Heart and Mind

Praise be to You, God, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed me in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For You chose me before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in Your sight. In love You predestined me to be adopted as Your son through Jesus, in accordance with His pleasure and will—to the praise of His glorious grace, which he has freely given me in the One He loves. In You, I have redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of Your grace that You lavished on me with all wisdom and understanding. And You are making known to me the mystery of Your will according to Your good pleasure, which You purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. In You I was also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of God who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, might be for the praise of His glory.

And I was also included in Christ when I heard the word of truth, the gospel of my salvation. Having believed, I am marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing my inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. [Ephesians 1:3-14]

Holy Spirit, Your word tells me: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. In view of God’s mercy, I am to offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is my spiritual act of worship. I will not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind. Then I will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will. [Mark 12:30; Romans 12:1&2] Teach me to learn that I need to find balance in accepting You and abiding with You with both my mind and my heart. I need to understand and feel. I need to know consciously and deep within my spirit who I am.

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]