Teach Lord, I'm ready.

Proverbs 9, Psalm 64-67

Proverbs 9:9-10 – Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Lord God, wisdom is such an elusive thing.  It’s something everyone wants but that few have.  It’s something that many think that they have but few actually do.  Most of all, it is something that you want to give to me.  You call to me in your Word, “Come, learn from me!”  “Come, listen to me.”  You send people in my life to teach me and instruct me; sometimes they don’t even know that they’re teaching me, but they are.  I pray, Lord God, open my heart to humbly receive the instruction that comes from you and from others.  Open my heart to receive the correction and redirection that people give me in my life. Pride in me wants to push back and reject like a fool the correction that others give.  Pride in me doesn’t really want to listen to others.  I pray, Lord God, humble my heart and open me up to the wisdom that you want to give.  Speak Lord, I’m listening.  Teach Lord, I’m ready to learn.  Pour out wisdom on me, O Lord, through your Word, through people you send into my life, through your Spirit connecting your Word and the experiences of my life.  I need it.  Amen.

Fear of the Lord.

Luke 23:26-56, Joshua 1-4

Joshua 4:23-24 – For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over… so that all the peoples of earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.

Lord God, at so many different times and in so many different ways you showed your might and power.  You wanted your people, yes, you wanted all the nations of the earth, to know how great you really are.  You wanted them to stand in awe at your power and might.  For some, for the nations, this meant that they shook in their boots because of terror.  For your people, even for me, you want me to see your mighty deeds and know how great you really are. You want me to stand back in awe and wonder; you want me to be amazed at how great and gracious you really are.  These mighty acts show and remind me that you are truly on my side.  You fight for me not with me. You are on my side and not against me.  I pray, dear Lord, let your power and might, your greatness and your grace, inspire me to awe and wonder.  Keep me from getting too comfortable with your might so that it stops inspiring me to live in awe and wonder. Forgive me for getting too accustomed to you so that I no longer live under your mighty hand.  Keep me from this, dear Father in heaven.  Instead, help me to stand back in awe and wonder so that I am not afraid and so that I live a life inspired by your greatness and grace for me.  Amen.

What does God say about all these commandments?

He says, “I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.” (Ex. 20: 5–6)

What does this mean? God threatens to punish all who break these commandments. Therefore, we should fear His wrath and not do anything against them. But He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep these commandments. Therefore, we should also love and trust in Him and gladly do what He commands. – Martin Luther. 

No one like me.

Luke 22:66-71, Luke 23:1-25, Deuteronomy 33-34

Deuteronomy 33:29 – Happy are you, O Israel!  Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, the sword of your triumph.

Lord God, there is no one like you.  It is more and more clear every day.  There is no one like you choose the weak and the foolish out of this world and calls them his children.  There is no one like you who forgives wickedness and remembers sin no more.  There is no one like you who gives graciously, mercifully, and abundantly.  There is no god like you who comes down from his seat on high to save his people; your own arm worked salvation for you.  There is no one like you who rides like a champion to coming to rescue his people.  There is none like you who provides shelter, protection and daily provisions for his people.  There is none like you who supports and holds his people up with his might arms.  There is, O God, no one like you.  Therefore, there is no one like me, a child loved by your grace, saved by the Lord, shielded with your help, and protected by your sword.  There is no one else like me, a child of God.  There is no one else like all those who believe in you.  O God, it is good to be your child!  Amen.

Focused Prayer

Luke 22:39-65, Deuteronomy 30-32

Luke 22:46 – And he said to them, “Why are you sleeping?  Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Jesus, I totally relate to these disciples.  I sit down to read my devotions and meditate on your Word but my mind flits and flutters all over the place.  I think about the emails on my computer.  I think about the tasks that need to be accomplished.  I even glance over at Facebook to see what’s going on there.  I don’t want to miss a thing.  I bow down to pray and I can hardly finish a short little prayer without intrusive thoughts entering my mind.  It’s no wonder that the disciples fell asleep.  They were no more focused on you in the prayer life than I am.  Lord Jesus, turn my heart and my mind more and more to you.  Keep my mind tuned into you, O Father, and your will all day long.  Keep me from being distracted from loving you at all times.  Keep my heart from being weighed down with worries and concerns that are really yours to carry.  Keep me awake and alert, with my eyes always on you, not only when I meditate and pray, but also when I live my life.  Keep me from temptation and when it comes help me to overcome it.  I need your help in this Lord Jesus.  Please come and help me in meditation, in prayer, and in life.  Amen.

Supportive Prayer

Luke 22:1-38, Deuteronomy 28-29

Luke 22:32 – But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.  And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.

Lord Jesus, your love, compassion and care for me is such a gift.    Your knowledge of my needs is so important to me.  Sometimes I don’t even know how weak and frail I am.  I like to think to myself that I am a bastion of strength and wisdom and knowledge.  I think to myself that I am the strong one and the wise one.  I think to myself that I would never fall, that I would never have my priorities out of whack.  Peter thought that too.  He even vowed that he would never deny you.  But then, we all know, he did.  If Peter fell and denied you, I know it can happen to me.  You warned him about.  You warned your people, the Israelites about it too. But you did more than offer a word of warning to them and to me, you also pray.  You prayed for Peter that he would turn back and then strengthen the other believers.  You’re praying for me that I would not fall, that my faith would not fail.  You’re praying for me that God would keep me in the truth faith. You’re praying for me that I would be a support and a strengthener for others who believe in me.  Jesus, I know I needed.  I need it even more when I think that I don’t.  Please, keep supporting me with your prayer.  Please, keep supporting me with your constant involvement in the affairs of my life.  Do whatever it takes so that I will not fall and my faith will not fail.  Amen.

Your Audience.

Luke 21, Deuteronomy 26-27

Luke 21:19 – This will be your opportunity to bear witness.

Lord Jesus, as you describe the signs surrounding your final return on the last day I can’t help but notice all of these signs in the world around me.  I see the wars and the rumors of wars.  I see the unrest.  I hear about Christians being arrested and persecuted all around the world.  I hear, see, and sometimes experience similar hostility against Christianity even here and now.  But you want to change my thoughts about this persecution.  I tend to shake my head, wring my hands, and tremble in fear when I think about persecution.  And that’s there.  But you show me something more.  You show me in this Word that this is an opportunity for me. When you put people in front of me – whether they are hostile or friendly – you have given me an audience to share my faith.  Persecution is an opportunity to give a witness about what I believe. Being arrested to stand in front of judges gives me an audience to tell about the things I believe and that the apostles’ witnessed.  People in my path who ask me to give a reason for the hope in me are an audience that needs the hope that I have.  Help me to see every interaction with people in this way, dear Savior.  Each human interaction whether casual or formal, whether forced or optional, is an opportunity for me to give a witness by my actions and especially by my words. Create a burning desire in my heart to tell as many people as coming.  The signs remind me that your coming is nearer now than I first believed.  Eternity is closer now than ever.  I want what you want, dear Savior.  I want them all in heaven.  So, give me lots of opportunities today to talk and testify about you.  Amen.

Fill-up.

Proverbs 8:22-36; Psalm 60-63

Psalm 63:5-7 – My soul will be satisfied with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

Lord God, I’ve noticed something lately and this psalm confirms it.  When my heart is troubled and I am not at peace, it is usually not the result of trouble in my life.  It is usually not the result of people who are unkind to me.  It is usually not because of how tired I am.  When my heart is not at peace, it is because of a deeper, spiritual problem.  I see David cry out to you from a dry and weary land and yet, and yet, he finds satisfaction, fullness, and joy even there.  When I am afraid, when I am trouble, when I am tired and discouraged, when I am bitter and angry, then, dear Savior, it is time for me to repent.  It is time for me to repent of my bitterness and unforgiveness.  It is time for me to repent of my shortness and lack of compassion with others.  It is time for me to repent of my faithlessness to my callings.  It is time to repent of my anger and frustration at you for not doing what I thought that you should do.  It is time to repent of my self-trust and a pursuit of self-glory.  It is time to repent of seeking my will instead of your kingdom.  Forgive me, dear Savior-God, and restore to me the peace of your forgiveness.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation.  And help me to be what you are for me.  Grant me grace to forgive others for their sins against me, even if they aren’t sorry.  Grant me grace and compassion to give to those who need a little bit more of it from me.  Grant me faithfulness to my callings.  Grant me contentment with the fruit of my labors, the fruit that you give from the richness of your hand.  Most of all, dear Lord, grant me great joy to know that my name is written in heaven itself.  Amen.

God of the living.

Luke 20:27-47, Deuteronomy 23-25

Luke 20:38 – Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.

Lord Jesus, thank you for my family.  Thank for you for giving me a spouse and my children.  Thank you for giving me my parents, my siblings, and their families too.  Family is such a great, great gift from you.  Thank you for the dear relationships that we share and enjoy, each one of us a blessing to the other.  They are a blessing to me; I am a blessing to them.  The question of the Sadducees leads me to think about eternity and my family.  I love them dearly and I want them to enjoy eternity with you.  The Sadducees had a problem; they doubt the power of God and promises of his Word about the resurrection.  My problem is much subtler.  I find myself caring more about the earthly life of my family than the eternal one.   I find myself focused on the here and now rather than on the there and then.  Your Word promises the resurrection of the dead and your power, O God, guarantees it. I pray, dear Father, make the faith of my family and their spiritual good my highest priority today and every day.  Keep me from getting wrapped up in earthly pursuits both for me and for them.  Help me to teach them the faith as we study and grow in your Word.  Help me to show them the faith in the way that lead them, shepherd them, and live out the faith.  Keep me from hypocrisy which my family sees more than anyone else.  I want them, O God, to be in heaven with you forever.  Use me as you will to make that happen.  Do whatever it takes so that we will enjoy an eternity with you.  Amen. 

Handle with Care.

Luke 20:1-26, Deuteronomy 19-22

Luke 20:21 – So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God.”

Lord Jesus, I constantly marvel at the wisdom, the sincerity, and the love that you always showed when you taught.  These people came to you with a question.  They were duplicitous in the questioning, but your answer hit the nail on the head.  You didn’t not whack them for their duplicity, but gently and correctly taught them.  As a teacher of your word and a Christian in this world, I find it hard and difficult to handle your Word without partiality and with truth.  At times I find it easy to wield the Word like it’s a club.  It times I find it easy to use the Word like a warm blanket.  But I realize that this might not always be the right use at the right time.  I am kinder to some and harder on others.  But Lord Jesus, I am learning from you.  When you taught, you didn’t care if they were an enemy or a friend, you loved them all.  You cared about each soul and you gave each soul what it needed from the word.  And so you taught without partiality and in truth.  Give me, I pray, such a love for souls and for your Word so that I handle both with care.  Make me one who handles your Word fairly, without partiality, and with deep, deep love – love for you and love for my neighbor.  Keep me from using your Word in appropriately.  Help me to handle your Word of truth, correctly dividing law and gospel.  Your Word is to be handled with care.  People are to be handle with care and concern.  You did this well.  Help me to follow your lead in this, dear Jesus.  Amen.

Come on over, Jesus.

Luke 19, Deuteronomy 15-18

Luke 19:6 – So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.

Jesus, I think if you invited yourself over to my house all of a sudden I would panic just a little bit.  I’d wonder if my house was clean.  I’d wonder if my kids would behave.  I’d wonder what evidence of my sin you’d see in my house, in my family, in me.  I’d be nervous and afraid.  I might even ask if we could meet at Starbucks instead, anything to avoid letting you into my home.  But here is Zacchaeus.  He is well aware of his guilt and sin.  It’s all over his bank account.  He had gotten ahead on the backs of tax-payers.  And then you invited yourself over on a whim, all of a sudden.  Yet, Zacchaeus doesn’t stutter, stumble, or even pause.  He hurries down out of the tree and receives you gladly, quickly, and joyfully.  I know why.  Zacchaeus understood well that you are a friend of sinners.  He knew well that you forgive and forget, that you do not hold sins against sinners, even if their sin is written all over the walls of the house.  He knew that you were gracious and merciful.  He knew that he was already forgiven, that his sins were already separated from him as far as the east is from the west.  Lord Jesus, my shame and my sin is already gone too.  You have forgiven me for all my sins.  And you want to come into the mess of my family life and my home to forgive me, to forgive my family, and to give us the peace of forgiveness. You want to come into our home and into my life to teach me to bear the fruits of faith, help us live in the light of your holy will.  So, Jesus come on over.  I know your heart.  I know your love, your mercy, your grace.  My house and my heart is a mess.  But that’s why you’re here.  You are a friend of sinners and that makes you a friend of mine.  Amen.

When Satan calls me a sinner, he comforts me immeasurably for Christ came and died for sinners. - Martin Luther

Set Apart.

Luke 18:31-43, Deuteronomy 12-14

Deuteronomy 14:21 – For you are a people holy to the LORD your God.

Lord God, you choose me to be yours.  Though I was just as your people Israel was – smaller and weaker and more stubborn than all the other nations – you chose me and made me your own.  You redeemed me with the blood of your Son and brought me into your family.  Through all these years, dear Father, you have carried me on your shoulders as a father carries his sons.  Through all these years, dear Father, you have nurtured and nourished me as a mother nurtures her child and cares for it.  Through all these years, dear Savior, you have pursued me as a lover pursues his beloved.  You have not and you will not quit on me.  I am precious to you.  I am loved by you.  I am set apart for you.  As one who is set apart for you, help me to hate the evil and pursue the good.  Help me to rid from my life and kill to death all the sin in my body, all the sin in my heart, and all the sin in my mind.  It cannot remain or it will kill me.  Lead me to repent of all this sin and hate it as you do.  And then, dear Holy Spirit, help me to live a life worthy of the calling I have received.  Help me to honor you and keep your name holy in all I think, say, and do.  I am yours.  Help me to live like it.  Amen. 

Never Give Up

Luke 18:1-30, Deuteronomy 10-11

Luke 18:1 – And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

Dear Father, in heaven.  You invite me to pray without stopping ever.  You invite me to keep asking you and not to give up.  Your Son even tells this parable about a widow who keeps badgering the unjust judge.  And you are far better than he is!  You’re showing me that you want me to badger and pester you with my prayers as if I were an annoying gnat.  I know that I am not a gnat, but a son.  What an amazing thing!  You are not annoyed or bothered by my badgering prayers.  And yet I am such a poor prayer.  I find myself easily distracted by to-do lists and activities happening around me.  My mind drifts during prayer even when I’m praying out loud.  I find myself praying once or twice about a thing and then letting it go.  I am a far cry from the bold and badgering prayer that you invite me to be.  Forgive me and show me how open I can be in my prayers. Father, there is nothing at all in heaven or earth about which I can’t talk to you.  Forgive me and remind me how persistent and badgering I can truly be in my prayers.  You never get tired of hearing from me about anything.  Nothing is too small for me to pray about.  I will not give up in my prayers, Father, because you do not quit on me.  Amen. 

Firmly established.

Proverbs 8:12-21, Psalm 56-59

Psalm 57:7-9 – My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast!  I will sing and make melody!  Awake, my soul!  Awake, o harp and lyre!  I will awaken the dawn!  I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples, I will sing praise to you among the nations.

Lord God, these are amazing words.  David was running from Saul, hiding in caves, ducking and dodging just keep his life.  It was a life on the run for not a single just reason.  And yet David sings!  And yet David calls on his heart and his guitar to get to playing and making music.  And yet David give thanks and praises you, O God.  Lord, give me such a firmly rooted heart that even though thunder rolls and troubles roar that I will sing.  It’s hard, Lord.  When the world and the nations are in such an uproar, when the life around me is constantly in flux, when things seem to go more wrong than right, it’s hard for me to sing praise.  So much is uncertain, unsure.  And yet, you, O Lord are sure and certain.  You are as immoveable as an oak tree firmly established in good soil. Hurricane may blow through and knock down some branches, but it remains unmoved because it’s roots are deep.  Make me as firm and unmovable as this oak tree.  Set down my roots into you, who never change.  You remain the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Set down my faith into your promises, which are as sure today as they were yesterday.  Establish me on the rock solid foundation of your power and presence, which can keep me from blowing away when the winds of trouble and trial blow.  Then, teach me to sing while the thunder rolls.  I will give you thank for you alone are my refuge and strength.  I will sing for you are my strength and my song; you alone are my salvation.  Amen.

Spiritual Amnesia

Luke 17, Deuteronomy 6-9

Deuteronomy 8:11 – Take care lest you forget the LORD…

Deuteronomy 8:17 – Beware lest you say in your heart…

Lord, I hear you clearly and it’s something I need to hear.  I see the need for the warning as I read through and remember how quickly and how often the Israelites ran away.  I see how easily your people turned away from you and forgot where all their good came from.  Sadly, I see the same tendencies in my own heart.  I see my priorities off base.  I see a quiet boasting about my own achievements.  I see a quick forgetfulness about all the good that has come from you for me.  Forgive me for my forgetfulness.  Forgive me for my pride.  And help me to stand back in awe of you and your gifts to me.  Help me to stand back in wonder at your working in my life. To you alone, Lord God, be the glory.  From you alone, Lord God, comes each and every good thing in my life.  For you, then, Lord God let me life be lived that all I think and say and do give honor to you.  Help me, this day, to remember where all that I am and all that I have comes from you.  Amen. 

No one like our God.

Luke 16, Deuteronomy 4-5

Deuteronomy 4:7-8 – For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call to him?  And what great nation is there that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I have set before you today?

O Lord God, there is no one like you.  None at all.  There is no person, no deity, no thing so near to me as you are to me.  When I speak and I call to you in prayer, you are right there to hear.  You aren’t distracted.  You right there face, head, and heart turned to me.  There is no deity as good as you who have given us your Word in so carefully, so powerfully, so perfectly a way.  There is no one like you in glory, power and might.  There is no one like you in the way that you care for me and listen carefully to me. There is no one like you in the way that you speak and give your Word to your people.  It is all so unique to you alone.  No god is like you. I pray, O Lord God, help me to stand back in awe at your wonders and your glory.  Help me to stand back in awe at your listening and your speaking.  Help me to treasure you for there is no one like you.  Amen.

Looking back.

Luke 15, Deuteronomy 2-3

Deuteronomy 2:7 – These forty years the LORD your God has been with you.  You have lacked nothing.

Lord God, history is such a valuable thing.  As you take your people back and take a look back at their last forty years you taught them some valuable lessons.  You led them to repentance for their failure to trust and follow you with a whole heart.  You led to trust you for your faithfulness, for your power and for the victories you gave them, for your daily provision throughout their entire time in the wildnerness. My history is no less impressive.  As I look back I can see in many ways how I have failed to trust and follow you with a whole heart.  My priorities have been off.  My life has been me-centric.  I worry and don’t trust.  I seek my kingdom and my ways instead of yours.  And yet, God, just as you were faithful in the face of their unfaithfulness in the wilderness, so you have been faithful despite my faithlessness.  You have been here the whole time forgiving, freeing, saving, shaping, guiding, providing.  I look back and I see your gentle hand at work in my life.  I look back and I see your disciplining hand at work in my life.  I look back and I see your potter’s hand in my life.  O God, you are good.  My past shows me that its true. Help me to show your goodness in my future.  Amen. 

Pursuit

Luke 14, Deuteronomy 1

Luke 14:23 – And the master said to the servant, “Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be full.”

Lord Jesus, you give us a glimpse of your pursuing heart.  Like a suiter chasing his future bride, like a husband pursuing his wife, like a father pursuing his child, you pursue all people in a desperate attempt to make us yours and bring us in to the eternal wedding banquet.  Forgive me for so foolishly clinging to life on this earth when you have invited me to an eternity in heaven.  Forgive me for clinging to my work, my possessions, my family.  Forgive me for all the excuses I make to stay busy at my things instead of coming after you and your things.  Forgive me Lord Jesus.  I see your heart!  You sent servants that all might come in. Then you sent servants out again that those who are broken by life, who are broken in their bodies might come in.  Then you sent out servants still again into the hidden places of the earth that more might come in. You want heaven full!  Oh, how you love me and pursue me as a husband pursues his wife!  You want me to come in and stay with you. How your heart beats for me!  Now, I pray, use me as your servant to chase and pursue more people for you.  Your heart beats for them. Keep pursuing me until eternity.  Keep using me to gather more into eternity.  Amen. 

Narrow Door

Luke 13, Numbers 34-36

Luke 13:24 – “Strive to enter through the narrow door.  For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”

Lord Jesus, this is such an important truth.  It is so easy to be tricked and deluded into a false sense of security.  It is so easy to have the veneer of Christianity while hearts are far away.  I can’t see it in other people (their hearts are hidden from me), but I can see the struggle for the narrow door in my own heart. O Lord Jesus, these words hit home.  You warn about people who hung out with you in church and the did the church-people thing.  But you warn, “in that day I will say, “I do not know you.”  Yikes!  Lord Jesus, keep me from this. Lord Jesus, keep me from any sort of self-righteousness.  Deliver me from any self-justification project.  Cut away from my heart and my faith anything that clings to or trusts in anything but you.  Make it clear to me so that I repent of my trust in anything but you.  Make me see how weak and failing my own efforts are in your sight. Teach me to see how foolish I am to look there for any sort of help or salvation.  You are the only One who can and will save me.  Make me boast about you, about your cross, about your empty tomb, about your righteousness.  It is the only thing that will save me. Teach my heart to cling to and trust in you above all things.  Teach me to cling to and trust in you alone.  Amen. 

Rooted.

Proverbs 8:1-11, Psalm 52-55

Psalm 52:8 – But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.  I trust in the steadfast love of God forever.

Lord God, more and more I find my footings and set down my roots in you and less and less I set my foundation in this world.  More and more you show me how foolish it is to set down roots in anything temporary.  It’s foolish to trust in people because they will turn on you and at their very best they will still let you down.  It’s foolish to set down roots in property or possessions because they will fade away and at their very best they only give temporary pleasure.  It’s foolish to chase after and to try to hold a kingdom here because it isn’t really mine.  God, more and more I see how foolish it is.  Forgive me for holding on to these things as they were what really mattered.  And, then, dear Father, teach me to set down my roots in your kingdom, a kingdom that will never be toppled and will never be felled.  Teach me to find my footing in your power, your love, and your grace.  Then no one will be able to pull me up by the roots.  No, rooted in you I will never be uprooted.  Your steadfast and faithful love is what holds me fast.  Keep me safe, O God.  Root me in you more and more, O Savior.  Change my heart more and more, O Spirit.  Then I will not fall and I will not be uprooted.  Amen.

Much given. Much asked.

Luke 12:49-59, Numbers 32-33

Luke 12:48 – Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required; and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Lord Jesus, so many things flood my mind when I ponder these words.  I condier all the things that you have given me and all the things with which you have entrusted.  You have both given me my family and entrusted their souls to my care.  You have both given me my church and entrusted their souls to my care.  You have both given me financial resources and entrusted their management to me for your kingdom and glory.  You have both given me knowledge, insight, and understanding and entrusted me with your Word so that souls might be fed, nourished and saved by those words.  You have given me so much. You have entrusted to me people who have eternal value in your sight.  I am filled with awe to consider the gifts and the trust given me.  I am filled with sorrow because I have not managed these gifts well or handled the trust properly.  I have not always provided the love and care that my trust requires.  I have thought more about myself than about those whom you put in my path to love.  I have thought more about my good than their good. I am sorry for my failures to handle the trust given me.  And yet you still give and you still entrust!  I am in awe again!  You love me, forgive me, and entrust again!  Help me to live and work with a new energy to manage well what you’ve given me, to carry out the trust that you have put into my hands, and to do the work.  Help me to live a life worthy of the calling you have given me.  Amen.