Three Short Prayers for Preaching the Gospel to Our Hearts
This week I’m going to offer 3 short prayers each day—words shaped by the Word which help us remember and revel in the riches of God’s grace. Read them all at once, or spread them out through the day. Let’s marinate in the wonder.
We are image bearers of God—wonderfully made.
“I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” – Psalm 139:14
Dear Father, before I was broken, I was beautiful—loved before the world began, created by your hands, given breath for your glory. Thank you for creating me in your image, and now, for renewing me to become like Jesus. Help me to reject all the old tapes, messages, and voices that convinced me I was worthless and useless. The Gospel has always been your Plan A for my life. By your grace, continue to heal, change, and free me.
We are completely and exhaustively forgiven.
“In Jesus we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Eph. 1:7
Heavenly Father, thank you for forgiving all of my sins, all of them. Sins I’ve committed in my thinking, with my words, and by my choices. Sins in the past, sins of today, and the sins I have yet to commit. Such forgiveness is almost too good to be true; and it would be, if you hadn’t sent Jesus to be our perfect Savior. The riches of your grace have proven to be more than sufficient for the bankruptcy of my sin. I praise and bless you.
God has declared us legally and completely righteous in Christ.
“God made Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor. 5:21
Most glorious and grace-full Jesus, what wondrous love is this, indeed. As my substitute in life, you lived a perfect life of obedience, fulfilling every demand of the law for me. And as my substitute in death on the cross, you completely exhausted God’s judgment against all my sin. I am totally forgiven, perfectly righteous, and eternally free in you. Hallelujah, many times over! Take me deeper and deeper into the reality of this good news.