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Getting
to Know Us
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& Links
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Experiencing
Christ, Copyright © 2008, Sheila Cragg, All rights reserved.
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Full Assurance of Faith
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I pray, O God, that ___________________ will draw near to Your heart,
with true hearts in full assurance of faith. Teach them to number
their days that they may apply their hearts to wisdom. Yes, Lord,
grant them wisdom and understanding; let them not forget or turn away
from Your words. I pray they will trust in You with all their hearts
and lean not on their own understanding. In all their ways may they
acknowledge You and trust You to direct their paths. Let their words
and the meditation of their hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O
Lord, our strength and redeemer. (Heb. 10:22a; Ps. 90:12; Prov. 4:5;
3:5-6; Ps. 19:14, all kjv paraphrased) |
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Lord of Lords
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"Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare
with yours." For Lord my God, You are God of gods and Lord of lords,
You are the great God, mighty and awesome. You are the Lord my God;
I will consecrate myself to You and be holy, because You are holy.
I will remember to obey all Your commands and will be consecrated
to You. My heart shall rejoice in You because I have trusted in Your
holy name. (Ps. 86:8 not paraphrased; Deut. 10:17a; Lev. 11:44a; Num.
15:40; Ps. 33:21 kjv paraphrased, A Woman's Journey Toward Holiness,
20) |
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Live Wisely
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The whole body depends on You, Christ, and all the parts of the body
are joined and held together. Each part does its own work to make
the whole body grow and be strong with love. So I pray ___________________
will be very careful how they live. Keep them from living like those
who are not wise, but help them live wisely. Prompt them to use every
chance they have for doing good, because these are evil times. Keep
them from being foolish, but may they learn what You want them to
do. When they talk, remind them to avoid saying harmful things, but
rather help them say what people needÛwords that will help others
become stronger. Then what they say will do good to those who listen
to them. (Eph. 4:16; 5:15-17; 4:29, all ncv paraphrased) |
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God
of All Wisdom
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God of all wisdom, may I not bring woe on myself by thinking I am
wise in my own eyes and clever in my own sight. For if I think I am
something when I am nothing, I deceive myself. I will test my own
actions. Then I can take pride in myself without comparing myself
to someone else. I won't be impressed with my own wisdom. Instead,
I'll fear You, Lord, and turn my back on evil. For the greatest among
others is Your servant, Lord. (Isa. 5:21; Gal. 6:3-4; Prov. 3:7 nlt;
Matt. 23:11, all paraphrased, A Woman's Journey Toward Holiness, 56)
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God
of Our Salvation
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Lord God of our salvation, I have cried day and night before You.
I am waiting for the salvation of ___________________. Truly my soul
waits upon You, God; from You alone comes salvation. I pray that You
alone will be their rock and their salvation and their defense. Lead
them to Your truth and teach them, for You are the God of our salvation.
On You I wait all day. Do not hide Your face far away from them; do
not put them away in anger. You are their only hope and help; do not
leave them nor forsake them, O God of our salvation. (Ps. 88:1; Gen.
49:18; Ps. 62:1-2a; 25:5; 27:9, all kjv paraphrased) |
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I Will Trust in Him
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| "When
I am afraid, I will trust in you." Though I am uncertain about what
will happen, You, Lord, will go before me and will be with me; You
will never leave me nor forsake me. Therefore, I will not be afraid;
I will not be discouraged. I will be strong and courageous. I will
trust in You at all times; I will pour out my heart to You, for You
are my refuge. "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be
ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ
will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." (Ps. 56:3
not paraphrased; Deut. 31:8, 6a; Ps. 62:8 paraphrased; Phil. 1:20
not paraphrased, A Woman's Journey Toward Holiness, 86) |
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Determine
Their Steps
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Many are the plans of _________________ hearts, O Lord, but it is
Your purpose that prevails. In their hearts they plan their own courses,
but I pray You will determine their steps. May they come to know,
O Lord, that their lives are not their own; it is not for them to
direct their steps. All their ways seem right to them, but, Lord,
You weigh their hearts. I pray they will seek Your face with all their
hearts; be gracious to them according to Your promises. Deal with
them according to Your love and teach them Your decrees. May they
believe that all Your precepts are right and hate every wrong path.
Your statutes are wonderful; therefore, may________________ obey them.
(Prov. 19:21; 16:9; Jer. 10:23; Prov. 21:2; Ps. 119:58, 124, 128-29,
all paraphrased) |
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Renewed
Day by Day
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Merciful Lord, I will not lose heart. Though outwardly I am wasting
away, yet inwardly I am being renewed day by day. For I know that
my body is Your temple, Holy Spirit, and that You are in me, and that
I received You from God. I am not my own; I was bought at a price.
Therefore, I will honor You with my body. And by the power that enables
You to bring everything under Your control, transform my lowly body
so that it will be like Your glorious body. (2 Cor. 4:16; 1 Cor. 6:19-20;
Phil. 3:21, all paraphrased, A Woman's Journey Toward Holiness, 133)
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of holiness, I pray that ___________________ will put to death whatever
belongs to their earthly natures: sexual immorality, impurity, lust,
evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. May they rid themselves
of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy
language from their lips. May they not lie to others, but instead
take off their old selves with practices that are wrong and put on
new selves, being renewed in knowledge and in Your image, O our Creator.
I pray that as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, they will
clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness,
and patience. May they bear with others, forgiving whatever grievances
they may have against others. May they forgive as You, Lord, forgave
them. And over all these virtues may they put on love, which binds
these all together in perfect unity. (Col. 3:5, 8-10, 12-14 paraphrased) |
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Fixing My Thoughts on Christ
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Jesus, if I conceal my sins, I will not prosper; therefore, I will
confess, throw off, and renounce my sins that I may find mercy. "I
am deeply sorry for what I have done." Forgive my sin once more, I
pray. Since You have gone through suffering and temptation, You are
able to help me when I am being tempted. And, as Your dear friend
who belongs to You and is bound for heaven, I will fix my thoughts
on You, Jesus. I will not throw away my confident trust in You, no
matter what happens. I will remember the great reward it brings me!
Patient endurance and perseverance are what I need now, so I can continue
to do Your will. Then I will receive all that you have promised. (Prov.
28:13 kjv paraphrased; Ps. 38:18b nlt not paraphrased; Ex. 10:17a;
Heb. 2:18Ò3:1a nlt; 10:35-36 nlt paraphrased, A Woman's Journey Toward
Holiness, 166) |
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Christ's Great Love
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I
bow in prayer before You, Father, from whom every family in heaven
and on earth gets its true name. I ask You, Father, in Your great
glory to give ___________________ the power to be strong inwardly
through Your Spirit. I pray, Christ, that You will live in their
hearts by faith and that their lives will be strong in love and
be built on love. And I pray they and all God's holy people will
have the power to understand the greatness of Your love, O Christ--how
wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is. Your love
is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that they will
be able to know that love. Then they can be filled with Your fullness,
Lord. With Your power working in them, You can do much, much more
than anything I can ask or imagine. To You be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph.
3:14-21 ncv paraphrased)
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Speak
the Truth
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Lord, who shall abide in Your sanctuary? Who shall dwell on Your holy
hill? I will if I walk uprightly, do what is right, and speak the
truth from my heart. If I do not backbite, nor do evil to my neighbor,
nor slander others. If in my eyes I condemn a vile person, and honor
those that fear You, Lord; and if I honor a promise and do not change
it even when it hurts. If I do not charge interest on the money that
I lend, nor accept a bribe against the innocent. If I do these things,
I shall never be shaken and will stand firm. (Ps. 15 kjv paraphrased)
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Father God, I ask that ___________________ will come and listen to
You; teach them the fear of You, Lord. I pray that You will keep them
from speaking evil and their lips from speaking lies so that they
can love life and see many good days. May they keep themselves from
idols. Urge them to be careful so that their hearts will not be enticed
to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. I pray they
will submit to You and be at peace with You so that prosperity will
come to them. Enable them to receive the law from Your mouth and lay
up Your words in their hearts. For then they will delight in You,
Almighty One, and will lift up their faces to You, O God. (Ps. 34:11-13;
1 John 5:21; Deut. 11:16; Job 22:21-22, 26, all paraphrased) |
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Why,
O Lord, Do You Stand Far Off?
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"Why, O Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?" "For You
are the God of my strength; Why do You cast me off? Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?" "Why, O Lord, do you stand
far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" "Even today
my complaint is bitter; My hand is listless because of my groaning."
"Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the light to my eyes."
"For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see." (Ps.
88:14; Ps. 43:2 nkjv; Ps. 10:1; Job 23:2 nkjv; Ps. 13:3a nlt; Ps.
36:9 nlt, A Woman's Pilgrimage of Faith, 35) |
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Fight
the Good Fight of Faith
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I pray that ___________________ will train themselves to serve You,
Lord. Training their bodies helps them in some ways, but serving You
helps them in every way by bringing them blessings in this life and
in the future life, too. Free them from caring too much about their
own lives. The most important thing is that they complete their mission,
the work that You, Lord Jesus, gave themÛto tell people the Good News
about God's grace. Urge them to press on toward the goal to win the
prize for which You have called us heavenward in Christ Jesus. Equip
them to fight the good fight of the faith and take hold of the eternal
life to which they were called when they made their good confession
in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Tim. 4:7-8 ncv; Acts 20:24 ncv;
Phil. 3:14 ncv; 1 Tim. 6:12, all paraphrased) |
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Restore My Life Again
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Merciful Lord, "Night pierces my bones; my gnawing pains never rest."
"My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime
is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath." Now "I
have only a little time left, so leave me aloneÛthat I may have a
little moment of comfort." "Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter . . . restore my life again; from the depths of the
earth you will again bring me up." "You shall increase my greatness,
and comfort me on every side." (Job 30:17; Ps. 39:5 nlt; Job 10:20
nlt; Ps. 71:20; Ps. 71:21 nkjv, A Woman's Pilgrimage of Faith, 65)
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Like
Perfumed Oil
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| Lord,
we call to You. Come quickly. Listen to ___________________ when they
call to You. Let their prayers be like incense placed before You,
and their praises like the evening sacrifice. Lord, help them control
their tongues; help them be careful about what they say. Take away
their desire to do evil or to join others in doing wrong. Don't let
them be companions of those who do evil. If a good person punished
them, that would be kind. If You corrected them, that would be like
perfumed oil on their heads. (Ps. 141:1-5a ncv paraphrased) |
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Grief
and Shame
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O Lamb of God, "All day long my disgrace is in front of me. Shame
covers my face." "I am worn out from sobbing. Every night tears drench
my bed; my pillow is wet from weeping. My vision is blurred by grief;
my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies. Go away, all you who
do evil, for the Lord has heard my crying." "May they ever be ashamed
and dismayed; may they perish in disgrace." "Have compassion on me,
Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, Lord, for my body is in agony." "Heal
me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for
you are the one I praise." (Ps. 44:15 god's word; Ps. 6:6-8 nlt; Ps.
83:17; Ps. 6:2 nlt; Jer. 17:14, A Woman's Pilgrimage of Faith, 78)
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Wear God's Armor
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| Almighty
God, I pray that ___________________ will put on Your full armor so
that when the day of evil comes, they will be able to stand their
ground, and after they have done everything, to stand. Empower them
to stand firm then, with belts of truth buckled around their waists,
with breastplates of righteousness in place, and with their feet fitted
with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace. In addition
to all this, enable them to take up shields of faith, with which they
can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Strengthen
them to put on helmets of salvation; equip them to rightly use the
sword of the Spirit, which is Your Word, O God. Give them grace to
be alert and always to keep on praying for all the saints. (Eph. 6:13-17,
18b paraphrased) |
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Redeemed
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Merciful Lord, "You have heard my voice: ÎDo not hide Your ear from
my sighing, from my cry for help.' You drew near on the day I called
on You and said, ÎDo not fear!' O Lord, You have pleaded the case
for my soul; You have redeemed my life. O Lord, You have seen how
I am wronged; judge my case." "Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication,
to my cause, my God and my Lord." "Let those who desire my vindication
shout for joy and be glad, and say evermore, ÎGreat is the Lord, who
delights in the welfare of his servant.'" (Lam. 3:56-59 nkjv; Ps.
35:23 nkjv; Ps. 35:27 nrsv, A Woman's Pilgrimage of Faith, 130)
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Perfect Love
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Ever-loving Lord, I pray that __________________ will know the love
that You have for them, and may they trust that love. O God, You are
love. May they live in love and thus live in You, Lord, and You live
in them. This is how love is made perfect in them: that they can be
without fear on the day God judges them, because in this world they
are like You, Lord. Where Your love is, God, there is no fear, because
Your perfect love drives out fear. It is punishment that makes people
fear, so love is not made perfect in them because of their fears.
Yes, I pray for these dear children that they will live in You so
that when You come back, Christ, they can be without fear and not
be ashamed in Your presence. (1 John 4:16-18; 2:28, all ncv paraphrased)
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Enter Not into Temptation
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Spirit of God, I'll keep watching and praying that I may not enter
into temptation; my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. I will
take care that this liberty of mine does not somehow become a stumbling
block to the weak. For if I sin against members of my family and wound
their conscience when it is weak, I sin against You, Christ. To the
weak I will become weak so that I might win the weak. I will become
all things to all people so that I might by all means save some. (Matt.
26:41 nas95; 1 Cor. 8:9, 12 nrsv; 1 Cor. 9:22 nrsv, all paraphrased,
A Woman's Pilgrimage of Faith, 163) |
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Cause
Them to Repent
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I plead with You, Lord, that ___________________ will have changes
of heart, for they are held captive to sin. I pray they will repent
and plead with You to deliver them from being conquered by their sins,
saying to You, "We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted
wickedly." "O Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them,
but they felt no pain; You crushed them, but they refused correction.
They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent." Cause
them to turn back to You with all their hearts and souls in the domain
of their enemies who took them captive. Cause them to repent and turn
to You, O God, so their sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing
may come from You, Lord. Yes, Jesus, there will be more rejoicing
in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous
persons who do not need to repent. (1 Kings 8:47 paraphrased; Jer.
5:3 not paraphrased; 1 Kings 8:48a; Acts 3:19; Luke 15:7 paraphrased)
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More Wonderful Than Heaven and
Earth
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| "Praise
the Lord! Praise the Lord from the skies. Praise him high above the
earth. Praise him, all you angels. Praise him, all you armies of heaven.
Praise him, sun and moon. Praise him, all you shining stars. Praise
him, highest heavens and you waters above the sky. Let them praise
the Lord, because they were created by his command. He put them in
place forever and ever; he made a law that will never change. Praise
the Lord from the earth, you large sea animals and all the oceans,
lightning and hail, snow and mist, and stormy winds that obey him,
mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals
and all cattle, crawling animals and birds, kings of the earth and
all nations, princes and all rulers of the earth, young men and women,
old people and children. Praise the Lord, because he alone is great.
He is more wonderful than heaven and earth." (Ps. 148:1-13 ncv not
paraphrased) |
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Whatever Is True and Admirable
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Most holy Lord, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableÛif anything
is excellent or praiseworthyÛI pray that ___________________ will
think about such things. Whatever they have learned or received or
heard from those who are godly, or seen in themÛI pray they will put
it into practice. In the same way, may they let their light shine
before others that all may see their good deeds and praise You, Father
in heaven. Now may the good work they do be produced by faith, their
labor be prompted by love, and their endurance inspired by their hope
in You, Lord Jesus Christ. (Phil. 4:8-9a; Matt. 5:16; 1 Thess. 1:3b,
all paraphrased) |
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Turn
Mourning into Joy
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Now as Your child, I am an heirÛheir of God and co-heir with You,
Christ, if indeed I share in Your sufferings in order that I may also
share in Your glory. I consider that my present sufferings are not
worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in me. And You
said, "Comfort, comfort My people." I will rejoice with those who
rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn. "I will turn their mourning
into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow."
(Rom. 8:17-18; Isa. 40:1; Rom. 12:15 paraphrased; Jer. 31:13b nrsv
not paraphrased, A Woman's Pilgrimage of Faith, 213) |
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May
Love Abound
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| All-wise
God, may ___________________ have understanding hearts that seek knowledge.
Instill in them the desire to be people of wisdom who hear and increase
their learning, and people of understanding who attain wise counsel.
Encourage them to trust in You, Lord, and do good; then they will
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. And this is my prayer: that
their love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
so that they will be able to discern what is best and be pure and
blameless until the day of Christ. (Prov. 15:14a kjv; 1:5 kjv; Ps.
37:3; Phil. 1:9-10, all paraphrased) |
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Alpha
and Omega
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| You
are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, O God,
which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Your
throne is established of old; You are from everlasting. You remain
forever, Your throne from generation to generation. Your name, O Lord,
endures forever and your memorial throughout all generations. Therefore,
I will praise You with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name
forevermore. Now to You, the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the
only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Praise be to You,
Lord God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
(Rev. 1:8; Ps. 93:2; Lam. 5:19; Ps. 135:13; 86:12; 1 Tim. 1:17; Ps.
41:13, all kjv paraphrased) |
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Hope
That Never Disappoints
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Since ___________________ have been made right with You, God, by their
faith, they have peace with You. This happened through You, Lord Jesus
Christ, who brought them into that blessing of God's grace that they
now enjoy. And I pray they will be happy because of the hope they
have of sharing God's glory. Grant them Your joy in their troubles,
knowing that these troubles produce patience, and patience produces
character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint
them, because You have poured out Your love to fill their hearts.
You gave them Your love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given
to them. (Rom. 5:1-5 ncv paraphrased) |
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Living
Sacrifices
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By Your mercies, Lord, I pray that ___________________ will present
their bodies as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable to You, which
is their reasonable service. Let them not conformed to this world;
but may they be transformed by the renewing of their minds, that they
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of Yours,
O God. I pray they will not think of themselves more highly than they
ought to think, but to think soberly, according as You, Lord, have
dealt to them the measure of faith. (Rom. 12:1-3b kjv paraphrased)
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No
Need to Fear
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| When
___________________ are afraid, I pray they will trust You. For You
did not give them a spirit that makes them afraid but a spirit of
power and love and self-control. I pray they will not fear, for You
are with them. May they not be dismayed, for You are their God. Strengthen
them and help them; uphold them with Your righteous right hand. Lord,
You are with them; let them not be afraid. What can people do to them?
I pray that when they lie down, they will not be afraid; when they
lie down, their sleep will be sweet. (Ps. 56:3 ncv; 2 Tim. 1:7 ncv;
Isa. 41:10; Ps. 118:6; Prov. 3:24, all paraphrased) |
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