God -- the desire of my heart

Psalm 73

vs 21-22 "Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you."
Dear Lord,

Like the theme of Psalm 73, I have envied the world and the prosperity of the wicked. I wonder still how people who do not have your Spirit could be so successful in this world.

Why didn't my conscientiousness and hardwork pay off at work? Why did I lose my job despite my loyalty, perserverance, and sincerity?

I am confused bout my direction lately and I really need enlightenment from you. Please help me Lord. I'm sorry if I seem like a senseless animal to you sometimes. Who am I to question the God of the universe?

You see my past, present, and future. The Bible says I can trust You. I will trust You Lord and in the end I know I will be glad. I love you!

23-24 "Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. "

Never have you left me all alone Oh, Lord. I belong to You and like a Father, you hold me by my right hand to guide me. I am convinced that even now, though I feel lost and without direction, You hold me by the hand.

Lord, thank You so much for guiding me and loving me as your child. I know that You care so much about me and never will You ever think of harming me. Everything You ever did and allowed to happen was for my good. I am sorry that I am so shortsighted and faithless at times. Sorry if I hurt your feelings that way.

In the end, I know I will rejoice because You are a God and Father I can trust. Thank You Lord.

25 "Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. "

Lord, though the world bribes us with so much materialism so we can put our trust in them...they do not compare to You. Though we find ourselves in the pinnacle of success, it'll be meaningless without You.

The truth is...You are all we need. To know that You are beside me Lord. To know that even in this uncertain moment, You are guiding me. To know that the course of my life is in your hands, is the greatest security I have.

You keep me sane. You keep me hoping. You keep me persevering. You keep me praying. You keep me dreaming. You sustain me.

My heart knows that there is nothing and no one greater than You. You are really what and who I long for. I love you.

26 "My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. "

It is a fact of life that we will grow weary, but when we hope in You, You strengthen us. You are the strength of our hearts. You will not let me be so hopeless as to allow my heart to collapse. When all my human strength is exhausted, when my cross seems so heavy for me to bear, You will carry it for me.

You are mine forever, Lord. Never will you turn your back from me. Never will you forsake me. Thank You Lord. Amen.

27-28 "Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do."

You are my shelter Oh Lord. Why should I leave you? If I leave you, I die. Lord, You are my refuge. Embolden me to share your good news to people -- that they may also taste that You are good.

Oh, Lord, earth has nothing I so desire. You are the real desire of my heart. I long for your presence. Amen. I love you. Amen.

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Lord, I cast all my anxieties upon You. Everything that's in my heart, I entrust to You. Every detail of my life that creates even just a hint of worry or anxiety or sadness -- I lift up to You. You promised that if we trust You, You will give us the desires of our hearts. You promised that we can seek You first and You will give all other things.

We can afford to leave everything behind for You because great are our rewards in heaven.

Let me never forget Lord that I am living a life that's hidden with Christ right now. Every decision I make, every word I say, every thought I think affects that "real" life.

Help me remember that is for that life that I live right now. It's the life that I will live with You for eternity.

Lord, hear my prayers:

1. I pray for the strengthening of my heart and spirit. Help me not wallow in defeat and self-pity. Help me reject the thoughts of failure, hopelessness, defeat, uncertaintly, and doubt from my heart. Keep me spirtually sharp that I may reject the lies of the enemy and pray at all times, in all occassions.

2. I pray for faith and guidance about my present and future endeavors. Help me live life to the full and without regrets -- because I follow your will and your lead. Encourage me as You've encouraged the great men and women of the Bible who did great things for You in their lifetimes.

3. I pray for humility. I pray that pride will never stand in my way again. I pray that I may, in everything, acknowledge You and Your power, before men, before angels, before every authority in the physical and spiritual realm.

4. I pray for a wise heart -- that I may learn and understand your words all the days of my life. That I may live life to the full by following your commands and keeping your words in my heart.

5. I pray the same for my husband because we are one. He is my leader, even as You lead Him. You have given him authority over me. Please give him double portions of your spirit that he may lead me, us (family) closer to You. Draw him close God and empower him doubly. Put your favor upon him Oh Lord and bless the works of his hands.

6. I pray for our marriage -- that we may serve as a light, a ray of hope among marriages around us. May we value our marriage as You value the church. May we truly love, and serve one another in sickness and in health, in poverty or abundance. May people, thru our marriage, see Your power. May we be examples, counselors, to marriages especially to those couples who are yet to know You and have a relationship with You.

7. I pray for our children -- that we may rear them in the training and instruction of the Lord. May the Bible be the ultimate source of our wisdom. May we trust Your ways over our ways. May we hold unswervingly to the wisdom from your words. May our children grow seeking You and loving You with all their hearts, mind, and soul. May they become a light to their generation. May Alyssa and Dayton love one another and be loving to one another. May they feel a special bond of love as brother and sister. May Dayton do great things for You. May they both choose to have a relationship with You. Please help me have a smooth delivery. Be my doctor, my doula, my midwife, my comfort, my coach during my delivery. I need You Lord.

8. I pray for your families -- mom, dad, sisters, in-laws. We pray that they may become Christians. I pray for tatay and nanay to grow mature spiritually. May they grow in their love for You and for others. May Ever and Mike become Christians. May Tito Jimmy's family become Christians. May our family in the US become Christians. May You put a hunger and thirst in their hearts for a real relationship with YOu.

9. I pray for your jobs/business. Please give us a double portion of your spirit. Please bless the works of our hands. Please bestow your favor upon us and increase our territories. Please help us to become financially free. Please help us to become good and faithful servants and stewards of You. Please bless Joe's job and provide for us. Bless us Oh Lord. Grant us peace from the worries of life and bless us. Let us never eat the bread of idleness, but may we never trust only in our own strength, knowledge, skills, and abilities. May we see miracles in our daily lives.

10. I pray for the church and our Bible Talk. Help us all grow in our love, knowledge, desire of YOu. Help us all to be united and love one another. Give us wisdom. Please help our family group to truly become family. I pray for Mike and Stefani's leadership. May we be great support to them as they grow and learn in their leadership. May they be servant leaders and may they love the members of the family group, as you love them. I pray for Jim and Lauren's family and marriage to be strengthened. May their relationship with You be strengthened as well. Please provide for Drew and Gedline and their family. Please be with their marriage and don't let Satan have a foothold in their marriage. I pray for Jerry and Alison to be pure and faithful. May they be faithful to You and glorify You with their relationship. I pray for Kimberly to grow in her stewardship. Please entrust her with a ministry. Please help her grow in her character of patience and purity.

11. I pray for those who are sick. Gary Hedman -- a miraculous and fast recovery from surgery. Ben Hermantin -- spiritual, physical, emotional provision. Please restore him to and even beyond 100% that he may work again and provide for his famly. Karlene to be strong and faithful in this time of testing and to be great inspiration and support to her husband. Deb Rawls not just to be healed of cancer but to be miraculously and completely healed. May You, our great physician, who raises the dead to life-- show our skeptical and faithless hearts, that You are able to completely heal us from everything that ail us.

12. I pray for the singles and campus ministry to grow. I pray for those in leadership to grow in their humility and reliance on You and your word.

13. For friends to study the Bible and become disciples: John and Stacy, David Jermaine, Nicole, Khue, Dave Le. May You put a deep hunger and longing in their hearts for You. Pray that Teresa and Vic become pregnant with a girl this year and for Dave and Michelle to have twins. For Mona's family to become Christians. For Emily Babel to grow in her wisdom in motherhood.

14. I pray that my dream to build a business and non-profit, become a counselor, writer, and speaker become a reality -- ALL TO YOUR GLORY LORD. May I always do things in your name, not mine. I love You Lord. I pray all these in Jesus' name. Amen.