Hello, Lord Jesus, it’s good to wake up and know that you are waiting for me, ready to spend some time visiting with me, giving encouragement, direction and guidance. I praise you for your wide wisdom and complete knowledge, for you understand what is right and wrong, what is good and evil. You know the outcome of every possible choice and you are willing and desirous of giving me the input I need to make good, healthy, constructive decisions.

I thank you for your deep, rich, powerful love which is unwavering, immutable, gracious and firm. To be loved by you is such a privilege, the opposite of what I, in my natural rebellion and unbelief, deserve. You are kind, patient, gracious, good and wise.

As you embrace me this morning in greeting, sit with your arm around my shoulder and talk with me about yesterday, about today, about my growth, you constantly radiate warm affection, full affirmation and gracious acceptance. These flow out of your pure and pristine heart, out of your beautiful being: you don’t just love, you are love itself, a step far beyond loving; there is no way you can’t love.

I am glad that part of your love is chastening (“for whom the Lord loves he chastens” Heb. 12:6), as well as correction and rebuke when necessary, with ongoing teaching and guidance. I praise you that you don’t let me continue in my own self-centered, unhealthy thinking, but draw me out into a wider place by your wisdom and example. Through your Word and Spirit you help me to see things from your point of view. This gives me a higher, broader, bigger understanding of life, of events, of the role you have given me of being your hands to those around me.

Thank you for your provision of prayer, which is your invitation to join you in your great plans to spread Truth, to proclaim the gospel, to nurture and equip believers for the ministry. Praise you that you call us into eternally significant activity which affirms the meaning, purpose and significance you have bestowed on your creatures by loving them.

I praise you that you have bestowed upon us worth, belonging and competence. As you had Paul express it in Ephesians 1:18-19, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you [belonging], the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people [worth], and his incomparably great power for us who believe [competence].

Help me to live in these great Truths today, Lord, knowing you, living in your presence, joining you in your plans with all you have given to make me an effective instrument in your hands. Glorify yourself in my life today by keeping me resting in the shelter of the Most High.