Heavenly Father, I praise You for loving me even when I do wrong. I praise You for being my Creator, Savior, and friend. I praise You for creating me with a purpose and not just out of randomness. Help me to take command of my morning and shake all the evil from it.
When I look at the totality of the life of Christ, I realize that I fall very short of the person I should be. I quickly look at the life of Peter and realize that, just like him, I am a work in progress. I probably would have cut the guy’s ear off, also. Peter, with the filling of the Holy Spirit, did learn to be more Christ-like, and later in life, he would write, “Do not repay evil for evil, or curse for curse, but on the contrary, bless, knowing that to this you are called, so that you may receive a blessing. [1 Peter 3:9] Help me to look to bless people and let others do the cursing. Help me to realize that what Paul wrote should be my thought process in life: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down
arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. For we dare not count or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. They who measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another are not wise. [2 Corinthians 10:3-5; 2 Corinthians 10:12] I seek to be wise. I have never tolerated bullies my whole life it runs against the grain of my nature. Now, the bullies I must take on are spiritual, not in the flesh. Help me to be like Caleb, David, Peter, Paul, and many others who came way before me in the Bible history of the world. Help me to be wise in my faith, to stand boldly when necessary, and to be humble when it is expected of me by Christ.
The end of all things is near. Therefore, I will learn to be clear-minded and self-controlled so that I can pray. Above all, I will love others deeply because love covers a multitude of sins. I need to offer hospitality to others without grumbling. Help me to use whatever gift I have received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s
grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides so that in all things, God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. I will humble myself under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift me in due time. I can and will cast all my anxiety on him because He cares for me. I will learn to be self-controlled and alert. I know my enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Through Christ and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I will resist him, standing firm in the faith, because I know that my brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering. And the God of all grace, who called me to his eternal glory in Christ, after I have suffered a little while, He will restore me and make me strong, firm, and steadfast. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. [1 Peter 4:7-11; 1Peter 5:6-11]