Photo taken in Colorado.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Forgiving Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ Name, I thank you for the opportunity to come to You for forgiveness and cleansing. I was covered in sin, but Your Son Jesus Christ, by dying on the cross, shedding His blood, and rising from death, has washed me and given me an eternal home in Heaven.

Until my entrance into Heaven, You daily forgive me of my sin as needed so that I can have the joy of a pure heart. Psalm 32:1-2 “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

As the Protector and Deliverer of my heart from the evil one, teach me to be receptive and sensitive to my need for the immediate confession and repentance of any sin that touches my life. It is a great blessing from You that, like David in the Bible, I have the opportunity to put my sin behind me. Psalm 32:5 “I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.”

Direct me to always be reminded of the serious, damaging affect that sin has on my relationship with You. In fact, You tell me in Psalm 66:18 that if I do not take care of my sin, You do not hear me. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”

My desire is to do whatever is necessary to deal with my sin so that I can accept Your longing to guide me with love and wisdom. Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”

In Jesus’ Name, thank you for the privilege of being able to have a pure heart and mind. Amen.

Photo taken in Hawaii.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Just Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ precious Name, thank you for Your Word (the Bible) and the truth in it. You make it very clear in Psalm 1 that there are only two roads I can travel: the way of the righteous or the way of the ungodly.

Verse 1 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the council of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” Verse 4 “The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.”

Thank you that regardless of the situations I face as a believer, my salvation is secure. John 3:15 “That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

In regard to verse 2, I ask You to well up in me a deep desire to study and know Your Word and make it a delight. Give me the strength and the will to meditate on Your Word and to be counted among the righteous in Your sight. The more I know and understand Your Word, the more wisdom I will have to base my daily decisions and life on. Verse 2 “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.”

Remind me often about the seriousness of sharing the Gospel with unbelievers. Your Word describes their future as very devastating ​if they do not turn to You. Verse 6 “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

In Jesus’ Name, thank you for making it very easy, in Your Word, to understand what kind of life you want me to live as a Christian, and that You want to watch over all aspects of my life. Amen.