Union

Ephesians 5:25 — … just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Your eyes saw me

in my mother’s womb,

our union began

in the empty tomb.

O perfect love,

divine and true,

Your grace to me,

my need for You.

Past my mistakes,

brokenness too,

my deepest longing,

Your endless pursuit.

You are my Rock,

my eternal Bloom,

You are my Safety,

my precious Groom.

Forever Yours,

what can undo

this covenant love

with me You choose.

Amen.

Shine

Psalm 5:3 — In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

In the morning

I look to You -

You made the morning sun

shine

and gave me breath.

Today

is a new day.

Fill me

with the fullness

of Your Spirit,

the fullness

of Your love

and wonder.

I am

Yours -

have Your way

with me.

Renew me -

refresh my spirit

and breathe life

into my bones.

Awaken me -

arise my soul

and speak truth

over my mind.

Keep me from

distraction

and deception,

from blindness

and foolishness.

Open my eyes,

Father -

let me see.

Amen.

Identity

Ephesians 2:10 — For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

My identity is in You,

Lord,

and You alone.

Though I am quick to forget,

my purpose is in You

my value is in You

my hope is in You

my joy is in You

my strength is in You.

You give to me

what nothing else can,

what no one else will

and it sustains my life.

Draw near to me, Father,

and remind me of who I am

by showing me who You are.

You are my comfort,

my resting place.

You are my foundation,

my only hope.

Let Your will be done.

Amen.

From The Beginning

Psalm 139:16 — …all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

I was set apart by You

from the beginning of time.

You had plans for me

before I knew You.

You had a life for me

before I followed You.

You had a name for me

before I said a word.

All that I face

all that I have endured

all that I was

and all that I am

has been reconciled

and set free.

Every pain

and loss,

every rejection

and hurt

You redeemed

on the cross.

Because of Your grace -

absolutely

undoubtedly

unashamedly

nothing else but Your grace -

I am made new.

Amen.

Beyond

Isaiah 40:8 — The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.

Beyond the skies

and past the stars,

there You are.

Beyond the flesh

and past the heart,

there You are.

Beyond the shame

and past the guilt,

there You are.

Beyond the temptation

and past the facade,

there You are.

Beyond the fear

and past the doubt,

there You are.

Beyond myself

and past my soul,

there You will remain

forever.

Amen.

Aware

Isaiah 6:5, 7 — Woe to me! I cried. I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty… “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

The awareness

of my unholiness -

the full picture

of my human condition -

and the understanding

of Your decision

to make me

in Your image

for Your pleasure -

this is the

fullness

of my worship.

Amen.

Elsewhere

Psalm 91:2 — I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

You are my

safety.

You are my

security.

You are my

protection.

You are my

freedom.

You are my

identity.

You are

all of the things

that I look for

elsewhere.

You are

all of the things

that I hope for

elsewhere.

Teach me, Lord,

to see You in full view,

to know You with my whole heart

and be free.

Amen.

Sing

Psalm 119:103 — How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

To You

I will run.

In You

I will hope.

For You

I will live.

You are

my promised land,

my narrow path.

You are

my heavenly home,

my eternal banquet.

Like honey

on my lips

and a melody

in my heart,

You are

everything that is good.

O Lord,

my Dwelling Place,

You make my spirit sing.

Amen.

Shepherd

John 10:9 — “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”

I will find pasture

in Your promises

and contentment

under Your care.

My Savior and Shepherd,

Your voice

drowns out the rest;

Your Word

leads me to safety.

I am a sheep -

wandering and needy,

unable

when I depart from You.

Your breath

forms the boundaries

of my life.

You speak

and my soul

finds its home;

You whisper

and my spirit

knows its place.

Do not

let me out

of Your sight,

my Shepherd.

Amen.

You Saw

John 1:48 — “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

You saw me

before I knew You.

You knew me

before I chose You.

You created me

before I was.

You see me

as I weep for You.

You know me

as I question You.

You hold me

as I long for You.

You see

where I am going.

You know

my future

before I arrive.

You protect

my every step

before I take one.

You were

You are

You will be.

Amen.

Meet Me

Romans 6:6-7 — For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin — because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Let nothing

come between us, Lord.

Let nothing

take Your perch.

Sit enthroned

at the center

of my life —

that is the only place

You belong.

Though trouble surrounds me,

though evil pursues me,

the eye of this storm

is completely still

because You are here.

Meet me

at the executioner’s chair -

the cross given to me -

and raise me up

to new life with You.

Meet me

at the tomb of the old,

where self goes to die,

and call me out

to a new hope in You.

Amen.

Peace

Philippians 4:7 — And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Prince of Peace,

I seek from You

the unknown wonder

of Your promise.

As I carry on

in the wilderness,

as the currents of chaos

flow beneath me

and the winds of the world

swirl overhead,

Your peace extends

to me

though I cannot fathom

how.

Carry me,

O mighty hand of God,

sustain me

in the wasteland

as I pass through.

Though they seek me,

though I often worry,

be my hedge of Protection

and do not let me stumble -

do not let me give in

to the temptation surrounding me,

calling out to me.

Prince of Peace,

You are -

You must be -

my only peace.

Amen.

Multiply

Psalm 103:1 — Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Rejoice,

rejoice,

be filled with joy,

O my soul!

The Lord gives and gives -

His giving does not cease.

Even in suffering -

pain and affliction,

darkness and hurt -

the Father does not relent in giving to me.

Let my resilience bless You, O God,

my spirit bring You honor,

my battle be my ministry.

Multiply -

increase my inheritance,

expand my territory,

bless me,

pour out gifts upon me,

choose me to do Your will,

to tell of Your goodness.

I will suffer with gratitude

for it brings me nearer to You, Father,

closer to the finish line.

I will receive blessings with joy,

with humility,

for it is one more reason to praise You,

O God.

My Rock,

my Redeemer,

I will rejoice

for all that You have done.

Amen.

Remove

Matthew 26:39 — “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.”

Remove

this cup.

Remove

this thorn.

Remove

this burden.

Remove

this evil.

Take my sorrows, Lord,

I cannot bear them

any longer.

Take my pain,

I cannot endure it

any more.

Take me -

all of me -

and press Your face

to mine,

all that I want

is to know

You are here.

I want to faint

at Your feet,

I want to fall down

at Your throne.

Unwind me,

unburden me,

so that I can be

redeemed.

Amen.

Rest

Hebrews 4:1 — Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.

Rest,

O my soul,

rest in the Lord

for He is sovereign.

Rest,

O my bones,

rest in the Lord

for He is good.

Rest,

O mind,

rest in the Lord

for He is faithful.

In the arms of the Almighty

I rest,

I am held.

In the hands of the Holy One

I rest,

I am secure.

I will enter

into Your presence

knowing my rest comes

at Your feet.

Amen.

Both

Psalm 93:1 — The Lord reigns, He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.

I see You

when the sun rises,

when the night paints black.

I know You

when the skies are blue,

when dark clouds form.

I hear You

when the birds sing,

when the thunder rolls.

You are warmth

and terror -

I praise them both.

You are tender

and wildfire -

I praise them both.

Unknown

but eternally intimate,

sovereign

but eternally present,

I sing praises to the Lord

without relenting.

Amen.

You Are

Zechariah 6:8 — “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the LORD Almighty.

What is a miracle

to the One

who is miraculous?

What is impossible

for the One

who created everything?

You are the Lord -

nothing is above You

nor below You,

all things are Yours.

Who can put limits

on the One

who paints the stars

on the canvas of the universe?

Who can put a muzzle

on the One

who told the earth

to be?

You are the Lord -

I will say it again:

You are the Lord!

How beautiful are Your ways, Father,

how wonderful are the things

You will do.

Amen.

House

Psalm 26:8 — Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells.

Under every rock,

in each hidden place,

I searched for it.

In the valleys and on the peaks,

in darkness and in light,

I sought it.

Within the world,

the promises of this life,

I did not stop looking for it.

In the hearts of others,

the mind of humanity,

I hoped it would be found.

In success and achievement,

status and power,

I expected it to come.

Yet,

it was impossibly far from me.

When my search came to an end

and emptiness swallowed me whole,

You drew near to me.

In my troubles

You gave me hope.

In my shame

You gave me forgiveness.

In my suffering

You gave me purpose.

In my fear

You gave me truth.

In my emptiness

You gave me eternity.

O Lord,

I love the house where You live,

the place where Your glory dwells;

for I am Your dwelling place

and I love that You

love me.

Amen.

Already

 James 4:8 — Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…

You are everywhere,

but sometimes

I stop looking.

You are always speaking,

but sometimes

I stop listening.

I need You

for my next breath -

not so I can breathe,

but so I can

know You more intimately.

I was put here

to draw nearer to You,

everything else is

secondary.

To know Christ

and Him crucified -

this is why You formed me,

named me,

and gave me life.

To receive the love

of my Maker -

this is why You watched me,

guided me,

and redeemed my life.

I will draw near to You -

You are already there

waiting for me.

Amen.

Unknown

Proverbs 3:5-6 — Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

I am only here -

where I am today -

because You, Lord,

decided that here

is exactly where You want me.

Nothing about it

makes any sense -

truly nothing.

Is this not

the greatest evidence

that it is Your desire

for me to be

right here?

I could have never

predicted it,

I could not possibly

plan for it,

yet here I am

because here is where

You brought me.

I could try to figure out

why,

I could try to understand

Your intentions;

instead,

I will throw myself

into the unknown beauty

of Your unknown sovereignty.

Amen.