Rest

^{Photo by Ali Abdul Rahman on Unsplash.}

Abba,

I praise you for the finished work of your Son.

Thank you for our King, Prophet, and great High Priest —

knowing you, knowing me,

having passed through this life,

with fragile skin,

as human as I am,

but without sin.

Thank you for intimately knowing and understanding my weakness and failures,

interceding for me, you’re on my side,

encouraging me, rooting me on.

You are my hope Lord,

who lived the perfect life before God,

being the blood sacrifice for my sins,

taking my punishment, dying my death.

You ascended and passed through into the heavens,

and are now seated at the throne of grace,

lovingly extending your scepter,

generously pouring out your favor and blessing,

anointing me with oil in undeserved mercy and kindness.

Today,

help me to hear your voice,

to trust and believe you,

to not shrink back from the light of your Word,

piercing my soul, separating bone and marrow,

exposing my need, my desperation, my pride, my unbelief.

Draw me to you Lord,

I ask you for faith,

and the grace to enter into your salvation,

and the fullness of your rest,

today and all the days of my life into eternity.

I bless you that you alone are God,

my Savior, my Messiah.

Amen.

Advertisement

Calm

^{Photo by Cristofer Jeschke on Unsplash.}

Lord,

I bless you for your shalom peace,

anointing me with your oil,

dripping down my head,

seeping into skin and cells,

settling frazzled nerves,

calming my soul.

I bless you Prince of Peace,

your presence of beauty, holiness, and love,

reigning in the heavens and in my heart,

guiding me to paths of righteousness,

for your name’s sake,

and for my well being.

With you, all things

are right,

light and easy

in your gentle, humble presence.

There’s no one like you Lord,

and I bless you today.

Amen.

You Alone

^{Photo by Robson Hatsukami Morgan on Unsplash.}

Lord,

I worship you, the rock and strength of my heart,

upholding me when my heart and flesh fail.

Search me and know me,

let your light illumine every deep crevice,

test my anxious thoughts,

and expose triggers and landmines within

that cascade into my autopilot mode.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

convicting me by your tender mercies and loving kindness,

and lead me in the way everlasting

to green pastures, quiet waters, paths of righteousness,

and rest in you.

Lord, let my heart desire nothing on earth, besides you.

Let the things that dishearten and discourage,

seduce and tempt away from your voice and heart,

all things deemed good or bad and in between, be dealt with.

Plant in me one thing that I desire,

one thing to seek,

that I may dwell in your house forever,

and gaze upon your beauty,

in the glory of your presence forever.

Bless you Lord!

Amen.

Ride Forth Victoriously

^{Photo by Benjamin Voros on Unsplash.}

O Lord,

let my heart and eyes

rest and gaze upon you.

You are fairer than the sons of men,

rivers of grace and loving-kindness flow from your lips,

you are blessed forever.

You are mighty,

riding on your white horse,

sword girded at your side,

name emblazoned on your thigh,

you are the mightiest of kings,

captain of the heavenly armies.

Lord, ride forth victoriously,

on behalf of truth and righteousness,

of your glory and majesty.

Slay your enemies,

and establish your throne,

your scepter and right hand

over all the heavens and the earth,

forever and ever.

May my voice be one that joins the multitudes

who will worship and praise you for all eternity.

Bless you King of kings!

Amen.

Your Call Never Changes

^{Photo by Kristine Tanne on Unsplash.}

Lord,

you call me forth,

and I come with tremulous step,

so aware that I bring no contribution of worth,

only my broken cup.

Your Word halts all judgement,

my whips of self flagellation fall to my side,

as you call me by name —

call me your own.

Your arms are open,

your wings of comfort surround me,

where detours in my path wounded my soul with sin and regrets,

I find, here with you now,

that you’ve never changed.

You’ve been waiting all along,

with open heart and undying hope.

Your call to me

to all of you,

has never changed.

In the rest of your welcoming sweet mercy,

and simple trust,

You remind me of the zeal of my youth, my first love,

flickering as a tender flame.

Lord, I remember and ask,

would you take all of me, have all of me again,

and light your fire as a bonfire within.

I surrender all to you,

ever piece,

please never let me go.

I know, you alone are worthy Lord.

Amen.

Come With Me

^{Photo by Ingmar on Unsplash.}

Lord,

you call me forth from the lion’s lairs,

the leopard-haunted hills,

the haunts of my past,

the den of my regrets and failures.

“Come with me,”

and “Follow me,” you say,

even as accusations, judgement, and condemnation swell

around me, reminding me of my shame.

Like shackles of smoke they deceive and hold me helpless,

frozen in bondage.

Then Lord you make the way ⁠—

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you,

I have called you.

You are mine.”

My Beloved’s voice is lovely,

his face is sweet,

his eyes are pools of clear water,

his legs strong as cedars.

And my choice, my answer is yes Lord.

I forget what is behind,

and I press on toward the upward call of God

to know you, be with you, abide in you Lord,

trusting you guide me

to green pastures,

quiet waters,

orchards spilling forth your fruit,

gardens of your delight,

showing me the beauty of your heart,

your kingdom, and your perfect love.

I surrender to you Lord,

I am yours and you are mine,

and I’m blessed in my Beloved today.

Amen.

Words Of Life

^{Photo by Chris Liu on Unsplash.}

O Lord,

I love your Word

as I imbibe,

it courses through my veins,

bringing life and healing to every cell —

nurturing, replenishing, and restoring to original design.

You bring healing to all my flesh,

life to all my bones,

and you teach me to renew my mind,

praising, loving, stewarding what you have created.

You are the source of life,

only you can transform and resurrect.

I love your Spirit,

I love your Word,

I love your presence,

I am blessed and loved in Messiah!

Amen.

Saving Grace

^{Photo by Michail Dementiev on Unsplash.}

Merciful Lord,

how beautiful is your salvation,

how precious is your deliverance,

how humbling is your kindness,

you receive me back again and again,

your love drawing me deeper in

to your purposes and ways

like waves drawing back into the depths of the sea.

I stand bereft on the shore,

with tattered pieces from a broken path

leading me to an impasse of the ocean swells of your love.

Your love and holiness is gentle and good,

frightening and other,

pure and righteous,

you have poured out all,

and your love demands all.

O Lord,

that I may be found worthy in this life,

of your love that created me,

that gives and will take away my breath,

of your salvation and saving grace every single day,

of your call and purposes.

I surrender my life into the waves of your eternal love,

have your way in me.

You alone are worthy of all my life and praise.

Amen.

You Make Me Yours

^{Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash.}

Abba,

I bless you for your mercy

that chose me in Messiah.

You plucked this rebellious heart out of the miry clay

and set my feet upon a solid rock.

Your salvation is once and eternal,

wondrous and powerful,

there is no way to freedom outside of your Son.

But even then I thought

to you I’ll come proving my worth and deeds

flexing my own strength,

puffed up and empty in my religious deeds,

Abba, you are long suffering and patient,

so kind to care —

to discipline and chastise those you love.

You pursue me,

break me and remake me,

taking me through the kiln,

I, an orphan, in mistaken identity,

with so much to prove.

You burn away my filthy rags and self righteous deeds

that fool no one but me.

I’m naked and bare

with nothing to bring

but a broken heart.

Your love and delight touch me now,

wretched me,

utterly wounded — lost, confused, and abandoned without you,

and I understand,

your salvation is my miracle every day,

once, today, ongoing, eternal,

just to be yours

an orphan no longer, but your child,

depending on you, leaning on you,

trusting you,

with nothing left to prove,

except that I’ve been redeemed, I’m celebrated, I’m seen.

Thank you,

you are such a good Abba,

salvation, deliverance, and all good things,

come from you alone,

and I bless you with all my heart.

Amen.

My Safe Lead

^{Photo by Olga Filonenko on Unsplash.}

Lord,

you are my refuge,

my safe harbor,

my enclosed garden,

my green pasture,

you guide me by quiet waters,

along paths of righteousness,

you restore my soul,

I dwell secure for you are my sukka,

your grace abides in me and I in you.

Through the valleys and mountaintops,

to level plateaus,

I will journey with you my Lord,

and be bold and courageous,

because you are my faithful and good Shepherd,

you’re always with me,

you’ll never leave me nor forsake me.

I bless you Lord,

Amen.