Church guide

God, forgive us for thinking we can find what we need apart from You. Thank You for always being there even when we forget to look for You. Draw us to Your side to live in the joy of walking with You. You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing. Psalm 16:2

I have learned the secret of being content. (Philippians 4:12) Loving Lord, You are the greatest blessing of our life! Help us to live contentedly with all that You are today.

Father, words fail us when we try to imagine what we will experience when we meet You face-to-face. Thank You for the small hints of Your beauty You have placed in our world.

The seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:15

“The Lord is my shepherd” is far more than an ancient lyric or a clever slogan. It’s the confident statement of what it means to be known and loved by our great God—and what it means to be rescued by His Son. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11

Do you feel overpowered and helpless? Remember that God is in control and fights for you. He “will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11). Fear not for God is with us and for us.

In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. Jonah 2:2 The Lord still answered the man’s desperate prayer, graciously restoring His reluctant servant (v. 2)—just as He does with us.

Loving God, thank You that I can bring my needs to You. Help me to be content in whatever paths and provisions You choose. Our King loves it when we come to Him! He wisely provides what we need, not necessarily what we want.

You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty. 1 Samuel 17:45 We’re tempted to believe that “Goliath” (our troubles) directs the story. God is larger, however. He dominates the story of our lives.

Jesus, I want my words and actions to match up. There are times I fall short, but my desire is to grow more consistent each day. Help me, please, so that everyone listening and watching my life will be drawn to You. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 1 John 2:9

We need others and they need us. Let’s use whatever time or resources we have received from God to love—starting now. Love each other deeply. 1 Peter 4:8

Dear God, help me listen as You whisper Your name through the stories of Scripture. Every story whispers His name, even the hard stories, because they reveal the comprehensive brokenness of our world and our need for a Rescuer.

God longs for us to be open with Him about our sins. He meets honesty and repentance with loving forgiveness: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Because our God is merciful, new beginnings await!

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. Colossians 3:15 Jesus, You give peace that passes all understanding. Help me embrace Your peace in every area of my life.

Our faith in Jesus Christ provides us with great advantages—a relationship with Him, an abundant life, and a future hope. But what good is it doing anyone else if we don’t reach out and help those in need? Can you hear the cry: “I’m hungry now”?

“God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature” are seen and understood in creation (Romans 1:20). To see God’s beauty, sometimes we have to look at creation, and what might seem like uninteresting passages in the Bible, through a new lens.

Do you feel imprisoned by unforgiveness, saddled with anger, fear, or shame? Know that God through His Son and Spirit can release you when you seek His help. He will enable you to begin the process of untying any ropes and setting you free.

Death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. Ecclesiastes 7:2 Father, give me the courage to live for what matters most.

Only God can change a heart. That’s why the psalmist prayed, “Create in me a pure heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10). It’s our heart that counts. Holy God, please give me the grace to surrender my heart to You and yield my life’s vanities to the purifying fire of the Holy Spirit.

“To pray is to change. This is a great grace. How good of God to provide a path whereby our lives can be taken over by . . . joy.” Joy is a fruit of the Spirit of Jesus (Galatians 5:22). So we must remember each morning to ask Him to help us: “May I play with joy!”