Beside Still Waters Ministries

I just started last night Ruth Myers’ 31 Days of Praise: Enjoying God Anew for my nightly devotional time. What was really weird is that I just did lesson one of the homework in Beth Moore’s Believing God online bible study and it had questions about what I challenges I have and how does God speak to them. Wow, did God answer on the first day of praise! She takes the Scripture noted at the end of each paragraph, and combines similar messages and ideas and personalizes the pronouns so that it is directly reading what God is saying to me (as the reader/listener). She encourages readers to look up the actual Scriptures and write in the margins any additional things that spoke to them, and to underline in the prayer whatever stood out. I practically underlined the whole thing! I thought someone might really be encouraged by it too, so here it is:

My heart rejoices in You, Lord, for You are my strong shelter in times of trouble and danger and stress, my hiding place to whom I may continually resort…my Father who lovingly provides for me…my Shepherd who guides and protects me…my Champion who upholds my cause as His child and defends my interests…my Bridegroom who delights in me…my God who is mighty to save, who rests in His love for me and rejoices over me with singing, with shouts of joy. You are my inheritance, my share in life, the One who satisfies my longing soul and fills my hungry soul with goodness. (Ps. 27:5, 71:3, 91:1-2; Matt. 6:25-26; Ps. 23:1-3; Is. 62:5b; Zeph. 3:17-18; Ps. 16:5-6, 107:9)

I praise You for Your love and Your wisdom. You are too wise to ever make a mistake, too loving to ever do anything unkind. You act on my behalf, accomplishing what concerns me and fulfilling Your purpose for me as I call on You. Thank You that You love me deeply and tenderly. You are compassionate and gracious, full of lovingkindness, ready to forgive, patiently considerate, and generous beyond imagining. You desire my love and rejoice to do good things for me. You delight to give me the desires of my heart as I delight myself in You. How precious is Your love to me, O God! I sing for joy as I take refuge in the shadow of Your wings! (Ps. 57:2, 138:8, 86:5, 103:8; Matt. 22:37; Jer. 32:41; Ps. 37:4, 36:7, 63:7)