Blessings of New Beginnings for 2026.

 As you stand before the blank page of a new year, here are four scriptural blessings in verse for 2026, each flowing from a different promise of God.

I. A Blessing of New Beginnings

Based on Isaiah 43:19

Forget the old wine of the former year,

The vintage of worry,of struggle, of fear.

The Lord says,“Behold, I am doing a new thing!”

A river in wasteland His goodness will bring.

The path through the wilderness now will appear,

Made straight for your traveling,made perfectly clear.

A way where there wasn’t a way to be found,

Where streams of His mercy will bubble from ground.

So step into 2026, soul unconfined,

And perceive the new mercies He’s already designed.

For the God who makes roads in the desert each day

Is carving a blessing-laden path for your way.

II. A Blessing for the Journey

Based on Proverbs 3:5-6 & Psalm 23

When the roadmap before you seems faded and dim,

And you cannot decipher the plan meant for Him,

Trust not in your mapping,but lean on His Name,

And He will cut straight the most tangled of terrain.

He’ll be your good Shepherd through valleys unknown,

Your soul’s restoration,your bread and your stone.

A table of goodness set right in the fray,

Your cup of rejoicing will overflow may.

So wherever you walk, whether meadow or shade,

You’ll walk in assurance that choices He’s made.

For the Lord who directs the vast cosmos above

Will personally order your steps in His love.

III. A Blessing of Provision and Peace

Based on Matthew 6:33 & Philippians 4:19, 7

Do not be anxious with question or care

For the things you need,for the weight you must bear.

But seek first His kingdom,His righteous command,

And all these provisions will come from His hand.

Your God in His glory, in riches most vast,

Will meet every need from His boundless forecast.

And standing on promise,your heart will find rest

In apeace that transcends understanding’s own test.

It will garrison, fortress, your mind and your heart,

A gift He has promised He’ll never depart.

So receive this year’s bounty with thanks and with praise,

For He knows all your needs for each one of your days.

IV. A Blessing of Presence and Promise

Based on Joshua 1:9 & Jeremiah 29:11

“Have I not commanded you?” This is your chord:

“Be strong and courageous,”for I am your Lord.

I will be with you wherever you go,

Through the highs and the lows,so your confidence grows.

For the thoughts that I think toward you are for peace,

To give you a future where blessings increase.

To prosper your soul and to anchor your hope

On a far-reaching,grace-tethered, eternal rope.

So let not your heart be troubled or frail,

For My promise for you will forever avail.

In 2026,from its first break of dawn,

You are carried,you’re kept, and you’re never alone.

Amen.

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May these words be more than a poem for you, but a proclamation of the truth that will anchor your soul through every season of 2026. Walk into it with courage.

Lord's Blessings for 2026.

 Here is a blessing for 2026, woven into a poem and anchored in the promises of Scripture.

The Lord's Blessing for 2026: A Poem

As the old year settles, a page nearly read,

And a new one awaits,by God’s hand it is led,

We speak not just hope,but a promise that’s true:

The Lord has a blessing prepared just for you.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19)

May His blessing be guidance when pathways seem new,

A cloud by day’s journey,a fire breaking through.

May you walk in His wisdom,His faithful command,

And flourish established by the work of His hand.

“The Lord will make you the head, not the tail... if you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 28:13)

May His blessing be provision, your cup overflowing,

His grace for your sowing,and grace for your growing.

In pasture or desert,wherever you roam,

May you know in your spirit you are never alone.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

May His blessing be peace, a deep, settled stream,

A guard on your heart,the reality of your dream.

When winds of change rattle,and storms may arise,

May His“Peace, be still” be the light in your eyes.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

May His blessing be purpose, a call clear and sweet,

To tend to His garden,to sit at His feet.

To be His hands healing,His voice speaking kind,

With the treasures He’s given,the lost to find.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

So step into 2026, not with fear, but with faith,

Held by His mercy and strengthened by grace.

For the Lord goes before you,your rear guard, your friend,

His blessing your story,from now to the end.

Amen.

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Your Personal Blessing Declaration

This poem is a foundation. The most powerful blessings are often those we personalize.

"In 2026, I declare and receive the Lord's blessing of [Peace/Providence/Guidance/Purpose] over my [Family/Career/Health/Spiritual Life]. I stand on the promise of [Scripture Verse], trusting that His plans for me are good (Jeremiah 29:11). I walk into this year with joy, for the Lord my God is with me wherever I go (Joshua 1:9). Amen."

May the coming year be a canvas for His faithfulness.

My Prayer.

 My Prayer

This is my prayer—not polished, not a rite,

But the raw breath of soul in morning light,

The whispered plea in shadows,deep and long,

The fragment of a heart-cry turned to song.

My prayer is this:

First, let me see You.

Not just the God of ages,high and holy,

But the Friend who walks with me when the way is lowly.

Open the eyes that I have tightly shut,

To find Your glory in the common rut.

Let every leaf,each face, each joy, each loss,

Be traced and signed by Your redeeming cross.

One thing I ask from the Lord… that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord. (Psalm 27:4)

Second, let me love You.

With more than fleeting feeling,more than word,

With all the heart that by Your Spirit’s stirred.

Unseat the idols I have set so tight,

And be my first,my last, my true delight.

Let love for You be root,and branch, and vine,

The source of every other love of mine.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30)

Third, let me trust You.

With the unknown tomorrow,and the wound of yesterday.

With the“why” that hangs unanswered in the gray.

Teach my tight hands to open and release,

And find in yielding,Your surpassing peace.

Be my provision,be my guiding star,

My portion sure,no matter where we are.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

Fourth, let me follow You.

Not just when the path is bright and blessing-kissed,

But when it leads through Gethsemane’s dim mist.

Make me a vessel,useful in Your hand,

A voice of grace within a weary land.

Where You go,let me go—my will resigned,

To seek the lost,to love the hard-to-find.

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

And in the following, the loving, and the trust,

Redeem my dust.

Take my small story,woven through with frailty,

And make it echo with Your kingdom’s reality.

Let every breath I borrow,every space I tread,

Point back to Christ,the Living One, my Head.

This is my prayer—not perfect, but it’s true.

This is the“yes” I whisper back to You.

You are my Saviour.Be my everything.

My King.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

Amen.

My Jesus, My Saviour.

 My Jesus, My Saviour

My Jesus, my Saviour, there is no one like You.

The earth and the heavens declare that it’s true.

The mountains bow down and the oceans give way

At the whisper of mercy that flowed from that day—

The day You chose Calvary,the wood and the nail,

To answer for love when all other hope failed.

My Jesus, my Saviour, my song in the night,

My dawn after darkness,my strength and my light.

When shadows grow long and my courage grows thin,

I remember the wounds that have pardoned my sin.

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

You are the Lord of the star-sown height,

Yet You cradle my soul through the long,aching night.

You are the King over history’s span,

Yet You call me Your own,and You hold my hand.

At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11)

My Jesus, my Saviour, my ransom, my rest,

My soul’s only shelter,my life’s very breath.

Let all that is in me rise up to proclaim

The wonder and glory of Your holy name.

For You did not cling to the throne-room of heaven,

But into our brokenness,You were given.

And now,by Your grace, what was lost is restored—

You are my Saviour,my King, and my Lord.

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,

To receive all the power and riches and praise!

With your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.(Revelation 5:9,12)

So I’ll love You forever, and trust where You lead.

My Jesus,my Saviour—You’re all that I need.

My today and my always,my beginning, my end,

My dearest Redeemer,my faithful, true Friend.

Amen.

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The One and Only:

This declaration rests on the exclusive and all-sufficient nature of Christ's salvation, as revealed in Scripture:

· Acts 4:12 declares the singularity of salvation in Jesus alone.

· Philippians 2:6-11 reveals the humility and exaltation of Jesus, the Saviour who is also the sovereign Lord before whom all will bow.

· Revelation 5:9-10 shows the cosmic scope of His saving work, purchasing people from every nation.

· John 1:29 proclaims Him as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."

To say "My Jesus, my Saviour" is to make a personal claim upon a universal truth. It is to acknowledge that the One who holds the cosmos is also the intimate Redeemer who knows your name. It confesses both His supreme lordship and His personal, sacrificial love. He is not a generic rescuer, but your Saviour; not a distant deity, but your Jesus. This is the heart of the Christian faith—a relationship with the living Christ.

Spirit of the Sovereign Lord be upon me.

 Spirit of the Sovereign Lord

Not a force, a feeling, or a fleeting breeze,

But the very breath of God that stirs the seas.

The promised One,the seal, the holy flame,

The power that bears the covenant Lord’s name.

Spirit of the Sovereign Lord,

You are the oil of gladness for our grief,

The living source of true and deep belief.

The hand that lifts the mantle of despair

And crowns the dust with beauty,past all care.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. (Isaiah 61:1)

Come as the Fire that burns away the dross,

Yet does not scorn the broken and the lost.

Come as the Dove,with peace upon Your wing,

To crown the ordinary with the mark of King.

Come as the Wind that blows where it may choose—

In rushing power or whispers—to infuse

New life into these valleys filled with bone,

And make the grace and glory of God known.

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. (John 6:63)

You are the Comforter, the present aid,

The firstfruits of the promise fully paid.

The down payment of glory yet to be,

The living stream that flows eternally.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. (John 14:16-17)

You are the One who searches every heart,

The holy Wisdom You alone impart.

The Interpreter of groans too deep for speech,

The One whose reach within our souls can teach

And testify to Christ in all we do,

And make our weak lives boldly,truly new.

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. (Romans 8:16)

So fall afresh. Anoint us for this hour.

Consecrate our weakness with Your power.

Where we are bound,bring liberty’s release.

Where there is blindness,give us sight and peace.

Spirit of the Sovereign Lord,

Rest on us.

Fill us.

Lead us.

Mend us.

Use us.

Until the day the knowledge of Your glory

Covers all the earth,and every story

Sings in unison with one accord:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Sovereign Lord.”

Come, Spirit, come.

In the name of the Father,and of the Son.

Amen.

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The Anointing Presence:

This invocation centers on the Holy Spirit as described in Scripture—the active, personal presence of God fulfilling the work of Christ in and through His people.

· Isaiah 61:1-3 is the prophetic cornerstone, describing the Spirit’s anointing for ministry: to preach, heal, free, and restore. Jesus applied this text to Himself (Luke 4:18-21), and by extension, His Spirit continues this work through the Church.

· John 14:16-17 & 26 reveals the Spirit as Advocate/Helper (Greek: Paraklētos), the abiding presence who teaches and reminds us of truth.

· Romans 8:11, 26-27 portrays the Spirit as the Resurrection power within us and our Intercessor, translating our deepest needs before the Father.

· 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 declares, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom,” and that we are being transformed into His image by the Spirit’s work.

To call upon the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is to invite the executive power of God’s Kingdom into our lives—the One who applies Christ’s victory, reveals Christ’s character, and empowers Christ’s mission. It is a prayer for consecration, courage, and Christ-like transformation.

Hold me, Lord.

 Amen. Here is a prayer for that deepest of human needs—to be held.

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Hold Me, Lord

Hold me, Lord.

My strength has ebbed,

my understanding fails,

the ground itself feels thin.

Hold me.

Be the arms beneath me when I fall,

the hands that cup this fragile dust.

“The eternal God is your refuge,

and underneath are the everlasting arms.”(Deuteronomy 33:27)

Let me feel the truth of it now,

beneath my shaking,beneath my sorrow—

You are the unyielding foundation.

Hold my mind.

When thoughts whirl like a storm of ash,

when fear shouts louder than faith,

be the stillness at the center.

“You will keep in perfect peace

those whose minds are steadfast,

because they trust in you.”(Isaiah 26:3)

Cradle my thinking in Your calm.

Hold my heart.

This bruised and weary vessel,

prone to wander,prone to break.

Mend it within Your grasp.

Let it beat in time with Yours.

“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”(Song of Solomon 6:3)

I am Yours.Hold me.

Hold me as a father holds a child

too tired for the walk home.

Hold me as a potter holds the clay,

shaping even through the pressure.

Hold me as the vine holds the branch—

without You,I am nothing. (John 15:5)

When the night is long and I cannot see,

hold me.

When the answer tarries and the silence grows,

hold me.

When I have no prayer left but this ragged breath,

hold me.

For You are the God who gathers.

“He tends his flock like a shepherd:

He gathers the lambs in his arms

and carries them close to his heart.”(Isaiah 40:11)

I am that lamb.

Carry me.

Let this be my one certainty,

my anchor in every gale:

I am held.

Not by a concept,not by a wish,

but by the One who spanned the heavens,

who wore our flesh,

who bore our scars,

and who—even now—

intercedes,with nail-pierced hands outstretched. (Romans 8:34)

So I will cease my striving.

I will release my grip.

I will fall back,trust-fall of the soul,

into the boundless,faithful hold of grace.

Hold me, Lord.

And never,ever let me go.

Amen.

Guide me, Lord.

 Here is a prayer-poem for guidance, an echo of Psalm 25 and the pilgrim's heart.

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Guide Me, Lord

Guide me, Lord.

Not where I would choose,

but where I am needed.

Not by the light I can manufacture,

butby Your word, which is a lamp unto my feet,

and a light unto my path.(Psalm 119:105)

Guide my hands, that they might build

what You are building.

Guide my tongue,that it might speak

the echo of Your truth.

But first—

before the doing,before the speaking—

guide my heart.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting."(Psalm 139:23-24)

I do not ask for a map of all my years,

laid out in perfect,sterile clarity.

I ask for the next step.

I ask for the manna of this day,

the daily bread of direction.(Exodus 16:4)

I ask for the pillar of cloud by day,

the fire by night.(Exodus 13:21)

Be my moving,constant sign.

When the fork in the road appears,

and wisdom feels thin,

be my"Counselor." (Isaiah 9:6)

When the way is shrouded and I fear a misstep,

be my"Good Shepherd." (John 10:11)

Remind me:"He leads me beside quiet waters,

He restores my soul."(Psalm 23:2-3)

Even when the path descends

into valleys shadowed and deep,

I will fear no evil,

for Your rod and Your staff—

the tools of a shepherd to guide and defend—

they are my comfort.(Psalm 23:4)

Guide me through, not always around.

Through the refining,through the learning,

through the necessary wilderness.

For You guided even Your Son there,

"by the Spirit."(Matthew 4:1)

So guide me, Lord.

"Teach me Your way, O Lord;

lead me in a straight path."(Psalm 27:11)

Let my will become a pliable thing

in Your skilled hands.

Let my life become a signpost,

not to my own cleverness,

but to Your faithful guidance.

And when I arrive—breathless and worn—

at the destination You foreknew,

let it be said that I was led

by a love that would not let me go,

by a voice I learned to trust in the quiet,

by the"Spirit of truth," who "will guide you into all the truth." (John 16:13)

I am following.

Guide me.

Amen.

The Child whom Jesus Love.

This gentle, profound phrase—"the disciple whom Jesus loved"—is one of the most tender and personal titles in all of Scripture. It speaks not of exclusivity, but of the intimate affection Jesus offers to every believer who rests close to His heart.

Here is a reflection on that beloved disciple, and on what it means for us.

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The One Who Leaned

He does not name himself in his own gospel,

but calls himself“the one Jesus loved.”

As if that were identity enough.

As if every other role—fisherman,apostle, evangelist—

fell away like scales,

leaving only this core truth:

I am His beloved.

He leaned against the chest of God

at the Last Supper,

close enough to hear the heartbeat

of the universe.(John 13:23)

He stood where others fled,

beneath the savage geometry of the cross,

and heard the blood-streaked assignment:

“Here is your mother.”(John 19:26-27)

He outran logic to an empty tomb,

saw the folded linens,and believed—

before the miracle was even explained.(John 20:4-8)

Some say this was John, son of Zebedee.

And perhaps it was.

But the Spirit leaves the name unprinted

so my soul might whisper:

Could it be me?

For this is the open secret,

the invitation woven through the story—

not that Jesus lovedhim more,

but thathe knew it.

He received it.

He let it define him.

He leaned into the love that was always there.

“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

That is his other epistle’s refrain,

written by the one who learned it

not as theory,but as breath,

with his head upon the Savior’s breast.

So let me be that disciple, Lord.

Let me be the one—

not who loves You most perfectly,

but who lets myself be loved by You,

completely.

Let me lean against Your heart

when the world is chaos,

and find my name

in the quiet rhythm of Your grace.

Let me run to the tomb,

not with answers,

but with a hope that outruns my understanding.

Let me stand where You have placed me,

even when the sky is dark,

and hear You call me“Beloved”

in the midst of the breaking.

For that is all any of us are:

The ones Jesus loves.

And from that place,

from that sure and steady heart,

all love,

all courage,

all testimony,

flows.

Amen.

Blessing of Deutronomy 28.

Here is the essence of Deuteronomy 28—its profound blessings and sobering warnings—woven into a prayerful reflection.

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The Two Paths: A Reflection on Deuteronomy 28

(The chapter presents a stark choice: the path of obedience under God's covenant leads to life and blessing; the path of disobedience leads to curse and ruin. This poem holds both in tension.)

The Blessing Pronounced

If you walk in the way,

if you listen and obey

the voice of the Lord your God,

then these blessings shall find you,

shall pursue and surround you,

a tide you cannot outrun.

In the City and in the Field, (v.3)

your labor shall yield

a harvest that bends the barn’s beam.

Blessed shall be the fruit of your body,(v.4)

the womb and the seed,

and the flock’s increase,a living stream.

Your basket and kneading bowl (v.5)

shall be full to the soul,

and you shall be set apart as His own.

Enemies rising as one(v.7)

shall scatter and run,

for the Lord shall establish His throne

in the midst of your camp,as a dread and a lamp,

and all peoples shall see you are blessed.

The Lord will command the blessing (v.8)

on your barns and your land,

and confirm you,a people possessed.

You shall belend, not borrow; (v.12)

a head,not a tail; (v.13)

an ascent,not a stumbling descent.

For you have heeded the word,

the commandments you heard,

and in the path of His fear,you have went.

This is the promise:

Life as a canopy,wide and secure.

A nation under the smile of heaven,

where faithfulness yields a harvest sure.

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The Warning Whispered

But if you will not hear,

if you turn in fear

to serve the gods of wood and of stone,

if your heart draws away

from the path,from the day,

then mark:these blessings shall be overthrown.

In the city and field, (v.16)

a curse shall be yield.

Confusion shall haunt every hand.

Barrenness, drought,(v.18, 24)

a scorching doubt,

a sky turned to copper,a curse on the land.

The pestilence, plague, (v. 21-22)

the trembling vague,

the sword and the blight and the mildew.

Theheavens as brass, (v.23)

the green turned to grass,

till the mind turns to madness within you.

You shall be borrow, not lend; (v.44)

a tail,not a head; (v.44)

a byword, a horror, a tale.(v.37)

Pursued by a sound,

with no refuge found,

till thecords of your heart are made frail. (v.65)

For you forsook the joy,

the covenant employ,

the worship of Him who is One.

And the blessings,now reversed,

become a consuming curse,

from the sky to the womb to the son.

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The Choice Before Us

So the word is set forth:

Life and death, blessing and curse.(v.2, 15)

Choose life,O people, today.

Not a law to enslave,

but a compass to save—

the way of walking with God in the day.

The blessing is not mere reward,

nor the curse a vengeful sword,

but the landscape that grows from the seed.

To love Him,to cleave,

is for Heaven to breathe

life into every deed.

So let us choose the blessing road,

to bear His light,to share His load,

and find that in His command alone

is the secret of a land calledHome.

Amen.

Thank you for Loving me.

 Here is a prayer-poem of response, from the heart to the heart of God.

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For This Grace

I have no worthy answer, Lord,

For this relentless,reaching grace—

This love that charts my chaos,

And stills me face to face.

“This is love: not that we loved God,

but that he loved us and sent his Son.”(1 John 4:10)

Before my heart could form a beat,

Your great pursuit was won.

You loved me in the wreckage,

You loved me in the shame.

You loved me when I turned my back

And would not speak Your name.

“God demonstrates his own love for us in this:

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”(Romans 5:8)

You are the Father sprinting

Down the road I walked alone,

The robe,the ring, the celebration

For this ragged prodigal come home.(Luke 15:20-24)

You are the Shepherd leaving

All the ninety-nine behind,

To find the one,to lift and carry

What Your searching eyes did find.(Luke 15:4-5)

So thank You for the quiet love

That whispers in the dread:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”(Jeremiah 31:3)

Thank You for the costly love,

The nail,the thorn, the grave,

That broke the curse I could not break,

This mighty life You gave.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God!”(1 John 3:1)

This is the wonder—not my plea,

But Yours,from start to end:

That I am loved,that I am known,

That I am called Your friend.(John 15:15)

So let this breath be gratitude,

This life a faint reflection,

Of the love that is my true north,

My only sure direction.

Until I see,beyond all words,

Your glory,clear and true,

And know,at last, as I am known,

My love was always You.(1 Corinthians 13:12)

Amen.

Sing a joyful song to the Lord.

 Of course. Here is a joyful song-poem to the Lord, woven with scripture and meant to be read with a lifted heart.

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A New Song

(To be sung with a clap and a shout)

Sing a joyful song to the Lord, all the earth!

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!"(Psalm 150:6)

Let the river clap its hands,

let the mountains skip like rams,

for the King of Glory takes His stand!

"Lift up your heads, O you gates!"(Psalm 24:7)

Break the silence with a sound,

on the temple trumpet ground!

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth!"(Psalm 100:1)

We were mourning,bent and low,

but a River now does flow—

from the desert,life does grow!

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy!"(Psalm 126:3)

Dance before Him like the dawn,

every chain of shame is gone!

"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy!"(Psalm 30:11)

For the prison doors are broke

by the Word the Father spoke,

in my spirit,now awoke—

a living,laughing, leaping hope!

Sing a joyful song to the Lord, all you saints!

It’s a weapon,it’s a feast, it’s a holy unrestraint!

When the darkness pressed its claim,

we called upon His holy name,

and the victory came—

"At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow!"(Philippians 2:10)

So let melody be your might,

in the morning,in the night.

"Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise!"(James 5:13)

For our God is not a ghost,

He is Host of heaven’s host,

and the thing we celebrate the most:

The stone was rolled away from the tomb’s door!

He is risen evermore!

Hallelujah! Raise the sound!

Let the joyful song resound!

"Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!"(Psalm 98:1)

With the angels,with the sea,

for all time and eternity,

let the anthem ever be:

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,

who was, and is, and is to come!"(Revelation 4:8)

Sing!

Sing a joyful song!

In your hands.

 Here is a poem building on the theme, focusing on the surrender and safety of being held.

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In Your Hands

I place it in Your hands, Lord—

this frantic heart,this tangled thread,

this breath that hitches in my chest.

“Into your hands I commit my spirit.”(Psalm 31:5)

The words He breathed,becomes my rest.

I place them in Your hands, Lord—

the unseen fears,the looming night,

the questions with no answer now.

“Do not fear, for I am with you.”(Isaiah 41:10)

You trace the wound,and bend to bow.

These scars are in Your hands, Lord—

the prints that purchased every peace,

the ledger of my every debt.

“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.”(Isaiah 49:16)

My name is written there,and yet…

You hold me in Your hands, Lord—

no power can untwist Your grip.

“My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all;

no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”(John 10:29)

This is the seal,the fellowship.

The world is in Your hands, Lord—

the sparrow’s fall,the lily’s dress,

the rising and the setting sun.

“All things were created through him and for him.

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”(Colossians 1:16-17)

Your sovereign will,Your work, is done.

So shape this clay within Your hands, Lord.

Though pressures come,I understand:

The Potter’s wheel,the fire’s demand

are guided by the Potter’s hand.

“We are the clay, you are the potter;

we are all the work of your hand.”(Isaiah 64:8)

And when my time has slipped like sand,

and strength has fled this weathered land,

I’ll whisper with my final breath,

into the silence that is death:

“Into your hands…”

And find it is not an end,

but being gathered home again,

to where the pierced hands never cease

to hold the universe in peace.

Amen.

Stand before you, Lord.

Here is a poem that weaves together the posture of "standing before the Lord" with scripture, creating a tapestry of reverence, humility, and grace.

---

Standing

I stand before You, Lord—

not on merit’s shifting sand,

but on the Rock that cleft for me.

“On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

all other ground is sinking sand.”(cf. Matthew 7:24-25)

I stand before You, Lord—

a trembling soul,in awe confessed.

“Who may stand in the holy place?

The clean of hands and pure of heart.”(Psalm 24:3-4)

Mine are stained.I bow my head.

Yet You bid me, “Stand firm.

Let nothing move you.”(1 Corinthians 15:58)

You gird me for this ground,

with armor not my own:

the belt of truth, the shield of faith,

the breastplate of Your righteousness.(Ephesians 6:14-16)

I stand before You, Lord—

because You stood for me.

Within the veil,where mercy cried,

Youstood as Lamb, once sacrificed,

and tore the dividing curtain wide.(Hebrews 10:19-20)

So now I stand, not in the dock,

but in the courtroom of Your grace.

“There is therefore now no condemnation

for those who are in Christ Jesus.”(Romans 8:1)

The gavel falls:Forgiven.

I stand before You, Lord—

a creature and a child.

“Be still, and know that I am God.”(Psalm 46:10)

In stillness,strength is born anew.

You are the Knower,I the known;

You are the Potter,I the clay. (Isaiah 64:8)

And on that Day, when suns shall fade,

and every knee is bent,

by mercy’s might,I’ll stand upright

upon the healed ground.

“I know that my Redeemer lives,

and at the last, upon the earth,

I’ll stand.”(Job 19:25)

Until then, Lord, I stand—

in prayer,in fight, in quiet trust.

“Stand firm. Let nothing move you.

Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord.”(1 Corinthians 15:58)

Amen.

Glory to Lord.

 Amen. "Glory to the Lord" is the ultimate purpose of all things—the final answer to every prayer, the reason for every surrender, and the end of every song of thanks. It is the universe's highest goal.

📖 The Scriptural Cry

The call to give glory to God echoes from the beginning of creation to the eternal worship of heaven:

· The Heavens Declare It: "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." (Psalm 19:1)

· The Ultimate Purpose: "For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." (Romans 11:36)

· The Song of Heaven: They were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." (Isaiah 6:3)

Giving glory to God is not merely an act of praise; it is an act of recognition—seeing and acknowledging His supreme worth, majesty, and beauty in all things.

✨ Where We See His Glory

We can trace His glory in every aspect of our relationship with Him:

In This Truth... We See God's Glory In... Our Response of Glory

He is Our Everything His Sufficiency – Being the all-satisfying source of life and joy. To make Him our singular treasure and delight.

Christ Our Advocate His Righteous Love – Justice and mercy perfectly reconciled at the cross. To trust fully in His finished work and live in freedom.

The River of Living Water His Transforming Presence – His Spirit's power to renew and overflow. To be a clean channel for His life to flow to others.

He Saves from Evil His Mighty Power – His deliverance from all spiritual darkness. To live courageously, clothed in His armor.

The Rain on Just & Unjust His Common Grace – His patient, generous kindness to all. To reflect His impartial love to a watching world.

👑 A Doxology: Glory to the Lord

Glory to the Lord!

To the King who fights my battles,

To the Advocate who pleads my cause,

To the Fountain who quenches my thirst,

To the Father who sends rain and sun.

Glory in the highest!

For the crooked lines of Your mysterious will,

For the straight path of Your faithful Word,

For the gift of a grateful heart,

For the incense of a prayer heard.

Let my surrendered life be the theater where Your glory is shown.

Let my every breath echo the heavens' cry:

"Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name?" (Revelation 15:3-4)

Glory to the Lord, now and forever. Amen.

This is the great finale of faith. When we have prayed, surrendered, fought, and given thanks, all that remains—and all that ever truly was—is the glorious weight of God's presence. To Him alone be all glory.

Give thanks with a Grateful Heart.

 Amen. To give thanks with a grateful heart is the very breath of the Christian life—the joyful response to the river of living water, the protection from evil, the advocacy of Christ, and the daily rain of His grace. It is the posture that transforms every circumstance.

📖 The Scriptural Command and Catalyst

The Bible is filled with the call to thanksgiving, anchoring it not in our changing feelings, but in God's unchanging character:

· A Continuous Call: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

· The Gateway to Peace: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Thanksgiving is the lens through which we see God's hand at work, even in the "crooked" things we cannot straighten.

💖 What a Grateful Heart Sees

A heart trained in gratitude traces every good thing back to its Source, we can give thanks for:

We Give Thanks Because... A Scripture of Praise

The Battle is the Lord's We don't fight alone; the Victor fights for us. "Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Christ Our Advocate Our failures don't define us; His righteousness defends us. "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15)

God's Rain on Just & Unjust His common grace shows a patient, generous Father. "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." (Psalm 107:1)

The River of Living Water Our deepest thirst is met by His Spirit within. "Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." (Psalm 107:8-9)

🙏 A Psalm of Grateful Heart

With a grateful heart, I come.

Not for the perfection of my path,

But for the perfection of Your presence upon it.

I thank You for the straight ways of joy

And for the crooked ways that taught me to lean.

For the rain of provision that sustains my body

And for the living water that revives my soul.

For the victories You win when I am weak

And for the Advocate who speaks when I have no words.

Let my life be the incense of this thanks—

A constant, rising aroma of trust.

For a grateful heart is a heart at peace,

A heart that has found in You its everything.

"I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds." (Psalm 9:1)

May this spirit of thanks be the song of your life, transforming your perspective and drawing you ever closer to the heart of God, from whom all blessings flow.

Praise God.

 "Praise God!" This is the eternal occupation of the redeemed heart—the summit of all your prayers, from crying for mercy to receiving joy. It is the breath of the living sanctuary.

📖 The Many Dimensions of Praise in Scripture

The Bible uses several rich words for "praise," each showing a different facet of our response to God:

Hebrew Word for Praise What It Means How to Live It Scripture

Yadah (יָדָה) To give thanks, to acknowledge God's works publicly with extended hands. Gratitude in Action. Thank Him specifically for answered prayers: mercy, cleansing, the Spirit's fire. "I will praise (yadah) the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving." (Psalm 69:30)

Halal (הָלַל) To boast, to shine, to celebrate loudly and even foolishly in God. Joyful Abandon. Celebrate who He is without restraint, like the "thousand hallelujahs." "Let them praise (halal) his name with dancing!" (Psalm 149:3)

Zamar (זָמַר) To make music, to pluck the strings of an instrument in worship. Skillful Offering. Offer your gifts—singing, playing, creating—as a tribute to His beauty. "I will praise (zamar) you with the lyre, O God, my God." (Psalm 43:4)

Tehillah (תְּהִלָּה) A song of praise; the glory due to God. Spontaneous Song. Let praise rise from your heart in moments of awe as a direct response to His presence. "He put a new song in my mouth, a praise (tehillah) to our God." (Psalm 40:3)

🎵 The Finale of Praise: Psalm 150

The entire book of Psalms culminates in an all-encompassing call to praise, which can be your guide:

"Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!"

(Psalm 150)

· Where? In your personal sanctuary (your heart) and in the heavens (all creation).

· Why? For His acts (what He's done for you) and His being (who He is to you).

· How? With every instrument and energy at your disposal—your voice, your hands, your life.

· Who? Everything that has breath. This includes you.

✨ A Prayer of Total Praise

God Most Worthy,

You are thefire that purifies,

thehand that guides,

thegrace that justifies,

themercy that cleanses,

theSon of David who hears,

theLamb who saves.

For who You are and all You have done,

I praise You.

Iyadah You with thanks on my lips.

Ihalal You with joy in my soul.

Izamar for You with the music of my life.

Receive mytehillah, my song of praise.

From the rising of the sun to its setting,

may my breath,my very life, be praise to You.

Hallelujah! Amen.

This is where your journey of prayer has led—to the unending, joyful occupation of praising God. May your life forever echo the praise that began in your moment of need and ends in His glorious presence.

Walk humbly with God.

 Walk With Us

Not as a distant sovereign, far ahead,

But side-by-side where our uncertain tread

Meets the dust of roads we did not choose to know—

In the frightening and the familiar,walk slow.

Walk with us.

Walk with us in the ordinary moments,

The silent kitchens,the commute’s dull laments.

Walk with us in the extraordinary pain,

The hospital room,the loss we can’t explain.

Walk with us as You walked with those of old—

With Abraham to a promise yet untold,

With Moses through the sea on desperate sod,

With disciples on the Emmaus road to God.

Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road? (Luke 24:32)

When the way is clear, walk with us in joy,

Lest we forget the Giver of the day’s employ.

When the path is shrouded,walk as closest friend,

Our sure companion to the journey’s end.

For You are the God who walked in Eden’s shade,

And You are the Christ whose footprints never fade

From the trails of human sorrow,doubt, and need—

You are the God who walks,whose legs indeed

Were scarred to prove You journey where we are,

From the highest throne to our most broken hour.

The Lord your God... goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

So walk with us. Our company is poor,

Our vision short,our faithfulness unsure.

But with You in our midst,we are a band

That moves toward the promise of a land

Where every tear is dried,and every mile

Is healed within the sunrise of Your smile.

Walk with us as our wisdom and our sight,

Our peace by day,our fire by night.

Until our traveling finds its perfect rest

Upon the shore where all the weary are blessed.

Walk with us, Emmanuel.

Be the stride within our step.

The breath within our journey.

The promise we have kept

And that keeps us.

Amen. Ameen.

---

The Companion of the Road:

This prayer echoes the heart of the covenant: God’s promise to be with His people.

· Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) is the quintessential picture: Jesus draws near and walks with confused, grieving disciples, explaining the scriptures and ultimately revealing Himself. He doesn’t just give directions; He is the way, walking alongside.

· Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 and Isaiah 43:2 are bedrock promises of His presence through every terrain.

· Genesis shows a God who walks in the garden with Adam, and calls Abraham to walk before Him.

· Micah 6:8 summarizes the response: “to walk humbly with your God.”

To ask “Walk with us” is to acknowledge we are a people on a pilgrimage. We do not ask for a map alone, but for the Mapmaker. We do not ask for a light, but for the Light of the World to be the atmosphere of our going. It is a prayer for His transforming presence to turn every road, however difficult, into a place of communion and discovery.

Be our Guiding Star.

 In His Presence

Not a place to visit, but a state of being,

A life-spring for the soul,its deepest seeing.

Not a distant throne behind a veil of cloud,

But a dwelling place in which my heart is bowed.

In His presence.

There is fullness of joy—a deep and radiant well,

A peace no earthly turmoil can dispel.

A safety not of walls,but of surrender,

A refuge where my soul grows deep and tender.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

In His presence, fears unclench their grip,

And from my weary soul,the burdens slip.

The chaos of the world grows strangely dim,

For I am seen,and known, and held by Him.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

This is the holy ground where I take off

The shoes of my striving,my hollow proof.

Here,I need no armor, no disguise,

Only the honesty of open eyes

That see His holiness,and in that light,

See my own soul made clean,and clear, and bright.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

In His presence, strength is re-conceived—

Not as a force that I have now achieved,

But as a current flowing from His throne,

Making His endless life and power my own.

Here, direction finds its truest north,

And the soul of me goes gracefully forth.

For guidance isn't just a path made plain,

But the gained confidence to bear His name.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

So let me live here, in this secret space,

Bathed in the radiance of His face.

Not rushing in and out with hurried prayer,

But learning simply how toabide there.

In His presence.

My true address.

My place of healing.

My only rest.

Where I am changed from glory unto glory,

And my life tells the ultimate love story.

Amen.

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The Dwelling Place:

This reflection on God's presence draws from the scriptural truth that for the believer, God's presence is not just an occasional experience but our intended habitat.

· Psalm 16:11 establishes the supreme benefit: fullness of joy and eternal pleasures.

· Isaiah 41:10 reveals its practical effect: the removal of fear through His strengthening, helping, upholding presence.

· Hebrews 4:16 frames it as our access point for mercy and grace, encouraging confident, continual approach.

· John 15:4-5 (implied) defines the New Testament reality: to abide in Christ is to remain in His presence, the essential condition for a fruitful life.

To live "in His presence" is to consciously practice the reality that through the Holy Spirit, God dwells within us (1 Corinthians 6:19). It is the place of transformation (2 Corinthians 3:18), complete acceptance (Ephesians 1:6), and our only true source of identity, peace, and power. It is both our refuge and our commissioning ground.

In His Presence.

 In His Presence

Not a place to visit, but a state of being,

A life-spring for the soul,its deepest seeing.

Not a distant throne behind a veil of cloud,

But a dwelling place in which my heart is bowed.

In His presence.

There is fullness of joy—a deep and radiant well,

A peace no earthly turmoil can dispel.

A safety not of walls,but of surrender,

A refuge where my soul grows deep and tender.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

In His presence, fears unclench their grip,

And from my weary soul,the burdens slip.

The chaos of the world grows strangely dim,

For I am seen,and known, and held by Him.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

This is the holy ground where I take off

The shoes of my striving,my hollow proof.

Here,I need no armor, no disguise,

Only the honesty of open eyes

That see His holiness,and in that light,

See my own soul made clean,and clear, and bright.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

In His presence, strength is re-conceived—

Not as a force that I have now achieved,

But as a current flowing from His throne,

Making His endless life and power my own.

Here, direction finds its truest north,

And the soul of me goes gracefully forth.

For guidance isn't just a path made plain,

But the gained confidence to bear His name.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

So let me live here, in this secret space,

Bathed in the radiance of His face.

Not rushing in and out with hurried prayer,

But learning simply how toabide there.

In His presence.

My true address.

My place of healing.

My only rest.

Where I am changed from glory unto glory,

And my life tells the ultimate love story.

Amen.

---

The Dwelling Place:

This reflection on God's presence draws from the scriptural truth that for the believer, God's presence is not just an occasional experience but our intended habitat.

· Psalm 16:11 establishes the supreme benefit: fullness of joy and eternal pleasures.

· Isaiah 41:10 reveals its practical effect: the removal of fear through His strengthening, helping, upholding presence.

· Hebrews 4:16 frames it as our access point for mercy and grace, encouraging confident, continual approach.

· John 15:4-5 (implied) defines the New Testament reality: to abide in Christ is to remain in His presence, the essential condition for a fruitful life.

To live "in His presence" is to consciously practice the reality that through the Holy Spirit, God dwells within us (1 Corinthians 6:19). It is the place of transformation (2 Corinthians 3:18), complete acceptance (Ephesians 1:6), and our only true source of identity, peace, and power. It is both our refuge and our commissioning ground.

The Lord is my Provision.

 The Lord Is My Provision

Not merely the supplier of my need,

But the very source from which all good proceeds.

Not a distant responder to my prayerful plea,

But the present and the promisedI-Am-to-me.

The Lord is my provision.

He is the manna in my barren place,

The spring that rises with unwasted grace.

When the cupboard of my hope is bare and thin,

He Himself is the bread that ushers life within.

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

The provision is not in the field or store,

But in the hand that holds the infinite more.

It is not in the harvest I have yet to see,

But in His faithful presence walking next to me.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. (Psalm 23:1)

He clothes the lily in a splendor rare,

He knows the sparrow,numbers every hair.

And will He not,with covenant love so sure,

Clothe and keep His own,His treasure poor?

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:26)

He provided wood for Abraham's obedience-fire,

And a ram for sacrifice,his deepest heart's desire.

Jehovah-Jireh—"The Lord Will Provide"—

Sees the need ahead,and walks there by our side.

So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:14)

Let me not worship the gift, but the Giver's face,

Nor seek the blessing,but seek the God of grace.

For when I have the Giver,I have all indeed—

More than enough for every moment's need.

The Lord is my portion.

My daily bread.

My living water.

My table spread.

My future's security.

My present's grace.

The smile upon my Father's face.

Therefore, I will not worry. I will not fear.

My provision is already here.

Not just in things,but in the great I AM—

The beginning,the end, the great Amen.

Amen.

---

The Provision of Presence:

This truth reframes our understanding of what it means to be provided for, anchoring it in God's character.

· Philippians 4:19 promises the supply of all needs, according to the limitless riches found in Christ—a spiritual economy.

· Psalm 23:1 declares that with the Lord as our shepherd, lack is impossible. He is the environment of our sufficiency.

· Matthew 6:25-34 shifts our focus from anxiety over provisions to trust in the Provider, who values us infinitely.

· Genesis 22:14 reveals God's provision is often at the point of obedience, sometimes at the last moment, and always according to His perfect will and wisdom.

To say "The Lord is my provision" is to move from a mindset of scarcity to one of stewardship and trust. It is to acknowledge that our deepest need is for Him, and that every other need finds its proper meeting within that primary, fulfilled relationship. He does not just give bread; He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35). He withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11), defining "good" by His own perfect, fatherly wisdom.