Tina Krause - God, Grant Me Courage: Devotional Prayers for Graduates--Class of 2015

E SPECIALLY FOR

F ROM

D ATE

2015 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Print ISBN 978-1-63058-731-4

eBook Editions:

Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-63409-239-5

Kindle and MobiPocket Edition (.prc) 978-1-63409-240-1

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without written permission of the publisher.

Churches and other noncommercial interests may reproduce portions of this book without the express written permission of Barbour Publishing, provided that the text does not exceed 500 words or 5 percent of the entire book, whichever is less, and that the text is not material quoted from another publisher. When reproducing text from this book, include the following credit line: From God, Grant Me Courage: Devotional Prayers for Graduates, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked CEV are from the Contemporary English Version, Copyright 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the H OLY B IBLE , N EW I NTERNATIONAL V ERSION . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified Bible, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked VOICE are taken from The Voice Bible Copyright 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice translation 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations designated NET are from the NET Bible copyright 19962006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLV are taken from the New Life Version copyright 1969 and 2003. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio, 44683. All rights reserved.

Published by Barbour Books, an imprint of Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683, www.barbourbooks.com

Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value and biblical encouragement to the masses.

Printed in China.

Whats next for me? Will I achieve my goals? What challenges await me? Every graduate asks or ponders these same questions. Elation mixes with apprehension as you consider your future. The world is filled with possibility and promise, but venturing beyond your comfort zone is difficult, even scary at first.

Facing the future takes courage! However, you dont have to travel lifes journey alone. While graduation is a time for celebration, its also a time of contemplation and prayer. God desires for you to depend on Him going forward. When you do, He will empower you with the courage and faith you need, just when you need it.

This book is designed to help you along lifes pathway with effective prayers of courage and commitment. Pray and place your trust in the Lord, graduate. After all, you may not know what the future holds, but rest assured that God holds your future.

Section 1

COURAGE TO MAKE WISE CHOICES

FREE TO CHOOSE

Choose good instead of evil! See that justice is done.

A MOS 5:15 CEV

Lord, seemingly overnight Im inundated with choices about my future. Whats the best career choice? Should I enter the military? What about my academic pursuits? What do I want to achieve spiritually, emotionally, financially, and physically? I know Ive had choices all along, but life is different now. Graduating from school means that I have graduated into a whole new arena of life.

Lord, thank You for giving me the freedom to choose. I choose righteousness over unrighteousness; goodness, mercy, and purity over evil thoughts and actions. I want to embrace whatever it is You have for my life. I choose to follow You and Your Word. Please help me make the right choices, in the months and years ahead, based on the plan You designed for me. Amen.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

P ROVERBS 3:6 KJV