Heavenly Father, I praise You for today and for giving me grace and mercy. I praise You that I have my salvation and hope that should sustain me until it is time to come home. I praise You for forgiving me and for allowing me to make mistakes in life.
Holy Spirit, You inspired the writer of Hebrews to write: Let us then come with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. [Hebrews 4:16, MEV] I come a broken man. I need to be revived and to live with purpose again. I need to renew my mind so that I am focused on being a living sacrifice and the temple You desire me to be. I need my body to heal and to have strength to get up and face each day. I need to not let the voice of Satan convince me that life is not worth living. Help me to put on my spiritual armor and stand and face each day as the soldier You expect me to be, praying with all that I have for healing for people like Kayla, for intercessory prayer for people I love who need to know You or know You again. To pray with authority to show Your mighty power and light in a world that is dark, evil, hateful, and depressing, where life has little value to them.
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 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 that 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 can no longer 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 been 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]