lead me

"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love." 2 Peter 1:2-7

"It is the initiative of God and the presence of god without which all of our efforts are in vain--whether it is in justification or sanctification or in the realm of the exercise of power, all our efforts will be in vain if God does not act.  But we had better believe that the back side of that verse reads: "If you do nothing it will be without me."  And this is the part we have the hardest time hearing"  Dallas Willard, Spiritual Formation: What it is, and How it is Done

Create in me a new heart, oh Lord.  May my life reflect Your Holy Spirit that lives inside me.  I pray that You would give me Your strength and peace and holiness during uncertain times, that You would be my rock and my joy.  May what I profess with my lips be proclaimed through my life.  Keep me steadfast in your love--recognizing my failures and thus, my desperate need for you, while helping to make me holy, loving and giving back to You that which is already Yours.

Lord, You have captured my heart from the darkness and rescued me into Your light, may You continue to work in me and help me to grow into a creature that is beautiful.  I pray that You would narrow the gap between what I confess with my mouth and how I act in this world.  Since this life is eternal, I pray that You would give me the strength to obey You, a heart that desires goodness, and a body that acts in communion with You and Your purposes.  Keep me from disobedience and encourage me into actions of Your will, for Your glory, Lord.