Lord, you know who we are and our deepest thoughts about ourselves and the reality of the world around us. Help us to see your revelation of yourself and of our place before you, in order to fashion each day a healthy, positive, useful self -image of ourselves, not for our own benefit, but for the interests of the Kingdom. For it is this image of ourselves, enlightened by your Word, that will free us from the grips of sins and vices, liberate us for loving service of our neighbor, and charge us for the task of taking the gospel to every creature. Amen.

Lord who sees the hand and the heart, your motives are always right and your reasons need no scrutiny. May I do my deeds of righteousness to be seen of you, and no one else. I seek to do your will, O God, so that I may hear your approval on the final day.

May we be encouraged by human compliments when our work is praiseworthy, but let us not act in order to receive them. Make our motives pure and give our hearts the single purpose to please you. For our desire is to be your exclusive servants, rather than slaves to the opinions of men. Because Jesus showed the way. Amen.

[pertinent passages: Matt. 6:1-18; John 5:44; Rom. 2:29; Gal. 1:10; 1 Thess. 2:6]

Father, you went from heaven as far as this earth to bring back your human creation to your fold. Your love knows no bounds, your mercy sets no limits.

People we know have fallen away from the body of Christ. May your love overwhelm us in our search to bring them back, even if we must face the ridicule and criticism that our Lord heard on the way to the Cross. Let not his sacrifice be in vain, for those who have fallen, nor for us who, like the Great Shepherd, go after them to bring them home. Amen.

Lord of the heavenly hosts, you have triumphed over the evil one and brought peace to those who seek it. Make us like yourself, peacemakers, willing to step in and promote harmony in every place, in every group, in every way.

Make us part of the solution, and may we not be part of the problem. Keep us from harping, from criticism, from harshness.

Make our hearts pure for this task, steady our hands in the heat of battle, keep us from flinching at the front lines. Make us ready to fight for peace, but always in love, humility, and kindness, aware that every soul is precious in your sight. Because for every one Jesus went to Golgotha. Amen.

Lord of all pleasure and pleasant sensations, it seems like the pagans have all the fun. They can do anything they want. Every experience is theirs to enjoy. But I know the end of such indiscriminate pleasure-seeking is destruction.

You made us for yourself. And we find our greatest enjoyment, our maximum pleasure in knowing you. So let us seek your face and hide ourselves under your wing.

My happiness is in being near you. And I give thanks that Jesus, the Promised One, makes that possible. Amen.

[pertinent passage: Psa. 73:28]