Holy Father,

We ascribe glory and honor and power to you as we call upon your name. We love and worship you. We want to please you. We long to give you pleasure. You are worthy of our praise. Thank you that our prayers are counted as incense rising to your throne.

You completely understand our motives, both good and bad, even when fool ourselves. Help us understand own thoughts and actions. Guide us to feel pleasure when we choose righteousness. Call us up short when we blunder into or deliberately choose unrighteousness. Give us willingness and courage to recognize when our attitudes or actions are flawed, wrong. When your Holy Spirit points out something sinful in us and we feel sad and disappointed in ourselves, remind us that you always forgive. Help us repent and then forgive ourselves as we open our hearts and allow you to envelope us in your peace and love. We thank you for every shortcoming you reveal, because only by seeing our deficiencies and submitting them to you can we become more Christ-like.

Enable us to immediately forgive the flaws of others from our hearts and give us humble spirits so you can delight in us and direct our paths. Use us however you choose, Jesus, establish our steps. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

Supporting verses:

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Rev. 4:11

“. . . golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying. . . ” Rev. 5:8b, 9a

“O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you.” Psalm 141:1,2

“The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.” Psalm 37:23, 24