Phil 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Jesus, help me believe that the more I study the Bible, the more truth I provide my mind to be able to base my thinking on. Let the Bible become a filter for You to use to help me evaluate thoughts that try to come into my mind. If the Bible demonstrates that something isn’t true, then empower me to keep myself from falling for that concept. 2 Tim 2:15 (AKJV) Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Jesus, help me keep studying the Bible.

2 Tim 3:16-17 (NIV) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Jesus, teach me what is always true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, AND praiseworthy. Help me always know that, that is the Bible! Help me realize that as I get more and more proficient in the Bible, it literally lays out Your strategy for running my life. Instead of just keeping wrong things out, it becomes the right thing to make my decisions from.

Jesus, even though the Bible doesn’t always look like it addresses all the things I face, make it clear to me that it does. Show me that it is just a matter of me getting better at learning how to use it. Once Philipians 4:8 steers my attention to the truths of God’s Word, You will start showing me a pattern. Jesus, give me words to describe how much of a solution is coming my way when I start thinking Biblically.

Rom 1:28 (NIV) Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the KNOWLEDGE of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. Jesus, how do I retain the knowledge of God? Help me see this as Your answer to my question: Psa 119:11 (NIV) I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

Jesus, show me that the difficult part of study, changing, being trained, and growing spiritually has to do with me being interested and being able to focus. Give me the eight things that will motivate me to grow in Bible knowledge and power.

Mat 5:3 (NIV) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Jesus, what opens the door to my mind and heart so I will be willing to learn, be trained, and listen to You as You instruct me? Teach me that being poor in spirit sets me free from pride, a know-it-all attitude, being resistive to new information, and lacking an interest in spiritual things. Show me that this is just a door, it isn’t the power of Biblical information. It just opens the doors of my mind and heart so they become receptive to truth. As Your truths start flowing through this door, empower me to think Philippians 4:8 thoughts. Jesus, I am now praying and ASKING You to give me God’s power-attitude of being poor in spirit.

Mat 5:4 (NIV) Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Jesus, what opens the door and allows all that world training out of my mind and heart so there will be room for Your teachings? Let mourning help me feel sorrow for all the damage each individual item of world training did to me and those around me. Help me understand that mourning empowers me to repent (make a U-turn) and tell God I am sorry for all those things I allowed in my life.

Jesus, show me that mourning gives me a very negative feeling toward things I used to love and embrace. Teach me that it is God’s power-attitude that creates the HATE described in Romans 7:15: Rom 7:15 (NIV) I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I HATE I do. I am now praying and ASKING You to give me God’s power-attitude of mourning.

Mat 5:5 (NIV) Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Jesus, teach me that meekness isn’t a shy, bashful, timid, and self-doubting person. Show me that it doesn’t have anything to do with that. When I realize I can’t repair something and call in a professional, help me understand that, that is being meek. When I realized I couldn’t fix my issues with marriage, that was the moment I started yielding to God’s power-attitude of meekness. It opens the doors of my mind and heart by giving me a willingness to turn the whole thing over to God and consider Him my final authority on how to live life. I now pray and ASK You to empower me with meekness.

Mat 5:6 (NIV) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Jesus, teach me that to hunger and thirst is a hole, a need, an open door into my life. It is the opposite of being full; I am empty and am deeply desiring spiritual food and water to fill me. Show me that when I was stuffed full of world training, I didn’t have room for Your training.

Jesus, show me how all these things interconnect: Help me see that being poor in spirit makes me teachable and responsive to truth. Mourning empowers me to let world training go. Meekness opens my heart and mind to the qualifications of God. And now, I pray and ASK You to put a deep hunger and thirst for the righteousness of God in me. Teach me that righteousness is for me to only do good things to myself, other people, and God’s plan.

Mat 5:7 (NIV) Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Jesus, help me understand that mercy is a part of the “giving” foundational Scripture in Luke 6:38. Teach me that I can only GIVE mercy to people who don’t deserve it. I will never get an opportunity to GIVE mercy until I am faced with a person who DOES NOT deserve it. Help me learn that mercy is not punishing someone for something they deserve retaliation, punishment, revenge, or imprisonment for. I now pray and ASK You to give me God’s power-attitude of mercy. Let it set me up for giving and getting mercy.

Mat 5:8 (NIV) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. First, Jesus, help me understand the incredible problem of my heart: Jer 17:9 (NIV) The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Help me accept the fact that my heart has been fooling me for years; it has caused me to believe I had pure motives when IT was actually using people. IT wouldn’t let me help anyone without IT demanding appreciation from them. IT always had a hidden agenda when it encouraged me to do nice things for others.

Jesus, I now pray and ASK You to give me God’s power-attitude of being pure in heart. Let me experience a complete change of motivations for why I do what I do. Let this open the door for me to do righteous things; but, help me see that I will be getting my rewards in heaven for doing them. Mat 6:2 (NIV) So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

Mat 5:9 (NIV) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. John 14:27 (NIV) Peace I leave with you; MY PEACE I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Jesus, show me that this opens the door for Your peace to flow in me like a river. Then as I open my heart and allow God’s power-attitude of peace to flow out of me, then the way I treat people will bring peace to them. I now pray and ASK You to pour Your peace in me so I can start living the life of a peacemaker.

Mat 5:10-12 (NIV) Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Jesus, since this is the biggest gift I will be giving, let this power-attitude from God give me the ability to lay my reputation, my safety, my value, and my life on the line for those who do not know You and You salvation. I now pray and ASK You to empower me with God’s power-attitude of being willing to be persecuted for You.