HEBREWS 12:1-3

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Oh my Lord God, Heavenly Father, only begotten Son, Holy Spirit, three in One… humbly I come before You, oh divine Trinity, by the intercession of the Spirit who speaks for me with words too deep for human utterance, and by the mediation of my High Priest, Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, thanking You and praising You that, even in my imperfections and sins, You still love me and have provided the means for me to remain in an intimate, loving, and life-giving relationship with You.  Oh Lord God, You know that I do stumble.  You know that I do fall.  When I confess my sins before You, it is not as if You did not already know. Yet, You bid me run to You. You invite me into Your presence. You allow me to talk with You and pour out my heart to You. Thank You, oh Lord God, for the gift of prayer, for the gift of forgiveness, for the gift of eternal life with You made possible through the gift of Your Son who lived and died on the cross for me. And thank You, oh Lord, for every spiritual gift in the heavenly places that You have lavished upon me in and through Your Son.

Oh God, I cry out to You because there is none else to whom I would or could cry. I have sinned. I have stumbled. I have fallen. There is not a day that goes by wherein I do not fall short of Your glory. There is not a single second of a single minute of a single hour of a single day that I do not need the blood of Jesus Christ my Lord to wash me and cleanse me of my sin, or the righteousness of Jesus Christ my Lord to clothe me and hide my shame.  People, in small ways and in big ways, have despised me; and not without good reason. I have failed them. I have failed everyone I love. I have failed myself. I have failed You. But while I know that I do not live up to the expectations of others, or even to my own expectations, and certainly not to Your expectations, I want You to know, oh Lord God, and I trust that You do know, that in my heart I repent and long to do better. Lord God, I do not seek to justify my sin, I do not seek to embrace my sin, I do not wish my sins, past or present, to continue or to in any way define my life. Rather, I seek to set aside every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles me and run with endurance the race that is set before me. May Your Holy Spirit infuse me with the strength I need to defeat the enemy, my adversary, who seeks to continually beat me up with fear and guilt and destroy my faith. Oh God, keep my feet on the narrow trail and on the paths of righteousness down which You seek to lead me for Your own name’s sake. And may I, in both my strengths and my weaknesses, always seek to bring You glory!

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