Heavenly Father, I praise You for today and for Your mercy and grace. I praise You that You desire a relationship with me and not perfection. I praise You for uniquely making me, me. Help me today to bridle my tongue, renew my mind, think and meditate on Philippians 4:8, and take command of my day so You can speak through me, help me see the world through Your eyes, focus on the right things so I am not led astray, and shake all the evil from my day so I can walk in Your light.
Today I seek to walk in and with Your Spirit. I seek to continue not fulfilling the lust of the flesh. I know I am not bound by the law, but through liberty I live by faith because of the salvation of Christ. I am focused today to take one step at a time as I interact with those around me. Help me to speak Your truth, demonstrate Your love, and be ready to answer for the hope that is anchored within who I am. Help me not to be easily distracted by worries, sin, temptation, and wrong desires. Let me be fully engrossed in gaining wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and discernment so
that I can live as a living sacrifice for You while being Your living temple for You to reside in me and lead me as I get through the day. Help me to get better at listening when You speak and seeing the world more from Your perspective so that I can grow and be the person You desired me to be when You created me. [Paraphrased from Galatians 5, Romans 12]
Holy Spirit, You inspired Paul to write: Since I am raised with Christ, I will learn to desire those things that are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Help me to set my affection on things above, not be consumed or love for things on the earth. For I am dead, and my life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is my life, shall appear, then I also shall appear with Him in glory. Teach me to put to death the parts of my earthly nature: sexual immorality, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because I am learning these things, the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience. I used to live that life with them. I must now put away all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language out of my mouth. I no longer can lie to others, for that was part of my old nature or way, because I am embracing the new nature to emulate Christ, who has and is becoming my all in all. Thank You for being my guide and prompter as I grow in Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen. [Colossians 3:1-11, MEV and paraphrased by me]