In Your House Lord

By Marie Ashby

This book is meant to evoke emotion and visual inspiration that brings scripture to life for the reader. These are simply the author's love letters to God, through trials and disappointments, joys and triumphs, with his faithfulness on full display throughout, not only in the prayers but in the photographs of loved ones and the splendor of creation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685265953

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In Your House Lord

Marie Ashby

ISBN 978-1-68526-594-6 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68526-595-3 (Digital)

Copyright © 2022 Marie Ashby

All rights reserved

First Edition

All biblical citations were taken from the New International Version of the Holy Bible.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

January 1

January 2

January 3

January 4

January 5

January 6

January 7

January 8

January 9

January 10

January 11

January 12

January 13

January 14

January 15

January 16

January 17

January 18

January19

January 20

January 21

January 22

January 23

January 24

January 25

January 26

January 27

January 28

January 29

January 30

January 31

February 1

February 2

February 3

February 4

February 5

February 6

February 7

February 8

February 9

February 10

February 11

February 12

February 13

February 14

February 15

February 16

February 17

February 18

February 19

February 20

February 21

February 22

February 23

February 24

February 25

February 26

February 27

February 28

February 29

March 1

March 2

March 3

March 4

March 5

March 6

March 7

March 8

March 9

March 10

March 11

March 12

March 13

March 14

March 15

March 16

March 17

March 18

March 19

March 20

March 21

March 22

March 23

March 24

March 25

March 26

March 27

March 28

March 29

March 30

March 31

April 1

April 2

April 3

April 4

April 5

April 6

April 7

April 8

April 9

April 10

April 11

April 12

April 13

April 14

April 15

April 16

April 17

April 18

April 19

April 20

April 21

April 22

April 23

April 24

April 25

April 26

April 27

April 28

April 29

April 30

May 1

May 2

May 3

May 4

May 5

May 6

May 7

May 8

May 9

May 10

May 11

May 12

May 13

May 14

May 15

May 16

May 17

May 18

May 19

May 20

May 21

May 22

May 23

May 24

May 25

May 26

May 27

May 28

May 29

May 30

May 31

June 1

June 2

June 3

June 4

June 5

June 6

June 7

June 8

June 9

June 10

June 11

June 12

June 13

June 14

June 15

June 16

June 17

June 18

June 19

June 20

June 21

June 22

June 23

June 24

June 25

June 26

June 27

June 28

June 29

June 30

July 1

July 2

July 3

July 4

July 5

July 6

July 7

July 8

July 9

July 10

July 11

July 12

July 13

July 14

July 15

July 16

July 17

July 18

July 19

July 20

July 21

July 22

July 23

July 24

July 25

July 26

July 27

July 28

July 29

July 30

July 31

August 1

August 2

August 3

August 4

August 5

August 6

August 7

August 8

August 9

August 10

August 11

August 12

August 13

August 14

August 15

August 16

August 17

August 18

August 19

August 20

August 21

August 22

August 23

August 24

August 25

August 26

August 27

August 28

August 29

August 30

August 31

September 1

September 2

September 3

September 4

September 5

September 6

September 7

September 8

September 9

September 10

September 11

September 12

September 13

September 14

September 15

September 16

September 17

September 18

September 19

September 20

September 21

September 22

September 23

September 24

September 25

September 26

September 27

September 28

September 29

September 30

October 1

October 2

October 3

October 4

October 5

October 6

October 7

October 8

October 9

October 10

October 11

October 12

October 13

October 14

October 15

October 16

October 17

October 18

October 19

October 20

October 21

October 22

October 23

October 24

October 25

October 26

October 27

October 28

October 29

October 30

October 31

November 1

November 2

November 3

November 4

November 5

November 6

November 7

November 8

November 9

November 10

November 11

November 12

November 13

November 14

November 15

November 16

November 17

November 18

November 19

November 20

November 21

November 22

November 23

November 24

November 25

November 26

November 27

November 28

November 29

November 30

December 1

December 2

December 3

December 4

December 5

December 6

December 7

December 8

December 9

December 10

December 11

December 12

December 13

December 14

December 15

December 16

December 17

December 18

December 19

December 20

December 21

December 22

December 23

December 24

December 25

December 26

December 27

December 28

December 29

December 30

December 31

About the Author

I'm so thankful for my husband, Mark, my greatest supporter and fan, for making this project a reality, and for those friends and family who encouraged me and prayed for me during this process.

I couldn't have done it without each of you.

January 1

O Father,

Your love and faithfulness are sure.

Your heart is the essence of love itself.

Your faithfulness is from generation to generation.

Infuse my heart with the love that is steadfast and pure from your own heart.

Adorn my neck with jewels of faithfulness and love from your Holy Spirit, that I may wear them as an ornament of beauty always.

May your rivers of love flow from my life in such a way as to bring life wherever you send me.

My heart's desire is to be a conduit of your love to this hurting world, but I get too caught up in my own laziness and self-interest to perceive what is needed.

Show me how you want me to love people.

Teach me to be faithful to the voice of your spirit, then strengthen my hands and feet to do your bidding.

Here I am.

Send me.

January 2

Lord Jesus,

I love to think of this description you gave about God's care for the little birds, and how his love for me is exponentially greater than that.

It has been through the hardest of times that you have reminded me of this to slash away my fear about the future.

You're already there.

If I can only remember that, the things that cause me anxiety, the situations I imagine that may never come, they are harmless to me when I remember that you are present, always.

You have sent the Holy Spirit to show me how to walk boldly through every storm and trial I face.

You are there to meet my every need and provision, and to lovingly carry me through it all.

When I fall, you will come and gather me to yourself, patch up every scrape personally, and set my feet on solid ground.

There is nothing to fear.

January 3

Lord God,

I rejoice in all that you have done, night and day, to protect me and those I love.

You are my safety in the dark places I find myself along the way.

I'm seeking you and looking for you to light the way ahead.

When I'm running after you, I can't help but rejoice at what I witness around me as your will bears fruit in my life.

I'm seeking you, Lord.

I'm desperate to know that my life is lined up with your perfect will.

I'm looking for the testament of your fruit and the evidence of your hand at work in the details.

I rejoice that you choose me to join you in the work you are doing to build your kingdom.

I rejoice in the tenderness of the way you draw me to yourself in love.

I rejoice in the way that you write your will into the script of my story.

Sign your name across this day that I may ever glorify you.

January 4

O Lord Jesus,

You wrote the book on a life lived in pure faith.

The words are written in your own blood and sealed in my heart by your Holy Spirit.

You lived a life of perfect devotion to the will of the Father but died the death of a convicted criminal, in obedience to him.

By your obedience, I am made whole.

By your death, I am made perfect in the Father's eyes.

I want to live a life worthy of your gift.

I want to run after the things that honor you and love the things that you love.

I must keep my gaze fixed on your cross so I don't forget.

I must never forget.

You gave everything for me.

My life is yours forever.

My heart is devoted to you.

My love is yours to perfect.

You are the perfect Author to write the pages of my life after your own will.

Write your story into my life today, O Lord, my King.

January 5

Lord God,

There is so much wisdom to be gained by recounting to each other the myriad of ways that you rescue us and pour out your love on us.

Giving thanks to you prevents us from arrogantly believing we can take care of ourselves.

It prevents us from falling into self-sufficiency and pride.

Your works are wonderful, Lord!

We need you.

Your love is unfailing and unconditional.

Your mercy is poured out as you meet our every need through the storms and trials we face.

You know us completely and come to us in our deepest need, our need to belong, to be known and loved for who we are.

You open your storehouses to feed us and cover us with shelter and safety.

You know our every fear and need before we do, and you are quick to go before us, to provide for us in every little detail.

In humility, we proclaim that you are our good, good God.

We bow to you alone.

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8:9

January 6

Lord Jesus,

When I think about the splendor of the Father's house, I imagine rooms filled with beautiful tapestries and comfortable chairs, with families gathered around tables of bountiful food, as laughter, excitement, and joy fill the air.

The gardens have row after row of roses and gardenias, lilies, and asters and other beautiful plants that you will show me as we explore it together.

From the patio, of course we can see the ocean and hear the rhythmic waves as they break on the white sandy beach.

I don't know how accurate any of my images are of your house, but I rest on the promise that you are preparing a beautiful place for me, beyond my imagination.

And you will live there with me and present me to the Father yourself.

Give me courage and strength to continue to run after your plan and to be a light for your glory, here, in this beautiful place.

And one day let me hear those words from you, Well done.

That's all I want, Lord.

January 7

O Lord,

How I love the beauty of this verse, describing the benefits of surrendering to you.

You have rescued me from the destruction of sin and death so that I might live in holiness.

No more of the filth of this world can stake its claim on me.

No more of the stench of death hangs over me.

You have snuffed out death and promised me eternal life in your presence.

You have washed every ounce of filth away from me with your own blood.

You have clothed me in a garment of righteousness that is fitting for your throne room.

I can dance like a child, without fear, because I am free from all of the judgment that sin brought upon me.

I am free to live for your glory.

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:11

January 8

O Lord,

It's hard for me to imagine my life lived apart from your people.

Your people have been an encouragement and support to me since I was very young.

They have been instruments of your mercy and love, not without flaws but always growing and learning together.

Lord, come in power on behalf of your church.

Set your people free from fears that prevent them from gathering in worship and relationship.

We need each other desperately.

Open the eyes of your people to see that they are your people, and they have received mercy.

Your mercies never cease.

We must put that truth above the fear and live like the redeemed people that we are.

We must not let fear interrupt our ability to love and care for each other.

We have received mercy.

We are conduits of your mercy to each other.

Teach us to live in that truth.

Teach us to love fearlessly.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

January 9

O Lord Jesus,

You promise peace that goes beyond our understanding if we leave our concerns with you and give thanks to you for everything that comes from your generous hand.

You are able to handle every anxiety that weighs on our weary hearts.

You will use it all for our good.

We need only to believe it and to allow your peace to wash over us.

Then our minds can be calmed, and we can rest in you, refreshed by your Holy Spirit.

Come with your sweet peace, O Lord.

Come and quiet our busy minds and remove the burdens of our hearts so we can live in that peace, here and now.

Life is sweeter in your presence, Lord.

Fear evaporates here at your feet.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Psalm 23:1

January 10

O Lord Jesus,

Help us, as your people, to lay aside our own selfishness and serve the needs of those around us.

We can get so wrapped up in the normal activities that consume our time and energy that we dismiss the whispers of the Holy Spirit to look outside ourselves and attend to the cries of a hurting world.

Lord, shake us out of our complacency and arrogance, and open our eyes to the needs that clamor for our attention.

Let us live in the shadow of your cross, laying our own desires at your feet and living sacrificially for your glory.

May our lives be poured out in service to the love you displayed for us as you gave your life in exchange for us.

We owe you everything.

Anything we sacrifice pales in comparison.

We owe it all to you, Lord.

January 11

O Lord God,

Lead us onward today, by your strong hand; draw us with loving-kindness to the place you have prepared for us.

We can only imagine what beauty awaits us there!

Honestly, how could it be more beautiful than this world around us?

And yet, somehow this is just a foretaste of what you are preparing for us in your house.

Lord, show us your glory, here and now.

Teach us to set aside the distractions and fears that blind us from the beauty and joy that surrounds us.

Help us to take the time to admire your handiwork and return thanksgiving to you for your many gifts, from the intricate beauty of the tiny buttercup to the cerulean blue water of the ocean, glimmering in the afternoon sunshine.

All of this beauty is from your generous hand.

Lead us daily to your holy dwelling, O Lord.

January 12

O Father,

You are forever my God!

Let the earth shout your praise, from every river and valley, from every mountain and sea.

The birds sing your praise every morning, and the laughter of children fills the world with joy from your hand.

All that is good gives testament to your creative handiwork and makes its own display of your glory.

I hear your voice in the encouraging words of friends and in the praises of your people, gathered in worship.

I see your hand at work in the lives of my children and grandchildren.

I give thanks to you always, for the love of family and friends.

You are my God forever, and I will praise you for your goodness and love toward me.

You are my joy and peace, my safety and refuge.

You are my King.

Let me exalt your name forever!

January 13

O Lord,

I can hear, in this verse, the psalmist's attempt to describe the vastness of your indescribable reservoir of love for us.

The measure of your love and faithfulness goes way beyond our simple understanding of the world around us!

We see it displayed in the profound beauty of the universe, that we capture new glimpses of every day as technology advances.

Even the beautiful images of distant galaxies can't quite compare to the image of the Creator of it all listening to our dreams and fears, and wrapping his arms around us, his precious children.

Your love is sure and palpable, here at your feet.

Your love is faithful and protective as we go about the business of living.

Your love is our shelter and comfort as we lay our heads down to rest at night.

Your love is everything.

Your love is ours for all eternity.

January 14

O Lord God,

I don't know what this day holds, but you do.

Anxiety nips at my feet, but I resolutely kick it away.

I choose you over the fear.

I choose to live in the presence of your joy, wrapped in the strength of your splendor and majesty.

No matter what is thrown