Heavenly Father I praise You today for the ability to laugh and to laugh at myself. I praise You for being a God who can laugh, cry, be excited, and loving. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” [Psalm 126:2] I praise You for all the great things You have done in my life. Help me today to take command of this day and shake all its evil.
Holy Spirit life is hard and when I have the chance to laugh help me to fully step into it and let it relieve the stress of life. Help me to be like the Psalmist when You inspired him to write: Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not forsake me until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come. Also, Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You have done great things; O God, who is like You? You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. Also, with lute I will praise You—and Your faithfulness, O my God! To You, I will sing with the harp [harmonica] O Holy One of Israel. My lips shall rejoice when I sing to You. And my soul, which You have redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all day long. [Psalm 71:18-24a, NKJV] Let me learn to enjoy life once more even though I will never fully be able to let go of the grief of losing Philip and finding him passed away. I need to breathe again, enjoy the life I have left, and share Your greatness with all people, especially to the next generations. Help me be faithful to pray and encourage them for they have so much life to live. Help me to give them the wisdom to enjoy and to face troubles. To trust You and to grow in faith. Help me to intercede with those who do not yet believe. I pray for: Emmerson, Mike, Cade, Emma, Akierra, Maddilyn, Margaret, Dallas, Noah, Mariah, Amber, Olivia, Quinten, Gabe, Gavin, Asa, Naomi, Luke, Jack, Rueben, Wyatt, Joshua, Sophia, Aletha, Josh, Eva, Isabelle, Abigail, Brenna, Caleb, Amanda, Elizabeth, Matthew, Lilly, Timothy, Katie, Kayla, Paul, Zoe, Willow, Noah, Ethan, and Steven. Help me to continue to lift them in prayer, to breathe wisdom on those who will let me, and to be there for them when they just need to talk without someone trying to fix anything or judge them. Let me be the one who puts challenges before them that will help them learn who You are.
Holy Spirit You inspired Paul to write: Since I am raised with Christ I will learn to desire those things that are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Help me to set my affection on things above, not be consumed or love things on the earth. For I am dead, and my life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is my life shall appear, then I also shall appear with Him in glory. Teach me to put to death the parts of my earthly nature: sexual immorality, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because I am learning that these things, the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience. I used to live that life with them. I must now put away all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language out of my mouth. I no longer can lie to others for that was part of my old nature or way, because I am embracing the new nature to emulate Christ, who has and is becoming my all in all. [Colossians 3:1-11, MEV and paraphrased by me] Thank You for being my guide and prompter as I grow in Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.