Heavenly Father, I praise You for not having to live under the Mosaic law but under the new covenant because of Christ. I praise You that I am measured by how You know me, not by what check boxes I fill. I praise You that I am able to read, learn, and understand Your word. I praise You for the testimony of the lives given to us in the Bible so that we can see You are more concern in why and what we do than what we accomplished in our lives. Most of all, I give You praise for being mindful of me and still wanting to have a relationship with me.
Paul was inspired by You to write: So embrace, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, a spirit of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and longsuffering. [Colossians 3:12 MEV] I do my best to live this way daily, but I do not always succeed. I am often faced with life where I am required to be bold, steady, and firm in what I do for a living, making what Paul wrote a difficult way to live while doing my job. I thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit to help me navigate my day and to do my best to live doing and understanding Your will and being the man You created me to be and fulfill the purpose You instilled in me when I was formed. Help me to continually renew my mind, meditate on Your word, glean wisdom from Your ministers, teachers, and those who mentor me so that I can live in a way that is pleasing to You.
Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain! [1Chronicles 4:9&10] Let the words I speak bring life, not death, salvation, not ruin. Help my actions be righteous and that as I humbly live I serve You with all my heart, mind, and soul. With my name written Your book of Life so that I may one day come home and live in heaven with You. Amen.