A Personal Prayer

God of Truth,

I remember when the doctor gave me the news. I needed to make some changes in my life. If I didn’t cut out the carbs, I would have diabetes. I didn’t like to hear it, but I sure needed to. God, I don’t like to hear some of your words to me either. Oh, I love the stuff you teach about being kind and loving my neighbor and all that. But when you get more specific, about how I spend my money, about whom I hang out with and whom I avoid, about how I use my influence, about my self-centeredness, about my self-righteousness, about the idols I have made of so many things of the world…, then I find myself turning away, rationalizing my behavior, seeking to justify myself. My favorite trick is to make your words about somebody else and not about me. When I hear your words about denying myself and taking up my cross, I simply wonder what that means for me. God, forgive me.

I know you came to speak words of love and that even your challenge for me to change, to repent, to live differently is made out of love for me. God, I want to be different. Well, at least I want to want to be different. Surely that is a step in the right direction.

During this season of Advent, as I prepare for the coming of your son, my savior, I pray that you will show me the places in my life I need to make changes, jar me out of my complacence, and bring transformation to my life through the Holy Spirit. Amen.