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Read Romans 5:6-8. Ask Jesus, Why?? Examples?
Lord, it is easy to consider doing a good thing for someone who has done a good thing. I am willing to die for a good thing. But the idea of you submitting to death for bad people (for me) is beyond my understanding and spiritual maturity. I am thankful you did but I’m still learning what that means - for me and those I (in my humanity) would consider less than deserving. Amen.
Imagine Christ our Lord present before you on the cross. Talk to Him about why He did that. Ask Him about Philippians 2:8
Lord Jesus, I’m sorry that my sin coupled with your eternal love for me placed you at a point of suffering that you didn’t deserve. I’m sorry and thankful and ashamed and proud all at once. It’s morbid to consider you laid out and bled as an old covenant lamb as propitiation for my sin. It’s horrific to envision your brutal death. But then you will not (did not) remain dead. Hallelujah!
And obedience to the point of death? I struggle with obedience to the point of life. Have mercy on me and enable the strength within me to live because you were willing to die. Amen.
Suppose a person sins by fully turning from the Lord and dies without a change of heart — and goes to Hell! What are your feelings about that?
Lord, it’s the saddest imaginable thing to consider being separated from you for eternity. I know that through the propitiation of Jesus, you forgive us of our sin. I know that your grace covers those who belong to you. Those who accept Christ are sealed forever with your Spirit and no one can snatch them from you. No one. Amen.
Read Chapter 3 of Genesis. What are your feelings?
Lord, you in your mercy removed Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden after they ate from the tree of knowledge that they might not also eat from the tree of life and be in sin forever. You had a plan even from the beginning. I have always wondered why there had to be a forbidden tree there in the first place but I’m sure you will reveal that to me one day. For now, I see your mercies. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Read Luke 10:18, 2 Peter 2:4, Revelation 12:7-9.
What are your thoughts and feelings?
Honestly, God, this is where people start “weirding out” about you and religion. So much distortion and doom and gloom is miscommunicated by people who profess to speak for you but they are not possessed by your spirit. These scriptures can be taken out of context and seem to speak of swift judgment. I read the complete chapter context surrounding the verse (as I advise others to do) and I see comfort.
2 Peter 2:9 reads, “…if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.” It seems that those who do wrong constantly skate past punishment or penalty while the innocent continually suffer. Lord, a day is coming when righteousness will prevail and God’s people will see justice. And it’s retroactive. Amen.
In yesterday’s prayer did you mention you want to forgive others and so be healed? Will you today?
Lord, I didn’t ask specifically to be healed but I do desire that my heart not carry judgment or bitterness towards any man or woman. I do desire the ability and will to forgive others who offend me as quickly as possible that I might reflect the grace of you. Amen
Say in your own words what you want and desire from the Lord.
Dad, above all I want your favor and fellowship. I don’t want to be separated from you. Ever. I know that there is nothing I can do to win your favor and that it is only by your grace that you love me. I desire that you give me clarity in my head and in my spirit to test all things that come in the guise of you. I ask that you always keep the emptiness religion away from me while drawing others as a result of my relationship to you. Give me the will to forgive others and to not cause others to stumble. I desire to impact your kingdom globally through words and pictures. And again, I desire your favor. Have mercy and Amen.
Read Romans 7:19-24. Do you ever feel like this? Examples?
Yes, Lord. I do and I have. Many times. This course of praying has challenged me mightily as I learn more of myself and my relationship with You. Habits can be difficult to train or reroute into healthy behavior.
For example: a smoker realizes the health risks of smoking and wants to quit. But his tongue craves the nicotine and flavor of the cigarette. His fingers long for the pose they assume as they grasp the small addiction for his lips to take hold. And still his mind wants to quit. I have never been a smoker but I have craved my own brand of “nicotine” that was caustic and dangerous to me physically and spiritually. I have done what I knew I didn’t want to do and not done what I wanted to. Lord, save me from myself. Amen.
I’m reminded of a song that Smalltown Poets sang years ago, entitled “Everything I Hate.” This was their breakthrough song and it rang loudly to me right around the time I accepted Christ. It’s still a great and true song. Listen to it.
Go back to yesterday — give examples of what you mean.
Lord, I aspire to many things. Some of those things are directly tied to my praise and recognition of You. Some of those things aren’t. Some have never touched You. I want to change that.
Example. I have been most fortunate and blessed in my career. I have had opportunity to do and create a lot of things. I aspire to specialize now and do what You gave me talent to do - solely. Where I am constantly flexing and bending and learning and struggling, I want to just be. And find joy in that. See what I mean? I. I I I I I. Where are You in all of that? Sure, I give you praise for blessing me but my motive (if I’m honest) is to depend more on me and my comfort.
I still want to find joy in what I do for a living but Lord, help me to make it about You. Help me to want to be joyous as evidence of what you’ve already done for me. Right now. Amen.
Ask God that all your intentions, actions and aspirations be for the Lord’s praise and service. Try to start each prayer period with this thought.
Lord, though I’m wrapped in your glory, selfish me resides inside. I consider giving all of my thoughts, actions, and aspirations over to You and your praise and service and I get stuck on wondering what’s left for me. This isn’t some confession for you already know this about me. You already know my struggle with my greatest adversary - me. I have paraphrased in the past to say that “I am my only devil.” Now, I know that I’m not my devil or anyone else’s. I know that I’m redeemed by Christ. I know that my adversary is not flesh and bone but “powers and principalities.” But still, I’m left with a selfish thought of what’s left for me
Lord, you don’t forget me nor forsake me. You leave more for me than I could ever selfishly hoard for myself. May my mind and heart continue to reach toward you as trees reach towards the heaven and your Light. Amen.
Read Matthew 18:21-35. Ask the Lord’s pardon. Ask people’s pardon. Pardon all who hurt you. Let go of resentments.
Lord, massage my heart. As I consider the ones who I’ve offended, allow me the means to return to them to ask for a pardon. As I reflect on my own resentment and hurt, help me to let go. I can’t change people or the past. I can’t control anyone other than myself. Soften my heart to a place of forgiveness. May I not carry the weight of resentment any longer. Have mercy on me. Amen.
Prepare to make confession, the sacrament of reconciliation. Say an “act of Contrition” or make up your own.
Thank you for your mercy on me, oh God. Draw to my mind the wrong against your Glory that I’ve committed and prepare my heart for contrition and repentance. Amen.
Prepare to make confession, the sacrament of reconciliation. Say an “act of Contrition” or make up your own.
Lord, I wish to be specific in my confession to you and though I desire to be as transparent as possible to others, there are some things that are far too intimate to share out of context.
Thank you for your mercy on me, oh God. Draw to my mind the wrong against your Glory that I’ve committed and prepare my heart for contrition and repentance. Amen.
How can you make amends to people you have hurt?
Lord, I shudder at the concept that I can and have hurt others. But I do. And I will. I easily can recall those circumstances where I’ve been hurt but my ego struggles to find the same where I’m the perpetrator. I believe that reconciliation starts with a word or words spawned by a change of heart or contrition. That word of apology or that effort to communicate past some miscommunication goes a long way to reverse or heal hurt. Lord, I ask that you bring to my mind anyone who I have hurt so that I may reconcile as soon as possible. Forgive me and soften that person’s heart to do the same. Amen.
Read Psalm 143. Is this true of you?
This is my prayer too. Lord, I struggle sometimes with the age old question of why good things happen to bad people. Who am I to question what is good? In your mercy, You chose not to judge us and condemn us to hell forever but to save us that we might live in eternity with You. You remind me that the suffering and unfairness and horrible things I witness here are “but a vapor” and one day it will be known that what You promise will come to be. Forever. Amen.
about
by no means is this an attempt to appear pious or religious, i simply wish to share my exploration through these spiritual exercises to encourage and share with others as I grow. selah.
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