Morning Exercises (Episode#2)
I probably will not be able to publish one of these every day, but I do want to give your children/family a bank from which to draw…
Heavenly Father, You have established Your throne in heaven. Your sovereignty rules over all. You look down upon the earth and You see all the sons of men. Nothing is hidden from You. My ways are before Your eyes, and You observe all my paths. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there. If I make my bed in the deepest cave, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn and fly at the speed of light to the ends of the universe, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will take care of me. Men look at the outward appearance of my face, but You look deeper, at my heart. You understand the thoughts and intentions of my heart. You understand all my ways.
This is a wonderful thing, Father. Even when I think I am trapped in the darkness, or lost in the crowd, I am not lost to You. For darkness is not dark to You, and night is as bright as the day.
But it is also a fearful thing. For you see all the sins in my heart, all the desires that should not be there, and all the emotions that are not right. Jesus said, ‘It is not what enters the mouth that defiles a man, it is what comes out of the heart. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murderous hatred, impurity, theft, lies, and horrible, mean words that hurt and slander others. These are the things that defile a man.’ My heart is full of such uncleanness. Please forgive me, wash me, and make me whiter than the snow. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for dying in my place, for my sins. Thank you that in You I have redemption, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of Your Father’s grace.
May Your grace help me today to say “No!” to sin and “Yes!” to righteousness. Help me to do what I know is right even when I want what’s wrong. Help me to do what Your Word says is good. Help me to be Holy and to love You with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength.
Go with me this day and help me please You. As one chosen by God, holy and beloved, help me to put on a heart of kindness, compassion, humility, patience, and gentleness towards everyone I meet. Give me wisdom to order my ways aright. May I look at no unclean thing. May I say no impure word. Help me to trust you no matter what happens and to count it all joy when I fall into difficulty. Whenever I am afraid, help me trust in you, in God whose Word I praise.
I thank You that whatever befalls me, You have promised to work all things together for my good, and 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 can separate me from Your love in Christ Jesus, my Lord.
Insert your own prayers here. Pray for:
Your family and ask God’s blessing and protection upon them.
Your close friends. May your influence strengthen their faith or lead them to trust in Christ.
Your enemies: has anyone hurt you recently? Is there anyone who has wronged you, or that you struggle to forgive. Ask God for grace not to become bitter, but to entertain a kindly spirit toward them. Ask God to draw near to them and bless them.
The conversion of people you suspect do not know the Lord.
Your Pastor and the elders/deacons of your church. Ask the Lord to help them walk with God, to fear Him and not other men. “For the fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”
For those who are sick or experiencing hard times.
A missionary you know by name. Ask God to watch over their going out and their coming in, and to cause His Word to prosper through their efforts today.
Pray for our country that God will give our President and his advisors great wisdom and discernment in all the many decisions they have to make.
Close your prayer with this doxology: “May Your Son’s name endure forever; May His name increase as long as the sun shines; And let men bless themselves by him; Let all nations call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who alone works wonders. And blessed be His glorious name forever; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen.” (Psalm 72:17–19, NASB95).