DAY 364

Lord,
   I will rely on You.  I will praise and worship You.  All I am I offer up to You.  Amen

DAY 363

God,
   You have deeply blessed me and I know You love me.  So I willingly accept these challenges now placed before me.  I will rejoice in these trials and tribulations.  I will thank You for these troubles because I will not let Satan win.  I will persevere because I am strong in Your love.  Guide me through these deep and difficult waters.  Be with me!  Amen

DAY 362

Thank you Lord for Your Miracles

Lord, thank You for showing me how miracles are made

One marvel at a time;

How human spirits are moved by the subtlest of things,

Like hands offered in love - no strings attached -

When accompanied by smiles

Forthright and sure;

That first names used personally

With souls disenfranchised

Can turn scowls into smiles for a lifetime,

Melting hearts as cold as icicles

With the warmth of a bear hug.

You teach me how promises consistently kept

Convey powerful truths

Like, "Jesus loves you, and so do I!"

You show me how cruelty branded into a youth

by the people long since passed.

Can - by these acts of authentic love -

Lose finally its devastating force

And tears of relief fall freely.

Silently, these messages carried by others and me

Work their miracles.

Yes, Lord, I have learned there is no scar etched so deeply,

No blow dealt so deftly,

That the love of Jesus Christ can't heal.

Thank You, Lord, for Your miracles.

Major Glen Doss of the Salvation Army

DAY 361

Lord, support with your love, prisoners, their families, friends, prison staff and all who care.  Heal those who have been wounded by the activities of others, especially the victims of crime.  Help us to forgive one another, to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly together with Christ, in His strength and His spirit, now and every day.  Amen  

Prayer found in a Salvation Army magazine

DAY 360

Hey, God, it's me again.  I don't know how much more I can take with trees continually falling down around our house for the past three months.  It's all up to me to cut the wood up, drag it to the street and bundle up the branches all without a chain saw.  I couldn't even find our saw and had to borrow one from a neighbor which was like a little key hole saw.  Okay, I know you are challenging me.  I know I am supposed to learn something from all this but I give up.  I can't figure out the lesson. Please stop with the trees falling down!!  The load is so heavy and oak limbs are not easy to deal with.  Can't you teach me with things not so heavy or am I so dense I need oak trees to fall four times.  Should I stand under one as it's falling.  Will I get the point then?  Am I that dense?  Guess I am.  Please try sky writing - then maybe I could understand what you want me to see with all this carnage and destruction.  All I am getting is depressed and ready to give up but I don't want to give up.  I want to pass this test.  So I need the gift of insight and wisdom.  I need Your grace, God.  I trust You.  I know I have faith in You and that You are teaching me a valuable lesson.  I'm just too thick to get it today!  Help enlighten me.  Don't let the devil win this test.  I want to be victorious in Your test. Strengthen me until I can pass Your test. Amen

DAY 359

God is great.  God is good. 
Let us thank him for our food. 
Those simple words taught to children really say it all.  You are great.  You are good.  And I thank You for all you have given me - food, water, shelter, clothing, friends, skills and talents.   May a childlike faith enter me and may I become worthy of all You do for me.  Amen

DAY 358

Jesus Christ,
   I never knew what unconditional love was until I was thirty.  And finding out there was such a thing as unconditional was was shocking to me.  I wanted to experience it.
   And now I can say I have.  You love me thoroughly and unconditionally.  And I am enjoying this love walk.  Thank you for this wonderful gift of being loved.
Amen

DAY 357

 Hey God,
   It's me again.  I just need to tell You is one thing.  I love You.  I know You love me perfectly.  I am trying to love You perfectly.  But for right now, know that I love You.  Amen

DAY 356

All powerful Lord God,
  Those who stay far from You will be lost,
and You will destroy those who are unfaithful.
  It is good for me to be near You.
    I choose You as my protector,
and I will tell about Your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 73: 27&28

DAY 355

Lord,
    We come to worship You today.  We offer up to You our praise and thanksgiving.  We are in awe of Your power, might and majesty.  You have created every single grain of sand.  You have formed the highest mountain peak.  You have placed the stars in the sky to shine at night.  You have fashioned a sun to warm us during the day.  All praise, glory and honor is Yours.  Amen

DAY 354

As the Father knows me, so may I know the Father, through the Christ Spirit, the door to the kingdom of the Father.  Show Thou me the way.

DAY 353

How gracious is Your presence on the earth, O Lord.  Be the guide, that with patience, I may run the race set before me. I am looking to Thee, the Author, The Giver of Light as my guide.  Amen

DAY 352

Heavenly Father,
    All praise, glory and honor is yours.  You have created the heavens and the earth.  I stand in awe of the wonders of this universe.  I have no need to worry because I give my life completely to You.  I trust You.  I believe in You and I know You guard all I do.   Amen

DAY 351

God,
   I only know You when I come to you in silence.  I know You when I stop to listen to that small still voice inside me.  That divine communication between us is awesome.  But the busy world and the clanging noise that assaults me everywhere I go is a hindrance.  I want to draw closer to You, God.   I want to live always with You in my heart and mind.  I want to dwell in Your house forever and ever.  So I will try.  I will practice listening to You.  I will aim to come to You in silence more and more each day.  I will treasure our time together.  I will place the highest value on my quiet moments with You.   Amen

DAY 350

Dear Lord,
   It's 4 a.m. and the stock is fed and watered, the garbage is taken care of for the week, the groceries are in the house and all put away, my spouse's clothes for the day are laid out, the alarm is set for my loved ones, I've done a half hour of Bible study and now I sit down to pray.  I see all those little chores as my prays in action because it is sharing my love with those in my life.  And You, Lord, have put love in my heart.  You have taught me love is the vital link to You.  You have commanded I share your love.  First I must love love my God with all my heart, all mind and all my soul and second I must love others as I love myself.  So, God, I've been busy loving.  Accept the work from my hands to bless those whom You have placed in my life.  You have given me these people and critters to love.  Help me be the best lover.  Make me a great lover.  Let Your love filter through me to make this universe as You envisioned it when you created it.  Let love reign supreme.  I rejoice in You and want You to know I love You.  It's great being Your child and knowing You love me, too.  Amen

DAY 349

Lord God,
    Yesterday I had an A HA moment.  Over the past 3 score and ? years I had come to accept that I would never receive any love from my mother but that according to the ten commandments I would honor her as required by God.  It doesn't command us to love our parents but to honor them.  That I could do.     
   But yesterday I was made aware that my siblings would never acknowledge what went on in our household as children.  And now I can accept that, too.  That was a healing moment.  I would never shatter their childhood reality.  And now I could accept that what was my reality was true for me and me alone.  I do not need their validation.
   So thank You, God, for this healing realization.  I can now fully accept all that happened.  You have worked wonders for me with this healing.  Bless You!!

Amen

DAY 348

Jesus,
    Everything that is good and perfect comes from You, O Lord and Creator.  How great are Your fullness and wonder.  You shine on my life day and night with no shadow of turning away.  Thank You for keeping the promises You gave in Your word.  You never forsake.  You never fail.  You are truth, You are life. 
                         Anita Corrine Donihue's   When I'm On My Knees

DAY 347

Lord,
   I have been handled little disappointment after little disappointment.  They all add up to hurt and heartache.  Okay, Lord, I give up.  I guess You want me to learn something from all this but right now I am clueless.  Enlighten me.  Please enlighten me.  Amen

DAY 346

God,
   I know You guide my steps and light my way.  I know I am protected and safe at all times.   Help me put a lock on my mouth so only words of goodness, light and love are uttered by me.  Amen

DAY 345

Jesus,
   You are the author of the universe.  Your majesty surrounds us.  Thank You for Your gifts.  Amen

DAY 344

Heavenly Father,
    I seek Your guidance.  I quiet my thoughts and I pause to open myself to Your wisdom.  I know You are with me in all things.  Help me to be receptive  and trust in Your ways.  Amen

DAY 343 "Pennies For Pencils"

God,
   I love this ideas that you place in my mind.   I call them a GOD THING because I could never come up with the idea on my own.  This last GOD THING is so beautifully simple that I can see it sweeping the country.  "Pennies For Pencils" has us collect loose change for just one summer month and then everyone turns their spare change into church.  We buy school supplies, like new pencils, erasers and paper for children in need.  We get to bless those children who folks can't afford any new supplies for school and the kids get to know God's love through us lowly earthlings.  We get to practice agape love and put what Jesus taught us into action.  It's so simple that it is truly divinely inspired.  We have church passes out decorated old tins to collect the money.  The supplies are bought and go to foster kids, needy inner city youth or homeless children at centers.  It's a win - win situation for all.  Thank You, God,  for having us put Your love into action.  We get to feel good doing something simple and then hurting children get loved and supplies.  You are so smart, God.  I just love seeing You in action.  Amen

DAY 342

God,
   I recognize that evil exists.  I feel it's presence.  I will resist with Your help.  Help me abide in goodness and grace.  I do not want to give evil a foothold in my life.  I want to live a pure life.  I strive to be holy and righteous.  Help me do so.  Please help me!
  Amen

DAY 341

Father,
 I feel like quitting but I don't.  I am discouraged as a parent but I hang in there.  I am weary of doing good but I do a little more.  I am pessimistic about my job but I roll up my sleeve and go it at again.  There's no communication in my marriage but I give it one more shot.
  Because of You I know a finisher is not one with no wounds or weariness but quite the contrary, often bloody and scarred.  Because of You I know the Land of the Promise awaits those who endure.  It is there for those who simply remain to the end.  Because of You I will be a finisher.  Amen
  Adapted from Max Lucado's  No Wonder They Call Him Savior

DAY 340

Heavenly Father,
    You have blessed me.  Yesterday You made me feel loved, truly loved, for just being myself.  Thank You for sending all those who ministered to me through their caring and concern.  Thank You for having me recognize Your love coming down from heaven to me.  Thank You for making me feel better.  You are an awesome Father.  Amen

DAY 339

Help me, Lord.  Help me, help me.  Help me, Lord God.  Amen

Day 338

God,
   Let nothing stand in my way of service.  Lighten my heart.  Gladden my countence as I go about my chores.  I offer all my service up to You.  Amen

DAY 337

Father,
  As we celebrate our countries independence let us remember we are always dependent on Your love and guidance.  We rely on Your grace and Your forgiveness daily.  I am proud to depend on YOU.  Amen

DAY 336

Lord, 
   I know I am in the right place at the right time.  I have learned to trust Your timing in all things.   Be with me in my daily journey.  Amen

DAY 335

I know wisdom is in me, Lord.  Help me seek it, pursue it and take time to wait on it.  I don't want to do foolish things and get foolish results.  Amen

DAY 334

Heavenly Father,
   I know I am one with Your energizing life.  Guide my hands in my work to heal those in pain.  Amen