The heavens declare Your glory, God; the skies proclaim the work of Your hands. Day after day, pours forth speech; night after night, displays knowledge. There is no speech or language where Your creation’s voice is not heard. The voice goes out into all the earth, and the words to the ends of the world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other nothing is hidden from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold, they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. [Psalms 19]
Holy Spirit Christ told his disciples just before He was to die on the cross, “ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” [John 16:33] And Paul told us in his letter to the Romans, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” [Romans 5:1-5]
Holy Spirit these past two years I, and my family have suffered through many tribulations, from my truck accident, losing my youngest son, to having cancer a second time, to having 3 surgeries in the span of 6 months, to now having back spasms, to the loss of my father-in-law, uncle, an aunt and many more things that I will not put down. Through all of this you have walked by my side and comforted me that this is not the end. I have had day of loneliness, and of darkness, yet You have continued to bring light into my heart, and unto the path I am currently walking. I refuse to be a victim to my circumstances but claim the victory of God’s salvation and mercy in my life. I do not say I understand or that I do not have days of depression or doubt, but I will not give up my desire to serve and pray to You my King, my Redeemer, my Creator, the Author and Finisher of who I was, am and will be.
I refuse to accept the lies of Satan that it is all for naught and that there is nothing after this life. I refuse to just sit down and die in my pain. This does not mean I do not still feel the pain, the devastation, it just means I continue to put one foot forward and seek my Savior daily. I have learned that what little peace I have in life comes from communing with my God through prayer, worship, fellowship, praise, and reading of His word. I stand on the Word of God to defend what I can not comprehend, or have the strength to fight off. I know that my prayers, and the unity of those who pray with me, has power for Your word says that where two or three are gathered in my name I am there also.
Holy Spirit I pray for a family which is very close to my heart which is suffering greatly right now because of poor and sinful decisions of one son. I pray that You will guide their footsteps, put a hedge of thorns around the son, and bring to their eyes a victory that will help them resolve to whether this storm of tribulation that has attacked them. I pray that You will empower them with strength, give them piece of mind and fill them with a joy that defies the understanding of man.
Holy Spirit I pray You will do this for my family as it continues to journey along and recover from the heartaches we have had to face. I pray peace for the rest of my family and joy, not bitterness and defeat. I pray that salvation will triumph over doubt and fear. I pray that You will lead and teach me what it is to have peace again. Let me know joy once more. Help me to find strength to pray and to pray within Your will, fulfilling Your desire of me to fulfill the gift You have bestowed upon me. Help me to pray power, and miracles into the lives of the pastors, churches and organizations I pray for and support. Let my prayers, my writings, my speech to be fully in line with Your will and to have Your backing to use to build Your kingdom. Let this temple, always be open, and clean for You to dwell in and use to reach the world. Help me to be extremely careful what I allow into and speaks to me so that I do not hinder Your Spirit in any way to fill me and to use me for Your purposes. Let my words, my intentions, my heart, my desires, my passions all fall within the scope of Your glory, Your salvation and Your will so that I can be fully what You created me to be. Let me be used by You and to be dead to sin so that I can stay the course, run my race and win the victory of seeing You.
Now may You direct my heart into Your love and into the patience of Christ who died and rose again and promised to return someday. The one who is my advocate before the Father. To Him I owe all that I am. Amen.