Most Loving Savior, I am thankful that You came to earth as a human who understands my human weaknesses and desires to show me mercy. Because of Your love for me, Your goal was to restore my friendship and fellowship with Your Father. Both my sin nature and my sins put me at enmity with You. Because You took my place, I have been reconciled forever through Your suffering. Before submitting my life to You, I had no understanding of Your ways … I looked with eyes that did not see Your goodness … and, I listened with ears that did not hear Your voice. Your words acted as a stumbling block to my will. However, since I’ve surrendered to You, I’ve come to understand the many boundless riches You have to share with me … I’ve seen the brilliance of Your light showing me the way I am to go … and, I now hear Your soft whispers guiding and encouraging me. To live a victorious life like You, I must be willing to become selfless like You.
In contemplating Your suffering, I’ve come to realize how much You endured to make me whole and restore our relationship. I remember a time when I smashed my finger with a hammer and how I endured a sharp, throbbing pain that never seemed to subside. What I realize is that You felt that same pain throughout Your entire body … Your senses numbed and feeling faint from all of the punishment You experienced. Is it any wonder that You fell under the weight of Your Cross three times? How can I ever doubt Your love and commitment to me? And, in the shedding of Your blood, life flowed out of You and into me giving me hope, power, mercy and grace. Your blood left a trail for me to follow in order to attain victory over my obstacles the way You did. Because of Your suffering, my life is now filled with love, joy, peace and abundance … and, selfishness has become a banished foe.
Because I was alienated from You, I became a stranger to Your way of thinking. Sin corrupted me and drove me away from You. My bad decisions perverted my life and destroyed any opportunity I had for prosperity. Because I placed my will above Yours, I became hostile to You. When I finally realized there was no way for my sins to be forgiven, removed or conquered except by You, I gave in. As a result, through the same love that caused You to die in my place, You gave me the Holy Spirit to dwell in me and guide my comings and goings. Through the Spirit, the same power that raised You from the dead, has been made available to me to overcome evil and advance my life. In my newness of life, You have given me the ability to meet any challenge or trial that I face. Through Your suffering, death and resurrection, I’ve been changed forever. The old me is gone and the new me has been brought to life through the reconciling power of Your sufferings. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life.