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Getting
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Experiencing
Christ, Copyright © 2008, Sheila Cragg, All rights reserved.
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Near
to the Heart of God
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| As
this new year begins, I will draw near to Your heart, O God, with
a true heart in full assurance of faith. Teach me to number my days
that I may apply my heart to wisdom. Yes, Lord, I will get wisdom
and understanding; I will not forget nor turn away from Your words.
I will trust in You with all my heart rather than lean on my own understanding.
In all my ways I will acknowledge You and trust You to direct my paths.
Now may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable
in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. (Heb. 10:22a;
Ps. 90:12; Prov. 4:5; 3:5-6; Ps. 19:14, all kjv paraphrased) |
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Crown
This Year with Goodness
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| Crown
this new year with Your goodness, Lord. Be mindful of us, O Lord,
bless us; bless our house. Bless those who fear You, both small and
great. All Your works shall praise You, Lord, and Your saints shall
bless You. Every day I will bless You; and I will praise Your name
forever and ever. Seven times a day I will praise You because of Your
righteous judgments. I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart.
At all times throughout this new year, I will continually praise You.
I praise You, Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. (Ps. 65:11a; 115:12a,
13; 145:10, 2; 119:164; 9:1a; 34:1; 146:1, all kjv paraphrased) |
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A
Thousand Years in God's Sight
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| Everlasting
Father, a thousand years in Your sight are but as yesterday when they
are past and as a few hours in the night. Behold, God, You are great
and beyond understanding; Your years cannot be numbered or searched
out. You appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knows its going down.
And You change the times and the seasons; You remove and set up kings;
You give wisdom to the wise and knowledge to them that have understanding.
Therefore, in these times and in this new year, I commit my spirit--my
heart and my life--into Your hand; for You have redeemed me, O Lord
God of truth. I commit my way to You, Lord; I also trust in You. (Ps.
90:4; Job 36:26; Ps. 104:19; Dan. 2:21; Ps. 31:5; Ps. 37:5a, all kjv
paraphrased) |
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Teach
Me to Revere You
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| Father
God, in this new year, I will come and listen to You; for You will
teach me to revere and worshipfully fear You. I desire life and long
for many days that I may see good. Therefore, I will keep my tongue
from evil and my lips from speaking deceit. I will keep my heart from
idols. I will be careful so that my heart will not be enticed to turn
away and worship other gods and bow down to them. I will submit to
You, O Lord, and be at peace; thereby good will come to me. I will
receive the law from Your mouth and lay up Your words in my heart.
For then I will delight in You, Almighty One, and will lift up my
face to You, O God. (Ps. 34:11-13 amp; 1 John 5:21; Deut. 11:16; Job
22:21-22, 26, all paraphrased) |
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God's
Good Work
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| Author
and Perfecter of our faith, Your way is perfect; Your Word is flawless.
You are a shield for__(names of those for whom you are praying) _____,
and I pray they will take refuge in You throughout this new year.
For who is God besides You, Lord? Who is their rock except You? Arm
them with strength and make their ways perfect. Encourage them to
be confident of this, that You who began a good work in them will
carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. And I pray,
O God, that they will stand perfect and complete in all Your will.
(2 Sam. 22:31-33; Phil. 1:6; Col. 4:12b, all kjv ¬paraphrased) |
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Wholehearted
Devotion
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| O
kind and loving Lord, satisfy me in the morning with Your unfailing
love, that I may sing for joy and be glad throughout this new year.
"Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of
old." "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember
your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider
all your mighty deeds." I acknowledge You, O God, and will serve You
with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for You search
my heart and understand every motive behind my thoughts. (Ps. 90:14
paraphrased; Ps. 25:6; 77:11-12 not paraphrased; 1 Chron. 28:9a paraphrased)
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My
Heart Rejoices
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| How
good it is for me to draw near to the heart of God, for I have put
my trust in Him that I may tell of all His wonderful works. I will
sing to You, Lord, because You have dealt bountifully with me. For
great is Your loving mercy toward me. I have trusted in Your mercy;
my heart rejoices in Your salvation. For Your lovingkindness is before
my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth. I have not hid Your righteousness
within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation.
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth. I praise
You, Lord. Throughout this new year I will praise You, Lord, with
my whole heart. (Ps. 73:28; 13:6; 86:13a; 13:5; 26:3 40:10a; 111:1a,
all kjv paraphrased) |
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A
New Heart
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| Jesus,
You have been teaching me in regard to my former way of life to put
off my old self, which is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be made
new in the attitude of my mind and to put on a new self, created to
be like You in true righteousness and holiness. Lord, give me a new
heart and put a new spirit within me; remove from me a heart of stone
and give me a heart of flesh. Fill me with Your Spirit and move me
to follow Your decrees and to be careful to keep Your laws. For Your
eyes range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are
fully committed to You. (Eph. 4:22-24; Ezek. 36:26-27; 2 Chron. 16:9,
all paraphrased, A Woman's Walk with God, 36) |
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Create in Me a Clean Heart
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I
delight to do Your will, O my God: yes, Your law is within my heart.
I seek Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful to me according
to Your word. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not
Your Holy Spirit from me. Examine me, Lord, and prove me by looking
closely into my heart and mind. "Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me." Restore to me the joy of Your
salvation, and uphold me with Your free spirit. (Ps. 40:8; 119:58;
51:11; 26:2 paraphrased; Ps. 51:10 not paraphrased; Ps. 51:12 paraphrased,
all kjv)
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Lord,
in my heart I plan my own course, but You determine my steps. I
know, O Lord, that my life is not my own; it is not for me to direct
my steps. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your
good Spirit lead me on level ground. Then I will know that I can
set my heart at rest in Your presence. (Prov. 16:9; Jer. 10:23;
Ps. 143:10; 1 John 3:19b, all paraphrased, A Woman's Walk with God,
22)
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He
Knows the Plans of My Heart
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Many
are the plans of my heart, O Lord, but it is Your purpose that prevails.
Please direct my steps. How can I possibly understand my own way?
All of my ways seem right to me, but, Lord, You weigh my heart.
I will seek Your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according
to Your promise. I will consider my ways and turn my steps to Your
statutes. (Prov. 19:21; 20:24; 21:2; Ps. 119:58-59, all paraphrased,
A Woman's Walk with God, 61)
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Apply
My Heart to Instruction
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| Apply
My Heart to Instruction Lord, open my eyes that I may see wonderful
things in Your law. Teach me Your ways so that I may walk in Your
paths. Put Your laws on my mind and write them on my heart. Lord,
I will apply my heart to what I observe and learn a lesson from what
I see. I will apply my heart to instruction and my ears to words of
knowledge. (Ps. 119:18; Isa. 2:3b; Heb. 8:10b; Prov. 24:32; 23:12,
all paraphrased, A Woman's Walk with God, 76) |
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| Ever-caring Lord, You love those who love You, and those
who seek You find You. You show your love to a thousand generations
of those who love You and keep Your commandments. I love You, Lord
my God, and will obey all Your requirements, laws, regulations, and
commands. I will be careful to obey all the commands You give me;
I will show love to You by walking in Your ways and clinging to You.
Now, Lord Jesus Christ, prepare me for works of service, so that Your
body may be built up. (Prov. 8:17; Ex. 20:6; Deut. 11:1, 22 nlt; Eph.
4:12, all paraphrased, A Woman's Journey Toward Holiness, 117) |
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Soar
On Wings Like an Eagle
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| Everlasting
Lord, Creator of the ends of the earth, do I not know? Have I not
heard? You do not grow tired or weary. You give strength to the weary
and increase the power of the weak. When I grow tired and weary, and
stumble and fall, I will hope in You, Lord, for You will renew my
strength. Then I will soar on wings like an eagle; I will run and
not grow weary; I will walk and not be faint. (Isa. 40:28-31 paraphrased,
A Woman's Walk with God, 19) |
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Rest
for My Soul
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| Lord
God, my Protector, because I know Your name I will trust in You, for
You have never forsaken those who seek You. Teach me the right way
to live. Then my soul will find rest in You alone. I will trust in
You at all times. I will pour out my heart to You, for You are my
refuge. Hear my voice in accordance with Your love. O Lord, renew
my life. (Ps. 9:10; 2 Chron. 6:26b; Ps. 62:1a, 8; 119:149, all paraphrased,
A Woman's Walk with God, 20) |
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Godly
Fruit
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| Lord,
fill ___________________ with the wisdom that comes from heaven, which
is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive,
full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Enable them to
live by the fruit of Your SpiritÛby love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Make them peacemakers
who sow in peace in order to raise a harvest of righteousness. Then
they will be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through
You, Jesus Christ, and to Your glory, honor, and praise, O God. (James
3:17; Gal. 5:22-23a; James 3:18; Phil. 1:11 paraphrased) |
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My
Refuge and Hiding Place
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| I
will take refuge in You, Lord; let me never be put to shame; deliver
me in Your righteousness. For the sake of Your name lead and guide
me. Free me from the traps I've set for myself; be my refuge and safe
haven. Hide me in the shelter of Your presence. You alone are my refuge
and hiding place; protect me from trouble and surround me with songs
of deliverance. (Ps. 31:1, 3b-4, 20a; 32:7, all paraphrased, A Woman's
Walk with God, 23) |
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Rest
Securely in Him
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| Lord,
let Your hand rest on me. Then I will not turn away from You; revive
me, and I will call on Your name. Restore me, O Lord God Almighty;
make Your face shine upon me that I may be saved. As Your beloved
child, I will rest secure in You, for You shield me all day long,
and because of Your love for me, I will rest between Your shoulders.
(Ps. 80:17a, 18-19; Deut. 33:12, all paraphrased, A Woman's Walk with
God, 24) |
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Forgive
My Transgressions
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| Ever-forgiving
Savior, my guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.
By concealing my sins, I do not spiritually prosper. But I will confess
my sins and renounce them that I may obtain Your mercy. For who is
a God like You, who pardons my sin and forgives my transgressions?
You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. Lord, have
compassion on me. Tread my sins underfoot and hurl all my iniquities
into the depths of the sea. (Ps. 38:4; Prov. 28:13; Mic. 7:18-19,
all paraphrased, A Woman's Walk with God, 33) |
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My
Hope Comes from the Lord
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| Ever-living
God, by Your strength I will see to it that I do not have a sinful,
unbelieving heart that turns away from You. But I will encourage others,
and may they encourage me so that we do not become hardened by sin's
deceitfulness. Today, Jesus, I will hear Your voice. I will not harden
my heart or become rebellious. My soul will find rest in You alone;
for my hope comes from You. I will have the faith of God's elect and
the knowledge of the truth that leads to godlinessÛa faith and knowledge
resting on the hope of eternal life, which You, who do not lie, promised
from the beginning of time. (Heb. 3:12-13, 15; Ps. 62:5; Titus 1:1b-2,
all paraphrased, A Woman's Walk with God, 25) |
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Devoted
to Prayer
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| Lord,
teach me to devote myself to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
I kneel before You, Father God, from whom Your whole family in heaven
and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of Your glorious riches
You may strengthen the people I'm holding up before You with power
through Your Spirit in their inner being, so that Christ may dwell
in their hearts through faith. And I pray that they may be rooted
and established in love. (Col. 4:2; Eph. 3:14-17, all paraphrased,
A Woman's Walk with God, 34) |
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Meditate
on God's Wonders
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| O
that my soul may be consumed with longing for Your laws at all times,
Lord God. Let me understand the teaching of Your precepts; then I
will meditate on Your wonders. Strengthen me according to Your Word.
Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through Your law. I
have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on Your laws. I
am holding fast to Your statutes. (Ps. 119:20, 27, 28b-31a, all paraphrased,
A Woman's Walk with God, 35) |
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Serve
Others in Love
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| Son
of Man, You came not to be served, but to serve and to give Your life
a ransom for many. Enable me to serve You with all my heart and all
my soul. Show me how to serve others in love. Since You have given
me freedom, but not the freedom to be selfish and serve myself, I
will use my freedom to love and serve others. (Matt. 20:28; Josh.
22:5b; Gal. 5:13, all tlb paraphrased, A Woman's Walk with God, 37)
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Whole
Armor of God
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| Almighty
Lord, I pray that __________________ may be strong in You and in the
power of Your might. May they put on Your whole armor, Lord, that
they may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For they
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places. Help them to be sober and vigilant
because their adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about,
seeking to devour them. Empower them to resist Satan, steadfast in
the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are experienced by other
Christians around the world. (Eph. 6:10-12; 1 Peter 5:8-9, all kjv
paraphrased) |
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His
Steadfast Love
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| Lord
God, I call to You, and You save me. Evening, morning, and noon I
cry out in distress, and You hear my voice. I cast all my cares on
You, and You carry them, for You never let the righteous fall. Your
steadfast love never ceases; Your mercies never come to an end; they
are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my
portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him." You are good
to me when I wait for You and seek You with all my heart and soul.
(Ps. 55:16-17, 22; Lam. 3:22-25 rsv, all paraphrased, A Woman's Walk
with God, 45) |
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Watch
in Hope
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| "Do
not be far from me, for trouble is near, and there is no one to help."
"But you, O Lord, be not far off; O my strength, come quickly to help
me." Rescue me from the hand of my enemy, and enable me to serve You
without fear in holiness and righteousness before You all my days.
I watch in hope for You, Lord; I wait for You, for You will hear me.
I put my hope in You, for I will yet praise You, my Savior and my
God. (Ps. 22:11, 19 not paraphrased; Luke 1:74-75; Mic. 7:7; Ps. 42:11b
paraphrased, A Woman's Walk with God, 46) |
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Listen
to My Prayer
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| "Listen
to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me."
"I said, ÎOh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and
be at restÛI would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry
to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.'" "Let the
morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust
in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."
(Ps. 55:1-2a, 6-8; 143:8, A Woman's Walk with God, 48) |
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Make
the Most of Every Opportunity
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| Lord,
my times are in Your hands. When I am with You, I learn wisdom, and
from Your mouth come knowledge and understanding. Help me, Holy Counselor,
to be wise in the way I act toward others, including outsiders, and
to make the most of every opportunity. Teach me how to carry on conversations
that are always full of grace and seasoned with salt, so that I may
know how to answer everyone. (Ps. 31:15a; Prov. 2:6; Col. 4:5-6, all
paraphrased, A Woman's Walk with God, 49) |
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Glorify
His Name Forever
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| "I
will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify
your name forever." "Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God,
you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?" How great
are Your signs, how mighty Your wonders! Your kingdom is an eternal
kingdom; Your dominion endures from generation to generation. "I will
meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds." Lord,
You have done great things for me, and I am filled with joy. (Ps.
86:12; Ps. 71:19 not paraphrased; Dan. 4:3 paraphrased; Ps. 77:12
not paraphrased; Ps. 126:3 paraphrased, A Woman's Journey Toward
Holiness, 87) |
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God
Is My Protection
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| "The
ways of God are without fault. The Lord's words are pure. He is a
shield to those who trust him. Who is God? Only the Lord. Who is the
Rock? Only our God. God is my protection. He makes my way free from
fault. He makes me like a deer that does not stumble; he helps me
stand on the steep mountains." "You protect me with your saving shield.
You support me with your right hand. You have stooped to make me great.
You give me a better way to live, so I live as you want me to." "The
Lord lives! May my Rock be praised. Praise the God who saves me!"
(Ps. 18:30-33, 35-36, 46 ncv) |
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His
Counsel Stands Forever
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| Sovereign
Lord, Your counsel stands forever, the purposes and thoughts of Your
heart to all generations. "But I cried to him, ëMy God, who lives
forever. . . . In ages past you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands. Even they will perish,
but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You
will change them like a garment, and they will fade away. But you
are always the same; your years never end. The children of your people
will live in security. Their children's children will thrive in your
presence.'" Say, Amen! Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving,
and honor, and power, and might be to You, Almighty God, forever and
ever. Amen! (Ps. 33:11 kjv paraphrased; Ps. 102:24a-28 nlt not paraphrased;
Rev. 7:12 kjv paraphrased) |
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