised that

life would be easy

           in this broken world,

but "Fear not.

       I am with you."

Help us to be

      faithful to You

      and fearless for You

even in what

     we do not understand,

knowing that You are

            always loving,

            always present.

We have a hope that appears

           ridiculous to this world

and makes no sense,

if not for Your Presence with us.

Please help us

to bring Your Name,

Your peace,

Your love

   to this impossible situation.

One thing

I have asked of the LORD,

that I will seek after:

that I may dwell

  in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon

     the beauty of the LORD,

and to inquire in His temple.

             Psalm 27. 4

(One thing,

not just priority,

prominent

    but preeminent,

to seek after the LORD.

No matter where we are,

dwelling in Him,

walking with Him,

worshiping Him

      in all we do.

It is not just what we do,

but what it does to us.

God transforms us.

We see, do, respond,

choose, love and live

    very differently.)

O LORD,

Help us not just to

    walk with You

through circumstances,

but walk with You

through Your wonders.

Help us to be changed

       by seeking You.

Grant to us Your strength

in all our days.

You are our strength.

You have a strong hold

      on us.

Even in the ordinary,

even in this scary place.

 

 

...and spoke encouragingly

to them saying,

"Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid or dismayed

before the king of Assyria

and all the horde

    that is with him.

With him is an arm of flesh,

but with us

   is the LORD our God,

to help us and

to fight our battles.

       2 Chronicles 32. 6-8

(To whom can I

  speak encouragingly today?

We ALL struggle with something,

    but the LORD is with us.

Courage is not

          the absence of fear,

but awareness

       of the Presence of God,

trusting the LORD

   instead of circumstances.

The world says,

         "You can do it!"

but God says,

   "You can trust Me!"

He will guide and provide.

Leaving aside fear and dismay

always leads us

to a different path through it.)

O LORD,

The hordes are upon us.

Help us to realize

that You surround us.

Lead us through

        our battles.

May we learn to trust You

even in this.

Help us to approach this

differently

because we know You,

not just aware of You

but strengthened.

Anoint this day,

            O LORD.

And help us to

speak encouragingly

    to those around us today.

      

 

For if you return to the LORD...

          2 Chronicles 30. 9

(Seeking the LORD

changes everything about us,

how we approach

        what is before us

--the favorable

          and the overwhelming--

how we treat others,

how we see circumstances,

how we work,

how we worship God

     in all we face

     and all we do.

Serving and loving God,

seeking intimacy with Him,

directly impacts

    the trajectory of our lives

and deeply influences

everyone around us

and even those

     who come after us,

the generations yet unborn.

May we be aware of

the residual effects

     of our walk with the LORD.)

O LORD,

May we consider

not just what we do,

but what it does to us.

Help us to seek You

      even in this.

Help us to love others

     because we love You

and because You have

     changed the course of our lives.

You walk with us, O LORD.

Help us to take Your hand.

Guide us in Your ways

that we may see all things

              differently

for Your glory.