Consider Carefully Your Way!

 

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.  They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.   

—Philippians 3:18-19 (NLT)

 

 

'Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to consider carefully the way I conduct myself in life here on earth—that I might not ever be found to be an enemy of the cross of Christ.

 

You have given me the opportunity to embrace everything that the cross of Christ has purchased for me. So keep me from foolishly or thoughtlessly turning down a path that brings sure destruction to my joy, my peace, my purpose, and ultimately my life.

 

Never allow me to develop an appetite for any of the deceitful pleasures of this world—to allow my fleshly desires to become idols that I choose to worship. 

 

Keep me from being so deceived, that I would speak about my sin as if it were something to brag about, as if it were not sin at all—or to admit there is sin in my life, but make light of that sin, as if it were not a stench in the nostrils of a Holy God.

 

Help me control my thoughts, so that they are not consumed with the pursuit of the ultimately empty and unsatisfying things of this life—but keep me spiritually minded, so I don’t miss the fullness of life that is mine in Christ.

 

Help me to be continually conscious of how I am living, so I might submit my will to Your will, resist temptation, flee from sin, and seek—with my whole heart—that life which is hidden in Christ.

 

Help me to consider carefully the way I conduct myself in life here on earth—that I might not ever be found to be an enemy of the cross of Christ.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Follow Jesus!

 

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

 

—Luke 9:23 (NLT)

 

 

Dear Jesus,

 

Grant me the strength to turn away from my selfish ways and to embrace with courage and patient endurance any challenge I may face—as I daily commit to follow You, wherever You may lead me.

 

Help me always remember that my life is found in Christ—that I belong to Him and that the life I am called to live serves Your plans and purposes, not my own selfish ways.

 

Give me a sacrificial heart—one that is willing to deny myself—and give me hands and feet that move quickly and willingly toward the work at hand.

 

Help me not to merely serve You with my mouth but rather demonstrate my love and my gratitude for You, by obeying Your Word and following Your example—for Your glory, honor and praise.

 

Grant me the strength to turn away from my selfish ways and to embrace with courage and patient endurance any challenge I may face—as I daily commit to follow You, wherever You may lead me.

 

I pray these things in Your Precious Name, Lord Jesus, Amen.

Those Who Belong to Christ Jesus

 

 

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

 

—Galatians 5:24 (NLT)

 

 

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Grant me the power, once again today, to choose to nail the passions and desires of my sinful nature to the cross of Christ and crucify them there.

 

Thank you that because of the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus, on the cross, and my acceptance of His gift of salvation, I have been set free from sin’s power over me—so that now, I can choose not to give in to sin.

 

Show me that even though the Holy Spirit is alive and living in me, my flesh still remains—along with all of its self-serving inclinations. It is at war with my recreated heart—and must be nailed to the cross and made to die there, so that Christ may be seen in me.

 

Help me, as I commit to surrender my sinful nature to Your control and draw on the sanctifying power of Your Spirit to give me the strength to walk in victory over sin. 

 

Give me strong nails and a heavy hammer, so that what I take to the cross stays on the cross and is left there to die.

 

Grant me the power, once again today, to choose to nail the passions and desires of my sinful nature to the cross of Christ and crucify them there.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Enemies of the Cross of Christ

 

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.  They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.   

—Philippians 3:18-19 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to consider carefully the way I conduct myself in life here on earth—that I might not ever be found to be an enemy of the cross of Christ.

 

You have given me the opportunity to embrace everything that the cross of Christ has purchased for me. So keep me from foolishly or thoughtlessly turning down a path that brings sure destruction to my joy, my peace, my purpose, and ultimately my life.

 

Never allow me to develop an appetite for any of the deceitful pleasures of this world—to allow my fleshly desires to become idols that I choose to worship. 

 

Keep me from being so deceived, that I would speak about my sin as if it were something to brag about, as if it were not sin at all—or to admit there is sin in my life, but make light of that sin, as if it were not a stench in the nostrils of a Holy God.

 

Help me control my thoughts, so that they are not consumed with the pursuit of the ultimately empty and unsatisfying things of this life—but keep me spiritually minded, so I don’t miss the fullness of life that is mine in Christ.

 

Help me to be continually conscious of how I am living, so I might submit my will to Your will, resist temptation, flee from sin, and seek—with my whole heart—that life which is hidden in Christ.

 

Help me to consider carefully the way I conduct myself in life here on earth—that I might not ever be found to be an enemy of the cross of Christ.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

To Take Up My Cross Daily

 

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

 

—Luke 9:23 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Grant me the strength to turn away from my selfish ways and to embrace with courage and patient endurance any challenge I may face—as I daily commit to follow after Christ, wherever He may lead me.

 

Help me always remember that my life is found in Christ—that I belong to Him and that the life I am called to live serves Your plans and purposes and not my own.

 

Give me a heart that is willing to deny myself in order to accomplish the all that You have placed before me to do—and hands and feet that move quickly and willingly toward the work at hand.

 

Help me not to merely serve You with my mouth, but rather demonstrate my love for You, and my gratitude for all that You have done for me, by truly living my life—moment by moment—for Your glory, honor and praise.

 

Grant me the strength to turn away from my selfish ways and to embrace with courage and patient endurance any challenge I may face—as I daily commit to follow after Christ, wherever He may lead me.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Strong Nails and a Heavy Hammer

 

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

 

—Galatians 5:24 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Grant me the power, once again today, to choose to nail the passions and desires of my sinful nature to the cross of Christ and crucify them there.

 

Thank you that because of the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus, on the cross, and my acceptance of His gift of salvation, I have been set free from sin’s power over me—so that now, I can choose not to give in to sin.

 

Show me that even though the Holy Spirit is alive and living in me, my flesh still remains—along with all of its self-serving inclinations. It is at war with my recreated heart—and must be nailed to the cross and made to die there, so that Christ may be seen in me.

 

Help me, as I commit to surrender my sinful nature to Your control and draw on the sanctifying power of Your Spirit to give me the strength to walk in victory over sin. 

 

Give me strong nails and a heavy hammer, so that what I take to the cross stays on the cross and is left there to die.

 

Grant me the power, once again today, to choose to nail the passions and desires of my sinful nature to the cross of Christ and crucify them there.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Carefully Considering My Conduct

 

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.  They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.   —Philippians 3:18-19 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me to consider carefully the way I conduct myself in life here on earth—that I might not ever be found to be an enemy of the cross of Christ.

 

You have given me the opportunity to embrace everything that the cross of Christ has purchased for me—so keep me from foolishly or thoughtlessly turning down a path that brings sure destruction to my joy, my peace, my purpose, and ultimately my life.

 

Never allow me to develop an appetite for any of the deceitful pleasures of this world—to allow my fleshly desires to become idols that I choose to worship. 

 

Keep me from being so deceived, that I would speak about my sin as if it were something to brag about, as if it were not sin at all—or to admit there is sin in my life, but make light of that sin, as if it were not a stench in the nostrils of a Holy God.

 

Help me control my thoughts, so that they are not consumed with the pursuit of the ultimately empty and unsatisfying things of this life—but keep me spiritually minded, so I don’t miss the fullness of life that is mine in Christ.

 

Help me to be continually conscious of how I am living, so I might submit my will to Your will, resist temptation, flee from sin, and seek—with my whole heart—that life which is hidden in Christ.

 

Help me to consider carefully the way I conduct myself in life here on earth—that I might not ever be found to be an enemy of the cross of Christ.

 

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Take Up Your Cross Daily and Follow

 

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

—Luke 9:23 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Grant me the strength to turn away from my selfish ways and to embrace with courage and patient endurance any challenge I may face—as I daily commit to follow after Christ, wherever He may lead me.

Help me always remember that my life is found in Christ—that I belong to Him and that the life I am called to live serves Your plans and purposes and not my own.

Give me a heart that is willing to deny myself in order to accomplish the all that You have placed before me to do—and hands and feet that move quickly and willingly toward the work at hand.

Help me not to merely serve You with my mouth, but rather demonstrate my love for You, and my gratitude for all that You have done for me, by truly living my life—moment by moment—for Your glory, honor and praise.

Grant me the strength to turn away from my selfish ways and to embrace with courage and patient endurance any challenge I may face—as I daily commit to follow after Christ, wherever He may lead me.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Give Me Strong Nails and a Heavy Hammer

 

 

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

—Galatians 5:24 (NLT)

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Help me once again, today, as I choose to nail the passions and desires of my sinful nature to the cross of Christ and crucify them there.

Thank you that because of the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus, on the cross, and my acceptance of His gift of salvation, I have been set free from sin’s power over me—so that now, I can choose not to give in to sin.

Show me that even though the Holy Spirit is alive and living in me, my flesh still remains—along with all of its self-serving inclinations. It is at war with my recreated heart—and must be nailed to the cross and made to die there, so that Christ may be seen in me.

So help me as I commit to surrender my sinful nature to Your control and draw on the power of Your Spirit—in every moment of my day—to give me the strength to overcome.  Give me strong nails and a heavy hammer, so that what I take to the cross stays on the cross and is left there to die.

Help me once again, today, as I choose to nail the passions and desires of my sinful nature to the cross of Christ and crucify them there.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.