Heavenly Father, I praise You today for the hope You have placed in my heart. I praise You for the wisdom You have taught me through Your word, through experience, and through testimonies of others. I praise You for keeping my eyes open and giving me intelligence to discern what is right when this upside-down world says that evil is right and Your laws and ways are evil. Help me today to take command of my day and shake the evil from it.
Help me to pray and believe as the Hebrew writer leads my thinking: I should have a confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way that He has opened for me through the veil, that is to say, His flesh, and since He is my High Priest and over the house of God, let me draw near with a true heart in full assurance of my faith, having my heart sprinkled to cleanse me from and evil conscience, and my body washed with pure water. Let me firmly hold the confession of my hope without wavering, for Christ who promised is faithful. Let me consider how to spur others and myself to love and good works. Help me and my
community never turn our back on assembling at church and take time to exhort one another, embolden one another in our growing faith, as we know we are nearing the time when we will see Jesus. [Hebrews 10:19-25, MEV and my paraphrase] Help me not to lose hope in the days to come, let my faith be strong enough to endure the trials I have yet to face, and not to remorse over the ones I have already had to walk through. Help me to pray for the salvation of my family and to be faithful in how I live.
Since I am receiving a kingdom that cannot be moved, let me be gracious, by which I may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For God, You are my consuming fire. I will perpetuate brotherly love to continue. I will not forget to entertain strangers, knowing that at times that has meant entertaining Angels unknowingly. I will remember those who have been imprisoned around the world for their faith and join with them in prayer and solidarity. I will stand with and remember those who have been abused, berated, or beaten because of being a child of God, and will identify with them no matter the cost. I will honor my marriage and keep my bed undefiled. I will let God judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. I will use money but never love it or desire it so that it never interferes with my devotion to God. I will learn to be content with what I have, for I know Your word says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So that I can always boldly proclaim, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear, what can man do to me?” I will remember those who rule over me, who have proclaimed to me the word of God. I will follow their faith, considering the results it has produced in their lives. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. In Jesus’ name I anchor my salvation, amen. [Hebrews 13:28-8, MEV and my paraphrase]