A reminder of God’s greatness:
Say among the nations: “The Lord reigns. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. He judges the peoples fairly.” Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and all that fills it resound. ~ Psalm 96:10-11
Father, you are the great, awesome, and mighty God. You reign over all creation. The whole earth is yours. Nothing happens that is beyond your control. Nothing surprises you or catches you off guard. Father, we are weak. We are prone to fear. We don’t see everything as you see. Help us to remember your strength. Help us to trust in your sovereign rule. Even in the midst of trouble, make us glad so that we may rejoice at all you are and all you have done. Amen.
A reminder of God’s presence:
“The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” ~Moses, Deuteronomy 31:8; “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” ~Jesus, Matthew 28:20
Lord, sometimes we feel alone and isolated. Sometimes we can feel as if there is no hope. Sometimes we are confused and scared. Yet, you promise that you are always with us. You promise to always be near. By your Spirit, remind us of your nearness. By your word, remind us again and again of your great promises. Help us to realize that as our souls cry out, “Abba, Father!”, you are there near to us. Always and forever. Amen.
A reminder of God’s compassion:
Lord, hear my prayer; let my cry for help come before you. Do not hide your face from me in my day of trouble. Listen closely to me; answer me quickly when I call… But you, Lord, are enthroned forever; your fame endures to all generations. You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her–the appointed time has come. ~Psalm 102:1-2, 12-13
Father, you are the God of compassion. Look upon us with your kindness and mercy. Hear our prayers for help in this day of trouble. Answer quickly, Lord. Hear from your throne, and for your glory, rise up and show your compassion to us. Show us your favor and bring relief. You are the God delighting in doing good; the God who gives eternal love to your children. Amen.
A reminder of God’s love and grace:
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so is his faithful love toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. ~Psalm 103:11-12
Father, your love is greater than we can imagine. Your grace is deeper than the depths of the oceans. Because of our rebellion against you, we don’t deserve your goodness. But through Jesus you draw us near as your sons and daughters. You have looked upon us with love; you have given us grace. You have taken our sins and cast them away from us, so you hold nothing against us. Your gift to us is greater than all the goodness we could otherwise see in this life. Your love is so vast that all the evil and hardships we face will one day fade to a distant memory. Thank you for your love and grace. Amen.
A reminder of God’s protection:
The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen. ~2 Timothy 4:18
Father, as much as we desire comfort and safety, we have no guarantee of that in this life. Yet, this does not make us fear, nor does this rob our joy. For, in Jesus, you promise us something greater. You will protect us into eternity. At worst, today, we might die. But then, if we die, we step into forever life, forever joy, and forever glory. You have given us a purpose in this life to know you and your love and make you and your love known. For each breath you give us, may we seek to do just that. And then, when our days are done, we rejoice that you bring us safely into your heavenly kingdom. Amen.
All Scripture quotes taken from the Christian Standard Bible.
