II Cor. 5

So now, by your grace, I am in Christ, and I am a new creature. The old has passed away, behold the new has come. All this is from you, father, through my Lord Jesus, the Christ.

You, father, have reconciled me to you and given me the ministry of reconciliation. In Christ, you, father, are reconciling the world to yourself, not counting our trespasses against us and entrusting to us your message of reconciliation.

For my sake, and for the sake of all of us who are your chosen children, you made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

That is why Paul’s conversion is such a powerful demonstration. It is a statement to us from you, father, that your arm is long enough to save each of us who were chosen by you for salvation.

We cannot be so proud, or stubborn, or hard hearted, or selfish, that you, father, through Christ cannot melt our heart, and forgive our trespasses, and reconcile us to you through the life and resurrection of Jesus, the Savior and Redeemer.

I Tim. 1; Acts 9; II Cor. 5

(1 Tim 1:16) Paul says he lived and was confronted and converted in the way he was for a reason. God allowed Paul to be stubborn and hard-hearted and merciless, and then, bang, slapped him down, blinded him to the world, got his total attention, converted him, and set him on a completely different path.

In this way, Jesus demonstrated his “mercy” and “displayed his patience” to all of us who would “later believe in him for eternal life”.

So, this was good for Paul as the first fruits of Christ’s patience and redemption, but it has a more personal application to me. I see in my life the foolishness and selfishness of sin. I see a past of years of hard-heartedness to those I should have loved, and I see outright rebellion to God.

I persecuted you, Lord Jesus. My life of unbelief and rebellion was a persecution to you. Your call and choosing of me; your transformation of me is a demonstration of your patience and power.

In steadfast love and sovereign grace you never let me go, and in your time, you worked your work in me.

Hebrews 3,4&6

Today, Father, I consider and look upon Jesus, the apostle and high priest of my confession. He is the reason for the unshakable hope that dwells in me. Jesus is worthy of all glory.

Christ is faithful over your house as a son. I am a son in your house, father. I hold fast to my confidence in Jesus and my testimony of him as my Lord and hope. Today I am at rest in you, father.

I have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, and I hold fast to that confession. He was tempted in every respect, as I am, yet he is without sin. So, with confidence in Jesus, my advocate and high priest, I draw near to your throne of grace, father, and I receive mercy and I find grace to help in time of need.

Christ is set before me as my perfect and unshakable hope. He is a sure and steadfast anchor for my soul. His unbreakable ties secure me in your perfect presence, father, forever.

Ps. 23

Even though from birth’s first breath I have been walking in the valley of the shadow of death, God commands me and encourages me to be prepared (tempered) to fear no evil.

Even though there is evil out there, there is God, who is mightier than all evil and he is all around me and indwells me.

My father has and uses whatever is required to guard me perfectly and eternally. His rod and his staff comfort me because they are all that is required to overcome every temporal need and attack that I “walk” in here in this flesh.

I fear no evil because God is with me. I have the very presence of God dwelling in me. Around me, in the spiritual and eternal realm is his rod. That is all his mighty power to protect me from any attack and pestilence not allowed by him.

And I see his staff which guides me and snatches me out of harm. His staff, that lifts me up, draws me close to him, and guarantees I am never separated from him.

Ps. 10; Eph. 6; I Tim. 2; 3 John 2; Ps. 5, 57

Thank you, Lord, that you hear our prayers; that you hear our affliction and incline your ear to us.

I call on you in my days of trouble and you deliver me and you fill me with your glory. I cast all my anxieties on you, Lord, and I am joyful, because you care for me.

I pray at all times in your spirit, with all prayer and supplication; with all supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving,

I pray for all people, particularly kings, presidents and leaders. I pray that they would be wise and selfless, and that we may lead peaceful and quiet lives, godly and dignified in every way.

I pray that all will go well with me and mine. That we will be in good health and that things go well with our soul.

I rejoice and take refuge in you, father. I sing for joy and I exhult in you. In the shadow of your wings I take refuge, and the storms of destruction pass by.

Psalms 27

You, Heavenly Father, fill my mind and lift my thoughts far above my enemies, and I offered to you sacrifices with shouts of joy. I sing and make melody to you, Father, Son and Holy ghost.

You hear me, o Lord, when I cry to you. You are gracious and you answer me. You encourage me to seek your face. You do not hide from me, and you do not turn me away in anger. Instead, you seek me and draw me to you. You help me. You will never cast me off or forsake me.

At some point my parents have to leave me, but you Lord and father, never leave me. Instead you take me in and adopt me. You teach me your ways, o Lord, and you lead me on a level path.

I am not confused or mislead by my adversaries, or by false witnesses, or by those who breathe out violence. I believe you, Lord, and I look upon your goodness in the land of life. I wait for you, Lord. I am strong in Christ and my heart is courageous.

Psalms 27

You, o Lord, are my light and my salvation; because of that I have nothing to fear. You are the stronghold of my life, so nothing and no one can harm me.

Evil does assail your people and it plots to consume us, but, by your hand and in your mercy, evil stumbles and falls. Whole armies of evil encamp around us that are yours, Lord, and they make war against you and yours, but I do not fear because I am confident in your power and faithfulness.

What I do seek after, father, is to dwell in your house every day and all the days of my life. I gaze upon your beauty, Lord, and I inquire about you in your word and by your spirit.

You hide me in your shelter, father; you cover me with your tent; you lift me high upon Jesus, the rock of your salvation.

Ps 119, John 3, 2 Cor. 5, (some John Piper)

Forever, o Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations. Oh, how sweet are your words to my taste, father; sweeter than honey to my mouth.

I do not stray from your precepts. Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are a joy to my heart and they save my soul.

The faith you have given me and called me too, Lord, is not a matter of demands and resolutions and willpower. Rather, it is a matter of what I love, what I delight in, of what tastes good to me.

By your call, Father, and by your grace, Lord Jesus, I have been born again. There is a new man in me who is born of the spirit of God. The Light has come into my world and I love the Light.

I am in Christ, therefore, I am a new creature. By your presence, Lord, I have a new nature. The new has come in me. I no longer regard myself after my flesh, instead, I thank God that, by the grace and life of my Lord Jesus, I have become the righteousness of God in Christ.

I Cor. 10; Matt. 22; John 1; Rom. 4; Ps. 50; Matt. 5

The earth is yours, father, and the fullness thereof. Today when I eat or drink or whatever I do, I do all to your glory.

I thank you, Father, that I know your word. I know the sweetness, and the power, and the life, that is in your scriptures. You are the God of the living. You are life and your life is light to me.

I love you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind. I love my neighbors as myself

I trust you, Father. I do not waver concerning your promises, but I grow stronger in my faith everyday and I give glory to you. I am fully convinced that you are able to do all that you have promised.

I am thankful to you, Lord, in every way: for your love for me, and for your salvation. I pray today, that by your grace, I will be perfect before you, father, as you are perfect.

Micah 5,4&7

Lord Jesus, from Little Bethlehem you came forth for me; you, who are the ruler of all your people and of this world that you created. Your coming forth is from forever, from old, from ancient days.

You stand with me, and in me, and you shepherd me in the strength of almighty God, our Father. I dwell secure, for you are mighty to the ends of the earth, and you, o Lord, are my peace.

You teach me and I walk in your paths. I find rest and peace in you, Lord Jesus. In you I am able to sit under my vines and trees and no one shall make me afraid, for God, my God, has spoken. I walk in the name of God, my Lord, forever and ever.

I look to you, Lord Jesus. I wait upon you, Lord. You are the God of my salvation and you hear me. When things are dark you are my light. You bring me out to the light. I look upon you, Lord.