Heavenly Father, I praise You for today and for my salvation. I praise You for the journey I have been on since 1982, when I gave my heart to You at camp and began my walk in Your light. I praise You for the depth and vastness of Your salvation for the mistakes and sins that I committed over the years, and that You still love me even though I had to come back and reaffirm my covenant with You. I ask that You allow Your Holy Spirit to help me take command of my day and shake the evil from it.
Holy Spirit, I thank You for my marriage, which, as of yesterday, is now 36 years. I thank You for my job, family, and friends. I thank You as I look back, I see successes, failures, and bad and good times. I see where I have grown and that I still need to grow. I thank You for the present time and how You help me be a leader and a layman. How You have helped my prayer ministry and taught me so much. I ask that You continue to help me run my race until it is my time to cross the finish line and walk into heaven. I ask that You help me teach my grandchildren about Your love and salvation. I help them become responsible adults.
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]