My Journal

Father, you are a God who has emotions. We see this throughout the bible. For most of the time I imagine your emotions to be of love and joy, but today I am reminded that you do become angry and disappointed - because you love. Lord I pledge to bring you happiness today and not to make you angry or disappointed.

Father God, thank you that you keep every promise you make. Jesus because of this I can declare you are King - help me fully understand how your Kingship effects my life.

I am again reminded today of your soveriegnty, your absolute plan over all history. In the account I read today, your leader, your nation and your own presence appear to be defeated. What we see in this is jyst a glimpse of your plan for all creation. We are good at looking at the here and now and getting the wrong perception, would you help me develop an eternal perspective on the here and now and give me understanding how I fit into you plan.

Father God thank you for your patience and grace towards me. I know that you have a plan for me, help me to trust in you for my future. Your word promidses that you will never leave or forsake me and even though I live in difficult, messy and confusing times I pray that I may draw strength from the knowledge that you have a plan for my future and that you wont let me go.

Lord Saul was so much like many today, seeking guidance from a variety of sources. Lord I pray that I moght really know you as my Lord and that more and more I might hear what you are saying to me with clarity.

David is clearly a man after your own heart - yet as human as the rest of us. His story brings me some comfort, especially in times when I get things wrong. Would you please help me Father God to talk to you and rely upon you more each day that my heart may be changed into one of purity and holiness.

Lord help me to avoid condemming others. Lord I am reminded of 2 scriptures this morning -removing the speck from my brothers eye whilst there is a stick in my own, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
I ask today Father you would help me change my wrong attitudes.

Thank you Father God that I have no reason to be afraid of my 'enemies' because you are in control. I ask Lord that knowing this would shape my life. Lord help me always to remember you are in control.

Lord I ask that you would continue to develop my spiritual hearing, that you may help me tune in to what you are saying. Once I have heard ord, I pray you would strengthen my will to obey and do what you are telling me. Lord in all that lies ahead this week I look forward to you acting in and through my life.

Thank you Lord for the changes you are bringing about in me. Lord would you continue to help me persevere - when I am tired, like I am now, I thank you that you, my number 1 priority does not fall by the way side.

Lord Jesus, clearly relationships matter much more to you than any wealth or possession. Quite simply today Lord I ask that you would continue to develop this approach and outlook on life in me.

Mericful God, thank you that you have a plan for my life. Would you help me pursue it with energy and drive. Lord, although I have hopes and aspirations for my future, what I want most is to be living within your will and blessing. Help me today to be productive within your will.

Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
(Repeat)

All of my ambitions, hopes and plans,
I surrender these into Your hands.
(Repeat)

For it’s only in Your will that I am free
For it’s only in Your will that I am free
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.

Lord, choosing to follow you is not a one off event. I thank you that at Calvery you won for me my salvation. Now I ask Lord Jesus that you would help me every day, every hour in every situation to choose to follow you above following evil desires. Lord as I trust you will help me choose the right course of action, then I trust you will use me as an effective soldier in your kingdom.

Lord thank you that ambition is not wrong but selfish ambition is because that is rooted in me and not in you. would you help me to serve you today in complete humility in what ever way I can without wrong ambition.

What a fanastic world we would live in if there were no lies, no gossip, no threats, no selfishness, no lust, no slander. How powerful and destructive words can be. Help me today bring only blessing to others.

I love the book of James and today'd passage in particular (2: 14-26) - Faith and deeds. Help me Lord Jesus to show how much I love you by the things I do. I know that you love me unconditionally and therfore I know you can't love me more for what I do. I do it because I love you and I want others to know you and your love too.

Lord Jesus, thank you that in your Kingdom you see no discrimination. Wealthy or poor, educated or unintelligent, black or white, male or female, young or old all have sinned and need access to your rescue plan. I ask Lord that you would help me treat people as you do - with consistency and love regardless of their circumstance. You love the whole of your creation - help me to do the same by sharing your love with all.

I have two ears and one mouth, help me to use them as you planned, slow to speak, quick to listen. Lord help me listen today, to you and to those I meet at work. I pray that as people speak to me that you would give me understanding. I appreciate to listen intentley is hard work, but it shows great love, help me I pray.

Lord, my temptation comes from my own desires not from you - you are the giver of all good things. I developed my thinking today - that all temptation has selfishness at its root. Lord would you help me to see temptation as an opportunity to resist and therfore follow you.

Thank you Father for the book of James - my favourite NT book. I understand how we can experience joy in times of trouble by having a right perspective. You alone are to be worshipped and no set of circumstances can take your place. Now I understand, help me I pray to live by it, being joyful in the midst of trouble.

Thank you so much Lord Jesus for all you have given to me. You have blessed me with gifts, abilities and possessions. I pray that you would help me use them thoughfully and wisely to contribute to the mission of your church.

Praise you Father God for the way you see me. My sin has been dealt with and you only see the potential you created in me. You're in the business of welcoming those who have gone astray - I thank you for that. Your word tells me that I am part of a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation that belongs to you. You have called me to be set apart for you.

PURIFY MY HEART,
Let me be as gold
And precious silver.
Purify my heart,
Let me be as gold,
Pure gold.

Refiner’s fire,
My heart’s one desire
Is to be holy,
Set apart for You, Lord.
I choose to be holy,
Set apart for You, my Master,
Ready to do Your will.

Purify my heart,
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy.
Purify my heart,
Cleanse me from my sin,
Deep within.

In today's passage, Jesus you ask the beggar what he wants, Lord you're asking me the same thing. What I want today is time to do the things I must get done. Family, Worship and work. Help me be smart with my time that I may enjoy the day you have provided.

Lord, again I am reminded of salvation, your amazing free gift to us. Lord I confess that some of the things I do are to try and earn my way into your favour, help me realise that this is nonsensical - you love me for who I am and because you created me. Would you help me to know this in a deeper way, that I might accept your love and offer of eternity so that I might live my life accoerdingly.

'Childlike faith'
Father thank you for children - the amazing potential they have. Lord you encourage all to come to you with childlike faith, trusting and full of potential. Lord I want to respond to you my heavenly father with these characteristics. Help me to completely trust you. Would you continue to develop me so I would fulfil the potential you have created within me.

Luke 18: 9-14
Lord make me like the tax collector who knows your standards and is aware of his own sinful nature. Prevent me from becoming like the Pharisee who compares himself with others, not you. Help me be aware of my sinful nature and cause me to cry out for mercy.

Psalm 139:23-24 (New International Version)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting

Lord Jesus, thank you for your teaching in Luke 18: 1-8. After reading it Lord I ask 2 things.
1. Help me to be more persistant in prayer. The PUSH bracelet is a statement I want to live by.
2. Help me develop more confidence in your ability to change situations.