May 12 – 2 Corinthians 12; 1 Corinthians 15; Psalm 23

2 Corinthians 12:7-9

7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

1 Corinthians 15:9-10

9For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6Surely your goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

Abundant Grace

As we meditate on the pain and purpose of the thorn in the flesh that the Apostle Paul was given, a good place to start is the more than adequate grace of God. It’s a good and wise starting point because focusing on the pain of our thorns can be overwhelming. We might be like Peter on Lake Galilee, sinking because he focused on the waves, not on the Master of the waves.

Pause for a moment today and reflect on God’s all-sufficient grace from 2 Corinthians 12:9.

My grace: it is God’s undeserved strength that was available to Paul and is poured into us by the Holy Spirit.

is sufficient: God’s grace is lavish. There is an abundant supply, a never-ending store, an overflowing measure. God is not saying to you today, “My grace will help you to scrape through.” He’s underlining that his grace is more than enough for every challenge you face.

John 1:16 captures the endless supply of this grace: Out of his [Christ’s] fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. When we stand at the edge of the ocean of God’s grace, wave upon wave of his blessings come splashing onto our shores. They are endless.

That’s what Psalm 23 so beautifully describes—a life in which we lack for nothing that really matters. He says: The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. Because the LORD is his shepherd the psalmist receives: more than sufficient surroundings (green pastures and quiet waters); more than adequate healing for his broken soul (he restores my soul); more than enough protection and in the process, elimination of fear (even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me); more than generous, banquet-like provisions (you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies); and this abundant grace, divine goodness, and endless love pursue him to the end of his days and into eternity (surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever).

Before we plumb the pain of our thorns in the flesh in the rest of this devotional, accept the timeless reassurance of these words. My grace is sufficient for you…God’s grace is individualized. It was for Paul; it is for you.

• Consider writing or verbalising a prayer as your response to this abundant grace.
• Or use this prayer:

Heavenly Father, please pour your more than adequate grace into me today.

Lord Jesus, I long for more and more of the waves of your completely sufficient grace.

Holy Spirit, I confess my weakness, my inadequacy, and as I experience painful thorns, I ask you to infuse me with the strength I need, not just to scrape through,

but to rejoice in my weaknesses.

Blessed Holy Trinity, I worship you.

Amen.

We would like to thank Gracecity Church for providing this plan.

May 9 – Psalm 27

Psalm 27:14

14Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord.

Have you allowed yourself to process?

Oh, how excited I was to finally get the smartphone I’d wanted for so long! I quickly prepared everything to transfer the data from my old phone to the new one, but then when the process started, it didn’t go nearly as fast as I’d expected. For what felt like an eternity, all I saw on my screen was “transfer in progress.” I asked myself, “Is this right? Isn’t something else supposed to be happening here?” I also briefly considered whether or not I should abort the process. When I asked a friend, he said, “That’s absolutely normal. There’s a lot happening in the background, and it takes time.”

Then it clicked for me. How often does a significant event happen in our lives—a wonderful evening, a tragic incident, or a nostalgic reunion—and we just move on without fully processing it? Without taking the time to properly “transfer” it into our hearts? In Judaism, for example, after someone passes away, the bereaved sits on the floor or a low chair for the first seven days. Seven days! Time is set aside to process what has happened.

If you take time like this when it’s needed, you will ultimately gain time.

I encourage you to consider when you last took the time to process something significant that happened in your life. Only you can set this kind of boundary, and it’s very important! In moments like these, please don’t cancel the transfer process, even if you feel like nothing is happening. Allow yourself to stay in God’s presence while the process is underway:

“Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart…” (Psalm 27:14,)

Meanwhile, as you trust Him, God will help you fully process what you’ve experienced and rightly settle it in your heart. You’ll then be able to go on with strength and courage!

The miracle often happens in the background, as you wait on the Lord! 🙂

You are a miracle!

We would like to thank Jesus.net for providing this plan.

May 8 – Psalm 34; Matthew 6

Psalm 34:10

10The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Matthew 6:33

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

I “should” be…

“I should be going over the flow of my evening performance right now. A few people are urgently waiting for me to respond to their emails, so I should respond. I should also make that quick call to my insurance company…” Should, should, should…

But instead, I was sitting backstage and had opened the Bible to be with the Lord and ask Him what He was up to. At that moment, my eyes fell upon the following verse:

“…those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” (Psalm 34:10, NIV)

Reading this verse touched me very much because honestly, there was so much to do! In particular, I wanted to plan more details for my upcoming performance. But I also knew that the evening could only be a blessing if I didn’t overlook what was most important: seeking the Lord.

Take a moment to allow this verse to really sink in: “…those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” What “good” might you be missing right now?

That afternoon, I personally was missing a full night’s sleep; good ideas for the evening’s performance; and helpful feedback for solving the problems waiting for me at home.

But what does this verse say again? What are we to do so that we lack no good thing? Yes, “seek the Lord.” It almost sounds too simple to be true! Yet it is true. Have you already planned time in your daily life to seek the Lord, or are you still caught in neverending “should”s?

Today, before tackling all your other responsibilities, I encourage you to say “I choose to seek You, Lord, first!” Set a boundary so your “should”s don’t crowd out your time with the Lord. When you do, you will see your everyday life in a totally different light!

I can reassure you of this: it is absolutely worth it. That evening of my concert, I didn’t go on stage with a perfectly thought-out plan, but I did go on stage with my mind and heart close to Him. I was then able to love and minister to others much more effectively! 🙂

I pray this promise resonates in your heart today: as you seek first His Kingdom, all the rest will be added unto you as well! (see Matthew 6:33)

You are a miracle!

We would like to thank Jesus.net for providing this plan.

May 6 – Mark 6; Psalm 46

Mark 6:7

7Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

Mark 6:31

31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Psalm 46:10

10He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

The power of rest

What is your mission in life? Many people get scared when asked that question, unsure what their mission is or even if they need one.

Don’t worry…even Jesus’ disciples had thoughts like that! But they had the advantage of Jesus clearly telling them what to do: “Calling the Twelve to Him, He began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.” (Mark 6:7, NIV)

When the disciples came back a little later, excited about all they had experienced, the first thing Jesus said was “…’Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'” (Mark 6:31, NIV)

Couldn’t Jesus have just prayed, “Father in heaven, we still have so much to do—there are so many people who need our help. Please give us an extra dose of strength and take away our need to sleep…”? Yes, He absolutely could’ve prayed that! It would’ve been one way. But He chose a different way…

Maybe right now you’re in school, or perhaps you have a high-stress position that demands a lot of you. Maybe you’re taking care of small children at home who need you all the time, or perhaps you’re currently unemployed. I’m not sure what your job situation looks like right now, but whatever it may be, you need breaks!

As you rest, your all-powerful God can give you what others are striving hard to take by force and through their own strength.

Just as Jesus gave His disciples rest, He wants to give you rest, too. And in this quiet place, you may recognize His mission for your life.

“…’Be still and know that I am God…'” (Psalm 46:10, NIV). Take time to reflect on the fact that you are simply allowed to be.

You are a miracle!

We would like to thank Jesus.net for providing this plan.

April 30 – Psalm 102

Psalm 102:12

12But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;

your renown endures through all generations.

Thoughts

God is forever enthroned. He is forever remembered. Sometimes our days may feel long. It may feel like the worries of life have overshadowed us. Our joy may be withering like grass, but God is still forever enthroned and forever remembered. 

Although we live in a fallen world, God still sits on his throne. Although our enemies seem to prevail, God is still on his throne. Although sickness may have attacked our bodies, God is still enthroned. Although you may be afflicted, God still sits on his throne. Tears may flow and depression may linger, but God is still enthroned. 

How will you remember Him today? Will you remember what He seemingly isn’t doing? Or will you remember him for what He has done? Generation after generation, will you remember His goodness? Will you remember His works? His deliverance? His comfort? Today in the midst of your trial remember and proclaim God’s goodness. Your circum­stances may not be good, but God is good. 

Application

We all need absolutes about God in our life. These absolutes will help you get through your circumstances, If you believe that God is good – I mean, truly believe God is good. Then when your circumstances say that life is bad and your thoughts wander to, “Maybe that means God is bad,” you will take a stand and clearly state, “My circumstances may be bad, but God is good.” Think about your closest human relationship. Have you ever had a struggle in that relationship? In the midst of that struggle, you can proclaim, “God, I remember you and I believe you are enthroned.” In other words, “God, I submit to you as the Lord of this relationship. God direct me. Teach me. Search me.”  Don’t be afraid to talk to him. He is amazingly good.

Prayer

God, today in my relationships, I proclaim that you are enthroned and I will remember your works in me. Lord, please teach me, search me, guide me, and direct me. You created me and you created the other person. Be our Lord. Help me to honor you. (Continue praying.)

We would like to thank Peacemaker Ministries for providing this plan.

April 20 – Ruth; Psalms; Philippians

Ruth 3:1

1One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for.

Ruth 3:5-10

5“I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered.

6So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.

7When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down.

8In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!

9“Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”

10“The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.

Ruth 4:13-17

13So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

14The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!

15He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

16Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him.

17The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Psalm 31:24

24Be strong and take heart,

all you who hope in the Lord.

Philippians 1:6

6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

When Bitterness Starts Melting Away

One of my great delights as a pastor and biblical counselor is watching the Lord progressively change people into the image of Christ. This is exactly what we see in Ruth 3. This part of Naomi’s story is bubbling over with hope. Picture the end of a long, cold winter when the first warm days of spring appear. The icicles start to melt. Green vegetation begins to sprout up through the disappearing snow.

The lesson of Ruth 3 is that the ice of bitterness melts by a faith that embraces and affirms God’s essential goodness and acts courageously even when times are hard. That means that if your relationship with the Lord has been frozen in bitterness and unbelief for decades, you don’t have to stay that way. God stands ready with a giant container of ice melt and will sprinkle it liberally over your heart and life.

If He enabled Naomi to change from “call me Mara” in Ruth 1 to “let’s trust God enough to make a wedding proposal” in Ruth 3, He can help us be dramatically different in the way we relate to Him and those around us. This is what happens when you do what is right in His eyes. We discover three characteristics of bitterness-melting courageous faith:

1.  Courageous Faith Is Willing to Risk—Naomi’s view of the Lord has dramatically changed (Ruth 3:1-4).

2.  Courageous Faith Is Rewarded by God’s Good Hand—what might happen if you choose to follow the Lord’s Word even when times are hard? (Ruth 3:5-10)

3.  Courageous Faith Knows When to Act . . . and When to Wait—Sometimes the greatest antidote to bitterness is to patiently wait on the Lord (Ruth 3:18).

When the book of Ruth opened, Naomi’s life was filled with emptiness, unbelief, and profound bitterness. In Ruth 4, we find a woman who looked so different. Naomi is rested, full, and bouncing a little baby on her lap. Naomi finally saw the core lie behind her bitterness—that God was against her. When we are truthful before God about ourselves and our situation, we give permission for Him to melt away our bitterness.

Handling bitterness well is something we must choose to learn. That takes time. Root out sinful bitterness of heart and life. Enjoy the sweetness of God’s presence and principles, and you’ll never want to go back again. When God gives gifts, He often gives ones that are astoundingly precious.

What would a step of courageous faith look like in your situation? Take that first step today and each day after.

We would like to thank Baker Publishing for providing this plan.

April 19 – Ruth 1; Psalm 61

Ruth 1:3-5

3Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.

4They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years,

5both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.

Ruth 1:11-21

11But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands?

12Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons—

13would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!”

14At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.

15“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”

16But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

17Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

18When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

19So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

20“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.

21I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”

Psalm 61:1-2

1Hear my cry, O God;

listen to my prayer.

2From the ends of the earth I call to you,

I call as my heart grows faint;

lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

God Can Help You Overcome Bitterness

One of the delightful aspects of the gospel is that God can help anyone change. That means if we’re struggling with any aspect of bitterness, the Lord is willing and able to engage with us in our time of need. In our final two days, we will see how God helped a woman overcome one of the worst cases of bitterness in all of the Bible. Our focus is the book of Ruth, and specifically the character of Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law. The book of Ruth provides a wonderful example of how God can help anyone overcome bitterness. 

I also love the story because Jesus is present in ways that are filled with hope. We’ll encounter a woman whose story begins with a request that everyone call her bitter and ends with a smile on her face and a baby on her knee. And not just any baby, by the way, but a baby in the line of the Messiah. 

In Ruth 1, we learn that Naomi believes in God’s sovereignty but she does not believe in His goodness. Her circumstances are difficult and painful and she feels justified to then question God’s faithfulness (Ruth 1:11-13). The climax of Naomi’s unbelief is on full display in Ruth 1:15. “Then she said, ‘Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.’” Her heart’s thoughts are revealed, My God let me down. He hasn’t given me what I believe I need right now because fundamentally He is not good and is not worthy of my trust.

Listen to sweet Ruth’s response. “But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God’” (1:16). That kind of simple, quiet trust is the antidote for bitterness. It expresses trust in and commitment to not just God’s sovereignty but also His fundamental goodness.

As you wrestle with bitterness, does the way you describe yourself and your situation move you closer to the Lord or farther away? “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” Solomon explained (Proverbs 18:21). That includes the way we speak about what is happening around us, in us, and to us. Listen to the words that come from your own lips—the words we speak reveal the thoughts and condition of our heart.

Do you ever tell yourself or others lies in order to justify your bitterness? Ask God to shape your heart and mind with His understanding of any situation you are currently facing.

We would like to thank Baker Publishing for providing this plan.

April 16 – Psalm 6; Proverbs 28; Jeremiah 31

Psalm 6

 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger

or discipline me in your wrath.

2Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;

heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.

3My soul is in deep anguish.

How long, Lord, how long?

4Turn, Lord, and deliver me;

save me because of your unfailing love.

5Among the dead no one proclaims your name.

Who praises you from the grave?

6I am worn out from my groaning.

All night long I flood my bed with weeping

and drench my couch with tears.

7My eyes grow weak with sorrow;

they fail because of all my foes.

Proverbs 28:13

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,

but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

Jeremiah 31:16-17

16This is what the Lord says:

“Restrain your voice from weeping

and your eyes from tears,

for your work will be rewarded,”

declares the Lord.

“They will return from the land of the enemy.

17So there is hope for your descendants,”

declares the Lord.

“Your children will return to their own land.

Jeremiah 31:31-33

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,

“when I will make a new covenant

with the people of Israel

and with the people of Judah.

32It will not be like the covenant

I made with their ancestors

when I took them by the hand

to lead them out of Egypt,

because they broke my covenant,

though I was a husband to them,”

declares the Lord.

33“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel

after that time,” declares the Lord.

“I will put my law in their minds

and write it on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

The Place Of Bitter Tears

The Lord makes the topic of bitter tears a significant emphasis in Scripture. Our passage today from Psalm 6 illustrates how David lamented his anguish before the Lord. Such honesty helped him to understand and overcome his bitter circumstances.

In God’s Word, we see that bitter tears can motivate us to find direction. The book of Esther tells the amazing story of a Jewish man named Mordecai and his cousin, Esther. Their joint heroism rescues God’s chosen people from certain annihilation. In the early chapters of the book, the chief antagonist, Haman, a high-ranking Persian official, convinces the king that all the Jews in his country should be executed. Scripture tells us, “When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly” (Esther 4:1).

Is that how a godly man behaves—and in public, no less? Apparently. Mordecai loves the Lord and his people too much to ignore the pain and heartache of this wicked abuse. Practicing spiritual candor, which may include shedding bitter tears, provides clarity and direction for what we should say and do next, even when the storm is raging.

Second, bitter tears can motivate us to admit wrong and prepare to move forward. Scripture tells us, “And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, ‘Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75).

This was the beginning of a turning point in Peter’s life and subsequent ministry. Peter’s bitter tears of remorse helped him face his weakness and sin in a way that prepared him for repentance, confession, and forgiveness.

Lastly, bitter tears can motivate us to remember that only our future will be fully satisfying (Jeremiah 31:16–17, 31-33). This passage helps us understand the value and purpose of bitter tears. Scripture motivates us to acknowledge the brokenness of our sin-cursed world and cause us to place our hope in the future the Lord has prepared for us.

The ultimate hope as we shed bitter tears is the salvation that comes through Christ’s death and resurrection, knowing “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

How can failing to shed bitter tears result in sinful bitterness of heart and life? 

We would like to thank Baker Publishing for providing this plan.

April 13 – Psalm 113:4

The Lord is exalted over all the nations,

his glory above the heavens.

My Heart Worships You‬‬. 

When you choose to honor God with all of your heart, you choose to abase yourself and magnify His Way of doing things in your life. Choose to build your heart on His Word. His Word has the Ultimate Authority. His Word has the final say. 

Choose to set your heart on God. Let His Word order your steps. Choose to surrender to Him daily. When the cares of life seem to overtake you and weigh you down, make a decision to surrender. Choose to surrender to Him. Heaven and Earth bows to God. When the problems and cares of life begin to choke your heart cast your cares to Him. Choose to intentional lay every care, worry and concern at His feet. He cares for you.

Prayer:

Father God, in the Name of Jesus, I willfully choose to worship Your Name forever. There is none like You in all the Earth. All of Heaven bows down to You. Sickness fades in Your Presence. At the mention of Your Name darkness flees.  Who is like You Lord? No one. I will proclaim Your Name for all of my days. With every breath in me, I will praise Your Name. For You are Holy and no one compares to You. Father I entrust my life to You.

When chaos surrounds me, I choose to find Peace in You. Father, in You there is liberty. Father, in You there is safety. Father, in You there is security. Father, in You there is shelter. Father, I choose to magnify You above all of my problems and fears. Father, I choose to cast my cares, fears, anxieties, worries and troubles to You. 

I will lay and worship at Your feet forever. You are my heart’s song. You are my heart’s desire. You are what my heart longs for. I stand in Your Presence and worship You forever. Father, I surrender my thoughts to You. I surrender my will to You. Father, I surrender my heart to You. You are forever my King and I choose to worship Your great Name. My heart will surrender to You forever. In Jesus Name, Amen. 

We would like to thank Vance K. Jackson for providing this plan.

April 12 – Psalm 113:3

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

the name of the Lord is to be praised.

In Every Season…I Will Exalt You. 

“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.” Psalms‬ ‭113:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Choose to praise and exalt God in every season of your life. Choose to diligently seek Him in every aspect of your life. Let God’s Word build out the framework of every season of your life. Sometimes you may not understand what’s going on around you but choose to trust God in every season. He knows your ending even before time began. 

In Psalms 113:3, David declares, “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.” David chose to declare that he would stay in a posture of praise in every season of his life. No matter the circumstance David chose to continually praise God no matter the situation. Even in David’s success and in his failure, he chose to praise God. No matter the battles that David had faced, David’s heart was steadfast on praising God. 

When you’re facing the battle of your life, choose to praise God. Praise is not an episodic action. Praise is not sporadic. Praise is a decision. Praise is systematic. Praise is intentional. Choose to posture your heart and praise God in and through every season. 

Prayer:

Father God, in the Name of Jesus, I will praise You forever. I will exalt You. I choose to lift up Your Name in every season of my life. In good times and in bad — I will exalt Your Name. 

On the mountaintop and in the valley, Father, I choose to praise You. In good times and in dark times Your Name is to be exalted. When I can see my destiny clearly and when things are cloudy — I will exalt Your Name. Your Name is to be exalted and magnified high above my problems and fears. Jesus, I will exalt Your Name forever. 

From the rising of the sun to the setting of the same, I will lift up Your Name. When I rise, I will lift You up. When I lay my head to sleep, I will exalt You. In the prime of my life, I will exalt You. In the prime of my career, I will exalt You. In the prime of my success, I will exalt You. In my sunset, I will exalt You. In every season of my life, I will exalt You. For Your Name is great and I will Praise You forever. 

Your Name shall forever be on my lips. Your Name shall forever be in my heart. My seed shall Praise You. My sons will Praise You. My daughters will Praise You. My children will Praise You. Generations will Praise You. Generations will sing of Your goodness. Generations will sing of Your faithfulness. My heart shall cry out to You. My heart longs for You. Father, I love You forever. 

We would like to thank Vance K. Jackson for providing this plan.