Isaiah 53:5-6

"But He was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on Him,

and by His wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us have turned to our own way;

and the LORD has laid on Him

the iniquity of us all."

This was the verse of the day from BibleGateway.com.

Daily Prayer #2

Good afternoon, Father,

How are You today? I know You already know how I am doing, but I just thought I would tell You anyway. I feel wonderful right now! My heart is full of joy. Why? Because I have You in my life. Ever since I made the decision to recommit my life to You, I've just felt so much better about myself. I'm so proud of the decision that I have made, and I don't plan on backing down for anyone. All night and all day today (so far), I have just been singing Mighty to Save repeatedly... And if I wasn't singing it, I was humming it. Why is that Lord? Why can't I get that song out of my head? Is this a sign that I should be worshipping You? If it is, I will gladly do so.

Right now, I'm in the process of clearing my iPod of any song that will be of hindrance to me. Any song that I feel like will pull me backwards rather than carry me forward, I'm removing from my library... I don't need to be corrupted by evil. I need good, solid Christian music or just good, solid music in general. I need music that will move me, motivate me, and influence me in positive ways. Does that mean that I can't listen to R&B and stuff, Lord? Like, Trey Songz or Chris Brown? I know a lot of their songs are about love, relationships, and sex, but I don't care about that. I really enjoy their talent and their music. Am I able to listen to their songs without being influenced in the wrong way? What should I do?

On another note, thank You for helping me with my quiz in math today... I actually studied this time. I felt really great about it. Now, I just ask You to help me with these papers I have coming up... I have to edit my rough draft for Philosophy tomorrow, and I have a final draft I need to write for English that's due on Tuesday. I'm really gonna need Your help, Father... Help me tap into the back of my mind so that I'll be able to think abstractly. I want to get beneath the top layer of these things, these ideas... Can You help me do that? I know I shouldn't be asking You to constantly give, give, give without me giving anything to You, but I feel like me devoting my life to You is a great gift. Right?

Oh, and thank You for the delicious burrito. :] Without You, the employees who made it for me wouldn't be there, the food wouldn't be there, the building wouldn't be there, the university wouldn't be there... Nothing. Thank You for all of that. Thank You for this bed that I'm about to take a nap in... Thank You for my laptop, my iPod, and the Internet... Thank You for the fan that blows and keeps me cool. Just thank You.

Thank You, thank You, thank You!

In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen

He is mighty to save...

"Everybody needs compassion

A love that's never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness

The kindness of a Savior

The hope of nations

Savior

He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever

Author of Salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me

All my fears and failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in

Now, I surrender (I surrender)

Savior

He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever

Author of Salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

Shine Your light and

Let the whole world see

We're singing

For the glory

Of the risen King

Jesus

You're the Savior

You can move the mountains

Lord You are mighty to save

You are mighty to save

Forever

Author of Salvation

You rose and conquered the grave

Yes, You conquered the grave"

Psalms 37:1-9 (NIV)

"DO NOT fret because of evil men

or be envious of those who do wrong;

for like the grass they will soon wither,

like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the LORD and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Delight yourself in the LORD

and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD;

trust in Him and He will do this:

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him;

do not fret when men succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;

do not fret — it leads only to evil.
For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land."

Daily Prayer #1

Dear God,

I come to You today as a daughter trying to find her way. I know that I have been inconsistent in the past with my walk with You, but I want You to know that I am fully committed to You now. I understand that being fully committed requires me to lay all of my burdens down at Your feet and start a new life with You. I am struggling, Lord, with so many things that ail me and strip me of my happiness. Show me, Lord, the key to my happiness — the key to a happier, more prosperous life.

I ask that You guide me down Your paved pathways and bring me into contact with Your people — people who will love me, support me, and who will not tear me down. I want You to remove all the negative influences from my life and set up a forcefield or a shield for my eyes and my flesh. I know that I have sinned against You by engaging in sex premaritally, but I ask You to forgive me now and to help me to NOT give into temptation.

I am trying my best to be as Holy as You are, but I cannot do it alone. I need You — You are my backbone, my support, and my structure. You are the foundation. You are the way. You are the light to all of my darkness. You are the hope to my despair. You are the truth to all of the worldly lies. You are the comfort to my pain. You are a healer, Lord... a cleanser. CLEANSE ME! Cleanse me of my worldly sins... Forgive me for what I have done in the past and for what I may do in the future.

Only You know my heart, God... So help me to not be affected by what others think of me. Help me channel my emotions in healthier, more Godly ways. Help me gain control of my life, for I feel as if my anger and frustration have grabbed hold of me. Please release me from my bonds and my chains... Free me from the things that keep me away from You.

Although I am putting all of my efforts into You now, please forgive me if I fall. Forgive me if I am not strong enough... Don't forget about me. I know of Your everlasting love, but I still do not fully understand. I still cannot grasp the severity of the love that You have and provide. TEACH ME! Show me in Your Word the things You want me to know. Teach me to be like You and like Your Son. Oh, God, I am weak... But You are so strong. You are so righteous... I know You can do many things in and throughout my life.

I want to take time out right now to thank You for all that You have done for me. I want to thank You for all that You have given me. I understand that I am blessed and highly favored and that I would be nothing without You. I would not have anything that I have had it not been for Your unconditional love. Often times, I have tried to take credit for all of my success, but I was WRONG. YOU are the creditor to all things positive that have happened in my life.

My intelligence? I owe to You. My wisdom? I owe to You. My understanding of different situations? I owe to You. My compassion? I owe to You. My sympathy? I owe to You. My desire to help people? My desire to be the best me? My reason for moving forward? I owe them all to You. I am forever grateful for all that You have done, are doing, and will continue to do for me and the people around me.

How could I ever repay You? How could I even begin to pay You back for all that You have done? I guess I could start out by confessing my love and desire for You. I could start out by studying Your Word. I could start out by praising You, worshipping You, engulfing myself in You, surrounding myself with others like You... Just doing my part.

Again, I cannot and will not be able to walk this path alone. Surely there will be shortcomings, trials, tribulations, and many, many obstacles You may have me face in order to test my faith... Lord, I will try my best to be strong for You. As long as You continue to guide me... I am not implying that I would ever give up on You; I am merely stating my dependence upon You. For so long I have thought of myself as an independent — doing things on my own without help from anyone. I know now that it was You all along. You masked Yourself in things that I would be able to understand, since I wasn't able to see You... You waited for me, and now, I am here.

Please guide Glen down the paths to You as well, God... I know that he is one of Your people, a strong man that You have placed in my life. Guide him. Help him to help me to not give in... Help him be a part of my walk, my journey. I want You to work in and throughout his life, too. Thank You for blessing me with his presence... Because he understands my wishes to be closer to You, I know that You are real. I know that he is someone that You want for me, because he does not wish to corrupt me. He wants for me what You want... Help him remember those things... Help him to continue to respect those things...

If he is the man You wish for me to spend the rest of my life with, please work with our relationship. Help us to become a better Christian couple, better followers of You. Help us fight our fleshly desires... Protect us from the Devil's bonds and holds... Cleanse us of our desires for sexual activities... Show us Christian ways to show our love and affection for one another. Help us respect our bodies. Cleanse us of our lustful thoughts. Remove us from harmful situations... Protect and shelter our hearts... that we may be blind to the world and be only aware of Your Will.

This is all I ask of You right now, Lord... I pray that You just show me the way.

In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen

Psalms 51 (NIV)

"HAVE MERCY on Me, O God,

according to Your unfailing love;

according to Your great compassion

blot out my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

Against You, You only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in Your sight,

so that You are proved right when You speak

and justified when You judge.

Surely I was sinful at birth,

sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Surely You desire truth in the inner parts;

You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins

and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from Your presence

or take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

and sinners will turn back to You.

Save me from bloodguilt, O God,

the God who saves me,

and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will decare Your praise.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart,

O God, You will not despise.

In Your good pleasure make Zion prosper;

build up the walls of Jerusalem.

Then there will be righteous sacrifices,

whole burnt offerings to delight You;

then bulls will be offered on Your altar."