A prayer based on 2 Peter 1:1-15.

<aside> 🙏🏻 God our Saviour. We praise you for the salvation that is ours in Christ Jesus. We thank you that He has made us righteous in your sight by giving us His own righteousness, which became ours when we put our trust in Him. We thank you for the gift of faith, because unless you had graciously given this, we would still be perishing in our sins. How wonderful it is Lord, to know that Jesus has done everything necessary for us to be saved. That our sins that are many and which deserve your wrath have been forgiven. That we have the Holy Spirit living in us, changing us into the likeness of Christ in righteousness and holiness. That we have everything we need to live a godly life.

We pray that with the help of the Holy Spirit, we would make every effort to progress in holiness. To grow in our courage to profess faith in the Lord Jesus and obey everything He has commanded in an increasingly hostile world. To grow in our knowledge of who Jesus is and what He would have us do. To grow in self-control in how we use and enjoy the good things you have given to us, whether that be food, drink, clothing, sleep, or recreation. To grow in patience so that we endure trials and suffering full of trust that you our Sovereign God will use it to fulfil your good purposes for us. To grow in godliness and love for you, and in love for one another and for those who do not yet believe. May we bring glory to you as your image is increasingly displayed in us.

And would our progress and growth in these areas assures us that we truly are your people. That we are those you have chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. That we are those you have effectively called through the gospel of grace to be yours. That we really have responded with belief in Christ and repentance of our sins. Give us a strong faith in Christ that shows itself in those good works that you prepared in advance for us to do. Protect us from the world, our sinful nature, and the devil that tempt us to drift away and turn away from you, and which cause us to stumble and backslide. Thank you that those you have called and chosen, you hold fast to, for you have promised that those you predestined will be called, and those called will be justified, and those justified will be glorified. Encourage our hearts with the hope of entry into Christ's eternal kingdom and the many joys that await us when we are in the presence of our Saviour.

Gracious God, we pray that we would be regularly reminded of the gospel and the great hope it gives us. Help those who lead our services and who preach your Word Sunday by Sunday, to point us to Christ each week. Through the songs that are chosen. Through the prayers that are prayed. And through the sermons that are preached. Help us to listen eagerly because we want to hear from your the living God and to delight in what you say to us. But we ask this not just for ourselves, but for other local churches, especially those we are partnered or associated with. Whether the truths preached from your Word are familiar or not, establish your people in the truth. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

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