Father God, you search my heart and know everything about me. You know what I’m thinking, and before I speak a single word you know what I’m going to say. No one could possibly count the many times your thoughts rest on me every day. I don’t understand why you would care so much about me. But I’m grateful that you do.

Though I will never really understand your love for me, I thank you with my whole heart for loving me. Thank you that you watch over me and my loved ones for our good to prosper us. Thank you that you will never leave me or forsake me. Teach me to seek after you with my whole heart and help me remember the many benefits of knowing you and obeying your Word. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Supporting verses:

“O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I could count them, they are more than the sand.” Psalm 139:1, 2, 6. 17 & 18

“When I look at the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” Psalm 8:3,4

“I give you thinks, O LORD, with my whole heart.” Psalm 138:1

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Heb. 13:5b

“Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them,  that you may prosper in all that you do.” Deut.29:9

“. . . forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems you life form the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good.” Psalm 103:2-5

O God,

We are so grateful to know that when we pray, our thoughts and words mingle with the incense in the golden bowls around your throne, and you delight in them. You answer us. You bend down to right wrong and rescue your children. You touch us with your comfort.

We are blessed to be known by the name of your Son Christ – Christians. We are grateful that you answer prayer and offer help. We your children will never cease praying for one another. We will continue to intercede and ask for blessings for our biological families, our loved ones and friends, our spiritual brothers and sisters in our nation and the world.

Please fill each of us with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Strengthen us with all power according to your glorious might. Teach us to be joyful and thankful even as we endure troubles and learn patience -- because you have delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light; because you forgive our sins and remove all our guilt.

We wait for you, Jesus, and pray this in your name. Amen.

Supporting verses:

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. . . . And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:3,4, 9 –14

“And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel . . . and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.” Revelation 8:3--5

Inspired by Rick Renner’s thoughts on 1 Corinthians 13 in Sparkling Gems from the Greek:

O God,

Please give us the wisdom and strength to function in your agape love for others, even when they hurt us.

Clear our minds to see them through your eyes so we won’t take up an offence at anyone.

Give us a love that covers the flaws of others rather than seeking to expose them -- love that shields and safeguards them.

Keep us loyal and faithful, never surrendering, prepared to “work it out” with those who offend us no matter how much time or energy is required.

Guide us to stay by the side of those who need your help, bearing their burdens with them. Keep us from throwing up our hands in despair over actions or attitudes that distress us.

Teach us to hope for and expect the best in them. Instead of assuming failure or a bad result in someone’s life, help us anticipate everything good for them.

We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus, amen.

Supporting verses . . . 

“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” Proverbs 10:12

 

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” I Corinthians 13:4 -7

Holy God, Almighty Creator of the Universe, 

I bless my friend with the blessings given to us by your Son Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

• I bless you with the assurance that you belong to God.
• I bless your heart to relax in the love of the Lord, knowing that nothing can separate you from him.
• I bless your emotions with the comfort and joy of Jesus’ presence.
• I bless you and your family with God’s peace that defies understanding.
• I bless you with rejoicing and the strength to take every thought captive and turn your worries over to God.
• I bless your mind with the wisdom God freely gives.
• I bless you with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
• I bless the work of your hands.

Supporting verses:

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Romans 8:16

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38,39

“I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass and have forgotten the LORD, your Maker who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth.” Isaiah 51: 13

“And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:4,6

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5

“We have not stopped ceasing to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:9

“Commit your work to the LORD and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3