Abba Father,
How could You love us like this?
What kind of love calls broken, wandering sinners
children of God?
And yet You have.
You didn’t just speak it you gave it.
You placed Your name on us.
You made us Yours.
This world doesn’t recognize us,
because it never knew You.
But You see us.
And more than that You promise
that when You appear,
we shall be like You.
Not because of our strength,
but because we will see You
as You are.
Lord, this hope burns in my heart.
I want to be pure as You are pure.
But the weight of sin clings so tightly.
Break its grip.
Expose every lie I still believe.
You came to take away sin.
You came to destroy the works of the devil.
Let nothing in me remain that doesn't belong to You.
God, I do not want to practice sin.
I want to practice righteousness.
Let it be my pattern, my habit, my reflex.
Not because I’m afraid
but because I’m alive.
I am born of You.
Your seed abides in me.
Make that seed grow.
Teach me how to love.
Not like Cain,
not with jealousy or comparison or secret rage,
but like Jesus
who laid down His life for us.
Let me love not just in words
but in action, in sacrifice, in truth.
Let my heart open wide to my brother in need.
Let no coldness dwell in me.
And when my heart condemns me,
when shame rises to crush me
remind me, O God,
that You are greater than my heart.
You know everything.
You see it all my failure, my hunger, my longing
and You do not turn away.
So I come to You with confidence.
Because You have called me to believe in Jesus,
and to love as He loved.
Holy Spirit, dwell in me.
Let me know deep, unshakably that You abide in me.
Let Your whisper silence doubt.
Let Your fire consume apathy.
Let Your presence anchor me in the truth
that I am Your child
not someday, but now.
And let me live like it.
In the name of Jesus Christ,
the Son You sent,
Amen.