Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [Matthew 6:9-13] Help me to take command of my morning and shake all evil from it, and let me stand in the gap for the salvation of my family and community.
Jesus prayed, “(I pray) that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; they also may be one in Us.” [John 17:21] Holy Spirit, help me to continue to learn how to abide in You so that I can eventually and fully be one with You. I know perfection will not be complete until I enter eternity, but I also know from the Bible’s testimony that I can walk so close to You that I can cross that line like Enoch of old. I also know that you have given us an earthly example of oneness in the institution of marriage. After 35 years of marriage, I have learned that for two to become one has many layers, and is a daily working
proposition. I must daily seek to give myself to my wife completely and she to me in order for us to be one. I also know that at times this is easy and other times it is very difficult. What I understand is that it takes focus, determination, trust, humility and love. Love that endures, gives more than it takes, never humiliates but protects, is honest, and loyal above all. I put my wife’s reputation ahead of my own as Christ loved the church. Decisions are shared and understood. Forgiveness, mercy and grace have to be the bed of foundation for the two to be one continuously.
And this is my prayer: let my love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that I may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Amen. Philippians 1:9-11