God can only deliver us from the things we confess, and we can only confess those things that we have allowed the Holy Spirit to reveal to us. As long as we deny their existence, or refuse to identify them specifically, we condemn ourselves to a self-made purgatory. Come clean with God and He will set you free.

“Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.”

Lord Jesus, give us the courage to face the things we have so long denied. Hear our confession and deliver us. In Your holy name we pray.

Sometimes the things we have suffered are too painful to remember so we repress them. Unfortunately, that which we repress is beyond the reach of God’s grace and thus lives on to torment us and to undermine our relationships. It’s only as we “own” our past and bring it to God that His grace can truly make us new.

“‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?’”

Lord Jesus, show us the futility of pretending and protesting our innocence. Give us the courage to own up, and in this owning up, let us find forgiveness and freedom. In Your holy name we pray. Amen.

Are you tormented by the memory of your sinful failures, haunted by the damage your willful disobedience has done to others? Don’t despair! No matter what you have done, God’s grace is greater than your sin! Remember, God has a long history of turning life’s rejects into men and women of eternal worth.

“The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly…Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy…”

Lord Jesus, help us to trust Your grace that we might be free from the shame of our sin. In Your holy name we pray. Amen.

Special friends are rare indeed. I’ve heard them called “five fingered friends” because in the course of a lifetime a person can usually count his special friends on the fingers of one hand. If you have been blessed with special friends, you are rich indeed. Experience has taught me that the best way to make a special friend is to be one.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

Lord Jesus, I started to pray give me a friend like that, instead I pray make me a special friend. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.

The tempter wants us to believe that God is hard-hearted, that He is quick to judge and slow to forgive. Nothing could be further from the truth. No matter how miserably we have failed, no matter how far we might have fallen, He stands ready to forgive. In truth, God is more eager to forgive us than we are to be forgiven.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.”

Lord Jesus, help us to trust Your love and receive Your forgiveness no matter how often we have failed. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.

At the root of every spiritual struggle, there are two forces at war: not so much good and evil, but God and self. If that is the case then it must be equally true that there is only one temptation: the ever present temptation to choose my will over God’s will, my way over God’s way.

“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

Lord Jesus, save me from myself. Left to myself I will always mess things up. Teach me to choose Your way, Your will. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.

Take a minute and count your blessings. What comes to mind? A nice home? A reliable car? A good job? Stylish clothes and good food? Those are blessings to be sure, but they pale in comparison to the blessing of family and friends. In that regard I am a rich man indeed, for I have been blessed with a loving family and a number of special friends.

“He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.”

Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of family and friends. Their love and graciousness have enriched my life beyond measure. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.

When our daughter remembers her childhood it’s not the “things” we gave her that come to mind, but the experiences we shared. I can only conclude that there is nothing you can give your children that will be more lasting or more deeply appreciated than the gift of yourself. Remember a child spells love “T I M E”.

“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

Lord Jesus, I thank you for parents who gave me the gift of themselves and their most holy faith. Help me to pass it on to my children and grandchildren. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.

Sometimes the tempter comes as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. At other times he comes as a thief to kill, steal and destroy, but more often than not he masquerades as an angel of light. His most subtle temptations are those that tempt us to meet a legitimate need in an inappropriate way. Don’t be fooled. Whatever his guise his intent remains the same – our eternal destruction.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Lord Jesus, help us to recognize the tempter whatever his disguise. Deliver us from his evil schemes. In Your holy name we pray. Amen.

Are you plagued by self-doubt and feelings of inferiority? Do you try to banish those feelings by working harder and achieving more? Unfortunately there is not enough success in the world to overcome our self-doubts. Only in God can we find our true identity and value as persons. His every word – not our accomplishments – defines us and gives us significance.

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.”

Lord Jesus, I choose to base my self-image on Your word rather than my accomplishments. Help me to trust You more. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.