For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. 23He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. 24And we are among those whom he selected, 

Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law9:32 Greek by works. instead of by trusting in him.

Lord God my Father,

You have made me new yet I struggle with my past. Help me to keep my complete focus on you and bring separation from the past. I wish to be only what you desire of me today. Your spirit in me is the answer to overcome all my struggles and accept myself as a new creation. I am grateful for your patience with me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.15But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Lord God my Father,

Restore my heart to your design, remove my desire to shape things to my way. Keep me in your Truth that you have it all under your authority. Allow your Truth to guide my actions to be faithful to serve those who seek you. Give me the heart you desire me to carry.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister5:22 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verse 23.5:22 Some manuscripts brother or sister without cause will be subject to judgment.

And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.37All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Lord God my Father,

Keep check on my heart, help me to learn to keep every thought captive and only act on thoughts in your Truth. Keep me from judging others when I am such a sinner. Help me to only follow your desire in me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God

Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand. “So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

Lord God my Father,

Make me Holey, cause me to your will. Soften my stubborn heart and free me from my compromised way.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 

 “Follow me,”Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’9:13 Hosea 6:6 For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Lord God my Father,

Lord God, you accept me with all my sin, craw me close and cause me to move out of my way and into yours. Give me a heart that just follows you without my thinking. Heal me and make me new.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Come, follow me,”Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”20At once they left their nets and followed him.

 “Be quiet!”said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”26The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.

Lord God my Father,

Give me the obedience to follow your call without hesitation. I ask you to search my soul and drive out any spirit that is not of you, restore me to your desire.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.3:6 Greek what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.

And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

“Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

Lord God my Father,

Open my heart to experience life as you desire. Bring a faith to me on your terms and not mine. You are the answer to all things good and bad in my life, allow me to turn my test into your testimony. Protect me from falling into your judgment, keep me close. Allow your spirit in me to overflow.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, 13where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.

“I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” 10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ 4:10 Deut 6:13. ”

“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

 “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

Lord God my Father,

Give me a spirit that is only obedient to you, protect my thoughts and allow me to see deceit before it reaches my thoughts. Give me courage to act on your desire before my thoughts dilute it. Give me a heart that never doubts who you are and cause me to destroy the compromise I have allowed in my heart.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

“Get up!” the angel said. “Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.”

He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 

Lord God my Father,

Give me a spirit that is still so I may hear you. Give me obedience so I may do what you ask me to do and use me to share your Truth to those around me. Allow me to represent you well.

You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded 

He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

Lord God my Father,

I know you will do what you say, allow me to see your will and not question it, cause me to be obedient. Reveal your light through me and allow me to share you in all things.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen