Show respect for all people [treat them honorably], love the brotherhood [of believers], fear God, honor the king.
—1 Peter 2:17 (AMP)
Holy God,
May my fear of You—my absolute reverence and overwhelming awe of You—be proven by my obedience to all Your commandments.
I confess that I have not always shown respect for all people—that I have forgotten that every one of us has been made in Your image, and therefore is worthy of being treated with respect.
I confess that it is easy to respect and treat honorably those who agree with what I believe, but very difficult for me when it is apparent to me that they are not living in the Truth of Your Word.
I confess that I have not loved my brothers and sisters in Christ as I should—much less the unbelievers of this world, or those that You have placed in authority over me.
Forgive me I pray, and help me to remember that You control all things—that You give power and authority over me to whomever You choose—in order to bring about Your plans and purposes for us.
And help me to remember that my part remains the same: to fear and worship You alone, as I put all my hope in Christ; to show respect to all people and treat them honorably; to love well my brothers and sisters in Christ; and, as much as I can do so, without violating Your commandments, to give honor to those in authority over me.
May Your Kingdom come, and Your Will be done—that the whole earth would be filled with Your Glory!
May my fear of You—my absolute reverence and overwhelming awe of You—be proven by my obedience to all Your commandments.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.