You deserve to be punished. But I will treat you in a way that will bring honour to my name, and you will know that I am the Lord God
(Ezekiel 20:44; CEV).
Despite my pride
And ignorance,
Despite my envy, Lord;
Despite my greed
And foolishness,
Despite my judgements, Lord;
Despite my hate
And selfishness,
Despite my anger, Lord;
Despite my guilt
And sinfulness:
You love me.
He loves us with unfailing love
(Psalm 117:2; NLT).
Image: Pha Biano, Pixabay
✝️
1. Please forgive my ignorance,
And teach me, Lord, to follow you.
2. Please forgive my weaknesses;
Help me to serve in all I do.
3. Please forgive my selfishness,
Then I’ll see you in everyone.
4. Please forgive my carelessness,
So I will grow like you, God’s Son.
5. Please forgive my foolishness:
May I reflect your wise concern;
6. And please forgive my sinfulness:
Don’t punish me, but help me learn.
✝️
References
1. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them (Ephesians 4:18; NIV).
Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path (Psalm 27:11; NLT).
2. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all the same testings we do (Hebrews 4:15; NLT).
3. Then he [Jesus] said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT).
Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).
4. We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).
5. People ruin their lives by their own foolishness (Proverbs 19:3; NLT).
All of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).
God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them (Exodus 2:25; NIV).
6. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbour his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities (Psalm 103:8-10; NIV).
Image: Rondell Melling, Pixabay
Lord,
1. Teach me, when I’m foolish;
Forgive, when I’m unkind.
2. Save me, when in danger;
Soothe, when I’m maligned.
3. Brace me, when I’m tempted;
Console, when I’m afraid.
4. Warn me, when I’m angry;
Calm, when I’m betrayed.
5. Hold me, when I suffer;
Support, when I despair,
6. And guide my soul in death, Lord,
T0 meet you in the air.
References
1. Teach me how to live, O Lord (Psalm 27:11; NLT).
Forgive us our sins (Luke 11:4; NLT).
2. Save me and rescue me (Psalm 71:2; NLT).
Let your unfailing love comfort me (Psalm 119:76; NLT).
3. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure (1 Corinthians 10:13; NLT).
With his love he will calm all your fears (Zephaniah 3:17; NLT).
4. Don’t sin by letting anger control you (Ephesians 4:26; NLT).
I begged my allies for help, but they betrayed me (Lamentations 1:19; NLT).
5. Your right hand upholds me (Psalm 63:8; NLT).
From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help (Psalm 130:1; NLT).
6. Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).
The Lord will guide you continually (Isaiah 58:11; NKJV).
We […] will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17; NLT).
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).
1. This plague won’t end
Until we give up selfishness
And strife.
2. This plague won’t end
Until we start to value
Every life.
3. This plague won’t end
Until we love our foes
And see their worth.
4. This plague won’t end
Until we tend and cherish
All the earth.
5. This plague won’t end
Until we grasp our folly
And our sin.
6. This plague won’t end
Until we seek the Lord our God –
Within.
References
1. Turn from your selfish ways (Luke 9:23; NLT).
Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds (Habakkuk 1:3; NIV).
2. May the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today (1 Samuel 26:24; NLT).
3. Love your enemies! (Matthew 5:44; NLT).
4. The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it (Genesis 2.15; NLT).
God is the King of all the earth (Psalm 47:7; NIV).
5. You, Lord, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you (Psalm 69:5; NIV).
God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner (Luke 18:13; NLT).
6. Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6; NIV).
If you seek him, you will find him (1 Chronicles 28:9; NLT).
The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; KJV).