Saturday Prayer: August Starts Fresh

Father, August begins and summer continues. July is over with its lessons and failures. I'm tempted to carry July's disappointments into August, to assume this month will be like the last one, to expect nothing different. Help me resist this.

Remind me that your mercies are new every morning - including this morning that begins a new month. July's failures don't define August's potential. Last month's exhaustion doesn't determine this month's strength. What I couldn't accomplish in July, you can accomplish in August if it serves your purposes.

As this month begins, help me trust your sovereignty over circumstances that seem random. Whatever authorities I'm under, whatever situations I face, you're working purposes I can't perceive. August is named for an emperor who didn't know he was serving your plan. Help me trust that you're sovereign over my August too, working all things for good even when I can't see how.