O Father, God Who Forgives and Transforms, 

            Your thoughts are higher than our thoughts and your ways higher than our ways. You see into our minds and hearts. You understand our motives even when we don’t understand our own motives.

            Knowing that you are a God who loves us and wants the best for us, we give you permission to examine our hearts and reveal hidden secrets about ourselves to us. Show us Truth and give us courage to accept the difficult secrets about ourselves we have failed to recognize. Yet at the same time help us overflow with joy as you remind us of ways we’ve acted righteously.

Point out the unrighteous thoughts leading us astray and help us take them captive by replacing them with positive, noble things. Help us forsake the wicked ways you reveal. Show us how to turn from all evil. Send miraculous help. Provide counselors and responsibility partners for those of us who struggle with deep problems. Help all of us to glean insights from your Word. And give us continual overflowing gratitude in the midst of trials.

Jesus, thank you for making a way – by willingly giving your life on the cross -- for us to boldly approach your Father in prayer. We gratefully offer this prayer in your name. Amen.

Supporting verses:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. For as the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty; but it shall accomplish all that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55: 9-11

“You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 149: 3,4

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55: 6,7

“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth . . . you will remember no more.” Isaiah 54:4