Gracious God in Heaven, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

            You are the incredible God who created the universe and loves each of us. You give only good gifts. We thank you because when we turned to you from disobedience and asked for forgiveness, you instantly forgave our sins. You released us from the miserable domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of your beloved Son. You sent the Spirit of your Son to live in us and change us on the inside. You offered us your peace and the hope of heaven -- no matter what we’d done or how bad we’d been. You qualified us to share in the inheritance of your saints even though we didn’t deserve it.

We are so grateful, Jesus. It’s such a relief to know we belong to you.

Yet sometimes, though intellectually we know you forgive and love us, the truth of that can be difficult to comprehend -- because we know we don’t deserve you. Our thoughts return to past sins and we feel so unworthy. Help us believe in your love and forgiveness. Bless us with the ability to feel your love.

Strengthen us according to your glorious might. Help us endure the difficulties we face today. Give us each patience and joy in the midst of problems. Your Word says that if we ask for wisdom, you’ll give it. Please give us wisdom. Fill us with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so we can walk worthy of you and please you fully. Make us more and more like you. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Supporting verses:

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus . . . because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption; the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1: 3 – 5, 9 - 14

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." James 1:5