Most Tender Loving God, in days of old, You asked Your people to “choose for themselves this day whom you will serve.” Today, there are many things competing for my attention … money, possessions, relationships and power. But, I do not need to think very long about my choices because for me and my house, we have chosen to serve You alone. My goal is to put away bitterness, anger, envy and selfishness in order to take up a cross of tenderness, optimism, kindness and helpfulness to follow You. I want to be an example of Your love to everyone that You put me into contact with … showing them who You are by the way I act and talk. I want to be a teacher of the young and an encourager of the old. By submitting my will to You, I will be able to show others that I can be changed by Your love and so can they. I want to become a force for good in the world around me.
In the same way that You have been a leader of Your family, I want to be a leader of mine. Help me learn to love and inspire them to do and be their best. I want “me” to melt away so that You can shine forth from me. Since I find myself fulfilling many roles like interacting with my family, being involved in my church, playing a role in my community and assuming the responsibilities of a citizen … in all of them, I want to be a mirror Your kindness and love. I am happy and blessed with all of the good things that knowing You has brought into my life. I want to get beyond my needs and joyfully share them with others less fortunate than myself. Your desire is for me to become familiar with Your words and to teach them with diligence to those who will listen. I promise to think on them when I am going about my day … when I sit down … when I get up … and when I lie down. In them are my life and guidance.
Turn my heart away from everything that does not please you. My goal is to be a blessing to You and make You smile with pride whenever You look upon my life. Knowing that You care and want to teach me the things I need to know to be successful makes me feel very special. I know that at times I will need Your correction and admonition, but I will not dread them because they are signs of how much I mean to You. Through Your loving actions, You’ve left me an inheritance and I want to use it wisely and share it unselfishly. My sincerest desire is to walk in Your ways, reap good outcomes through good motives, help in advancing Your Kingdom and walking uprightly before You and my fellow man. This is why I have committed my life to caring and sharing with others on Your behalf. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love; in honor giving preference to one another.