Mark 7:9

He said to them, "All to well you reject the commandment of God, that you keep your traditions.

Heavenly Father as I ponder this season of preparation, I wonder about the traditions of men. Forgive me Lord for the times I turned to human traditions to cleanse my heart. The activities of do this, don't do that are ineffective and have robbed You of glory. These things I've come to realize only lead to disregard of Your Holy word. Hypocrites are those whose actions are merely external and never pierce the heart. I do not desire to be far from You for by Your grace You saved me. May I never depart from Your loving kindness and tender mercies but be wrapped in the warmth of Your love forever. Amen.

Colossians 3:1

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Good and gracious God my Father, I thank You for Your mercy that saves me. I seek You who are above, setting my mind not on things that are on earth. I confess it is not always easy especially when longing for lost loved ones to come home. But yet may the praises on my lip be an acceptable offering and pleasing to Your ears. I thank You that my life is hidden in Christ and You will grant me the desire of my heart for my family and friends to be hidden in You as well. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit that cleanses us from immorality, impurities, passion and evil desires wiping our minds clean. Make me keen to the things that lure me to covetousness that is idolatry. I thank You for the power of the Holy Spirit to put away all anger, malice, wrath slander and obscene talk because You have created me new. I pray this day to be renewed in knowledge of who You are, the Creator of the world. Today, Lord, I thank You for clothing me in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience as one of Your beloveds should be dressed. May I be used by You to guide others to the truth and may they receive the victory given from the cross. All honor and praise given to You dear Jesus, Amen,

Colossians 3

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

Dear Lord God, Almighty, thank You for Your grace that is sufficient and Your perfecting power working in me. I surrender all. Your word says it all. May praises to You be continually on my lips. I love You Lord Jesus. Amen. 

Philippians 3:10

 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 

Oh Lord how I desire to reject my own righteousness in order to secure not merely an intellectual knowledge of You but relational, in fact an intimate knowledge. I desire the same for my loved ones as well. To know the power of Your resurrection not only as a one-time event but Your ongoing power in the day-to-day experience of life being in You the Christ. To desire to be an imitator of You would be the greatest compliment I could give and comes from a heart of sincere gratitude. May I forget those things which are behind and reach forward to the things that lay ahead. Although I cannot obliterate the past from my memory, I refuse to let it obstruct my progress. May I not be conformed to the world but by the renewing of my mind. So, Father I yield my will to Your gracious hand to be molded and shaped into the image and likeness of Your radiant Son. May You Lord Jesus be glorified in and through me forever, Amen.

Romans 6:10, Ephesians 5:1-2, Philippians 3:10-14, Romans 12:2, Romans 8:29 and 2 Thessalonians 1:12 

Matthew 6:1

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven."

Let not my acts of obedience that are valuable and honorable be done merely for the sake of public recognition especially when giving to the needy, praying or fasting, Father I pray. You have taught me to store up my treasures in heaven where neither pride, nor self-promotion can rob me of Your rewards.  Father, I do not desire to be an actor who wears different masks to play different roles thereby being hypocritical. Let me not do right things for the wrong reasons. Grant me wisdom and insight into my motivations to bring correction where necessary. I have a deep longing in my heart to stand approved by You Lord, my God and King who sees in secret. I have learned over the years that truly I overflow with the richest joy when You are glorified and magnified in my life. When there is less of me and more of You. I love You Lord Jesus, Amen.

Matthew 6:19-21, Psalm 69:30, Psalm 34:1 and John 30:30

Proverbs 10:8

The wise in heart will receive commands, but the prating fool will fall.

Heavenly Father, You who are wise beyond measures. I seek You today for great understanding of Your commands. To live them out daily and at times moment by moment. I thank You for blessing me to be teachable and to master that which You require; to love mercy, do justly and walk humbly with You all my days. Let me not be a prating fool, going on and on without a purpose, being deaf to what You are saying. May I be quick and attentive to listen to those You lovingly placed in my life. May I be slow to speak but respond with grace and truth as Your Spirit leads me. May I be even slower to respond in anger but yield to You with my emotions. I recognize Lord I do not know everything about everything and long for good counsel. Your wisdom that is from above affects how I think, Your wisdom from above affects how I feel, and Your wisdom affects how I act. Oh how I desire abouve all things to bring You glory and in doing so I am blessed. Thank You Father for loving me so much that You desire good for me all my days. I love You Lord, Amen.

Micah 6:8 and James 1:19, 

Proverbs 9:6

Forsake foolishness and live and go in the way of understanding.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your written word that instructs me in truth, showing me the way to live an abundant life. I ask that You bless all those I love with the same desire to know You. The value of wisdom yields riches and honor, greater than silver and gold, those who have it are blessed and find life. The foolish are opposite and love death, Lord, have mercy. Fear of You Lord is a gift as it is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of You the Holy One is understanding. Father, please give this gift to all my unsaved loved ones. A precious gift that multiplies our days and adds years of life. I thank You for keen ears to discern the foolishness of trends, not following others in order to save time and effort but to truly process all that is required in decision-making. May I not get caught in digital distractions and technology traps but stand firm on the solid rock of Christ. I thank You Lord that I have nothing to lose but naivete when choosing wisdom that's from above. Jesus, teach me Your ways so I may have victory in life's challenges. May You receive all glory and honor due Your great name, Amen.