Heavenly Father, I praise You for today. I give You praise even when my heart does not have joy. I praise You, for it is the substance to keep my hope alive. Help me today to be honoring to You.
Holy Spirit, You inspired Paul to write: For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sound judgment, according to the measure of faith God has distributed to every man. For just as we have many parts in one body, and not all parts have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and all are parts of one another. We have diverse gifts according to the grace that is given to us; if prophecy, according to the proportion of faith; if service, in serving; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. [Romans 12:3-8] A true servant's heart sees the needs of people or anticipates them and does all in their power to make sure not only are the needs met, but that the person feels appreciated and loved. Often, we are the only Jesus that people will see. I have witnessed people in church who demonstrate this extremely well. I have also witnessed people who are so concerned about getting a task done that they offend people to the point they do not want to come to that church. Help me to learn to serve and to make people feel appreciated. It is not my gift, but it does not mean I can’t learn to have a servant’s heart.
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 12:28-13:8, MEV and my paraphrase]