My Father and My God,
I bow before You this morning through the Lord Jesus Christ and His righteousness, and by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
You call upon Your people to come boldly to the throne of grace to cast all our cares upon You and to find grace in time of need. Father, I am in need of Your daily sanctifying grace, without which I fall flat on my face.
O Father, please hear my prayer, as feeble as it is; hear me for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, please teach me by Your Word, Power, and Presence how to pray effectively for Christ’s glory and the good of Christ’s Church. Fill me with Your Word and Your holy Presence so that I might pray according to Your will and walk in the way of wisdom.
Holy God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, You alone are mighty, wise, and infinite, but I am weak, foolish, and finite. You alone are holy, glorious, and all-knowing, but I am sinful, defiled, and ignorant of so many things. As David wrote in Psalm 69:5, “O God, You know my foolishness; And my sins are not hidden from You.” You alone are the Creator of the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that in them is, but I am simply dust and ashes, and, as David said in Psalm 22:6, “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.” And I confess the words of David in Psalm 40:17, “But I am poor and needy; Yet the LORD thinks upon me.” Therefore, my Father and my God, look upon me in Your mercy and grace, and fill me with your Spirit and Word.
Teach me, Lord Jesus, to walk in the way of wisdom, and to be clothed with humility. Heavenly Father, teach me to preach the Gospel to myself and to others and to always remember that my righteous standing before Your holy throne is Jesus Christ! Thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You that when I confess my sins to You that You wash and cleanse me from unrighteousness. Strengthen me for today’s work and service and make me walk faithfully and obediently for Your glory.
Grant me sanctifying grace and a spirit of humble-boldness. Strengthen my faith in Jesus Christ, grant me greater assurance of salvation by Your Word and Spirit, and cause me to love You, Your Word, Your Son, Your Spirit, Your Church, and all things holy, righteous, and good in a greater measure.
Help me love and esteem others better than myself. Help me, O Lord, to take the lowest place of service towards those who cross my path and be a humble foot-washer as my Savior has taught me when He said, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). Help me to love my brothers and sisters in Christ, my neighbors, and even those who hate me. Help me to “Bless those who persecute me; bless and do not curse” (Rom. 12:14). Help me to use the resources that You have blessed me with to provide for the needs of others as Ephesians 4:28 instructs me. Help me to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2), as Jesus declared in John 15:12, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
Keep my tongue from complaining, gossiping, backbiting, and slandering others. Help me to defend and promote my neighbor’s good name as the 9th commandment teaches me. O Heavenly Father, I am sinful, needy, foolish, and weak, and I need You every moment of every day. I gladly and humbly confess this truth! “Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but Thou art mighty; hold me with Thy powerful hand. Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.”
Lord Jesus, help me, for I am a needy sheep of Your pasture and I am completely dependent upon You every moment of every day for in You I live and move and have my being! I am upheld moment by moment by the Word of Your power. Guide Me, O Great Jehovah! “You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God” (Psalm 40:17).
In Jesus’ name I pray!
Amen!