But You, O Lord, are a shield around me; You are my glory, the one who holds my head high. I cry out to You and You answer me. Answer me when I call to You, O God, who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer. [Psalm 3:3&4; Psalm 4:1]
Holy Spirit, Christ said: I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. [John 14:6] And Paul wrote: Christ has delivered me from the power of darkness and has transferred me into the kingdom of His because I have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness for my sins. Christ is the Image of the invisible God and the firstborn of every creature. For by Him, all things were created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they are thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers. All things were created by Him for Him. He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church, He is the beginning the firstborn from the dead, so that in all things He may have the preeminence. [Colossians 1:13-18] Therefore I am a new creature after my spiritual birth through the salvation from sin when I asked Christ to forgive me and allow the Holy Spirit to dwell within me as a living temple for Him. I am not perfect, I am not free of troubles, but I am forgiven, and I have a hope that no one can take from me. I know that this is no longer my final destination, just a training ground for when I serve in heaven. I am a child of God through Christ and I also am a creation of God, made with a purpose and for His will. I will live the rest of my life giving my life to Him as a living sacrifice so that I can learn, understand and do His will. I will do the best I can to listen to the Holy Spirit so that I can gain wisdom, understanding, and discernment to fulfill my purpose and ministry while I breathe air on this earth. I will renew my mind daily with worship, reading Your word, listening to testimonies, and doing as Paul wrote: Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayer, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Not that I speak regarding need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. [Philippians 4:6&7 (The Message); Philippians 4:8; Philippians 4:11-13]
Because of the salvation from Christ, bought at the cross, the hope started from His resurrection and the new birth I have in life since I was 16 years old, I can live my life in freedom, no matter what man does to me. I give You, O God, all the praise for my existence and for the life You have planned out for me. Forgive me for not always keeping my eyes on You and not always demonstrating love. In Jesus’ name, I give You all of who I am and say Amen.