HEY YOU!!! Yeah you, read this.
I pray that you would worship God in all that you do. Now, forever, and always. That as men and women you would profess your godliness, that you would adorn yourself with good works. That you would be so in awe of God’s majesty that the only response you can have is to worship Him in all things.
I pray that you would love the word and know the word; that you would fall deeply in love with the God of the word. I pray that you wouldn’t get sucked into the mindset that loving Jesus is “cool” but that He is all that you have, all that you are, that you would be prepared to leave everything to follow Him to the ends of the earth. I pray that you would keep yourself from vain idols; that you would obey the scriptures. That you would be a fierce intellectual monster for Jesus who encourages and builds up the church, who raises up laborers to share the good news of the kingdom of God. I pray that you would invite the strangers around you into the fold of God for we were all once strangers, but Jesus sought us and had compassion on us. I pray that you would actually confess your sin and be healed, that you would murder your flesh, that you would choose the hard road because Jesus is better. I pray that you don’t just sing “Jesus is better” but that you would LIVE IT OUT.
I pray that when you are faced with temptation that you choose Jesus because you believe He is better and more satisfying. I pray that you would take God at His word and that you would trust Him when He says that those who wait on Him are never put to shame.
I pray that you would wait. That you would cultivate Godly desires for a spouse, a family, a career– BUT that you wouldn’t forget that ONLY in Christ is your fullness of joy. Only in Christ are pleasures forevermore.
I pray that you would love and serve the local church, but I pray that you don’t idolize the church. Being hip, knowing doctrine, good coffee, these things will pass away but only Christ and His bride will remain. So check your heart, watch yourself and repent. We are all broken and I pray that you would see just how broken and manipulative and selfish and immoral you are so that you would RUN to Christ and seek Him with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind, and I pray that you run to Him with your brothers and sisters in community, in all honesty, brokeness and vulnerability– encouraging and exhorting each other every day so that you may not be deceived by sin. I pray that you endure sweet one, for it is by endurance that you will gain your life. I pray that you learn to trust and obey Jesus– it is what your heart needs most.
We become what we behold.
Psalm 34: 1-5
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
