Praise be to You, My Lord, for You came to earth to save me and purge me from my sins. It is through Your power and grace that I have been energized to do the things I know are pleasing to You … loving my neighbor as myself… believing that all things are possible through You … walking by faith and not by sight … casting all of my cares upon You … running my race with joy and enthusiasm … turning to You for all my needs … giving my time, talents and resources for the furtherance of Your Kingdom … and, rejecting the temptations of the Devil. I must never forget that … when I am weak, You are strong … I am the creation, You are my creator … and I am the sinner, You are my Redeemer. Help me to shun just being a hearer of Your words but a doer of them.
Because I have entrusted my life to You, when all hope is lost, I will strive to remember that You are with me always. So hold me close when my strength wanes … encourage me when I lose the will to persevere … and, help me continue to plod on even when the path forward seems impossible. And when the task seems too large for me to handle, I must focus on how BIG You are and how small my problems look in comparison to Your awesome power and might. Build up my faith so I can cast the mountains of defeat I face into the sea of victory. Keep me from being swept away by tides of guile and deceit leveled at me by my enemy. Let me not forget that in order to shed the things that keep me in bondage require that I take the steps needed to change.
You never promised me that my life would be easy … only that it would be made easier if I included You in it. I never want to become so puffed up, arrogant or proud to believe that I can make it without You. I want to feel Your presence as I go about my daily life. I do not want to allow the little frustrations, irritations or injustices I face to mushroom into a big deal. To preclude such an event, I want Your help in developing the gifts of patience, compassion, understanding and forgiveness. Give me a heart that is tender toward those who are afflicted or less fortunate than I am. Help me understand Your ways so that I can dedicate myself more fully to Your service. When circumstances give me no way out … show me the path to escape. When I lose my joy … put a song of praise in my heart. When I feel alone … remind me that I am a part of Your body. If I waver in my faith … send Your Spirit to engage with me and guide me in following in Your footsteps. Because I have given myself to You, I want You to take the lead in guiding me to Your desired end. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Luke 23:26 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit my life.”