HEBREWS 10:26-31… “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!”

Lord God, my Heavenly Father, I come before You now confessing my unworthiness to even speak and be heard by You. Yet, I know in my heart that You do hear me because You love me.  And so I dare, once again, to invoke this precious gift of prayer in the name of my Lord Jesus, Your only begotten Son, my High Priest, My Advocate, My Mediator, imploring Your mercy and forgiveness and lifting my heart up to You in praise and adoration.  I thank You, Lord God, that You do not wish for me, or for anybody, to perish. You want me saved.  You want me with You in eternity. You are patient and long-suffering with me. You have given me, and continue to give me, opportunity after opportunity to repent of my sin: my sins of commission—the evil things I do that I know are wrong—and my sins of omission—the good things that I should and could do, but that I neglect or refuse to do—and even the sin that I commit in ignorance, as I thoughtlessly stumble along unaware of the many ways in which I fall short of Your glory. And, Lord, I do repent. Like the prodigal son who returned to his father, I return to You, Oh God, day after day after day. And I have no intention of continuing in my ignorance or in willful sin. I seek wisdom and understanding, asking that You enlighten the eyes of my heart so that I know how to live in a manner that pleases You. I seek courage and strength, through Your Holy Spirit, to resist temptation, to turn away from evil, to speak the truth in love, and to bring You glory by the decisions I make and the way I choose to live each day. Thank You, Oh Lord, for calling me to repentance and for giving me opportunity to repent and draw close to You.  And now, may You find pleasure in my desire to continually pursue the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.  Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You.

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