Devotional Prayers for July 2025

Praying the Promise: 

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing—I Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV)

God, relationships are between us and You, ourselves and others. Because we are fragile beings our relationships are also fragile. Subject to being disrupted, broken, and manipulated by the forces of evil. Some Bible verses emphasize how human life is like flowers or grass that are here today and gone tomorrow (Psalm 103:15). For this reason, we are to learn how to treat our relationships with others as being just as fragile. We are to have and practice mutual respect, patience, kindness and show compassion towards others.  

Lord, may we be willing to live by and form foundations for healthy, supportive, and loving relationships as envisioned through the Scriptures. Incorporating those places that emphasize the importance of love, forgiveness, unity and integrity.  

Help us to honor relationships with others in ways that are pleasing to You. At the same time, help us to recognize when the relationships we are in may display unhealthy qualities, face the truth that they are not good for us to continue, and be willing to end as peacefully as we can.

Above all, Lord, help us to cultivate a healthy and vibrant relationship with You. You are not only our Creator, You are our Redeemer, our heavenly Guide, our Healer, our Provider, Sustainer and Friend. The devil is always looking for ways to disrupt and cause distrust in our relationship with You. His jealously is one of the bases for his stirring up conflict between us. 

Help us to always be smart, discerning, and aware in our relationships. The first and highest relationship to honor and nurture is the one we have with You. When we have a right relationship with You we have sure and solid foundation to build upon for relationships with others. Amen          

Praying the Promise: 

  So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded…but we ae not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved—Hebrews 10:35, 39 (NIV)

Lord, I live frugally. I’m careful not to waste things. I’m not a hoarder but I do hold onto those things I know will be useful down the road. I am thankful for the resources You send to me, every kind of resource which includes materially, financially, physically, and spiritually. Help me to be frugal when it comes to my confidence in You; don’t let me throw it away like the things I dispose of that are of no use to me anymore. 

I pray, fill my spirit with power and courage so I can face this day with You beside me. Help me maintain my confidence that You are ready to protect me at a moment’s notice. Even though the devil tries to tempt me daily—and especially when I am going through tough times—that I am wide open, that I have no rear or front guard, that You have left my side, I know differently. I have always believed in Your powerful, unmovable presence. Don’t let me stop now, Lord! I believe in You. I know You will save me, bringing me through the fire and flood, the storms and deserts I experience on my journey. I know You are holding my hand, shielding me from the evils of this world. 

Thank You, Lord, for walking with me through the shadowy places of this life. thank You for being with me in the valleys and for the ways You lead me to the mountaintops in between trials so I can refresh and renew. Because You are with me, I will not shrink back and be destroyed but I will walk in confidence of faith, and I will be saved. Amen  

Praying the Promise: 

   Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think—Romans 12:2 (NLT)

Heavenly Father, between the devil, the world, and those who are just mean-spirited, it’s so easy to forget whose image we were created in. It is so easy to forget who we really are and have been fashioned to be by our Creator. 

Because the world, the devil, and those who are more than willing to speak negative messages to us, without realizing it, we participate in repeating negativity back to ourselves; telling ourselves what we are not:

We are not smart enough…

We are not capable enough…

We are not valuable…

We are not competent…

We are not attractive…

We are not worthy of love…

We are not blessed, but doomed…

We are not forgiven sinners on our way to heaven but accused and destined for eternal suffering… 

When we participate in the enemy’s messaging the forces of evil are confident and know they have accomplished their mission of rewiring our brains and readjusting our faith system. 

Open our mind and heart to receive the truth about what and who we are and what has been secured for us through Jesus’ work on the Cross of Calvary. Reframe our thoughts—as Paul taught—so we can be transformed in our thinking and in what we speak in our flesh—so we do not perpetuate the misinformation and lies we have been fed so cleverly and strategically. 

Because we have been created in Your image, and even though sin marred that original image, Jesus Christ redeemed us, restored us and reclaimed us as Your own precious ones. We are not trash to be thrown out and trampled upon but valuable and treasured by You.  

We are blessed (Deuteronomy 28:6)

We are valuable (Luke 15:4-5)

We are smart and intelligent (Proverbs 2:6)

We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)

We are made to bear fruit and can be fruitful (Genesis 1:28)

We are brave (Judges 6:12)

We are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37)

We are gifted (I Corinthians 12:4)

We are able to rule over our emotions (Genesis 4:6-7)

We are free (Galatians 5:1)

We are blessed wit9h every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3)

We are created to have and can choose joy (Psalm 118:24)

We are not dim but can shine (Matthew 5:14-16)

We are not weak but strong (Isaiah 40:29)

We are dearly loved  (I John 4:19)

Thank You heavenly Father for Your Spirit of positivity and always sowing truth and goodness and light into us. and when others tell us differently, may we always hold onto the truth that we are Your masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). 

May I never move from Your Spirit, may I never dismiss Your kindness to me, may I learn to reject the lies and become one with Your truth so I can live the abundant, free live You have destined me to have. Amen   

Praying the Promise: 

  This is what the LORD says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD…But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit—Jeremiah 17:5, 7-8 (NLT)

Lord, I don’t want to be one of those who turn away from You and put their trust in humans. As this passage says they end up being stunted shrubs in the desert, having no hope for the future. They end up living in a barren wilderness (17:6). What a miserable existence where there is no refreshment!

Instead, Lord, I want to be among those who have learned to trust You with my whole heart, my entire being. I want to live a blessed life having made the LORD my hope and confidence, experiencing life as a tree planted by the riverbank, my roots reaching deep into the water, the Water of Life. 

Trusting people are not afraid of trials, dark times, times when things aren’t going well, times when they know they are under enemy attack, times when the bills are due but there’s no money to cover them, the pantries are empty and the fridge is bare, times when the doctors can’t figure out what’s going on with their health, times when this world seems to be getting  crazier and crazier, doors are being slammed or political machines are making decisions about their life that are out of their control yet, they maintain their trust in their Almighty God who can do all things.

Increase my trust in You, Lord. I earnestly desire to be that person whose leaves stay green even during tough times. I want to be that person who is always producing fruit no matter what. I am confident You have been doing just that through the hardships and trials You have allowed into my life. They have been challenging and sometimes draining and breaking; but together we have come through and withstood them all. Each time I emerge I discover my trust in You has increased. I know You are perfecting my trust in You. Even though I may cry out at times. Sometimes I am full of fear. But You faithfully strengthen me so I can keep moving forward and not looking back. You faithfully guide me so I can head to the Waters that refresh me. I will trust You Lord, and I will be blessed. I will be like that tree by the water, and I will produce the kind of fruit that only grows out of trials and as a result of putting its trust in You. I will trust You LORD and my life and future will be blessed. Amen        

Praying the Promise: 

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life—John 6:63 (NIV)

Jesus, just like that TV show, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” help me to curb my tongue. Most of the time I have a good handle on this area of my life. Most of the time my words are full of the Spirit and life, but occasionally when I am confronted by the wrong people, who push all the right buttons my words just seem to pour out. Lord, some people just seem to pull the words out of me. Some just seem to have the ability to make me erupt and have word vomit. I don’t feel good about it afterward, especially when, looking back, I’ve gone to the same place they do. But in the moment, there’s too much emotion and not enough stepping back and quietness.

Lord, You always had such good word control. Even when people picked at You and poked You and did their best to incite You, You stayed in complete control of Your faculties; You always spoke under the Spirit’s control, Your words were always full of the Spirit and life-giving. 

Jesus, I try and try, but my efforts accomplish nothing when I have not come first to You in prayer. I need to do things in Your strength for otherwise I am useless. I need Your power behind me when I speak. I need Your strength. I need Your self and word control. I need to step back get a handle on my emotions, breathe and pray. Allow Your Word to speak to me, allow Your Spirit to speak through me. Guide my way by Your gentle voice. May my spirit and Yours become one this day. Amen    

Praying the Promise:

   Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God with your body—I Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV

Lord, Your word teaches us about the importance of self-care. When we read our Bible, we can learn that self-care is not a selfish act but a vital aspect of our Christian faith; it is practicing good stewardship. 

Self-care is a form of honoring Your creation of human beings and reflects the balance You desire for our lives as we live on earth. Verses such as “Remember to observe the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God” (Exodus 20:8-10) can keep us reminded of the way You designed the cycles and seasons of human life.  

Thank You for teaching us that the better we care for ourselves the better quality of life we will enjoy and the better we can serve You and others. Thank You for teaching us the importance of and what it means to love ourselves as we love our neighbors (Mark 12:31). 

Every day we are aware that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (I Peter 5:8). He prowls looking for the weak, the emotionally, physically and spiritually exhausted because he knows when we are depleted we are easy prey and don’t have strength to resist him. 

Heavenly Father, we glorify You when we take care of ourselves; not only spiritually, but in every way: emotionally, physically, and mentally. You rested after a week of creating and our Savior took care of Himself while He was in human form. When we understand Your love for us, we can be motivated to take care of ourselves knowing we are valued by You. 

We pray, forgive us for the times we have not fully understood the importance of self-care. Forgive us for the times we have not valued these bodies You have given us and help us to do better going forward. Amen    

Praying the Promise:

 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong—2 Corinthians 12:10 (NLT)

God, Your grace is sufficient for me, for Your power is perfected in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). This is why I can say with assurance that I can take every infliction and difficulty brought to me, I can take the insults and the hardships that come into my life because I know no matter how low I am brought, no matter how weak in body or spirit I am, that same weakness will be made strong by You and through You.  

This paradox is confusing for many, Lord, after all how can we be both weak and strong? I can feel crushed under the weight of my troubles and problems, yet, at the same time when I turn to You I feel lifted up and strengthened. I know I can make it. I know I am strong enough.

It is a paradox but it’s true, God. When I am weak, I am strong because Your strength is made perfect in my weakness. Because You are in my life, I can rest in You. With Your loving arms around me, I am lifted in spirit, soul, and body. When I am with You there is comfort for me. When You are with me there is an indescribable peace which passes all human reasoning and understanding. When we are together there is strength in unity. I know I am not alone, I am supported, I may suffer trials, I may receive insults, I may experience hardships but when I suffer in Jesus’ name and for His sake, I am also made strong. Amen       

Praying the Promise:

 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them—Romans 4:8 (NIV)

God, some people are naturally documenters. They keep track of everything, including all the wrongs other people have done. This is very annoying and angering. I’m always reminding people who keep track of wrongs or mistakes or sins what the Apostle Paul wrote when he said, every one of us has sinned and disappointed God; fallen short of God’s glory and what He requires of us (Rom. 3:23) and no one can brag about being perfect or without mistakes. If people kept a list of the mistakes they’d made, how long would that list be!   

When I’m tempted to count someone else’s sins or keep track of their blunders or mistakes, give me that elbow in the rib nudge so I am reminded I’m not perfect or sin-free, so I have no right to count someone else’s sins; to write them in my memory bank.

Thak You God, for Your perfect love, grace, forgiveness, and generosity. If anyone could hold my sins against me, it’s You. But You don’t. If You did we’d all be in deep trouble and lost forever. There’s no way we could stand before You and definitely we would be duly humbled.

Thank you Lord for not keeping a record of my sin. Thank You Lord for clearing my sin and making it possible that I can be filled with joy. Instead of feeling crushed and hopeless I can be free and encouraged. I receive the love that flows over me and fills me; the love that flowed down to me from the cross of Christ where I was redeemed and even though I’m flawed and sinful I can have hope. I have a future in You. Amen     

Praying the Promise:

The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring—Isaiah 58:11 (NLT)

Lord, You are the source of my life. Day by day You have met my needs. I can no longer count the number of times I have cried out to you or approached Your throne of grace, asking for whatever my need was, and You provided. Many times, You not only provided what I needed, but gave to me above and beyond. I know Your purpose is to always remind me You are not only a loving and providing God, but a generous and blessing God.  

Lord You know living in this world is just like living in a sun-scorched land since it is afflicted with the heat of greed and intolerance, hatred and selfishness. Because the blessings You have arranged for Your children are always being withheld or measured out, we do not experience all the blessing or wealth or health we should. We are not blessed through worldly systems. When the world gives to us or opens a way for us, it is only giving from the abundance You have already provided—and even then, only sparingly. The world wants us to think whatever we have received came from it, came from those who have control, but we know differently. That is why just like those in the past, whenever we have a need we turn to You. We pray to you. We look to the heaven’s and not to earth or the inhabitants of it. 

As I come to You with today’s prayers and petitions, may I be reminded of the ways You have rescued me in the past and may I rest in the assurance that You will continue to deliver me from my troubles. Even now, being here in Your presence I feel Your life springing up within me. I am filled with new hope. I am encouraged that things will turn around in my favor. I am strengthened. I am believing good things are waiting for me. Because that’s who You are and what You do. 

Lord, You guide and protect those who follow You even in difficult times. I thank You Lord for giving me water that never fails and will never run dry; for the promise that I will be like a well-watered, like an ever-flowing spring that will never run dry because You pour into me and over me. As I present my needs You will always meet them.  Thank You. Amen 

Praying the Promise:

I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, understanding, much learning, and all kinds of special work—Exodus 31:3 (NIV)

God, You have filled me with Your Spirit. I have been given wisdom, understanding, education, and talent for many lines of work. Show me how I can use my knowledge, understanding, skills, and abilities to do the work You have set out for me; especially me. Show me the paths You want me to take. What do you want me to do with my hands, my life, my gifts? They are all from You, the One I want to serve. Your path and plans for me are different from the paths ad plans You have for others; even those nearest and dearest to me.   

God, You teach us the importance of seeking clarity and assurance in our  faith. Your word encourages us to approach Your throne with our questions and uncertainties, seeking wisdom and understanding about what You want us to do. You want us to bring our doubts to You. No one is better to ask about these things than You. Thank you that You are always ready and willing to provide the clarity and information we need and thank You for patiently walking with us as we learn to trust You and act in faith. 

You often reveal Your purposes for us in the most unexpected places and ways. Moses stood by the burning bush and learned Your purposes for him. We pray, speak to us, as we stand by our own “burning bushes.” Speak to us in a way we can understand. Thank You for drawing us back to Your words and promises that help us have the clarity we need and seek. 

We only have this one life, Lord and this one opportunity to get it right. We have questions because we want to know for sure that we are going the right way and doing the things that please You most. We pray for clarity and understanding.    

Praying the Promise:

People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart—Proverbs 21:2 (NLT)

Good hearts. Bad hearts. Wicked hearts. Pure hearts. Crafty hearts. Clean hearts. Diabolical hearts. Compassionate hearts. Generous hearts. Selfish hearts… 

God, there are so many different kinds of hearts. We look at people and we see their outward appearance. We can see how nicely they dress or how nice and bright their smile is. We can see what they appear to be. If we get to know people more intimately, we feel as though we know what kind of heart they have. But sometimes even then, even after long periods of time and lengthy relationships, we are fooled. Sometimes people don’t reveal their true heart. Sometimes people are clever at disguising their true heart until much later. 

Truth is, we can never be one hundred percent sure. We don’t have a foolproof way of diagnosing a person’s true heart. We can’t know but You do. You know every human heart; whether it’s good or evil. You know when we’re just putting on a show for others, pretending to be good-hearted but deep down inside our heart is not good or pure.   

Jesus, the Bible instructs us to “keep our heart with all vigilance, because from it flows the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23). When our heart is full of wickedness, we should ask You to give us a “clean heart instead. We should pray for You to renew our heart and give us an upright spirit (Psalm 51:10). No matter how hard we try to hide our real heart, or how successfully we fool others You can see. There is no secret of the human heart You don’t know (Psalm 44:21). 

The Scriptures teach us Your word is living and active, it’s sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, even of joints and marrow and You can discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). That’s humbling Lord. 

People may not know my heart, but You do God. When You look at me, You look directly at my heart. May You always judge my heart as being kind, and pure, and holy. May my heart please You, and I hope You see nothing but good intentions in it. I pray to always remember I can never fool You and no matter how much I dress up on the outside or how much I attempt to cover up my heart, I don’t fool You for one moment. I’m not perfect Lord, but I pray cleanse my heart O God, make it ever new, cleanse my heart O God may it be like You! Amen    

Praying the Promise:

 And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven—Revelation 11:13 (ESV)

Jesus, I pray for those whose lives have been impacted, rearranged, torn apart and devastated by recent natural disasters. I pray for those who lost loved ones resulting from the floods in Texas and Mexico. I am heart-broken and saddened by their losses and so tragically. 

I pray for those who are still trying to locate family members and have no way of knowing where they are. Not having an actual body to confirm life or death can make going forward and grieving complicated. I pray they are surrounded by a caring community and have the resources needed to put life back together and regain a sense of stability, difficult as it may be.

Christ, You are the living Word. Thank You for the words of assurance You provide for us. They give us hope in trials and tribulations. They help us know there can be life after loss and dark times won’t last always. They help us know and be hopeful that even after massive loss and devastation we will be able to experience healing and restoration. 

Thank You for the many promises that help me know when my life falls apart, however it falls apart, You will bring balance, stability, and restoration.   

The Bible opens with an encouraging message. Even after sin and disobedience there is forgiveness, mercy, and restoration and it ends with the same message. In between, we learn of lives and read stories how people loved and lost, lived and endured hard times, went astray and were brought back to You. When our lives are torn apart—whether by natural disasters or otherwise—may we always remember to turn to You and not away. May we always remember You are a God who puts lives back together and there is nothing too hard for You to do. No problem we face is too complex for You to shape a solution, no life so torn apart You cannot put it back together and no heart so broken You cannot heal. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen         

Praying the Promise:

  With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord. I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him—Psalm 142:1-2 

David had a problem. He had already been anointed as king and chosen by You, Lord, but he still had to run for his life. For seven to ten years David was running from the former king Saul who wanted to kill him. During that time David hid in caves and anywhere he could hide. 

There was a human solution for David’s problem. He could kill Saul and get rid of his problem. But David didn’t want to handle his problem in that way. He turned to You for help, he turned to You for a solution to his problem. Eventually You worked it out, God. In the end, Saul died not because of David but due to his continual disobedience toward You.

Problems will arise in our life, Lord. It’s not unusual for us to have problems within the course of our day. Many times, our problems are miniscule; it doesn’t take rocket-science to see the solution and address our problems. But there are times problems arise that are over-the-top or extremely challenging for us. Many times, a problem will present itself like a large, uprooted tree blocking our path in the street, or something that blocks our way and keeps us from moving forward. 

When we have these types of problems we could search for a human solution, or we can do like David, turn to You and pour out our complaint (problem) before You. 

Telling our trouble to You God, opens us up for a God-solution. As Jesus said, “In this life we will have troubles, but we can be assured He has already overcome this world that’s riddled with problems from beginning to end (John 16:33).

Instead of becoming frustrated or determining to solve my problems through desperation Lord, I pray to always do like David: use my voice to cry out to You, to plead for your mercy, to pour out my complaints before You throne and tell my troubles to You. There is no problem I am facing that You don’t have a solution for. Today I present my problem of…...to You. I’ve wrestled with it and tossed it around in my mind day and night and I still don’t have an answer or see a solution. I believe that the more I focus on my problem the bigger it appears in my mind and the more unlikely a solution for my problem feels in my heart and spirit. 

Thank You for having my answer. Thank You in advance for supplying my need and showing me how to work out my problem. As I wait on Your guidance and answer, I’ll keep David’s prayer in front of me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen    

Praying the Promise:

 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”—2 Corinthians 2:9 (ESV)

Jesus, the Scriptures teach us that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son—that’s You!—that whoever would believe in You would not perish but live eternally and that you came into the world, not to judge or condemn the world but to save the world through You” (John 3:16-17)

This is something we have difficulty believing and comprehending. Perhaps because of our sinful nature and we know the sins that we do even when no one else is aware of or looking. This is another reason why we have difficulty believing in the promise we read in 2 Corinthians. 

Thank You for not coming to condemn or judge us but to bless and save us. Thanks to our great, merciful, and gracious, God for always planning to do good toward us even though we are not deserving. 

As much as I think I know the plans God has for me and my life more times than not, I am thoroughly surprised by the things He does and arranges. Just when I have given up on anything good coming about through the messes I create or the evilness I encounter on my journey, God shapes a new future for me. Just when I think I have been so broken I am beyond healing, our great and miracle-working God not only brings healing, but in ways I could not have imagined. Just when I am completely hopeless and discouraged at how things are going, our loving God opens things up, turns things around, provides answers and solutions no human could accomplish and I can see how, all along, He was working on something great on my behalf and for my good. 

Thank You for preserving my life, Lord. Thank You for the things You have planned for me that I cannot stand here today and know completely. Thank You for Your promise to never leave me nor forsake me nor do anything harmful to me. I love You, Lord, and I thank You for Your goodness, for the vision You have for my life, and for not letting anything interfere with Your plans for me. Amen    

Praying the Promise:

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace—Numbers 6:24-26 (NASB)

These are more than words recorded in a book, Lord. More than words put down on paper or written glibly without much forethought. They have been carefully weighed and sifted. They are spoken over a people You know perfectly, thoroughly inside and out.

For the sinner they are like a warm spiritual blanket wrapped around us on a frigid winter night, or a cool breeze on a sun-scorched summer afternoon. They refresh our soul and reassure us we are loved and covered even though we do not deserve to be loved, nor accepted or protected.

Thank You for benedictions that bless us and give us strength of heart. Thank You for benedictions that soothe our troubled brow and calm our racing thoughts. Thank You for benedictions that ease our fears when we are haunted by our past transgressions and uncertainties about how much You love us surface. 

Thank You for blessings of ages past that are still efficacious to this day and will continue to be long after we’re at home in heaven with You. Thank You for benedictions that join us together under one umbrella of faith

Thank You, Lord, for benedictions that no matter what language they are spoken they mean the same thing: we are loved, accepted, protected, cared for and covered by our great God who created the heavens and the earth and ll that makes up the universe.      

A Benediction:

May God walk down the road with you today…

May He shower your path with His many blessings…

May He keep you from danger and protect you from harm…

May His light keep you from the darkness surrounding you…

May He give you grace and peace and strength for the day…

May He give you someone to bless, as He has blessed you…

May He be there, waiting for you at the end of the day, with a good word to calm your spirit as you rest in His arms…

May the God of heaven and earth sing over you in your sleep and touch your hurting, wounded places so you can be ready to face the days ahead.       

Praying the Promise:

I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God’s blessing and God’s curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life—Deuteronomy 30:19 (GNT)

Lord, every day we are called upon to make choices. Sometimes we don’t make the best choices, but usually we try to make the best choices and decisions we can based upon the information and resources we have at hand. Thank You for refreshing us in the importance of making choices and decisions that lead to life. 

Lord, today I choose life—I choose to live and work and have my being in You. Instead of looking at all that I don’t have, I choose to look at all that You have blessed me with—I have family, friends, shelter, work to accomplish, reasonable health, clothes on my back, and food to eat. When I start to single out how I’m blessed by You, the list is endless. Even when I can count the number of good friends and supportive family on one hand, even when my shelter is not as elaborate as some, my food is simple, and my clothes don’t have designer labels I’m still filled with gratitude and thankful.    

I thank You, Lord, for being in my life, not just today, but every day. There is not one moment of my journey You have not been with me, leading and guiding me, picking me up when I fall down, and touching me to strengthen me when I am weak. When I cling to You and not wander off in my own direction, I can sense Your protection and care.

Thank you for pointing out the importance of making choices that lead to life,  and blessings not curses. You instructed the Israelites, through Moses, to choose life by following Your commandments which lead to blessings and a fulfilling life. Today, choosing life shapes our future and the future of generations to come. Amen      

Praying the Promise:

    you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest—Psalm 42:1-2 

God, how many times we have felt this way! How many of us can identify with David’s feelings and understand exactly what he’s expressing here. We can know what it’s like to feel alone on this journey. We are all-to-familiar with times of wondering where You are. Countless times calling out to You but hearing nothing; just like David looking for You but being met by emptiness; waiting in silence to feel Your warm loving embrace but in the end feeling even more alone and shivering. 

You, more than anyone, recognize that suffering, darkness, trials, sickness, and grief throw our senses off and cause us to question what is real and what is not. Suffering interferes with our spiritual antenna and instead of hearing Your voice we only get static and white noise. That’s not because You are aloof or silent. Not because You have changed Your position or withdrawn from us. It’s us, Lord; the devil playing tricks with our mind, heart, and faith.    

Remove the block, Lord. Open my ears that I can hear Your voice as You speak to me through the internal noise going on in my head and darkness all around. Take the blinders off and open my eyes that I may see You in other people and in the wonders of nature, in works created by artists and the good books of writers who inspire through their words. Help me also to wait for You in the silence and darkness for I truly believe You are there as well.

Lord, I pray, open my heart that I may feel Your presence in the warmth of these summer days, in the rising or setting sun, in the smile or embrace of other, caring humans, in that person who is in need or in someone reaching in to help me or as I reach out to help them. 

I pray, Jesus, touch me with Your love, and put an end to my aching misery. Don’t let me become disconnected even in my disappointment but keep me fresh and able to be loving and lovely as I go through this journey, difficult and challenging as it may be at times. Amen         

Praying the Promise:

  Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! –Isaiah 50:11

God, firework displays can be beautiful. We get a lot of enjoyment out of them. They are loud. They sparkle and explode into amazing shapes that hold our attention and awe us. 

Fireworks are beautiful in the sky, far above our heads, but when our homes and environments are full of fireworks it’s no fun. It’s not entertaining, nor do they evoke good feelings. We might be amazed at how ordinary people who have a propensity to cause chaos and set things ablaze, always manage to set off a storm or cause fireworks that disrupt wellbeing, cause unrest, and leave destruction in their wake.  

You have called us to live in peace, Lord. You sent Your son, Jesus, that we might be liberated and able to live in peace without all the drama and chaos some love to create. Grant us Your peace Lord. In every corner of this world where there is turmoil, grant us peace. In every home where fireworks are disrupting and tearing people’s lives, heart, and souls apart, grant us peace, Lord.        

Praying the Promise:

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them—Matthew 18:20

Lord this is a comforting promise to return to, especially when our numbers are small and we are feeling outnumbered. 

It’s good to be reminded that it only takes two or three; it doesn’t take a large number, or masses of people gathered in prayer for something to happen. When we have Jesus, we have more than enough to get things done in our Lord’s name.

Jesus, it’s so amazing that when we come together with other believers, flawed and fragile as we are—even when there are no more than two—You show up! It does not matter whether we are gathered in our places of worship, carpooling, lunching with a friend, or in our homes making important decisions or seeking guidance; two or three gathered in agreement and praying or planning in one accord and in Your name—You are in our midst. 

Thank You for reminding us that we don’t have to wait for large gatherings. We don’t have to wait until dozens of people sign up for prayer time. We don’t have to wait for a quorum or ten or more, but we can gather two or three and call down heaven on earthly situations. Two or three and we can move mountains through prayer. Two or three and we can see doors opened and walls fall. Two or three and we can stop wars and see the hard-hearted, hardnosed reduced to tears and humility. Two or three and we can keep the enemy from having victory in our life and the lives of others. 

We praise your mighty name, O Lord. We love Your Word O Lord. We trust Your timing O Lord. We believe Your promise O Lord to be with us even when we are small in number because that does not mean ineffective in prayer or limited in being blessed. Amen    

Praying the Promise:

Then Moes took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the LORD has made with you in giving you these instructions—Exodus 24:8 (NLT)

Gracious God, to some this would be an offensive and offputting action. No one wants the sticky, smelling blood of animals thrown all over them. Sticky, smelly blood from smelly animals splattered all over their freshly laundered clothes and clean bodies. Yet, what an honor to receive this blood! What a blessing to be in that crowd and have that blood splattered over you! What an honor to be included with those gathered as the LORD confirmed His covenant by the splattering of blood! What a blessing to believe Your promise that we are a covenant people to this day!   

Grant us faith to believe Your precious promises recorded from Genesis to Revelation. Grant us minds to understand the depth of each one, and willing spirits to embrace all they mean for our life. Lord, it is only the stubborn will and hardened heart that cannot accept Your Word for what it is: comforting, truthful and powerful to transform human life!

Search me O God and know me. See if there is any resistance to Your Word in me and lead me in the way of everlasting. See if there is anything even in my subconscious that is riddled with doubt and rejects Your Word or rejects the blood of Jesus that ran down from the cross to cover my sins, cleanses me and makes me whole.   

The blood that seals the promises is not the blood of goats and bulls, but the blood of Jesus shed on the cross of Calvary for my sin and that is worth rejoicing over. Thank you for including me in the splattering of blood and in the blood that flowed from the cross. 

Thank you for defending me, washing me, saving me, strengthening me, rejoicing over me, finding worth and value in me. Thank You for the power of the blood that covers me. In Jesus’ name. Amen       

Praying the Promise:

 As the deer pants for water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God—Psalm 42:1-2 (TLB)

Lord, July is a perfect month to pray this verse that opens Psalm 42. As the heat radiates around us and clings to our skin it’s hard to find a place to be cool, it’s hard to quench our thirst. Like the deer, the only way to do so is by drinking cool water. 

As I read this verse, I can picture a deer panting for streams of water. I can see it crossing fields, leaping through meadows and climbing hills to get to the place they know by heart where the water runs freely. I can see them standing there, head bent low, drinking their fill and walking away completely filled and satisfied.

What a beautiful metaphor, Lord: graceful deer, panting for streams of cool, refreshing water. How blessed I am that I don’t have to leap through meadows or climb hills or cross fields to get to You so my thirst for You is satisfied. All I need to do is speak one word, open my Bible, stretch out my hand, say the name of Jesus, call on the name of the God who is always with me and I am right there at Your throne, touching the hem of Your garment. It is as though I am standing underneath a free-flowing stream of water with my mouth wide open or kneeling beside a cool stream of water, drinking until I can’t hold anymore. 

Thank You, Lord, for refreshing my soul. Even before a word is on my tongue You begin pouring into me. Thank You for covering every one of my spiritual needs. Thank You for filling me and refueling me. Thank You for lifting me up when I feel down and encouraging me when my courage has run out. Thank you for reviving me when I am depleted and weary. Thank You for touching me in places no human could reach and reminding me I can always return, and I don’t need to wait until I am completely drained, empty or dying of thirst. I can remember where You are and trust You are always there for me, ready to pour into me. Amen       

What special days or appointments do you have coming up this month? If you're still working you might be looking forward to taking a well-deserved vacation, or, if you're retired you might be thinking about taking a trip to visit with family or friends. For some, July will be busy with appointments. busy or not, just like the previous months of this year, July is a perfect time to pray, to spend time reconnecting with God. If you haven't tried it before, July is a great month to spend time with God out of doors, spending time by the water or taking a hike up to the mountains. Jesus spent a lot of time communing with the Father outside. The Scriptures reveal Jesus often went to the mountains to pray, away from the hustle and bustle of city-life. Find your favorite spot, pack up a cooler with nice refreshing drinks and snacks and spend some time with the Lord. He'll refresh your soul!