A prayer based on Psalm 1.

<aside> 🙏🏻 Lord Jesus, we thank you that you are the truly blessed Man. For you were never found walking in the way of the wicked, or standing in the pathway with sinners, or sitting in the company of mockers. Your whole life was patterned after God’s Word. You found what it contained to be more precious than gold and more sweeter than honey. You that you submitted to everything it said, even when it took you to the cross. And you did all this because you loved your Father in heaven and wanted to please Him in every way.

We thank you that because of your sinless life and delight in God’s Word, you have received God’s blessing, and for your willingness to share it will all who trust in you. What love, what grace, what favour you have shown to us. We don’t deserve any of this. We have sinned against you. We should receive not your blessing, but your curse. We should be found among the wicked who will not survive the day of judgment. who like chaff which the wind blows away, will be condemned in hell forever.

O how wonderful it is to have the assurance that our sins are forgiven, that we have a place in the assembly of the righteous. All because of what you have done for us. How grateful we are, that for us who believe, your death has taken punishment we deserve so we can be forgiven. And your righteousness has become ours, so God can look upon us as those who blessed by Him, and who He will watch over until we take our place in heaven.

Father, as people saved by Christ, you call us to live like Him. Yet we confess to you that we haven’t. Rather than being separated from the world, we too often conform to it. We have listened to what the world, our own sinful nature, and the devil say. We have appreciated the way the ungodly live. Adopting their lifestyle. Following the path that they take. Embracing the habits which they have. Living as those who do not know you. To our shame we have supported and celebrated that which you call ‘sin’. And instead of delighting in your Word, our hearts have reacted against what it says and have not wanted to obey what it commands us to do. Forgive us we pray.

By your Spirit give us a hunger for your Word. A desire to read it. To meditate upon it and think it over what it says and what it means to obey it. Give us the strength we need to turn away from sin and to follow your instructions, so that we live an increasingly fruitful and happy and holy life. And as we do to be a great blessing to others.

We plead for the souls of those who are among the people you call wicked. Those who have not turned to your Son in repentance and faith. Who have no idea about the salvation He has accomplished and the blessing He offers to all who come to Him. Those whose way is leading to ruin. Holy Spirt make alive their spiritually dead hearts. Open their eyes to see their sin and that in Jesus there is the Saviour they need. And would all who have been appointed to eternal life believe.

Amen

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