To God be the glory, to Him alone.
To God be the glory for He’s enthroned.
Reigning on high and yet close to me.
Reigning on high and always near me.
You are my God,
My Lord,
And my King.
You are my Rock my praise I will bring.
In the morning I lift up my voice,
At the noontide I will still rejoice.
For you are mighty and full of grace.
You are love, i’ll will never be displaced.
Through Jesus Your Son I confess my sins.
Through Jesus Your Son, my new life begins.
To You be all glory,
all honor
and all praise.
To you be all worship on You i’ll set my gaze.
Morning devotions
Confident Praying
For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord , faithful God. [Psalms 31:3-5 ESV]
Just think on those verses for a moment. Go ahead, I’ll wait…
[Pondering]
…and now consider this: Into your hand I commit my spirit are words that Jesus prayed while on the cross – right before he breathed his last breath (Luke 23:46). With his dying breath he was praying the Word of God. No doubt, the rest of this Psalm was on his heart as he was dying:
~ You are my rock and fortress.
~ For Your name’s sake You, oh Father, lead me and guide me.
~ You are my deliverer – taking me out of their net.
~ You are my refuge.
~ My life is Yours for You have redeemed me.
~ Father, You are faithful.
What a powerful prayer to be prayed at that time. A prayer of faith, for Jesus knows the Father like no one else. Jesus knew what was coming and thus he endured the cross FOR YOU. Jesus knew his Father was and is faithful. Jesus knew God’s plan would be fulfilled. Jesus knew God would be glorified. Knowing all of this, Jesus prayed with confidence – praying for your salvation – and with his dying breath.
And now, we sit here on this side of the cross looking back. Looking back to see Jesus’ incredible love for you and for me. He died for our sins and rose from the grave that we could have the hope of the resurrection. He committed his life to God and His plan of redemption so we could be saved. What an awesome God we have. Knowing this and knowing that God wants to hear from us, it behooves us to commune with Him.
But maybe you are feeling dry in your prayer life or just need something different. Try praying the Psalms like Jesus did. Pray Psalm 31, for example, and let the Holy Spirit carry you on a wave of joy – splashing you with the love of God. Start with verse one and then meditate – praying what comes to mind, and then move on to the next verse and so on – taking your time. It is like you are carrying on a conversation with God. He speaks to you through His Word and you pray back to him. And then God speaks and then you. What a fun scene. A child and daddy communing together in intimate joy.
If you run out of time, that’s alright. Just pick up where you leave off next time. Pray, pray and pray some more. Pray with confidence – in faith – and through your dying breath, knowing:
~ God is your rock and fortress.
~ For His name’s sake, God will lead and guide you.
~ God is your deliverer – taking you out of the nets set for you.
~ God is your refuge.
~ Your life is His for God has redeemed you through Jesus Christ.
~ Your Father is faithful.
Jesus prayed this with complete confidence and thus, through faith, you can and should as well. God wants you to. Give thanks and praise and worship to God – committing your life to Him. Pray confidently, as Jesus did. Take refuge in God and chat with your heavenly daddy. He’s waiting for you.
So, are you ready? Okay then, let’s pray…
Level Ground
My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the Lord .
Psalms 26:12 ESV
You have placed me on level ground, oh God, through Christ Jesus my Lord.
You have placed me on the firm foundation of Your Word.
You have given me hope beyond this life.
You have placed me upon the Rock.
And i give You thanks and praise – in the assembly and through my life.
Oh God, I honor and worship You,
On level ground.
This world proclaims a message that sits precariously on shaky ground.
It’s hope is false and death-ridden.
But You are my God and You alone, for through You i am on level ground.
With You,
I never feel like I’m running up hill.
I never feel like I’m spinning my wheels.
I never feel like I’m running into dead ends.
For with You i am on level ground.
And so I will praise You in the great assembly and I will praise You with my every breath.
I will praise You with my brothers and sisters, and I will praise You in the midst of the world.
Thank you for placing me on level ground through faith in Jesus Christ.
Thank you for saving me.
Thank you for holding my life.
Oh God I praise You –
On level ground.
Amen!
My Mighty Fortress
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
[Psalms 46:1 ESV]
Oh my Mighty Fortress,
I wake this morning in peace,
For You are my Refuge and Strength.
You are my very present help in trouble.
No matter the size,
You are my Defender.
My skin may be thus destroyed but so be it –
You hold my life.
My name my be sullied and dragged through the mud but so be it –
You have given me Your family name through Jesus.
My body may be weak and in pain but so be it –
For Your grace is sufficient for me.
The powers that be may roar and show their teeth but so be it –
You are my Shepherd.
The very earth may crumble and fall a way but so be it –
I am secure in You.
My Mighty Fortress, my God,
I praise You that You are my Refuge and Strength for it gives me courage to go forth into this day.
Affliction may torment me but You are my Life, Fortress and God.
And thus I shall live forever, in peace, with You.
Thank you, God, for being my Mighty Fortress.
Amen.
My King
As I survey our current political scene, I need to remind myself over and over again that God is in control. No matter who holds elected office, God’s plans will not be thwarted. Yes, Satan is running wild, deceiving and leading many away but he is not king. There is only one King and He reigns forever. Let the politicians – the kings of this world – fight it out, but you, let’s praise our Father and King…
Hear my praise as i rise this morn,
oh God my Father and King.
You are
Creator,
Sustainer,
and Redeemer of my soul.
You are the One who i adore.
There is none other worthy of praise,
for You are the One who reigns.
The kings of this world vie for position,
striving for their honor to be conveyed.
But i’m not going to follow the false kings,
them i refuse to raise up.
They lead for their glory and not for You.
Their praise i refuse to sing.
For You are my King who forever reigns.
It’s Your praises that i want to proclaim.
You and You alone are worthy, oh God,
For in the end, You are the King who remains.
So receive my praise as i rise this morn,
Your mighty acts are to numerous to name.
You have saved me through Jesus Christ my Lord,
And through him i’ve been reborn.
Morning Son
The rainy season seems to have arrived in Western Washington (and no, it does not rain here every single day like my mother-in-law thinks). The summers are beautiful and therefore it is a very sad thing when the sun seems to go into hibernation. The gloom yesterday started to catch my imagination and I started to contemplate (as I like to do). This morning as I was praying, I started writing this prayer but had no idea it would take this poetic turn – weaving the outside gloominess with the Son. As I know that another beautiful spring and summer are coming to Western Washington next year, so I know that Jesus reigns, always and forever. I just love how the Spirit captured this one. To God be the glory.
Bright and shining is the day,
despite the gloom in the air.
The rains are falling and the sun is hiding,
but You reign here and there.
I can’t see the sun, but I know the Son sees me.
I can’t feel it’s heat but the Son’s love is all around me.
The clouds and gloom seem to rule the day,
but it’s not the final word.
Jesus my Lord is King forever,
and he is the only Word.
So may I enter this new day,
with hope and a smile that is bright.
The gloom is in the air but Jesus is everywhere,
so Satan can just give up the fight.
Holy God, may I shine with the radiance of the Son that others may see Your light and come to know the Truth. Amen.
More
Father God,
I take this breath and i praise You.
My heart beats this beat and i praise You.
My eyes see this creation and i praise You.
I am alive another day and i praise You.
Each and every blessing,
Every single thing,
All that i am,
And what You saved me from,
I praise You.
Jesus my Savior,
Your Spirit sustains me,
Your grace is amazing,
Oh my God and Father, i praise You.
So please give me more breaths to breathe,
more beats to my heart,
more days to behold You,
So i can praise You
More.
Ready for the Day
Oh God,
i am up and ready.
My coffee is in hand.
My busy schedule is before me.
There is much to be accomplished.
So there is part of me that selfishly asks that all may go well for me and my family, but,
oh God,
i ask even more than that – that i would glorify You in my busyness.
As i go on my way this day may the busyness not distract me from You.
May i not forget to glorify You through my words and deeds.
May i not forget to receive people as i would receive Jesus.
May i not become overcome by my schedule, so much so, that i forget to show the love of Christ to others, including to my own family.
May i not get caught up with thinking that this is MY schedule, but rather it is YOUR schedule.
May i go through this day with the peace of Christ in my heart.
May i go through this day in patience – looking for mission opportunities that You create for me.
Oh God, may i not let Satan make this day just about me.
This day and every day is about You, and so here i go.
I am up and ready – with coffee in hand.
To You be the glory, this day, and always.
Amen.
Open
Open the eyes of my heart that I may see and respond.
Open the eyes of my heart to see the hurts of others.
Open the eyes of my heart that I may join You in mission.
Open the eyes of my heart that I may bring You glory.
All that You want me to do is clear – if only I would see.
All that I am to say is clear – if only I would listen to Your Spirit.
Opportunities abound.
Hurts are all around.
People are lost.
People are searching.
Open my eyes that I may lead them to know they are found.
May I not stall.
May I not turn away.
May I not give excuses.
May I not seek my own way.
Open the eyes of my heart that I may see You and follow You –
Anywhere and everywhere.
Open, oh Lord, open.
Open the eyes of my heart.
Amen!
Morning Glory
I wrote the last stanza of this poem yesterday morning as a short prayer as I prepared for worship. This morning, I share it with you – with a couple more stanzas. To God be the glory!
Hold me with Your grace.
Bring me from disgrace.
My sins please erase.
For Your glory!
For Your glory!
Hear me when I pray.
Each and every day.
With You I want to stay.
In Your glory!
In Your glory!
Jesus is my King.
What an awesome ring.
My heart will loudly sing.
Your great glory!
Your great glory!
Bless me as I preach.
Guide me as I teach.
Many souls may I reach.
To Your glory!
To Your glory!
The Heart of a Pastor 