Rather than jumping right into the Word of God, it’s important to make sure your heart and mind are in the right place. Spend a few minutes doing this before you start. Begin with quiet stillness.
Some Ways You Can Prepare Your Heart:
• Choose a Psalm to read. Ask God to shape your heart and mind with the words of Scripture. As you read, think about God’s love and praise Him!
• Choose a devotional to read. New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp is a great one. As you read, be still and ask God to show you more of Himself through His Word.
• Practice praying. Use the ACTS model (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) to guide you. Be still and listen to the Holy Spirit speak to your heart.
Below are more Prepare Your Heart exercises to get you started.
5 Scriptures on giving thanks
Take a few minutes and read through each of these scriptures.
1 Chronicles 16:34 “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”
Psalm 100:4 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”
Philippians 4:6-7 “ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Write down a list of all the things you are thankful for in your life. Pray thanking God for who He is and the many blessings that He has given to you.
Prayer Points by The Church at the Cross
“If you have ever wondered how to pray more effectively, these prompts can be a great starting point for shaping your prayer life. Take 10 minutes today to pray one or more of these prompts, either by yourself or with someone else.
Centered on Jesus- Pray that God by His Spirit would give you the grace to know, love, and obey Jesus in greater measure.
Driven by Grace- Pray that God by His Spirit would give you the grace to rest in and respond to his unshakeable love.
Shaped by Scripture- Pray that God by His Spirit would uniquely shape and direct His Church through the truth in his scripture.
Renewed as Community- Pray that God by His Spirit would enable us to promote love, wisdom, and holiness among one another.
Sent on Mission- Pray that God by His Spirit would empower us to courageously declare and demonstrate the gospel to our neighbors and among the nations.”
Empowered by the Holy Spirit- Pray that God would grant us more of the Spirit’s presence and power in our lives.”
Nailed to the Cross
Read over the lyrics from “Nailed to the Cross” by Rend Collective.
When I stand accused by my regrets
And the devil roars his empty threats
I will preach the gospel to myself
That I am not a man condemned
For Jesus Christ is my defenseMy sin is nailed to the cross
My soul is healed by the scars
The weight of guilt I bear no more
Praise the Lord, Praise the LordWhen my doubt and shame hang over me
Like the arrows of the enemy
I will run again to Calvary
That rugged hill of hell’s defeat
My fortress and my victoryMy sin is nailed to the cross
My soul is healed by the scars
The weight of guilt I bear no more
Praise the Lord, praise the LordMy sin is nailed to the cross
My soul is healed by the scars
The weight of guilt I bear no more
Praise the Lord, praise the LordIt is finished, sin is vanquished
Hallelujah, praise the Lord
All the glory, all the honor
To my Savior, Christ the LordIt is finished, sin is vanquished
Hallelujah, praise the Lord
All the glory, all the honor
To my Savior, Christ the LordWhen I stand before the throne at last
His blood will plead my innocence
I will worship Him with holy hands
And raise the song that never ends
Of Jesus Christ, my righteousnessMy sin is nailed to the cross
My soul is healed by the scars
The weight of guilt I bear no more
Praise the Lord, praise the LordMy sin is nailed to the cross
My soul is healed by the scars
Now I’m alive forevermore
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
Listen to the song here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFLk6v7US3I
Take a few minutes to praise and thank Jesus for what He accomplished on the cross.
A reminder of God’s Love by Scotty Smith
Take a few minutes and read the following bible verse and prayer for preaching the gospel to yourself.
“God’s love for us never grows nor decreases. It is the greatest constant in our lives.
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” Jeremiah 31:3
Father, supersize the chambers of my heart to take in more of this . You have drawn me to yourself with an unfailing, irresistible, powerful love—not because of anything in me, but because of everything in you. And now, because of what you have done for me in Jesus—you love me with an unwavering, everlasting love. I cannot add to your love for me, and I cannot take away from it; because it’s not about me, it’s all about Jesus. I’m undone with peace and gratitude. So Very Amen.”