Lifting You Up

Dear Sacrificial Lord, sin means refusing to do Your will or failing to do all that You want me to do. Since Adam’s rebellion in the garden, my nature has been to disobey You. My sins cut me off from You and cause me to live my way rather than Your way. As a result of the fall, everyone has sinned either by rebelling against You or ignoring Your will. No matter what my background is or how hard I try to live a good and moral life, I cannot earn the salvation needed to eliminate the punishment due for my sins. Only You can save me from myself. My sins point out my need to be forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness. Although I do not deserve it, in Your kindness You reached out to me in love to forgive me. You are my only way to salvation. It was in Your death that You paid the price for my sins and all I need to do to appropriate Your gift is surrender myself to You.

The Good News You came to share with the world was that You would save everyone from the punishment due for their sins. But to receive the benefits of the Good News, I must believe that You are the Son of God and that Your death and resurrection brought me new life, a “real” relationship with You, and a place with You in eternity. By receiving You as my Lord and Savior, I am made holy and acceptable to Your Father because when He looks at me He sees Your goodness. Putting You foremost in my life assures me that I’ve been given the power to resist sin, to obey You and become more like You. As my relationship with You grows, the Holy Spirit helps me free myself from the shackles of sin and fear of eternal damnation. By trusting the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to work in my life, I have the power to overcome sin and temptation. Truly, I have been set free!!

Of this I am sure, You care about me and all of Your creation. Your ways of dealing with me, as well as others, is in alignment with Your goals for me and is always fair. Because You are in charge of all of creation, You are able to meet me where I am and show me my best path forward. Because of Your deep and abiding love, You offer me mercy and forgiveness … it is my job to receive them and say, “thank you.” I learn to serve You when I serve You properly. Serving You faithfully unites me with other Believers in enabling us to show our love for You and “lift you up” before all men. I do not become fully Christ-like through my efforts alone. I need the help of the Holy Spirit and the assistance of Your whole body. By actively and vigorously building up each other, we all become better witnesses for You. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!

John 3:14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.”

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Prayers from the Heart

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading