What would it be live if we prayed first? If instead of complaining, whining, finding fault or being offended, we prayed first. Where would I be without love? Where would I be without grace? Where would I be without mercy? I am not perfect. I do not live perfectly without malice or evil intent. I start each day asking God’s forgiveness and end each day thanking him for his mercy on me.Lord, help me to see good in other people. Help me to focus on the good things in life. Keep me thankful for your goodness and you love. Help me to do my best for you. Keep my work and the things I say pure so that I am not ashamed of them. Help me live a godly life so that I am not just words.Help me to run away from indulging myself in things that do not matter. Help me to run after faith, love and peace. I want to join those you are in honest and serious prayer before you. Teach me to be a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps my cool. I want to work firmly and patiently with those around me. Help me to help others turn to the truth and escape the devil’s trap. But keep me first free of sin and life’s distractions.So when others talk about politics and policies, campaigns and rumors, help me to pray first. Help me to seek your face and speak with love. Help me to focus on what you love and what you want for the people around. Help me not to spread bitterness or discontent with my words.When others talk about church members or pastors, volunteers or helpers, help me to pray first. Help me to seek for love and focus on you. Help me to be the example for others as I speak with mature righteousness. Give me grace and mercy in the face of arguments and petty opinions.When others talk about the various habits of those in this life, let me remember you have forgiven me of my sins. You are helping me to move in a new direction today. I am walking with you. You hold my hand. You keep me safe in your arms. I am secure in you.2 Timothy 2:14-18 Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God’s people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul.2 Timothy 2:22-26 Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.
