Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because You are faithful and righteous. Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you. My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave. I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear. I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done. I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for as parched land thirsts for rain. Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die. Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. For the glory of Your name, O Lord, preserve my life. Because of Your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress. In Your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am Your servant. [Psalm 143, NLT]
Holy Spirit, as Paul instructed the Philippians, I will try not to be anxious for no reason, but will spend my time in prayer and supplication, demonstrating gratitude to You, and I will make all my requests known to You from my heart. [Philippians 4:6, my paraphrasing] I know You desire a relationship with me, because You sent Christ as human to live with us and show us how to live. I desire to see, feel, and know in all that I am that You are not only near, but that I am doing Your will, building Your kingdom, and glorifying You by how I think, believe, live, and speak. This is a daily work in my life and it is only possible when I live as a living sacrifice for You and to be Your living temple and allowing You to constantly work on cleaning my heart, renewing my mind and building me in wisdom, hope, understanding and discernment so that I bear the fruits of love, joy, patience, long suffering and boldness in who You are to me.
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]