Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope.  For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.  You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:9-11).

Father, hold me in your arms; be my refuge and strength, I pray.  Be my Lord and my Savior; I know that I can find no lasting goodness apart from you.  I have tried it—willfulness and rebellion—seeking happiness and love outside of your covering and protection; I have even tried to be “religious”, attempting to establish my own goodness, but nothing good came of it!  Thank you for your forgiveness and cleansing—I choose to stay very close to you now, do not let me be moved!

Thank you for godly friends who support my faith and offer fellowship.  I ask that you continually bring new friends who love you into my life.

You are my inheritance, O Lord.  You are gracious and generous; I have nothing to fear.  Fill me with your Holy Spirit and wisdom, I pray; give me counsel and instruct me in all things.  Lead me in paths of righteousness and teach me to rest in hope.

I will rejoice in you; I will rejoice in your life and resurrection power at work inside me.  Teach me how to live in the fullness of your Spirit; lead me in the paths of life.  Remind me that my deepest desire is always to be aware of your presence.

To be honest, Lord, I fill my life with entertainment and activities, food and drink, but I know that those things do not satisfy.  I have had such a warped religious understanding of you—it was hard to fathom pleasure in your presence.  Please give me a right understanding of who You are and your astonishing love; teach me what this means:  in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forever more—lead me there, O God!  In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.